Gospel for January 7, 2024

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Mark 1:4-11
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This opening passage of the Gospel According to Mark is both an ending and a beginning.

John the Baptist appears only briefly. John’s unique ministry is described, and the baptism of Jesus is explained. John appears again in Mark 6, with the description of his arrest and execution by Herod’s order.

John is a transitional figure — bridging the gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament — preparing for the coming of the Messiah by calling the people to repentance.

Baptism for John represents repentance and cleansing of sin.  But he forecasts the coming of the One who will baptize with the power of the Holy Spirit.  He is keenly aware that he is to be surpassed by the One coming after him.

The baptism of Jesus is more simply and directly described here than in any of the other three Gospels.  There is no dialogue between the two cousins, no protest by John that he is unworthy to baptize Jesus.

Instead, the focus is all turned toward Jesus.  As Jesus emerges from the waters of the Jordan River, Jesus (not John) sees that the heavens are parted, and the Holy Spirit descends like a dove.  The voice of the Father is a kind of endorsement, and clear statement of the identity of Jesus:

You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

In this brief moment we see the manifestation of the Trinity.  Jesus identifies with our human nature in his baptism; the Spirit is poured out as the heavens are parted; and the Father declares that Jesus is his Son.  Each are unique, yet each of the three persons of the Godhead are present in this moment.

APPLY:  

This passage reminds us that in our Christian witness we are to point beyond ourselves toward Christ.  John was obviously a dynamic, charismatic figure who could draw the crowds.  Yet he understood that his purpose was to prepare the way for Christ.

Like John the Baptist, we may have unique personalities and lifestyles and special diets that other people might find interesting — but what really matters is pointing toward Christ in our words, our example, and our service.

RESPOND: 

I need to be careful that my own personality quirks and idiosyncrasies don’t become the focus in my Christian life — as so often we focus on John’s strange clothing and diet.  My prayer is that I may point beyond myself to Christ.

Thank you that you have identified with our nature, as illustrated in the baptism of your Son.  Thank you that because of the baptism of the cross I have received forgiveness of sins.  Now, may I not draw attention to myself, but only to you.  Amen. 

PHOTOS:
“Baptism – Mark” by WELS net is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic license.

Gospel for January 10, 2021

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Mark 1:4-11
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This opening passage of the Gospel According to Mark is both an ending and a beginning.

John the Baptist appears only briefly. John’s unique ministry is described, and the baptism of Jesus is explained. John appears again in Mark 6, with the description of his arrest and execution by Herod’s order.

John is a transitional figure — bridging the gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament — preparing for the coming of the Messiah by calling the people to repentance.

Baptism for John represents repentance and cleansing of sin.  But he forecasts the coming of the One who will baptize with the power of the Holy Spirit.  He is keenly aware that he is to be surpassed by the One coming after him.

The baptism of Jesus is more simply and directly described here than in any of the other three Gospels.  There is no dialogue between the two cousins, no protest by John that he is unworthy to baptize Jesus.

Instead, the focus is all turned toward Jesus.  As Jesus emerges from the waters of the Jordan River, Jesus (not John) sees that the heavens are parted, and the Holy Spirit descends like a dove.  The voice of the Father is a kind of endorsement, and clear statement of the identity of Jesus:

You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

In this brief moment we see the manifestation of the Trinity.  Jesus identifies with our human nature in his baptism; the Spirit is poured out as the heavens are parted; and the Father declares that Jesus is his Son.  Each are unique, yet each of the three persons of the Godhead are present in this moment.

APPLY:  

This passage reminds us that in our Christian witness we are to point beyond ourselves toward Christ.  John was obviously a dynamic, charismatic figure who could draw the crowds.  Yet he understood that his purpose was to prepare the way for Christ.

Like John the Baptist, we may have unique personalities and lifestyles and special diets that other people might find interesting — but what really matters is pointing toward Christ in our words, our example, and our service.

RESPOND: 

I need to be careful that my own personality quirks and idiosyncrasies don’t become the focus in my Christian life — as so often we focus on John’s strange clothing and diet.  My prayer is that I may point beyond myself to Christ.

Thank you that you have identified with our nature, as illustrated in the baptism of your Son.  Thank you that because of the baptism of the cross I have received forgiveness of sins.  Now, may I not draw attention to myself, but only to you.  Amen. 

PHOTOS:
“Baptism – Mark” by WELS net is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic license.

Gospel for January 7, 2018

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Mark 1:4-11
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This opening passage of the Gospel According to Mark is both an ending and a beginning.

John the Baptist appears only briefly. John’s unique ministry is described, and the baptism of Jesus is explained. John appears again in Mark 6, with the description of his arrest and execution by Herod’s order.

John is a transitional figure – bridging the gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament – preparing for the coming of the Messiah by calling the people to repentance.

Baptism for John represents repentance and cleansing of sin.  But he forecasts the coming of the One who will baptize with the power of the Holy Spirit.  He is keenly aware that he is to be surpassed by the One coming after him.

The baptism of Jesus is more simply and directly described here than in any of the other three Gospels.  There is no dialogue between the two cousins, no protest by John that he is unworthy to baptize Jesus.

Instead, the focus is all turned toward Jesus.  As Jesus emerges from the waters of the Jordan River, Jesus (not John) sees that the heavens are parted, and the Holy Spirit descends like a dove.  The voice of the Father is a kind of endorsement, and clear statement of the identity of Jesus:

You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

In this brief moment we see the manifestation of the Trinity.  Jesus identifies with our human nature in his baptism; the Spirit is poured out as the heavens are parted; and the Father declares that Jesus is his Son.  Each are unique, yet each of the three persons of the Godhead are present in this moment.

APPLY:  

This passage reminds us that in our Christian witness we are to point beyond ourselves toward Christ.  John was obviously a dynamic, charismatic figure who could draw the crowds.  Yet he understood that his purpose was to prepare the way for Christ.

Like John the Baptist, we may have unique personalities and lifestyles and special diets that other people might find interesting – but what really matters is pointing toward Christ in our words, our example, and our service.

RESPOND: 

I need to be careful that my own personality quirks and idiosyncrasies don’t become the focus in my Christian life – as so often we focus on John’s strange clothing and diet.  My prayer is that I may point beyond myself to Christ.

Thank you that you have identified with our nature, as illustrated in the baptism of your Son.  Thank you that because of the baptism of the cross I have received forgiveness of sins.  Now, may I not draw attention to myself, but only to you.  Amen. 

PHOTOS:
“Baptism – Mark” by WELS net is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic license.

Gospel for Jan. 11, 2015

Marcel van Heerden portrays John the Baptist in “The Visual Bible: Matthew.”

START WITH SCRIPTURE:

Mark 1:4-11

CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This opening passage of the Gospel According to Mark is both an ending and a beginning.

John the Baptist briefly appears here as his ministry is briefly described, and the baptism of Jesus is explained; and he appears again in Mark 6 with the details of the conspiracy against him, and his execution by Herod’s order.

John is a transitional figure – bridging the gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament – preparing for the coming of the Messiah by calling the people to repentance.

Baptism for John represents repentance and cleansing of sin.  But he forecasts the coming of the One who will baptize with the power of the Holy Spirit.  He is keenly aware that he is to be surpassed by the One coming after him.

The baptism of Jesus is more simply and directly described here than in any of the other three Gospels.  There is no dialogue between the two cousins, no protest by John that he is unworthy to baptize Jesus.

Instead, the focus here is all turned toward Jesus.  As Jesus emerges from the waters of the Jordan River, Jesus (not John) sees that the heavens are torn open and the Holy Spirit descends like a dove.  The voice of the Father is a kind of endorsement, and clear statement of his identity: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

In this brief moment we see the manifestation of the Trinity.  Jesus identifies with our nature in his baptism; the Spirit is poured out as the heavens are “torn open;” and the Father declares that Jesus is his Son.  Each are unique, yet each of the three persons of the Godhead are present in this moment.

APPLY:  

This passage reminds us that in our Christian witness we are to point beyond ourselves toward Christ.  John was obviously a dynamic, charismatic figure who could draw the crowds.  Yet he understood that his purpose was to prepare the way for Christ.

Like John the Baptist, we may have unique personalities and lifestyles and special diets that other people might find interesting – but what really matters is pointing toward Christ in our words, our example, and our service.

 

 

RESPOND: 

I need to be careful that my own personality quirks and idiosyncrasies don’t become the focus in my Christian life – as so often we focus on John’s strange clothing and diet.  My prayer is that I may point beyond myself to Christ.

Thank you that you have identified with our nature, as illustrated in the baptism of your Son.  Thank you that because of the baptism of the cross I have received forgiveness of sins.  Now, may I not draw attention to myself, but only to you.  Amen.