Mark 1(3): 1:9-13 Jesus’ Baptism and Temptation
Jesus appears among the crowd at the river and undergoes his baptism (v.9). By this he signifies his solidarity with his people and participation in God’s New Exodus. Unlike all others baptized by John, Jesus has a visionary experience as he rises out of the water in both sight and sound. He sees heaven “torn apart.” The prophet Isaiah had cried out to God, “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!” (64:1-2) Mark surely has this text in mind as he narrates Jesus’ experience. He fulfils this prophetic hope and signals the onset of the New Exodus by using this language for Jesus’ baptism. Jesus’ also sees the Spirit descending o...