Read Mark 1:1–11
Questions from the Scripture text: Of what is this the beginning (Mark 1:1)? Whose gospel? Whose Son is He? Where had this been written (Mark 1:2)? Whom would the Lord send before His face? What would this messenger do for Him? What does Mark 1:3 call the messenger? Where would he be found? What did he cry to do? Where did John come (Mark 1:4)? What did he come doing? What was he doing, besides baptizing? What did he preach? What sort of baptism did he preach? Who went out to him (Mark 1:5)? Who, specifically? What was done to them by John? Where? Doing what? With what was John clothed (Mark 1:6)? What did he eat? What (Whom!) did he preach (Mark 1:7)? How does this One’s strength compare to John’s? How does this One’s worthiness compare to John’s? With what did John baptize them (Mark 1:8)? With Whom will the One baptize them? Who came, in those days (Mark 1:9)? From where? What was done to Him? By whom? Where? From where did He come up (Mark 1:10)? What did He see happening to the heavens? What did He see descending upon Him? Like what? What came from heaven (Mark 1:11)? What did it call Him? What did it say about Him?
Who is the Messiah, and what did He do? Mark 1:1–11 prepares us for the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus, the Son of God, came as the Christ Who would pour out His Spirit, and take away people’s sins.
Immediately, in Mark 1:1, Mark tells us that he is writing a gospel. It’s like placing a headline, or a cover page on the book that announces GOOD NEWS. So, one thing that we may want to do, as we read through this book, is to ask ourselves frequently, “how is this good news?”
That question is actually answered in at least three ways before the verse is over. (1) His Name is Jesus. Why was He called Jesus? He saves His people from their sins(cf. Matthew 1:21). (2) His title is Christ. This is a Greek translation of the word, “Messiah,” or “Anointed One.” Jesus is the promised forever-king of 2 Samuel 7, the promised forever-priest of Psalm 110, the promised great prophet of Deuteronomy 18 (cf. Acts 3:22-23). (3) His identity is that He is the Son of God. God Himself, the Son, has come as our Savior, King, Priest, and Prophet
Mark goes on to show the faithfulness of God, His perfect reliability. God promised that He Himself would come, and that He would first send a messenger (Mark 1:2-3). And John came, exactly as God promised (Mark 1:4-7).
But there’s a huge difference, here, between the messenger and the Messiah. What did John baptize with? The messenger baptized with water, a symbol of the people’s need for repenting from sin and being forgiven of sin.
And in Mark 1:8, with what does John say that Jesus will baptize? Again, we can see that Jesus must be not just a man but God Himself, for He pours out God Himself—the Holy Spirit—upon those whom He baptizes. Jesus’s baptizing gives the repentance and forgiveness that John’s baptizing could only tell them that they needed.
This makes Mark 1:9 wondrous and amazing: Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan. Interestingly, Mark does not tell us that John at first refused to do this. Instead, he emphasizes God’s own testimony that Jesus did not need to be baptized for His own sin.
God identifies Jesus not as a son of Adam (needing repentance and forgiveness) but rather “My beloved Son,” deserving of honor and glory and kingdom and power and praise. Then, God makes it doubly clear that Jesus has no sin of which to repent or be forgiven: “in Whom I am well pleased.” Jesus is identifying Himself with sinners, but He most certainly is not one Himself.
Mark is a fast-paced gospel. And already, its news has been very good: God Himself has come as a man. He is not a sinner, but He has identified Himself with sinners. And His Father has responded to Jesus’s receiving this baptism not with rebuke but with affirmation! Identifying Himself with sinners, and pouring out His Holy Spirit upon them, is exactly what Jesus has come to do.
What active, day-to-day difference does it make for you that Jesus is your Prophet? Where and how do you hear His words? And what do you do with them after you hear? What difference does it make that He is your Priest? To whom do you go for forgiveness? How do you come near to God? What difference does it make that He is your King? How have you responded to God the Son, Who has identified Himself with sinners in their sin? Is He your Savior? In what current situation do you most need the comfort of remembering the Jesus has identified Himself with you? What is your plan for reminding yourself of that in that specific situation?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving Your Son, Who needed no repentance, to be the sacrifice for our sins. And thank You for giving Him to us as the One Who gives us Your Spirit for life and faith and union with Christ. Forgive us for our many sins, for His sake. And, forgive us for how forgetful we are of His glory and His grace. Grant that by that very grace, we would remember Him and live by faith in Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH492 “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”
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