"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"
The Baptism Of Jesus (1:9-11)
INTRODUCTION
1. The baptism of Jesus by John served a significant role in both of
their ministries...
a. It came at the height of John's ministry, after which it began to
decline
b. It served as the beginning of Jesus' ministry, which soon overtook
the ministry of John
2. The baptism of Jesus has often raised two questions...
a. Why was He baptized?
b. Does His baptism reveal the purpose for Christian baptism?
[This study will answer these questions, first by reviewing Mark's
account of the baptism of Jesus...]
I. THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
A. JESUS COMES FROM NAZARETH...
1. From Nazareth of Galilee - Mk 1:9a
2. Located halfway between the Mediterranean coast and the
southern tip of the Sea of Galilee
3. Where Jesus grew up - cf. Lk 2:39-52
-- About a hundred mile journey to where John was baptizing
B. JESUS IS BAPTIZED BY JOHN...
1. In the Jordan river - Mk 1:9b
2. In Bethabara (Bethany) on the east side of the Jordan
- cf. Jn 1:28-29
-- The Greek word (baptizo) indicates that the baptism involved
immersion
C. THE SPIRIT DESCENDS ON JESUS...
1. Immediately, just as Jesus comes up from the water - Mk 1:10a
2. He saw the heavens parting ("being torn open", ESV) - Mk 1:10b
3. The Spirit descends like a dove - Mk 1:10c; cf. Lk 3:22 ("in
bodily form like a dove")
-- Thus the Holy Spirit bears His testimony of Jesus
D. THE FATHER SPEAKS OF JESUS...
1. As a voice from heaven - Mk 1:11a
2. Proclaiming: "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased" - Mk 1:11b
-- Thus the Father bears His testimony of Jesus
[With such visual and audible effects, the baptism of Jesus was
certainly a significant event! It naturally raises several
questions...]
II. QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
A. WHY WAS JESUS BAPTIZED...?
1. Not for the same reason other people were being baptized by
John
a. Theirs was a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins
- Mk 1:4
b. They were confessing their sins - Mk 1:5
c. Jesus was without sin - He 4:15
2. Jesus said it was "to fulfill all righteousness" - cf. Mt 3:15
a. It was God's counsel that people be baptized of John - cf.
Lk 7:29-30
b. Jesus was willing to set the right example by doing the
Father's will, something He delighted to do - cf. Ps 40:
7-8; Jn 4:34; 8:29
3. It also served to introduce Him to John and Israel
a. John had been proclaiming that He was coming - Mk 1:7
b. John had been told that the Spirit coming upon Jesus would
be a sign - cf. Jn 1:29-34
-- He was baptized to do God's will, and to publicly identify Him
to Israel
B. DOES HIS BAPTISM EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF OUR BAPTISM...?
1. Many refer to Jesus' baptism to explain the purpose of
Christian baptism
a. That baptism has nothing to do with the remission of sins
b. That baptism is but a public profession of one's faith
c. That baptism publicly identifies our relation to Christ,
just as His baptism publicly introduced Him to Israel
2. However, there is no Biblical connection made between Jesus'
baptism and our own
a. Christian baptism is for the remission of sins - Ac 2:38;
22:16
b. Christian baptism is a union with Christ in His death - Ro6:3-7
c. Christian baptism was often administered in relative privacy
- Ac 8:35-38; 16:25-34
-- No Biblical writer suggests that we are baptized for the same
reason as Jesus
C. WHAT IS THE IMPORT OF THE SPIRIT AND THE FATHER'S ROLE...?
1. They certainly bear testimony as to who Jesus is
a. As the Spirit would do later, via the works Jesus did - Mt12:28
b. As the Father would do later, on another occasion - Mt 17:5
2. They also bear testimony to the nature of the Godhead
a. I.e., three distinct persons in One God
b. Though One in substance, there is a distinction to be made
between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - cf. also Mt 28:
19; 2Co 13:14; Ep 2:18
-- Thus we see the unity of the Godhead implied in the baptism of
Jesus
CONCLUSION
1. With the baptism of Jesus...
a. He was formally introduced to John, and by him to Israel
b. The Father and the Spirit audibly and visually confirmed Him as
the Son of God
c. Jesus demonstrated His desire to serve and "fulfill all
righteousness"
2. The baptism of Jesus is certainly significant to Christians...
a. Not that we are to be baptized for the same reason as He
b. But certainly in confirming that He was the Messiah
c. And displaying the attitude that should be true of all His
disciples ("I have come to do my Father's will")
Jesus did not need baptism because He was without sin; He was baptized
because it was the Father's will for man at that time. Should we who
are sinners dare hesitate to do the Father's will regarding baptism for
the remission of sins today...? - Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38; 22:16
