Christian Art | Baptism Of Jesus By John The Baptist
Mark 1: 1-8 | Baptism Of Jesus By John The Baptist | Daily Bible Verses | Advent
1 THE beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
John The Baptist Testifies To Jesus | See Also:
Daily Bible Verses | True Faith | Baptism And Prayer | John The Baptist Bears Witness To Jesus
Daily Bible Verses Advent & Christmas | Sin, Redemption, Baptism | True Faith | John The Baptist, More Than A Prophet
Daily Bible Verses For Advent | John The Baptist | The Kingdom Of Heaven | King James Audio Bible KJV
Daily Bible Verses | Martyrdom Of John The Baptist | Witness Jesus | Christian Faith | Herod’s Lust And Evil | Herodias | Christian Saints | King James Audio Bible
Mark’s Gospel, thought by many to be the earliest written, does not present an account of the birth of Christ. He begins with the proclamation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, leading into his baptism by John. Toward the end of the Gospel, when the crucified Christ dies, the centurion standing by him will affirm this, saying: ‘Truly this was the Son of God.’ Throughout this most fast paced of gospels, this is Mark’s message, to give his readers the knowledge that Christ is the Son of God.
One of Mark’s intentions in doing this is to teach his contemporaries that John the Baptist himself was not the Messiah. John performs a role quite distinct from Jesus’. John himself tells his many followers: ‘There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.’ John points the way toward Jesus. He is the last of the prophets, living now in urgent expectation of the coming of the Messiah, and preparing his followers for him.
It was normal for the Jewish people of Christ’s time to look to their history and their sacred texts in order to seek to reach an understanding of the present time. So it is that John the Baptist here is identified with Elijah and with the prophecies of Isaiah and Malachi. John is ‘clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins’ [‘… with a leather belt around his waist’ NRSV]. This recalls the description of Elijah in 2 Kings 1:8: ‘He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.’ John fulfils the role of Elijah in predicting the coming of our Lord. We recall the words of Malachi:
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers. (Malachi 4: 5-6)
Mark interprets this to mean not, or not only, that Elijah, now present as John, is to herald the day of judgement, but rather the arrival of Jesus to inaugurate the Kingdom of God. And once more, John is presented to Mark’s contemporaries as a prophet and not himself the Messiah.
The third of our Old Testament references here is to Isaiah:
1 COMFORT ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40: 1-5)
John baptises in the wilderness. He occupies a marginal space – outside of Jerusalem, away from the Temple– and yet clearly he is no marginal figure: he has a mass following; all the land of Judæa and the people of Jerusalem flock to him – this is a time of great hope, of great expectation. And how very beautiful that they do so to be baptised, to confess and repent their sins and to be forgiven their sins. There is here a great prefiguring of our Christianity.
Jesus sees that John’s baptism comes from God. That is why he goes to be baptised of him. It is so characteristic of our Lord that he should humble himself in this way. Yet Jesus comes with and brings an additional blessing, that of the Holy Spirit and too of a closer and more intimate relationship with God. The gift of the Holy Spirit follows upon repentance and baptism. We recall the work of the apostles as recorded in Acts, whereby people are said to have been baptised but have yet to be given the Holy Spirit, which the apostles bring to them. It is when Jesus is baptised that he sees the heavens open and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. It is time to begin his ministry. John has truly paved the way and the time of our Lord is at hand. He is acknowledged by a voice from heaven, by God the Father as God the Son. Through this moment, the possibility of our new relationship with God has been revealed.
As we continue our journey through Advent, it is truly fitting that we recall the work of John in the wilderness, to whom even our Lord came for baptism. It is truly remarkable that one without sin should so express his humanity, which he adopted for our sakes, in this way. How much more, then, can we profit by acknowledging our sins and seeking reconciliation as we joyfully await the coming of the Lord. In many ways this is a time of considerable hardship. We like the Jewish people face great challenges in our lives. But while we walk through darkness, we carry this great light with us, Jesus Christ.
‘Teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to me as I seek, because I can neither seek you if you do not teach me how, nor find you unless you reveal yourself. Let me seek you in desiring you; let me desire you in seeking you; let me find you in loving you; let me love you in finding you.’ St Anselm
Concluding Prayer
Almighty and merciful God,
let neither our daily work nor the cares of this life
prevent us from hastening to meet your Son.
Enlighten us with your wisdom
and lead us into his company.
We make our prayer through our Lord.
John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of Jesus, to call the people to repentance of their sins, such that their souls could be readied to receive the grace of our Lord. He was the precursor, the last of a long line of prophets awaiting Christ. As he baptized, he told the people that one greater than he was to come [ … ]
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:28-30 ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ In this passage, Jesus extends an invitation to all who are weary and burdened. Jesus promises rest and relief, urging us to take his yoke and learn from him. Jesus’ gentle and humble heart offers rest for our souls, emphasizing that his yoke is easy and his burden light. This passage is a reminder of the hope we have in Christ, who offers us rest and peace amid our struggles. Prayer Dear Jesus, In times of uncertainty and despair, I turn to you, the source of all hope. Fill my heart with your hope that transcends understanding. Help me to trust in your promises and to find joy and peace in your presence. May your hope renew my spirit and give me the strength to face each day with confidence and faith. Let your hope shine through me, bringing light to others who are in need. Amen. Personal Reflection What are the situations in your life that seem hopeless? How can you invite Jesus’ hope into these areas? Reflect on a time when you experienced renewed hope through your faith in Christ. Meditation On The Prayer And Gospel Matthew 11:28-30 is a passage that speaks directly to our need for hope and rest. Jesus’ invitation to come to him is extended to all who are weary and burdened, offering a refuge from the struggles of life. This invitation is not just a call to physical rest but a deeper spiritual rest that brings peace to our souls. Jesus understands the burdens we carry and offers a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light. The imagery of a yoke suggests partnership and guidance; by taking on his yoke, we align ourselves with him, allowing him to share our burdens and guide our steps. This partnership is marked by learning from Jesus, whose gentle and humble heart sets an example for us. The promise of rest for our souls is comforting. In a world where we often feel overwhelmed and stressed, Jesus assures us that he is our source of true rest and peace. His rest is not temporary or superficial but a peace that sustains us through life’s challenges. This promise gives us hope, knowing that no matter what we face, we can find solace in Jesus. Reflecting on this passage, we are reminded of the importance of surrendering our burdens to Jesus. It requires trust and faith to let go of our anxieties and allow him to take control. This surrender is an act of faith, acknowledging that Jesus is capable and willing to carry our burdens. As we learn to trust him more, we experience the peace and rest he promises. The hope we find in Jesus is transformative. It renews our spirits and gives us the strength to persevere. This hope is not dependent on our circumstances but on the nature of Jesus and his promises. It is a hope that empowers us to face each day with confidence, knowing that we are not alone. As we embrace this hope, we are called to share it with others. The hope we receive from Jesus is not meant to be kept to ourselves but to be a light for others who are struggling. Through words of encouragement, acts of kindness, and simply being present, we can extend Jesus’ invitation of hope and rest to those around us. By living out this hope, we reflect Christ’s love and bring his light into the world. In practical terms, fostering hope involves daily practices that keep us connected to Jesus. Spending time in prayer, reading Scripture, and being part of a faith community help us to stay grounded in our faith and renew our hope. These practices remind us of Jesus’ promises and keep our focus on him rather than on our circumstances. Prayer Lord Jesus, You are the anchor of my hope. In moments of doubt and despair, remind me of your promises. Fill my heart with your joy and peace, and let your hope overflow in my life. Help me to trust in your plans and to find strength in your presence. May your hope shine in me, guiding me through every trial and illuminating the path ahead. Use me as a beacon of your hope, bringing comfort and encouragement to those in need. Thank you for the gift of your eternal hope. Amen. Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’ Blessing May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. May you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, and may His hope guide and sustain you in all things. Amen.
In his discussion of the beatitudes, Leo Saint Leo the Great moves from the promise made to the pure of heart (‘they shall see God’) to the blessing of the peacemakers (‘they shall be called sons of God’ Matthew 5:9). He links the two by noting that only a purified heart can receive the vision of God without pain, for the divine light that consoles the pure would be torment for those who cling to sin. The cleansing of the soul, therefore, prepares for both vision and peace [ … ]
