Mark 1:4-11
With thanks to page sponsor 2015:
The Rev. Martha Berger
St. Francis Episcopal Church
Menomonee Falls, WI
- Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
- Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
- The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
- Comparative primary texts at Mahlon H. Smith's
Into His Own: Perspective on the World of
Jesus, Rutgers University.
- Sin and Justice from Mishna and Babylonian Talmud.
- Baptism: Water & Spirit from DSS, Josephus, Babylonian Talmud.
- "John Baptizes Jesus," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
- Chapter X, On Baptism, Tertullian (c. 198)
- II.12, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- V.8, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
- Chapter II, Considering Repentance, Tertullian (c. 203)
- I.32, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Origen. (c.228)
- VI.14-23, VI.31, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Philocalia [anthology of Origen prepared by St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen], Origen. (c.230)
-
"On the Holy Theophany Or On Christ's Baptism," (4th of Four
Homilies) by Gregory Thaumaturgus (3rd century).
- "Baptize me, who am destined to baptize those who believe on me with water, and with the Spirit, and with fire: with water, capable of washing away the defilement of sins; with the Spirit, capable of making the earthly spiritual; with fire, naturally fitted to consume the thorns of transgressions. On hearing these words, the Baptist directed his mind to the object of the salvation, and comprehended the mystery which he had received, and discharged the divine command; for he was at once pious and ready to obey."
- Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists, John Calvin, 1558: Matthew 3:13-17/Mark 1:9-11/Luke 3:21-23.
- From the Catena Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas.
- From the
Geneva Notes.
- "Christ consecrates our baptism in himself."
- From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary.
- "We may see heaven opened to us, when we perceive the Spirit descending and working upon us."
- From Wesley's Notes.
- From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
- From
The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
- "Coming up straightway out of the water. The Greek preposition translated "out of" is ek, which means out from within. This could only be true of immersion. Thus all great and candid Pedo-baptist scholars concede that Christ was baptized."
- Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
- Commentary, Mark 1:4-11, Michael Rogness, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2015.
- "The main thrust of today’s text and the meaning of Jesus’ baptism for us is that we are baptized into something. A fundamental change takes place in baptism, at whatever age."
- Baptism and Blessing, David Lose, ...in the meantime..., 2015.
- "Jesus’ baptism isn’t preamble to all that comes later in his life, it’s the highpoint and climax of the story in a nutshell."
- "Baptismal Blessings?" Karoline Lewis, Dear Working Preacher, 2015.
- "When baptism is a wilderness experience, an unexpected entrance of God, and a little terrifying, well then, we will know the meaning of baptism according to Mark."
- Lectionary Greek, Rob Myallis, 2015.
- "The Sky Tearing and a Voice Crying," D Mark Davis, Left Behind and Loving It, 2015.
- "There may even be more than meets the eye in the dove imagery. Remember, this dove turns harpy-like and immediately throws Jesus into the wilderness in the very next verse."
- "Wet and Well Pleased," Sharron R. Blezard, Stewardship of Life, 2015.
- "We should also remember that not all who hear these words have experienced baptism yet and may have questions about it as an entry point of faith."
- "Melt," Michael Coffey, 2015.
- "Baptism of the Beloved," Bob Cornwall, Ponderings on a Faith Journey, 2015.
- "The Politics of the Individual," Alastair Roberts, Political Theology Today, 2015.
- "...The banks of the Jordan were also a place of transition and succession..."
- "Assumed and Healed," Brian Volck, The Ekklesia Project, 2015.
- "Beginning with Beloved," Jan Richardson, The Painted Prayerbook, 2015. Use of images.
- "You Are My Beloved," Bob Stuhlmann, Stories from a Priestly Life, 2015.
- "And the Heavens Were Opened," Andrew King, A Poetic Kind of Place, 2015.
- Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2015.
- The Baptism of the Lord, Scott L. Barton, poetry based on RCL texts, 2015.
- "A Heavenly Dove," Thomas Beam, 2015.
- "The Father's Voice," Janet H. Hunt, Dancing with the Word, 2015.
- "Where do you think Jesus gets his clear sense of direction from? Why do you think this?"
- "Tracks," Nancy Rockwell, The Bite in the Apple, 2015.
- "There is a roughhewn quality in Mark’s gospel. It fits the story of a man in the wilderness who wears a camel skin so much better than the gospels that portray Jesus’ baptism as a kind of pageantry in which John fawns over Jesus’ majesty."
- "Fake Tan?" Andrew Prior, First Impressions, 2015.
- Evangelio Comentario del San Marcos 1:4-11 por Neddy Astudillo, Working Preacher, 2015.
- Concise Exegesis, Richard Donovan, lectionary.org.
- Commentary, Mark 1:4-11, Paul S. Berge, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012.
- "This adverb (Greek, euthus) occurs for the first of 41 occurrences in the gospel of Mark."
- John the Baptist and Jesus' Baptism by John, audio telling, story in episodes, graphic, audio and written commentaries. Go Tell Communications, Biblical Storytelling for the Global Village, 2012.
- Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
- Holy
Textures, Understanding the Bible in its own time and in ours,
Mark 1:4-11, David Ewart, 2012.
- "We might understand the baptism of Jesus as a selfless aligning / embodying of self with the desires of God. Rather than a functional baptism - that is, being baptized so that some function could happen - the forgiveness of sins - this is a revelatory baptism - that is, enacting, confirming and making visibly real what is already the case: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
- "You'll Know It When It Happens," Caspar Green, Scarlet Letter Bible, 2012.
- "Baptism might just get you wet. Or it might just change your life."
- "Of and By," Andrew Prior, First Impressions, 2012.
- "On this Sunday when we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, we see Jesus is baptised like us. He makes the same decision to repent as we do."
- "Cosmic Crossing," Russell Rathbun, The Hardest Question, 2012.
- "Is this a tear in the firmament that separated the realm of God from the realm of humanity. Is this a parting that will never be repaired? God will continue to be among God’s people in a way God has not been before."
- Performance Commentary of Mark 1:1-13, Advent 2/Baptism of Jesus, Phil Ruge-Jones, the Network of Biblical Storytellers, You Tube.
- "Handling Sin," Rick Morley, 2012.
- "A day was coming when you wouldn’t need a Temple, because Jesus was the new Temple. Because the Holy Spirit was going to soon take up residence in our bodies, and make us a Temple."
- Comentario del Evangelio, San Marcos 1:4-11, por Doug Avilesbernal, Working Preacher, 2012.
- Commentary, Mark 1:4-11, Stephen Hultgren, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
- Comments (commentary) and Clippings, Chris Haslam, (technical notes for in-depth study), Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
- A Brief Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 1, Carl W. Conrad. (Click superscript numbers for commentary.)
-
"First
Thoughts on Passages from Mark in the Lectionary: Baptism of Jesus,"
William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
- "?O that you would rend the heavens and come down!? These words of Isaiah 64:1 may have influenced Mark?s choice of language here: Jesus ?saw the heavens rent open? (1:10). This a very graphic way of doing christology. In Jesus there is a meeting of the God sphere and the human sphere."
-
"Baptism of Jesus,"
Edward F. Markquart, Gospel Analysis, Sermons from
Seattle, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
- "In our baptism, similar things happen to us as happened to Jesus when he was baptized: 1) The Spirit of God comes into us and remains in us. 2) We are declared to be a child of God. 3) We hear that God is well pleased with us."
-
Exegetical
Notes, Brian Stoffregen, at CrossMark Christian Resources.
- "This also leads to a distinction between John's baptism and Christian baptism. I think that Jesus' baptism ushers in a new baptism. Christian baptism is not just a washing away of sin as John's baptism was; but it is the baptism that brings the power of the Holy Spirit and a special relationship with God."
-
Join the Feast,
Mark 1:4-11, Lindy Vogado, Union PSCE,
2009.
- "It is in the waters of baptism that the heavens are torn apart and a voice from heaven claims Jesus as God?s son. Although we rarely think of it as having such a dramatic flourish, baptism today still serves as a time when we recognize our being claimed as children of God."
- Mark 1:4-11, Paul S. Berge, The Beginning of the Good News: the Epiphany Gospels in Mark and John, Texts in Context, Word & World, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1997.
- The Baptism of Our Lord, Donald H. Juel and Patrick R. Keifert, A Markan Epiphany: Lessons from Mark 1, Texts in Context, Word & World, Luther Northwestern Theological School, 1988.
- "John Baptizes Jesus," Michael A. Turton, Historical Commentary on the Gospel of Mark, "a complete verse-by-verse commentary on the Gospel of Mark, focusing on the historicity of people, places, events, and sayings in the world of the Gospel of Mark."
-
"A Moment of Clarity,"
Larry Broding, Word-Sunday.Com: A
Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's
Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
- "Have you ever had a moment of clarity, when you could see things as they really were?"
-
"The
Gospel of Mark from Beginning to End," James
T. Dennison, Jr., Kerux: The Online Journal of Biblical Theology (Reformed)
- "Mark begins and ends his gospel with schism-a division, a parting, a rending-the schism of the heavens (chapter 1: 10); the schism of the veil in the temple (chapter 15:38)."
-
Wellspring of
the Gospel, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn Turner,
Baptism of the Lord B, Weekly Wellsprings.
- "Meeting Jesus - God and man - people learnt that God really loved and valued them - that God?s favour could rest on them too."
-
Mark 1:4-11,
Brian McGowan, Marginally Mark, by an Anglican priest
in Western Australia.
- "Into the wilderness where John the Baptiser is offering - what is it he's offering, a folk alternative to the Jerusalem cultus? A geographic political statement out on the very margins of society? A challenge, as John Dominic Crossan thinks, to Hebrews to symbolically re-enter the Promised Land & re-conquer it for God after baptism for a change of heart out there on the other (wrong) side of Jordan?"
-
"God
Can Take the Heat (Mark 1:9-11, Luke 4:1-13),"
John C. Purdy, Chapter 2 of God With a Human Face (1993), republished at
Religion
Online.
- "Perhaps Jesus was tempted with the option of a normal life. Perhaps, like Goethe's Faust, he was tempted with adventure, beauty, economic power, endless excitement. The Gospel story seems to invite us to regard the final three temptations as a kind of final exam, covering all the other temptations that have been encountered in the course of the forty days."
- "John the Baptist," "Baptism of Jesus," "Mark 1: John the Baptist," "Mark 1: Jesus' Baptism and Temptation," wikipedia.
- "Conversion
and Baptism: A cross cultural perspective in the light of the encounter
between Judaism and Hellenism," William
Loader, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia.
- Making Christ palatable to everyone is almost by definition to deny him. But presenting him in an image distorted by unnecessary, unhelpful and sometimes negating clutter is also to deny him - to people. The issue at stake is as fundamental as the shape of Christian life in the future."
- "The Heavenly Veil Torn:
Mark's Cosmic 'Inclusio'," David Ulansey, [Originally published in Journal of
Biblical Literature 110:1 (Spring 1991) pp. 123-25]
- "Mark did indeed imagine a link between the tearing of the heavens and the tearing of the temple veil-- since we can now see that in fact in both cases the heavens were torn-- and that he intentionally inserted the motif of the "tearing of the heavenly veil" at both the precise beginning and at the precise end of the earthly career of Jesus, in order to create a powerful and intriguing symbolic inclusio."
- Commentary, Mark 1:4-11, Michael Rogness, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2015.
- Recommended articles
from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are
linked below.
ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of
selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
- Berge, Paul S., "The Beginning of
the Good News: The Epiphany Gospels in Mark and John," Word & World,
1997.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Blumenthal, David R., "Repentance
and Forgiveness," Cross Currents.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Boring, M. Eugene, "Mark 1:1-15
and the Beginning of the Gospel," Semeia, 1990.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Charles, J. Daryl, "The 'Coming
One'/'Stronger One' and His Baptism: Matt 3:11-12, Mark 1:8, Luke
3:16-17," Pneuma, 1989.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - DeMaris, Richard E.,
"Possession, Good and Bad--Ritual, Effects and Side-Effects: The Baptism
of Jesus and Mark 1.9-11 from a Cross-Cultural Perspective," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2000.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Edwards, James R., "The Baptism of
Jesus according to the Gospel of Mark," Journal of the Evangelical
Theological Society, 1991.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Fiddes, Paul S., "Baptism and the
Process of Christian Initiation," Ecumenical Review, 2002.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Harrisville, Roy A., III,
"Between Text & Sermon: Mark 1:4-11," Interpretation, 1993.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Hutchison, John C.,
"Was John the Baptist an Essene from Qumran?" Bibliotheca Sacra,
2002.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Juel, Donald H. and Patrick R.
Keifert, "A Markan Epiphany: Lessons from Mark 1," Word & World,
1988.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Kasper, Walter, "Ecclesiological
and Ecumenical Implications of Baptism," The Ecumenical Review,
2000.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Kelhoffer, James A., "Early Christian Studies among the Academic Disciplines: Reflections on John the Baptist's 'Locusts and Wild Honey,'" Biblical Research, 2005.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Pohl, Christine D., "Power and
Delight," The Christian Century, 2006.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Reines, Rabbi Sarah H., "Turning
Ourselves Around," The
Living Pulpit, 2007. (See also
"Atonement," issue focus of
The Living Pulpit, 16.2, 2007.)
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Roth, Diane M., "Living by the Word," The Christian Century, 2015.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Sankey, Paul J., "Promise and
Fulfillment: a Reader-Response to Mark 1:1-15," Journal for the Study
of the New Testament, 1995.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Sholis, Barbara, "A Watery
Solution," The Christian Century, 2002.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Ulansey, David, "The Heavenly Veil
Torn: Mark's Cosmic 'Inclusio'," Journal of Biblical Literature,
1991.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Wiarda, Timothy, "Story-Sensitive
Exegesis and Old Testament Allusions in Mark," Journal of the
Evangelical Theological Society, 2006.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Berge, Paul S., "The Beginning of
the Good News: The Epiphany Gospels in Mark and John," Word & World,
1997.
- Sermons:
- "Torn Open, By God," Rev. Maxwell Grant, Day 1, 2015.
- "In the Hole He Goes," the Rev. Tim Boggess, Day 1, 2009.
- "Mistaken for Jesus," Rev. Charles Hoffacker, Lectionary.org.
- "Baptism? What Do We Teach?" Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Sermons from Seattle, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
- Baptism of Jesus - 8 January 2006, James Mueller, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
- "Torn Apart Forever," the Rev. Barbara K. Lundblad, Day 1, 2003.
- Father Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily:
- With Children:
- Worshiping with Children, Baptism of the Lord, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2015. 2012.
- "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," January 11, 2015, Union Presbyterian Seminary. 2012.
- Faith Formation Journeys, Baptism of Jesus, childrens sermon, 2012.
- "Jesus' Baptism and Ministry," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
- "Make Your Father Proud!" Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com.
- "Gwen Gets It!" children's story by Larry Broding, word-sunday.com.
- "Jesus Is Baptized by John in the River Jordan," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
- "Soul-ed Out for Jesus," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
- "John Baptizes Jesus," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
- "Crossword on Mark 1," Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
- Drama:
- Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
- Clip Art Images: Baptism of Christ, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú.
- Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
- Mark 1:7-11, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
- Mark 1:7-11, at Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration. Liberation emphasis.
- Clip Art, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
- Baptism of Jesus, Henry Martin, sermons4kids.com.
- Hymns and Music:
- “Down by the Jordan,” Carolyn Winfrey Gillette’s hymn celebrates Jesus’ baptism and baptism today. The hymn is in the United Methodists’ Worship and Song (2011). Tune: LOBE DEN HERREN 14.14.4.7.8 (“Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty”).
- “Spirit of God,” Carolyn Winfrey Gillette’s hymn is inspired by the biblical stories of the Spirit from creation, through the prophets, Jesus (including his baptism), Pentecost and today. Tune: O QUANTA QUALIA 11.11.11.11 (“God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us”). This hymn is in Episcopalians’ Voices Found: Women in the Church's Song and adopted by composer Michael Bedford for an anthem published by the Choristers Guild.
- Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
- “Creator of the Water,” Carolyn Winfrey Gillette’s hymn celebrates the biblical stories about God using water (creation, Noah, Red Sea, Jesus’ baptism and baptism today). Tune: LANCASHIRE 7.6.7.6 D (“The Day of Resurrection”).
- Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
- Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Mark 1:9. The Cyber Hymnal.
- Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
- Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
- Study Links and Resources for the Book of Mark
