Easter Devotions From the Gospel of Mark - March 9th
“The Beginning” Mark 1:1-10
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1
“John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. “(Mark 1:4 ESV)
John’s clarion call from the wilderness was that repentance is the way people come to God and the result is the forgiveness of sins. God’s redemptive mission was in full motion—people could experience forgiveness for their sins. The Promised One was coming! This was the beginning of the long awaited rescue—this was what the people who streamed out of Jerusalem to listen to John were looking for, and this is what they found. They found forgiveness of sins, and it came by way of repentance.
John marked the way to forgiveness coming through the acknowledgement of guilt and pointed toward the One who would come! The One that would accomplish full atonement and “baptize with the Holy Spirit.”
“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 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. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:9-11 ESV)
Who is this Jesus? Who is this man that seems to come out of nowhere, out of Nazareth? Who is the One that John prepared the way for and the voice of heaven proclaimed “You are my Son"?
Prayer: Lord, today by your kindness would you help me to comprehend the connection between repentance, forgiveness, and the coming of the Son of God (1:1)?