Mark 1:9-13
Jesus is confirmed in office, accepts the battle and shows Himself, the second Adam, stronger than the devil
Jesus emerges from the simple hinterland of Israel.
Here is shown how He is revealed right from his first appearance as the Messiah, who makes the Kingdom of God dawn on us.
Jesus also submits to baptism (Mark 1:9). Thus He shows that He wants to identify Himself with us, sinful people, a humiliation for Him who had no sin Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21).
At the same time, He is recognized by His Father as His Son, who would be able to perform the task He had undertaken. The Holy Spirit makes Him capable (John 3:34), made visible in the sign of the dove (Mark 1:10).
The dove may also be seen here as an image of the meekness and peace that will come to us, through Jesus’ victory.
In baptism it also becomes clear what it costs Jesus to gain salvation for us: the immersion in the water indicates the abyss of suffering and death from which the new life had to be brought up, and how willing He is to make this sacrifice.
And also how much the Father agrees with his Son (Mark 1:11; John 3:16)
It immediately became clear how necessary this was.
The Holy Spirit immediately leads Jesus on the difficult way: the way to save us is not only a way of suffering but also a way of struggle. For the Kingdom of God must be conquered from the devil, God’s great adversary, who is the ruler of this world (Mark 1:12-13; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).
The baptism of Jesus is followed by the great test of whether He, the second Adam, would be able to withstand the wiles and the superhuman seduction power of the devil.
And then it turns out that Jesus is indeed the One who would reconcile heaven and earth. We ourselves belong to the human world, we see the animal world in peace with Him and the inhabitants of heaven serving Him (Mark 1:13). Paradise lights up for a moment. But the road to this ultimate goal would be long and arduous.
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Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Website: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
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