The Baptism of Our Lord: Gospel, Mark 1 :4-11                      

Mark 1:4-11

There is in Mark’s gospel a wonderful simplicity. Clear. Concise. Short and to the point. It has long been understood and accepted that the gospel through Mark really belongs to Peter. Mark is his recorder. And it stands to reason that the disciple known for quick and often thoughtless comments should be the one who likes to get to the point. I think in other meditations I have related the fact that in Mark’s gospel the word translated as our word “immediately” occurs over forty times. Immediately. Nothing in between.

Here we have Mark penning the account of Jesus coming to John for baptism. John is described as to his dress and diet. And the account begins with the stark, “John appeared” (v. 4). Mark gets right to the point as he brings to us John’s message. In effect John simply says, “Don’t look at me. Look at the one who comes to me.”

Our Lord comes on the scene, being described by Mark only by his town of origin, Nazareth. Then as quickly as the account begins, Jesus is rising from baptism to an open heaven and a voice that is as succinct as the rest of the story, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (v. 11). That’s it for Mark (Peter). No frills. This One rising from baptism is the very one who in just a few years will rise from the dead (interesting connection not to be missed). This is the One Peter will thought-FULLY deny thrice. This is the One.

God the Father is well pleased with Him. So must we be. Short and to the point.