Mark 1: 9-15
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
Jesus Announces the Good News
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
A couple of Sundays ago, Pastor Sarah told us that the book of Mark is an exciting and fast paced story of Jesus journey to the cross and resurrection. We learned that Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels and possibly the first one written. It is believed that Mark’s source of information came from Peter while they were working together. Mark captures our attention like a modern day writer, adding drama, mystery and shocking twists and turns.
The very first words in Mark 1: “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,” give the reader a sense that many things are about to happen.
Today’s story is a glimpse into what happened on the day of Jesus baptism. “Heaven was torn open and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove.” God spoke, saying, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” This was the very beginning of Jesus ministry. This was the day that God chose to introduce his Son.
The dove, described as the Spirit, immediately drove him into the wilderness. We are surprised to learn that the dove, a bird associated with a quiet, peaceful nature, has driven Jesus out to the wilderness to live with wild animals, to be confronted by Satan and to be attended to by angels.
We might wonder why the Holy Spirit sent Jesus out to battle with Satan immediately following the baptism. The answer lies in the fact that Jesus is our superhero, just like those that we read about in comic books or see on the movie screen. A superhero arrives just in time to save the world. They meet many challenges, and fight many battles with the “bad guys.” Superheroes always win in the end and humbly disappear, telling those they saved, “I am always there if you need me.”
Pastor Sarah compared the love that her children had for “Angry Birds,” to our story today. “Angry Birds,” are tiny creatures trying to save their babies from evil. Like the birds, Jesus was sent to fight against evil and save the world from the wolves. He is our superhero, fighting against all of the injustices of the world. He gave us his life and his love. His story was as exciting and mysterious as any we will ever know. The Book of Mark is short, but it teaches us so much about God’s Beloved Son. Our superhero, Jesus.
