“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
After Jesus is raised from the watery grave of his baptism, the heavens are opened and the Spirit descends with the blessing of the Father. I am struck by three things in this scene.
First, Mark begins his version of the Gospel with Jesus submitting to death. Whatever else baptism is, it is a call to die. Baptism is the watery grave where we die to self (the false-self) and become alive to all that is real (the true-self). Perhaps Mark is suggesting that the Gospel journey is always a baptismal journey – “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life…will save it. (Mark 8:35) The baptism of Jesus is the cross before the Cross.
Secondly, the descent of Jesus into the chaotic waters opens something up. The heavens are opened. Death opens us up to new life – a life that is entirely different than what we’ve known or even dared to imagine. In this new life opposites are reconciled. Heaven and earth, spirit and flesh, God and humanity are united and made one in Christ. The sub-dividing nature of sin is at an end. Such is the meaning of the Incarnation – “and the Word became flesh.” God is healing that which we have torn asunder.
Thirdly, The Spirit descends with a blessing. This blessing is what the Psalmist would have called “the kiss of God.” In fact I can hear the Psalmist singing in the background…“Love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss. (Ps. 85:10). In Christ, we too are kissed by God. We know God’s favor and we are his beloved. This is our salvation.
In this short scene we see the gospel within the Gospel - Incarnation, baptism, blessing. It’s all there. Each scene within the Gospel Story is itself a gospel story. May it be so with us.
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Kris Rocke
Serves as director of Center for Transforming Mission
Bumps into Reality by accident, most of the time
Heard God laugh once
