Jesus: The Man From Nowhere Series

John’s baptism was one of realization and preparation – realize you’ve got a problem with God – and its sin. Then preparation that God has a plan to deal with sin and its Jesus. John “softened up the battlefield” in a way for Jesus.

It doesn’t mean that every single person came from Judea and Jerusalem but that a cross section from the entire region came. Mark describes John’s wardrobe and diet – I know that the Atkins diet is very popular these days, but what about the John the Baptist diet – locusts and wild honey?

John’s clothing would have reminded the Israelites immediately of one man – not Isaiah, Malachi or Moses – but Elijah. In 2nd Kings he is described as a man wearing a hairy garment with a leather girdle around his loins. A strange guy, for sure, but it may explain why John was so popular – Elijah come back.

Also note – to go to John was to leave the comfortable place and travel to the wilderness, where you were going to hear an uncomfortable message. That’s the beginning of receiving the gospel – realize you’ve got to leave the comfort of your life, and go to a place where you’ll be challenged to rethink your position.

John’s message about Jesus was two fold: Someone important is coming, but I’m not He, and that this is only the first step as you encounter something beyond the physical – a complete change from the past, through the Holy Spirit.

So here Jesus comes on the scene:

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Here’s a good picture of the Trinity – the Son coming up out of the water, the Spirit descending on Him, and the Father speaking. Again, Mark doesn’t waste any space on things like the conversation John and Jesus have or anything – and then with no gap, Jesus is sent right out to be tempted.

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Luke and Matthew offer us a lot more detail of what happened during the temptation by Satan – Mark is brief and to the point. In the desert with the wild animals – certainly the wildest was Lucifer himself. It perhaps represents the place of desolation and danger. But Jesus has an ally on His side – the angels. We know from Matthew’s gospel that after Satan left, the angels came and helped Jesus.

So now Jesus is about to begin His public ministry:

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Herod Antipas was the one who arrested John – because John was calling into question his marriage to his half sister. Its interesting that Jesus waited until John’s arrest – perhaps to avoid competition between ministries or for a smooth hand-off.