Post by foxjj on May 13, 2023 6:44:58 GMT
Mark 1:9-15
Mark 1:9-13:
“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”
Have you ever wondered why Jesus submitted to John’s baptism? John had declared to the people that he came as a herald in order to prepare the way for the One who was to come. At the appropriate time Jesus arrived at the Jordan when about to begin His ministry as the foretold Messiah. Consequently, Jesus submitted to baptism symbolizing that He is the people’s representative as recorded in John 1:29-32: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.”
It is important to realize that, although the people came confessing their sin, Jesus did not confess sin. As The Son of God, and The Lamb of God, Jesus was without sin.
Through identifying with humanity by submitting to baptism, Jesus was submitting to the will of The Father. This was declared from Heaven as He came up out of the water, the dove descend and the voice declared: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Here we have a picture of the Trinity as The Father speaks from Heaven, and The Spirit descends upon The Son, showing that they are individual.
The Spirit sent Jesus into the wilderness where He spent 40 days fasting, and endured temptations from Satan. The wilderness experience allowed Jesus to experience humanity’s life without God in their lives, been constantly tempted by Satan. The significance of 40 days are reminders of Elijah’s experience when escaping from Ahab and Jezebel in 1 Kings 19: 1-9. Also when Moses ran from Egypt after slaying the Egyptian as well as his time with The Lord on the mountain receiving the commandments.
Spiritually the wilderness experience can teach to resist temptation’s and submit to God’s will. Remember that God is faithful and will minister to us during trying times.
Mark 1:14-15:
“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
As John’s ministry concludes, the ministry of Jesus begins. He began His ministry to the north in the Galilee area proclaiming: “The time has come.” For many years Isreal had been awaiting Yahweh’s timing. Paul described it this way: “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” - Galatians 4:4-5. John the Baptist had prepared the way for Jesus, who announced that He is The Way in John 14:6-7: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
At that time the Jewish people believed in two spiritual ages. The present sinful age presided over by Satan, and the future age of God’s Kingdom when evil will be destroyed. The message of Jesus: “The kingdom of God has come near” was a radical
divergence from Jewish thinking. Because Jesus had been born among us, God’s Kingdom has come near. In order to enter The Kingdom we must repent. Isreal had experienced many kingdoms, Sauls, David’s, Solomon’s etc. Their kingdoms had all failed, however the kingdom that Jesus announced will not fail because, it is a spiritual kingdom and God has put His seal upon each member as 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 explains: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” We also receive a deposit of The Holy Spirit guaranteeing our eternal salvation, thereby we repent and believe The Good News.
Today, let us give thanks for The Good News concerning Jesus.
John Joseph Fox.
Mark 1:9-13:
“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”
Have you ever wondered why Jesus submitted to John’s baptism? John had declared to the people that he came as a herald in order to prepare the way for the One who was to come. At the appropriate time Jesus arrived at the Jordan when about to begin His ministry as the foretold Messiah. Consequently, Jesus submitted to baptism symbolizing that He is the people’s representative as recorded in John 1:29-32: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.”
It is important to realize that, although the people came confessing their sin, Jesus did not confess sin. As The Son of God, and The Lamb of God, Jesus was without sin.
Through identifying with humanity by submitting to baptism, Jesus was submitting to the will of The Father. This was declared from Heaven as He came up out of the water, the dove descend and the voice declared: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Here we have a picture of the Trinity as The Father speaks from Heaven, and The Spirit descends upon The Son, showing that they are individual.
The Spirit sent Jesus into the wilderness where He spent 40 days fasting, and endured temptations from Satan. The wilderness experience allowed Jesus to experience humanity’s life without God in their lives, been constantly tempted by Satan. The significance of 40 days are reminders of Elijah’s experience when escaping from Ahab and Jezebel in 1 Kings 19: 1-9. Also when Moses ran from Egypt after slaying the Egyptian as well as his time with The Lord on the mountain receiving the commandments.
Spiritually the wilderness experience can teach to resist temptation’s and submit to God’s will. Remember that God is faithful and will minister to us during trying times.
Mark 1:14-15:
“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
As John’s ministry concludes, the ministry of Jesus begins. He began His ministry to the north in the Galilee area proclaiming: “The time has come.” For many years Isreal had been awaiting Yahweh’s timing. Paul described it this way: “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” - Galatians 4:4-5. John the Baptist had prepared the way for Jesus, who announced that He is The Way in John 14:6-7: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
At that time the Jewish people believed in two spiritual ages. The present sinful age presided over by Satan, and the future age of God’s Kingdom when evil will be destroyed. The message of Jesus: “The kingdom of God has come near” was a radical
divergence from Jewish thinking. Because Jesus had been born among us, God’s Kingdom has come near. In order to enter The Kingdom we must repent. Isreal had experienced many kingdoms, Sauls, David’s, Solomon’s etc. Their kingdoms had all failed, however the kingdom that Jesus announced will not fail because, it is a spiritual kingdom and God has put His seal upon each member as 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 explains: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” We also receive a deposit of The Holy Spirit guaranteeing our eternal salvation, thereby we repent and believe The Good News.
Today, let us give thanks for The Good News concerning Jesus.
John Joseph Fox.