The Gospel of MarkSample

In verse 7, John’s message was simple. He preached Jesus, not himself.

John very clearly understood that what Jesus would bring was much greater than what he could give!

Enduring Word Commentary states “John’s baptism could demonstrate repentance, but it could not truly cleanse one from sin, nor could it impart the Holy Spirit in the way Jesus would after His work on the cross was completed.”

Jesus was not baptized because he needed cleansing from sin; He was baptized in keeping with His entire mission on Earth: to do the will of His Father and to identify with humanity.

Jesus in complete humility, was baptized by a man, to be with humanity, and to be identified by humanity. The opening of Heaven, the descending of the Holy Spirit, and the audible voice of God saying, ‘My Son in whom I am well pleased’, made it very evident that Jesus was not just any man being baptized. It was clear that He was different.

By verse 11 we get 4 witnesses answering the question 'Who is Jesus?":

• verse 1 Mark says ‘Son of God’
• verse 2-3 the Prophets say, ‘Lord’
• verse 7-8 John the Baptist said ‘He is mightier than I’
• verse 10-11 God the Father says ‘the beloved Son of God’