Read Mark 1:9-13:
9It came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River.
10And straightaway, as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit like a dove descending upon him.
11And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
12Immediately, the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness.
13And he was there in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted of Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to him.
Mark’s Gospel is a book of action. Jesus the Messiah takes center-stage as he goes to work for the salvation of the whole world. In these five verses, Mark tells the story of our Lord’s baptism and temptation by the devil. The focus is squarely upon the Messiah of Israel who comes to fulfill all righteousness. Our Lord does everything necessary for our eternal salvation. In his baptism, Jesus identifies himself with us sinners. He stands shoulder-to-shoulder with us in the muddy waters of the Jordan. He becomes our substitute. He takes our place. He undergoes everything required of God’s people.
In the baptism of Jesus, we clearly see a revelation of the Holy Trinity: The Son of God stands in the waters of the Jordan, the Father speaks from heaven, and the Holy Spirit descends from heaven in the form of a dove.
The heavens are opened in Holy Baptism. In baptism, we received the Holy Spirit, as we are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, and as the heavenly Father declares we are now his beloved children. Baptism is the work of the Triune God.
In Mark’s description of our Lord’s temptation, we have echoes of the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve dwelt with the animals in paradise. They were also tempted by the devil, but they failed the test. They sinned and fell from perfection.
Jesus perfectly obeys the Father’s will as he places himself under God’s law. Our Lord will do everything necessary to complete God’s will. The Father is well pleased with his Son as he works for our salvation. He comes to redeem lost sinners, to defeat the devil and to make all things new.
Think about how your salvation depends upon Jesus and not yourself. Salvation is a gift of grace. It is why the Son of God enters into this lost and broken world. He comes to save lost sinners. He redeems and restores. He defeats the power of the devil and surrounds us with his love.
Give thanks that you are safe in the hands of Christ. The Savior is with you today and every day. Pray for his protection, providence and care. Ask for the Holy Spirit to help you when you are tempted. Pray to the heavenly Father through the power of God’s Son. Cry out, “Abba, Father!”
Galatians 3:26-29:
26For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 4:4-7:
4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law of God.
5To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father!
7Therefore, you are no longer a servant, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.