The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. (Mark 1:9-13)

    Mark’s account of Jesus’ baptism demonstrates the triune nature of God. 

    

    God is three persons: The Father spoke from heaven and declared His love and approval of the Son. The Son, incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and made man, coming out of the Jordan River to begin His work of saving mankind from sin and death. The Holy Spirit, descending on the Son in the form of a dove to strengthen and empower the Son in His mission. Yet, we know that the Lord Our God, Yahweh, is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). 

        Not three gods, but One God.

    And this appearing of the other two members of the Trinity confirms that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Old Testament promises to send a savior to take away sins.

    How God is one God and three persons at the same time is not given to us in scripture. The concept defies human reason. Still, just because we can’t understand how it works doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

    Mark does not describe how Jesus was baptized. He doesn’t say whether John dunked Jesus under the water, poured it over His head, or sprinkled it on Him. (Wicke, 2004) So, saying that Jesus “came up out of the water” does not prescribe any certain method of Christian baptism. The important part about baptism is the application of water. This is basically what the word baptism means. Mark instead focuses on the work God was doing in Jesus’ baptism: Sending Him the Holy Spirit, giving Him power through that Spirit, and showing that Jesus was approved by God the Father and was ready to do the job for which He was sent.

    Why did Jesus need to be baptized in the first place? If that is confusing, don’t feel bad. It was confusing to John the Baptist as well. John the Baptist was calling people to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He knew Jesus was the sinless Lamb of God who would be sacrificed to take away the sins of the world. Jesus was the one Man in all of history since the fall who didn’t need the baptism of repentance John was preaching. So why do it? Jesus tell us: to fulfil all righteousness.

    At His baptism, Jesus identified Himself with mankind. This was where He took our place. This is where Jesus, who had no sin, became sin for all mankind so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21)

    After His baptism, Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to do battle with the devil. Jesus would be tempted. The other gospel writers give more details about the temptations. Mark just tells us that Jesus was tempted by Satan. After it was finished, the angels attended him. This temptation was not some fake show. Being a real human being, Jesus got hungry, thirsty, and tired. He could appreciate power and wealth, and all the other things that Satan presumably used to try and get Jesus to deny the Father and worship him. (Wicke, 2004)

    Satan tired to do the same thing to Jesus that He did to Adam and Eve in the garden. Where Adam failed and gave in to temptation, Jesus succeeded. Jesus is a sort of second Adam. The first Adam brought sin and death into the world. The Last Adam brought forgiveness, life, and salvation. This baptism of Jesus is like a second creation, with a new Adam. This Last Adam will correct the mistakes of the first one, take away the sins of all people, and open the way of everlasting life to all who believe.

    As people who are baptized into Christ, we are new creations in Him. Our sins are forgiven, and His righteousness also belongs to us. ###

Works Cited

Wicke, Harold E., 2004. "People's Bible Commentary: Mark." 

    St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House. 

John Baptizes Jesus

Baptism of Christ

It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:9-11).

John is in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance. He is Elijah, who was foretold, who would prepare the way of the Lord. The people flock to him, to hear his message, to be baptized by him, to confess their sins. The religious leaders also go out to see John. They are concerned. This man is causing a disturbance. He is upsetting the structure. They ask him to give an account. Just who are you? He confesses plainly that he is not the Christ who was to come: There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.[1] John’s entire purpose is not to gain notoriety for himself. It is not to build up his own ministry. His purpose is to point to Jesus, the fulfillment of God’s promised redemption.

As John continues preaching repentance and baptizing, Jesus comes to him. Jesus tells John that he must baptize Jesus. John is taken aback. I should be baptized by You! Jesus explains. It is to fulfill all righteousness. John relents. He doesn’t understand what Jesus is doing, but he obeys. Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus comes up out of the river, God the Spirit descends upon Him. The heavens open. John sees and hears the manifestation of the Triune God. God the Father declares His pleasure with, and approval of Jesus, God the Son.

But why does the sinless Son of God need to be baptized with John’s baptism of repentance? Jesus knew no sin, after all. Jesus is Israel, reduced to one. On the eighth day after His birth, Jesus was circumcised according to the Law. He was brought into the covenant, as all those circumcised before him were. Now, in John’s baptism, Jesus identifies Himself with mankind. He takes responsibility for mankind’s sin. By submitting to John’s baptism, Jesus deliberately took our place as His Father had sent Him to do.[2] It was here that God the Father made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God.[3] Immediately after His baptism, Jesus will be driven into the wilderness by the Spirit. Jesus, Israel reduced to one, will be tempted by Satan. A second Exodus and wilderness wandering. Israel was hard-hearted and unfaithful. Jesus remains faithful. He will put right what Israel got wrong. He will resist the temptation of Satan. Being the sinless Savior, God in human flesh, Jesus will go to the cross. He will die as a transgressor, accursed, hung on the tree, that is the cross, the pure and spotless sacrifice for the sins of the world; He will raise to life again on the third day, the victor over sin, death, and the devil. His journey begins here with His baptism by John.

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[1] Mark 1:7-8

[2] Wicke, Harold E. Mark. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2004.

[3] 2 Corinthians 5:21