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Baptism and Temptation of Jesus (Mk. 1:9-13)

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.  10 On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.  11 And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”  12 At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, 13 and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

Mark’s focus in this section was to reveal Jesus’ true identity.  John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus had no sin, so he had no need to be baptized but he said, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness (Mt. 3:15).”  In a sermon on the Baptism of Christ, St. Gregory of Nazianzen (c. 329 AD-c. 390 AD) said, “He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake and in readiness for us; he who is spirit and flesh comes to begin a new creation through the Spirit and water.”  Christ was baptized to make the water holy so that all who believe in him could share in his holiness.  

The Heavens being torn open was a symbol that the separation between God and man resulting from Adam and Eve’s disobedience had ended and mankind could again have communication with God.  God was again intervening in human history.  Jesus was of the same being as God so the dove descending on him and God speaking confirmed the presence of the Trinity on earth communicating with mankind.  The heavens opening up, the spirit descending, and the voice from heaven, “You are my beloved Son (v. 11)” identified who Jesus really was as foretold in the OT, “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased. Upon him I have put my spirit (Is. 42:1).”  Jesus the Messiah was the suffering servant.  The voice confirmed the relationship between Jesus and God.  

The ‘desert (v. 12)’ was likely the Judean desert where JBap was baptizing (Mk. 1:4).  Mark did not tell what kind of tests Jesus experienced but suggested that the angels offered protection.  Jesus was in the desert for 40 days reminiscent of the years Israel spent wandering in the desert (Num. 14:34).  

Almighty God, we spend many years wandering through this earthly desert being conquered by many temptations.  Send down your Spirit upon us so that the waters of Baptism your Son purified for us may be activated by your light and protect us against the evil spirits of this world.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References

Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.

Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.

Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.


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