Mark 1:9-11--The Baptism of Jesus

Mark 1:9-10
English Standard Version
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The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

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If you didn't notice it last time, you will this time that the Gospel of Mark tells the same story in a much shorter, more condensed format.  Here we have the beginning of Jesus' ministry marked by His baptism taking only two verses.  "In those days" means in the days that John the Baptist was preparing the way and baptizing sinners for repentance that we looked at yesterday.  "Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee" shows that there was intentional effort by Jesus to travel cross-country to be baptized by John.  Nazareth was nowhere close to where John was baptizing in Judea.  The first verse ends with the simple declaration, "[Jesus] was baptized by John in the Jordan."  Something special happened at that time which is what verse 10 is going to tell us about.

When Jesus came up out of the water (for He was immersed when He was baptized), Jesus saw the heavens opened (Mark says torn open) and the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove.  Notice the text does not say that everyone else saw this.  There is also no mention by Mark of the voice that some heard saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."  This event marks the official beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry and it sets us up for the next passage when the Spirit that just descended on Jesus drove Him into the wilderness to be tested.  We'll look at that passage next time.