To read the texts click on the texts: Isa 42:1-4,6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Mk 1:7-11
The
feast of the Baptism of the Lord brings to an end the Christmas season. That
the Baptism of Jesus was historical is doubted by almost no one today. The
reasons for this are not merely because it is an event that is narrated by all
the Synoptic Gospels, but mainly because despite the fact that Matthew and Luke
are struggling to narrate the event of the baptism of Jesus by John the
Baptist, they do narrate it in their Gospels. While Mark states quite
unambiguously that Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan (Mk. 1:9); Luke
will have John the Baptist in prison (Lk.3:19) before the baptism of Jesus
(Lk.3:21) and does not state explicitly who baptized Jesus. Matthew is careful
not to have John the Baptist preach a baptism for the “forgiveness of sins” and
alone adds a dialogue between Jesus and John to stress both Jesus’ superiority
and that John baptized Jesus only after Jesus allowed him to do so and in order
“to fulfil all righteousness”.
Though
there are differences in the first part of their narration, all three
evangelists agree about the three events that took place at Jesus’ baptism. The
first was that the “heavens were torn open”, the second was that Jesus is the
only one who sees the heavens torn open and the Spirit descend, and only he
hears the divine voice. The heavens’ being torn’ open reflects a metaphor for
the coming of God into human history to deliver his people. It reflects the
prayer of Isaiah to God to repeat for one last time the great redemptive acts
for his people. The dove imagery symbolizes the creative activity of the Spirit
of God and also the coming of the Spirit for empowerment. Jesus is empowered
and his unique status is confirmed by the Spirit which comes down from heaven.
The climax, however, is what the voice from heaven says. It is clear that in
Mark Jesus receives an invitation from God. This invitation is through the
combination of two Old Testament texts. The first of these is Ps. 2:7 which
says “You are my beloved Son” and the second is from Isa 42:1 which says “in
you my soul delights”. Ps.2 is a coronation Psalm originally referring to the
Davidic king. It was sung when the king was being placed on his throne and so
has to do with coronation, sonship and kingship. It has to do with glory and
power. Isa 42 is the first of the four suffering servant songs in the second
book of Isaiah and so has to do with the crowning with thorns, with being
servant and slave. This means that the voice invites Jesus to be King and
Servant, to be Servant king and clearly in Mark to be King who becomes king by
being servant.
That
this is clearly Mark’s intention is confirmed by many indicators in his Gospel.
Of these one stands out. This is the indicator given my Mark after the death of
Jesus.
After
the death of Jesus on the Cross, two incidents occur. The first is that the
inner veil separating the holy of holies from the rest of the sanctuary is torn
open, much like the heavens were torn open at the baptism. This might be
intended to reveal that God is no longer present in the sanctuary or that now
there is open access to God’s presence. It might also be that the torn veil
foreshadowed the destruction of the Temple. While these interpretations are
reasonable, it seems most likely, however, that Mark meant that true worship is
now no longer in the Temple but on the Cross. The second incident that occurs
after the death of Jesus is the Centurion’s confession. While at the baptism of
Jesus it was the heavenly voice that called him “beloved Son”, here it is a
human voice, the voice of a Gentile who calls Jesus “Son of God”. Jesus
“becomes” Son of God and King on the Cross, when his arms are opened out in
total surrender to the will of God. He accepted the invitation from God and responded
to it wholeheartedly.
This
paradoxical manifestation then is the focus of the readings and of the Baptism.
The mysterious prophetic figure that Isaiah speaks about in the first reading
of today in the first of the four servant songs is clearly in Mark, Jesus
himself. He will fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah in every single aspect. He will
bring forth God’s justice to all and in an unobtrusive quiet way. He will make
the broken whole. His manner will be gentle, and he will be respectful of
others especially the weak and will not give in to discouragement or despair. He
will accomplish his mission.
This
manner of Jesus is what Peter highlights in his speech to Cornelius and his
household in which he summarizes Jesus’ life and mission. Jesus, God’s
anointed, “went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed”.
Thus
the feast of the Baptism of the Lord which begins the Ordinary time of the year
is a feast which issues an invitation to each of us who are willing to hear.
This means that a believer in Jesus is willing to accept that pain is part of
the human condition. That joy can be found even in the midst of pain, happiness
can be found even in the midst of sorrow and hope is present even in seeming
despair.
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