Mr 1:2-11

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Mr 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mr 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Mr 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Mr 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mr 1:6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

Mr 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

Mr 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Mr 1:9 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

Mr 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

Mr 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mr 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

It is written in the prophets

Mark references more than one prophet and merges their prophecies as though they were one. This troubles some, but get used to it. Mark understands that God is the sole author and that all the prophecies speak of Christ. They can be merged like transparencies laid on top of each other, where each has only a part of the picture.

Mal 3:1 ¶ Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Isa 40:3 ¶ The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

messenger:

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Before your face

"In your presence". The messenger and the Lord will meet. Not only did they meet, but their ministries overlapped as did those of Elijah and Elisha. Jesus preached repentance just like John until John was put into prison when he began to teach of the grace of the kingdom .

Which will prepare the way before thee

The purpose of the forerunner is to prepare the 'way' of the Lord. This suggests that the one following is the Lord. Isaiah speaks in 3rd person of the Lord coming. But the prophecy of Malachi above is spoken by the Lord in first person; "He shall prepare the way before ME."

The way

There are two words closely related in Hebrew:

Way 02015 הפך haphak - turn back, overthrow

Path 0734 ארח ‘orach - Highway

The way is the way back. Jesus said he was the way,

Consider then that John was doing something to prepare the way back for Jesus. He had left his high estate as God of very God, and was found in the form of a man.

Next: Mr 1:3

References

Mr 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

The voice

Compare John, who is called the voice to Jesus who is called the Word.

Wilderness

John was not really all that far in the wilderness. Crowds were coming to see him. But the wilderness is the place of desolation. It is a metaphor for the earth without the word of God. It is the dry land of Ge 1.

the way of the Lord

As mentioned in Mr 1:2, the way is the way back. John is doing something to prepare the way back for Jesus. What would hinder his way back to Glory?

make his paths straight

'Way' and 'path' are two aspects of one thing. The path is the walk in the flesh. The way is the spiritual life. The life in the flesh, for Jesus, was filled with peril. Even more-so than for you or I.

Straight - smooth so that one does not twist his ankle. Metaphorically, so he does not stumble in sin.

Jesus was constantly faced with the temptation of who he was. We are mere humans, who by our universal sin (called original sin by some) make ourselves to be God by choosing what is good and evil for ourselves. This is the domain of God. We set ourselves at war with God without even thinking about it by going about in life living instinctively.

Jesus was very God of God. If he chose to do what he wanted, he would not sin. He is the one to whom judgement belongs. But if he grasped at what rightly belonged to him, he would forfeit being out high priest. He could not save us. He had to be tempted in every way that we are, and without advantage.

He also did not want to die. No one said he had to die except himself in the covenant he made with man before he even created man.

There are many things that would continue to tempt Jesus to avoid the death on the cross. His own wilderness experience (Mt 4),his friend Peter and even the death of his friend Lazarus (Joh 11), tempted him to avoid the cross.

John is helping Jesus prepare for those temptations. Can you see which elements in the events of his baptism would encourage him to have confidence in who he is and what he must do?

Next Mr 1:4

References

Mr 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

baptize

John did baptize (baptizo) meaning immersed them and kept them there. (see W: baptize βαπτίζω baptizo) Since he did not drown anyone, he only immersed them and removed them (bapto). He immersed them and did not remove them from the preaching of repentance!

The immersion in water was merely a symbol of introducing them to a changed life.

repentance

Repentance means to change your mind, to agree with God about who is God. This is the first step to returning to him. Your carnal mind is at war with God about who is in control. Repentance is surrender.

remission of sin

Remission ἄφεσις aphesis comes from the root meaning to separate. It does not mean to forgive! John had no power or authority to forgive. If John could forgive sin by baptism or through repentance, then Jesus died in vain. Forgiveness comes through the cross.

Remission means release from bondage. You are no longer in slavery to sin. When you confess that God alone is God, and you are not; you are now free to obey him.

The boy broke his neighbor's window with baseball. He confessed to his father and promised to be more careful.. this is repentance. His brother heard about it, and seeking to get him in trouble runs to his father to tell him of the event. This is the accuser. But the father already knew about it and planned to fix it. The accusation has no power, because things are in progress. This is the state of those disciples of John. They have the promise that all will be made right, but all will not be right until the cross.

Next Mr 1:5

References

Mr 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sin

the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem

Though Jerusalem is the very naval of Judea, this is not redundant. When there are two things together they represent two aspects of the same thing. Rather than say there were two types of people whio came, it is more proper to say that those who came had two natures. Judea, (or Judah) יהודה is the name Yahweh יהוה with his command ד. They were the commanded of God. But they did not understand teh law, so they were commanded in the flesh. This is highlighted by the use of the word 'land' suggesting their earthly nature.

'Jerusalem' means 'teaching of peace'. Their spiritual nature was a desire for peace with God. Their repentance also had two natures: an earthly nature of physical baptism, and a spiritual nature of confession.

river Jordan

River Jordan or the 'waters/word of the descender'. Jesus is the one who descended from heaven. This is the second riddle saying that they were baptized in the teaching or word of Christ.

confessing their sins

It was prophesied that John would be an effective preacher. Following the prophecy of Mal 3:1 that there would be a forerunner , Malachi also says that he will be effective in his preaching so that they are ready for the Lord.

John is doing this to help keep the Messiah from stumbling (make his paths straight). When Jesus saw the multitudes who has confessed their sins, he had compassion on them. Those who has confessed their sin helped encourage him toward the cross in his compassion.

Next Mr 1:6

References

Mr 1:6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

Prophets of old were sometimes required to do strange things as part of their prophecy. hey would live out a sort of dinner theater for the people to wonder and talk about. John wore a costume that would remind people of Elijah that he was fulfilling prophecy. It was a part of his 'dinner theater'.

hairy and a leather belt

2Ki 1:8 And they answered him, [He was] an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It [is] Elijah the Tishbite.

four voices

Mark was also suggesting we think of the for voices of God: Judge, King, Priest and Prophet:

camel’s hair:

The authority (hair) of a judge (camel)

girdle of a skin

King's girdle אזור of righteousness (skin עור is a pun to lightאור ) The light אור surrounds the bride ז.

about his loins

as a gift מתן (Elijah was righteous as a gift)

locusts:

The increase/hidden/church ארבה. He ate the body of Christ. This is a symbol of the priest.

wild honey

As the prophet: The word דב of marriage ש. The prophecy of Christ as the bridegroom in the flesh.

Next Mr 1:7

References

Mr 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

John references the verses that follow Mal 3:1 in describing the one who follows him. He doesn't quote the verses but restates their meaning:

mightier than I

Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

He is mightier: Who can live through the day of his coming?

He is mightier: Who can stand in his presence? "Every knee will bow.."

He is mightier: He will clean the essence and the outside.

Mal 3:3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

latchet

The word for latchet comes from the root of 'untwisting'. The shoes were held on by twisting the thong into a knot. John has just quoted the prophecy that he is the one making straight the way of the Lord, but then humbly confesses that he is not even worthy to make straight the thong on his shoe.

Next Mr 1:8

References

Mr 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Baptism

In our study on baptism we looked at the subtle nuances between bapto and baptizo. The reason we went to a pickle recipe is to see the nuance. They are not always used in such a nuanced way.

Baptizo is used to reference the physical act of being baptized, but should be understood, even when not nuanced to refer to bapto and baptizo together. It is an introductory act as the beginning of a new life in the teaching of Christ.

shadows of baptism

There are several prophetic riddles concerning baptism: the flood , crossing the Red Sea , crossing the Jordan , Jonah cast into the sea , to mention a few. Each picture participates in the revelation of Jesus Christ.

However, of particular importance is the story of Naaman. Naaman was a great captain in Syria who was a leper. Naaman was told to immerse himself seven times in the Jordan. When Naaman did it, he was cured and his flesh became as that of a little child.

Consider the following metaphor:

Naaman ('pleasant') was a pleasant person who was a valiant man with many good works.

But he was a leper, which means he was a sinner.

He was told to dip seven times... and since seven means complete, he was dipped completely. He was baptizo-ed, where the completeness of seven is realized.

He was dipped in the water of the Jordan, or the 'Word of the Descender'. Jesus is the Son of God incarnate who descended from heaven. He was immersed in the Word of Christ.

His flesh became as a little child... He was forgiven.

This is the picture that John was re-enacting.

Consider some other elements:

The word of the prophet pointed to the word of Christ. He did not call attention to himself, nor accept payment. The prophet receives freely, and so he gives freely.

The nice guy sinner (Naaman) wanted to do something to be cleansed. All he had to do was trust the word of Christ (the water of the Jordan). No other water would do.

The sinner was not able to find the word of Christ without the word of the prophet.

with the Holy Ghost

It is by the Holy Ghost that we remain in his teaching.

Some people say they have been baptized, but have no interest in remaining in his word. Some say they have the Holy Spirit, but do not wish to study. Do you see a problem here?

Next: Mr 1:9

References

Mr 1:9 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

Galilee was home to Jews and Gentiles. The name means "circuit" but also is the rod portion of a door hinge. A rod represents God's authority as a judge.

Why is the mention of Nazareth of Galilee important to the fulfillment of prophecy? The predominant belief was that the 'good work' of the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. Nathaniel could not believe the Messiah could come from there.

Nazareth is believed to come from the Hebrew netser נצר meaning a "shoot" or "sprout". Some believe from notserah נצר meaning "one guarding". Perhaps it comes from nazar נזר , the root for the word "Nazarite" and "crown" or "separate".

But the Greeks, interpret things backwards. Reading Nathaniel's words they presume that Nazareth had a stigma on it for some reason: Backwoods, Boondocks, Hicksville, Trailer Park territory, Home of the rednecks, Illiterate, Backwards, Behind the times, Dead end.

Mark was concerned with telling how Jesus fulfilled prophecy. Nazareth is not mentioned in the OT. Mark must have a riddle in mind. Perhaps the same riddles as Matthew.

Samson

Samson is one of the judges who was a Nazarite. His name means "like the sun" which represents the holiness of God. The hair of the Nazarite represents his righteousness, it is the 'hair of his separation or holiness.

At his birth, an angel declared to the barren woman she would conceive and bear a child as a prophecy of the declaration to Mary.

Judge Samson did not sit and rule over Israel. He did not decide judicial cases. He judged Israel by being the only one who trusted God. God used him for mighty works. He judged Israel by putting them to shame. Likewise, the perfect life of Jesus puts us to shame. He faced the same temptations that we do, but did not sin.

Baptized of John in Jordan

He was immersed in the "beloved" (John) in the "descender" (Jordan).

Jesus had to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. . He had to be fully identified with men as the Kinsman Redeemer. He had to be fully man.

He immersed himself in his incarnation among his people; fully identified with them.

Next: Mr 1:10

References

Mr 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

When the heavens are opened, what can be seen? The firmament divides the waters above and below. Jesus as the firmament, as the solid thing between the waters of baptism and the waters of heaven, could see both sides.

There were two things between the waters: the firmament, and the Spirit.

When there are two things, they are two aspects of the same thing. The two things between the waters are seen here to be one. The Spirit descended and rested upon him. The Spirit and the firmament are joined.

The Hebrew word for dove is 'Jonah'. One sign of Jonah begins here, and ends in his death and resurrection. A second sign of Jonah starts three days and nights before his resurrection. The two signs are two aspects of the same sign.

Next: Mr 1:11

References

Mr 1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The voice

John was the voice in the wilderness (desolation), or the water/word below and the voice from Heaven was the water/word above full of the riches of his grace.

the Son

The voice declaring that Jesus is the Son of God also declares that the heathen will belong to him. It declares the salvation of the Gentiles.

It also declares that a bride, the church, awaits him. At the end of the sixth day of creation, he declared it was very good. And God is well-pleased.

Next: Mr 1:12

References