Jesus’ Baptism
Mark 1:10-11
I am an amateur photographer. Each
photograph captures a moment in time. Mark is like a word-photographer. He
takes a snapshot of time which is short and to the point. He captures moments
of time in the life of Jesus with his words. The first snapshot of Jesus is his
baptism: “Immediately coming up out of
the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending
upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: ‘You are My beloved Son, in You
I am well pleased’ ” (Mark 1:10-11). This records only a short instance within the
event, much like a snapshot from a camera. The other accounts in the Gospels
are much more detailed and expanding accounts than what Mark records. Mark
captures not the complete event, but a moment of time within the event. In this
snapshot we see nothing of the process of baptism; rather, it is a snapshot a
moment of time within the baptism.
This snapshot captures:
THE MOMENT OF EMPOWERMENT. The
Holy Spirit came upon him like a dove. The snapshot balances Jesus coming up out of the water with the Holy
Spirit coming down upon Him (1:10). His
“coming up” is a present participle
indicating the occasion of His anointing by God’s Spirit. The descending of the Spirit like a dove upon
Him is a picture of God’s empowerment for ministry. It fulfills the promise of
the Messiah being endowed with God’s Spirit (Isa. 11:2; 42:1; 61:13).
THE MOMENT OF IDENTIFICATION. God
spoke to identify who Jesus is—“My
beloved Son.” Mark not only captures the visual, but the audible as well.
This is a pronouncement of God the Father declaring who Jesus is. He is the Son
of God. The verb is in the present tense, indicating the essential relationship
that is continual. It did not have a beginning, and will not have an ending. It
is a unique relationship. “In this
context ‘Son’ is not a messianic title, but is to be understood in the highest
sense, transcending messiahship” observes Lane.[1] The
identification of Sonship is not what Jesus became; rather it is what He was,
is, and will be (cf. John 1:1).
THE MOMENT OF APPROVAL. The
Father voices His approval of the Son—“In
you I am well-pleased.” Every son wants the approval of his father. God the
Father voices that approval. In this we see the echo of Isaiah 42:1. Jesus is
the delight of the Fathers’ soul. The statement communicates both the approval
and pleasure of God the Father.
THE MOMENT OF INTERACTION. This
snapshot in one of the few moments in the New Testament when the Godhead
(Trinity) is seen together. Here they acted together; each with his part. Jesus
is the physical presence of Son on earth; the Spirit descending from Heaven;
and the Father speaking from Heaven.
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