Mark 1:9-12

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 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. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness. 

Jesus’ Baptism and Temptation

This is a very short, but also very dramatic, almost rushed narrative of Jesus’ baptism and temptation. The Greek word euthys means “immediately” and is used more than 40 times in the Gospel of Mark. It also means doing things properly, going straight from point A to point B, without any detours. Mark’s message is urgent. The time is ripe and the kingdom is near, the Messiah is here. He skips the events from Jesus’ birth and describes only the baptism (that Jesus, of all people, didn’t need) and the temptation as Jesus prepares for his ministry and the fulfillment of the prophesies. Jesus is confirmed as the Messiah, the Son of God and is anointed by the Holy Spirit. Immediately he is whisked away by the Spirit into the desert for a hard and lonely time of deprivation, living with wild animals and temptation.

Mark shows his readers that from the very beginning Jesus had absolute authority even though he came into the world as a suffering servant to fulfil his Father’s plan to make us his children. He is almighty as the Son of God, but he is obedient to the plan that spares him absolutely nothing. His baptism, anointment with the Holy Spirit and the declaration of his authority don’t lead to things that we usually consider blessings or that we often expect and ask for from God: a successful life, security, loving friends and family, good church etc. These are all good things to be thankful for, but the greatest blessing we have, is that despite hardship and temptation, despite illness, war, death and losses we can be absolutely sure of one thing: Nothing can separate us from the love of God, for all his sufferings were for our salvation.

Prayer: Who shall separate us from your love, Jesus? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through you who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in you, Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.                                                                              Adapted from Romans 8:35, 37-39