John And Jesus
JOHN AND JESUS
MARK 1:4-11
John emphasized that someone was coming who would be completely different from Jesus.
Although John was popularly known as “the baptizer,” his work is described here as preaching (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:17). He announced that God offered forgiveness of sins to those who would display their repentance in the act of baptism. He insisted on the connection of baptism with repentance, ie “a coming to one’s senses resulting in a change of conduct.”
In appearance John resembled Elijah (2 Kings 1:8); like Elijah he heralded the coming of a mightier One (Malachi 3:1; 4:5).
1:8 is not too easy to understand. When used with the word “water” the meaning of “baptize” is “dip” or “wash” for a religious purpose. But one can hardly speak of dipping people in the Spirit; “baptize” must be taken in a metaphorical sense to signify cleansing in which the Spirit purifies the “inner man” just as water cleanses outwardly.
But to what was John looking forward? In Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16 John speaks of a coming baptism with the Holy Spirit and with fire. This may be understood as the cleansing effect of the Spirit in those who repent, being like fire in its effects (cf. Acts 1:5).
Mark does not tell us why Jesus submitted to John’s baptism (Matthew 3:14f.). He is more interested in the spiritual event for which the baptism provided the form. But we see in his baptism his willingness to share in the lot of sinful Israel and to bear its sin.
The Spirit descended upon Jesus, and a voice spoke to him from the opened heavens. For the coming of the Spirit we are reminded of such passages as Isaiah 11:2; 42:1; 61:1 which speak of the Spirit being given to certain people as their anointing for kingly and prophetic service. The significance of the heavenly voice is less clear. Probably we have a combination of two texts, Psalm 2:7, in which God addresses the anointed king as his Son, and Isaiah 42:1, in which God addresses his Servant in whom he delights and upon whom he has put his Spirit. Thus the heavenly voice addresses Jesus as the Son of God who must perform the ministry of the Servant of God, and this declaration is confirmed by the anointing of the Spirit. God’s seal is set upon the vocation of Jesus and he goes forth in the power of the Spirit.