Mark 1:9-15
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.” 12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
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Mark is not a gospel writer to waste time. “Immediately,” “suddenly,” “and then,” and other similar phrases are constant throughout the book. In a perfect example, right after the book’s prologue concludes, Jesus is baptized in the presence of God the Creator and the Holy Spirit. In the span of two verses, Jesus is tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, then begins his ministry in Galilee. If you want a fast-paced version of Jesus’ life and ministry, this is the gospel for you.
And while that might seem overwhelming, if we slow down and take the whole passage into perspective, we see three primary events: Jesus is baptized, tempted, and sent.
Sure, Jesus’ version happened in a much more magnificent fashion, but our experience as Christians is not so different. We are baptized, blessed with the gift and promise of the Holy Spirit and God’s unconditional love. But life doesn’t change or become any easier just because we are people of faith—we still face struggles and sufferings, just like everyone else does and just like Jesus did too.
And yet, in the midst of that, we are united in faith and mission to share God’s love through word and deed, to the glory of God and God’s Kingdom come near. Baptized, tempted, sent. Claimed, challenged, called.
Prayer: Gracious God, through all the challenges we face in life, reassure us of your promise and equip us to share your good news. Remind us, just as you did with Jesus, that we are your beloved. Amen.
—Pastor Joe Orner