The Baptized and the Baptized
January 8, 2006 - Mark 1:4-11
Open It
How do people typically show approval of others?
When was a time you were affirmed by others?
What is one form of recognition you received growing up, whether at school, at home, or from friends?
Explore It
How was Isaiah's prophecy fulfilled? (1:4)
What reasons to be baptized did John give the people? (1:4)
What had to happen before John could baptize a person? (1:5)
When John said, "After me will come one more powerful than I," to whom was he referring? (1:7)
What was John's attitude toward Jesus? (1:7)
What was the theme of John's message? (1:7-8)
How did Jesus' baptism differ from John's? (1:8)
Who baptized Jesus? Why? (1:9)
Why was this event significant? (1:9)
What happened after Jesus was baptized? (1:10)
How were the three persons of the Trinity present in this event? (1:10-11)
What did the voice from heaven say about Jesus? (1:11)
Get It
How can Jesus' gift of the Holy Spirit make a difference in our lives?
What does the message of Jesus offer to people?
What usually prevents us from being Christ's witnesses?
How can a person's witness reflect humility and respect for Jesus?
How can we ensure that our lives focus attention on Christ, and not on ourselves?
How should we respond to Jesus' example of baptism?
In what ways can we imitate Jesus' attitude of humility and obedience?
Apply It
What step could you take this week toward becoming a better witness for Christ?
With whom can you share God's promise of forgiveness of sins? How?
Notes
Mark 1:4: In John's ministry, baptism was a visible sign that a person had decided to change his or her life, giving up a sinful and selfish way of living and turning to God. John took a known custom and gave it new meaning. The Jews often baptized non-Jews who had converted to Judaism. But to baptize a Jew as a sign of repentance was a radical departure from Jewish custom. The early church took baptism a step further, associating it with Jesus' death and resurrection (see, for example, Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21).
Mark 1:7-8: Although John was the first genuine prophet in 400 years, Jesus the Messiah would be infinitely greater than he. John was pointing out how insignificant he was compared to the one who was coming. John was not even worthy of doing the most menial tasks for him, like untying his sandals. What John began, Jesus finished. What John prepared, Jesus fulfilled.
Mark 1:8: John said Jesus would baptize them with the Holy Spirit, sending the Holy Spirit to live within each believer. John's baptism with water prepared a person to receive Christ's message. This baptism demonstrated repentance, humility, and willingness to turn from sin. This was the beginning of the spiritual process.
When Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit, however, the entire person is transformed by the Spirit's power. Jesus offers to us both forgiveness of sin and the power to live for him.
Mark 1:9: If John's baptism was for repentance from sin, why was Jesus baptized? While even the greatest prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) had to confess their sinfulness and need for repentance, Jesus didn't need to admit sin-he was sinless. Although Jesus didn't need forgiveness, he was baptized for the following reasons: (1) to begin his mission to bring the message of salvation to all people; (2) to show support for John's ministry; (3) to identify with our humanness and sin; (4) to give us an example to follow. We know that John's baptism was different from Christian baptism in the church because Paul had John's followers baptized again (see Acts 19:2-5).
Mark 1:10-11: The Spirit descended like a dove on Jesus, and the voice from heaven proclaimed the Father's approval of Jesus as his divine Son. That Jesus is God's divine Son is the foundation for all we read about Jesus in the Gospels. Here we see all three members of the Trinity together-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.