REFLECTIONS TODAY
From John the Baptist’s testimony to Jesus in John’s Gospel, we are now presented with his testimony in Mark’s Gospel.
The events surrounding Jesus’ birth reveal his divine origin. Mark does not have the infancy stories as prelude to Jesus’ public ministry.
In Mark, Jesus’ divine origin is shown in John’s testimony of him before and after he baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River.
John points to Jesus as “One mightier than I” (v 7). John himself, by his appearance and message, is no mean figure.
He reminds people of Elijah the prophet (2 Kgs 1:8), the fiery opponent of the worship of Baal introduced in Israel by the pagan queen Jezebel.
“By God’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire.
How awesome are you, Elijah! Whose glory is equal to yours?” declares Sirach in his praise of Israel’s great ancestors (48:3-4).
John shares the zeal of Elijah as he confronts the hypocrites and Herod the tetrarch and Herodias.
John pays homage to the One mightier than he. John even sees himself as a servant vis-à-vis Jesus.
Jesus will baptize not just with water, symbol of repentance; he will give the Holy Spirit, which is the power to forgive sins. In the desert, Jesus overcomes the temptation of Satan. In his public ministry, He drives out demons from possessed persons. Satan or Beelzebul may be a “strong man,” but Jesus is the “stronger man” who ties him up and plunders his property, that is, overthrows his dominion over men and women (Mk 3:26-27).
Gospel • Mark 1: 7-11 [or Luke 3:23-38]
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.