Feb. 23, 2015: Mark 1:9-15

We encourage you to read this devotion three times a day.  Start in the morning and reflect upon the morning reflection question. Then in the afternoon, read it again and reflect using the noon question for reflection.  For the evening, take time to ponder how this has resonated with you in the day and reflecting using the evening question.  We offer a prayer with each devotion for you to pray or we invite you to pray what is in your heart.

 Mark 1:9-15

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. ¹¹And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. ¹³He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, ¹⁵and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’

Key Verses:  vv. 9-11  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 opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased." 

Reflection:  

These are "meat and potatoes" (a southern saying for VERY important) verses in our Christian tradition.  So important, that we recognize Baptism as a sacrament, set aside as something Holy and specifically quintessential for the Christian life of faith.  It was clearly important to Jesus to be baptized.  With this being said, it has troubled many who ask "Why would a sinless Jesus, the Son of God, even need to be baptized in the first place?"  That is a fair theological question.  However, I don't think it is a key question to our reading for today.  They key question is  "What and did God respond to Jesus being baptized?"   God was "pleased".  I want my life and my actions to "please" God.  Every time I have the privilege of baptizing someone I cannot help but imagine God with a huge grin, smiling down on us all and celebrating with us.  If you have been baptized, what do you remember about your baptism?  If you were an infant, what did your parents have to say about the day you were baptized?  If you have not been baptized or you have friends who have not been baptized, consider these verses and the example of Jesus along with the response of God and see where that might lead you.

Reflection Questions:   

Morning: Where, in your life, do you think you bring God pleasure?  How can you improve the way you respond, through faith, in the world today?

Noon:  How might you explain baptism to someone that has expressed an interest in being baptized?

Evening:  How do you think God responds when people are baptized?  how might you choices and the situations of the have brought God pleasure?

Prayer:  O God, I pray my life will bring you pleasure today,  Purify my heart and let me claim the reality that you love me and accept me as one of your children.  Help me to live in this reality.  Allow this truth to seep into my decisions and direction.