The Beginning, the Baptism, and the Kingdom
Mark 1:1-15
The Son of God
"The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mk1:1). In his opening line Mark makes a bold statement that Jesus is the Son of God. It is not something that Mark will bring up again until the pronouncement of Jesus' death by the Roman Centurion (Mk 15:39). The gospel, or good news, is an immediate and opening volley claiming the superiority of Christ over Rome. In the Roman world, the "good news" was often a report of a military victory, and the "son of God" was a title reserved for the emperor. Therefore, Mark's opening line not only places Jesus at odds with the Roman emperor, but it also redefines good news from being the result of a military victory to the shameful victory of suffering and submission on the cross. In short, Mark's Jesus is about to upset everything.
Mark has no miraclous birth story, no shepherds, no magi. It's possible that Mark did not know the story of Jesus' birth. At least we know that he did not deem it important for his audience. Christ's life begins at his baptism. This is intentional as the lives of Mark's audience also begin at their baptisms as they experience new life in Christ.
The Baptism, the Desert, and the Kingdom
Mark begins his gospel with a prologue, introducing us to the figure of John. John is an interesting character, eating locusts and wearing camel's hair. is in the wilderness "preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mk1:4). John's ministry is a fulfillment of a combination of prophecies from Ex 23:20, Mal 4:5-6, and Isa 40:3, all of which Mark ascribes to Isaiah. Mark appears to quote from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the OT used by many Jews in the first century, which differs from the traditional Hebrew verse, "prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness." The Qumran community interpreted Isa 40:3 according to the Hebrew version in that they moved into the wilderness to prepare the way for the coming Messiah(s). For them "the way" was an ascetic lifestyle of obedience to God.
Therefore in Mark the Christian life is not called out into the desert, as if followers of Jesus are to remove themselves from the world. Rather, the desert is chosen for its high place in Israelite history. The desert was where Israel was formed, tested, and later given a second chance. Here Mark is saying that in the desert something significant, something new, is happening again.
In contrast to Qumran, Mark follows the Greek translation where the messenger is in the wilderness calling people to a new way once again. For Mark, "the Lord" in Isa 40:3 refers to Jesus, and "the way" refers to Jesus' journey from Galilee to the cross.
Jesus enters the wilderness and is baptized by John. Why was Jesus baptized, especially since John's baptism was one of repentance? After all, Christ had no sin, right? This is a difficult question. In baptism, Jesus takes his place among humanity who awaits God's coming in the world in a powerful way. The wait is over. For when Jesus is baptized, the heavens are opened (literally ripped open) and God's Spirit once again dwells on earth. The word "ripped open" is only used here and in Mk 15:38 when the temple curtain is "ripped open" unleashing God's presence, which had resided in the Holy of Holies into the world. In both cases, God has entered the world again in a new and powerful way. John was an apocalyptic prophet, waiting for God to reveal the mystery of salvation. In the person of Jesus, the mystery has been revealed.
An Invitation to "the way"
Like Mark's audience, we too are invited into the good news. God's kingdom has come in the person of Jesus. We are invited to join Christ in "the way" of the cross. But we do not journey alone, for the wall that separated us from God has been ripped open, God's Spirit once again resides among us.
Questions for thought and discussion
1. How do you think God's kingdom in Mark, highlighted by the way of the cross, is different that the kingdoms of the world today?
2. What desert experiences in your life have formed your relationship with God?
3. What is the way of the cross, what does it mean for your life as a follower of Jesus?
The Son of God
"The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mk1:1). In his opening line Mark makes a bold statement that Jesus is the Son of God. It is not something that Mark will bring up again until the pronouncement of Jesus' death by the Roman Centurion (Mk 15:39). The gospel, or good news, is an immediate and opening volley claiming the superiority of Christ over Rome. In the Roman world, the "good news" was often a report of a military victory, and the "son of God" was a title reserved for the emperor. Therefore, Mark's opening line not only places Jesus at odds with the Roman emperor, but it also redefines good news from being the result of a military victory to the shameful victory of suffering and submission on the cross. In short, Mark's Jesus is about to upset everything.
Mark has no miraclous birth story, no shepherds, no magi. It's possible that Mark did not know the story of Jesus' birth. At least we know that he did not deem it important for his audience. Christ's life begins at his baptism. This is intentional as the lives of Mark's audience also begin at their baptisms as they experience new life in Christ.
The Baptism, the Desert, and the Kingdom
Mark begins his gospel with a prologue, introducing us to the figure of John. John is an interesting character, eating locusts and wearing camel's hair. is in the wilderness "preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mk1:4). John's ministry is a fulfillment of a combination of prophecies from Ex 23:20, Mal 4:5-6, and Isa 40:3, all of which Mark ascribes to Isaiah. Mark appears to quote from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the OT used by many Jews in the first century, which differs from the traditional Hebrew verse, "prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness." The Qumran community interpreted Isa 40:3 according to the Hebrew version in that they moved into the wilderness to prepare the way for the coming Messiah(s). For them "the way" was an ascetic lifestyle of obedience to God.
Therefore in Mark the Christian life is not called out into the desert, as if followers of Jesus are to remove themselves from the world. Rather, the desert is chosen for its high place in Israelite history. The desert was where Israel was formed, tested, and later given a second chance. Here Mark is saying that in the desert something significant, something new, is happening again.
In contrast to Qumran, Mark follows the Greek translation where the messenger is in the wilderness calling people to a new way once again. For Mark, "the Lord" in Isa 40:3 refers to Jesus, and "the way" refers to Jesus' journey from Galilee to the cross.
Jesus enters the wilderness and is baptized by John. Why was Jesus baptized, especially since John's baptism was one of repentance? After all, Christ had no sin, right? This is a difficult question. In baptism, Jesus takes his place among humanity who awaits God's coming in the world in a powerful way. The wait is over. For when Jesus is baptized, the heavens are opened (literally ripped open) and God's Spirit once again dwells on earth. The word "ripped open" is only used here and in Mk 15:38 when the temple curtain is "ripped open" unleashing God's presence, which had resided in the Holy of Holies into the world. In both cases, God has entered the world again in a new and powerful way. John was an apocalyptic prophet, waiting for God to reveal the mystery of salvation. In the person of Jesus, the mystery has been revealed.
An Invitation to "the way"
Like Mark's audience, we too are invited into the good news. God's kingdom has come in the person of Jesus. We are invited to join Christ in "the way" of the cross. But we do not journey alone, for the wall that separated us from God has been ripped open, God's Spirit once again resides among us.
Questions for thought and discussion
1. How do you think God's kingdom in Mark, highlighted by the way of the cross, is different that the kingdoms of the world today?
2. What desert experiences in your life have formed your relationship with God?
3. What is the way of the cross, what does it mean for your life as a follower of Jesus?
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