You Are My Beloved Son; With You I Am Well Pleased

Mark 1:9-11

     I have long been fascinated by the baptism of Jesus. Everything about it is striking from John humbly seeking to cast Jesus in the role of baptizer (Matthew 3:14), to our Lord’s response to John’s statement (Matthew 3:15), to the heavens being torn open, to the descending of the Spirit, to the voice of the Father speaking to His Son. There are many scenes described in the gospels that modern Christians would love to have been present to witness. This scene stands near the top of my list.

     Mark, in his typical fashion, shows us the scene in just a few words before quickly moving to the events immediately following our Lord’s baptism. However, the little Mark does say about the baptism itself is noteworthy.

     Bible students know that our Lord’s baptism (more specifically, the Spirit descending and resting upon him) was God’s sign to John that the Messiah had come and was standing before him (John 1:29-34). Matthew shows us that God spoke about Jesus at that time (Matthew 3:17), at least for the sake of John and perhaps any bystanders still present. However, both Mark and Luke (3:22) show us that the Father was primarily addressing Jesus Himself. The entire divine family was present in a very special way at this time. The Son was being baptized, the Spirit came and remained with Him, and the Father audibly expressed His love and pleasure in His Son. What an extraordinary family gathering!

     Yet as amazing as it was, I suppose it shouldn’t come as a surprise when we consider the circumstances. The fullness of time had finally come. He who had been prophesied about near the very beginning (Genesis 3:15) and countless times throughout the centuries that followed had finally come into the world. John’s preparatory work was all but complete and the time had come for the Messiah himself to take up his ministry. Centuries worth of prophecy were coming to fruition. Thus, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all present in a very special way at the event that, after a period of intense temptation in the wilderness, marked the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

     The Father said that He was well pleased with his Son. Why wouldn’t He have been? The boy Jesus had increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52). If he was about 30 at his baptism (as most believe), then he had reached that point without transgressing the law of God even a single time. The question that came from the lips of the boy Jesus, Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business (Luke 3:49b), was the theme of his entire life (John 8:29). Living a life absolutely free from sin, devoted entirely to fulfilling the Father’s purposes without a single slip, is staggering. It’s something every saint has failed to accomplish. In fact, were every sin we have ever committed written down in detail and set before our eyes I have no doubt the length of the list would shock and shame us. Were Jesus to have such a list it would contain not a single mark. Let that sink in for just a moment. We who have succumbed to sin more times than we can count owe a debt that we cannot begin to repay. Praise be to our sinless Savior who willingly paid it in our stead! While this thought could obviously be pursued further, it is an article for another time.

     I often wonder about everything the Lord’s baptism meant to Him personally. Without revelation on the matter such questions cannot be answered and it is probably best not to try. Yet for us, I believe we see another example of Jesus sharing the circumstances of man. While he did not need to be baptized to have sins remitted, he came to earth so that sins could be remitted. As sins are washed clean in the waters of baptism, it is significant that he who made such cleansing possible preceded us in receiving it. Besides recognizing its significance, let us tread with caution lest we enter the realm of speculation and begin speaking where God has not.

     The baptism of Jesus and the events surrounding it are simply extraordinary. From that point on our Lord worked in earnest preaching, teaching, and preparing. But for now, think about that day so long ago when the divine family gathered at the baptism of sinless Jesus. His was a life that pleased the Father in every way. Let us strive to emulate our Savior in this and all things.