Opening the Boundary between Heaven and Earth

Mark 1:4–11

4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Historical Context

Mark is the only book in the Bible that announces itself as a “gospel” (Mark 1:1), the good news about Jesus, There is no word in Mark about the birth or youth of Jesus. He starts right in with this “good news” of Jesus’ baptism as the beginning of his ministry. It is the fulfillment of the “messenger” promised by the prophet Isaiah (40:3. Malachi 3:1), a promise reiterated by John’s own explanation of Jesus’ baptism, that his baptism was with water, but “Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8)

Theme: Opening the Boundary between Heaven and Earth

The clues are few, it seems.  We don’t hear what compels Jesus to go to John to be baptized.  Perhaps it was simply that John’s message of repentance rang true in terms of the new life it pointed to.  And John, of course, is pointing to the coming of Jesus so it’s only fitting that they meet up.  Either way, there is a certain humility exhibited here as Jesus submits to John’s baptism.  Whatever it was that brought Jesus to the Jordan River, we do know this: the boundary between heaven and earth was rent wide open.  We hear about the Spirit moving then and a voice addressing Jesus:

 “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

And no, of course we don’t hear what it was that was so pleasing about Jesus.  Perhaps it was the very humility he shows today.  Or maybe it was the Spirit knowing the truth that even then Jesus was bending himself to God’s will. Mark’s Gospel doesn’t really offer us anything more except this truth that from here on out that boundary between heaven and earth continues to be torn wide open in Jesus’ preaching and healing, teaching and calling.

And it could be that the sound of God’s voice in his ear telling him who he was, and that he was uniquely loved and pleasing to God — it could be that was enough to get him moving in the right direction.

Perhaps it would be the same for all of us.  For while none of us are Jesus, we are, of course, all of us still God’s children. Each one uniquely loved. And yes, God is pleased with us as well as we bend ourselves to God’s will: seeking as Jesus did to be hands of healing and hope for a hurting world.