And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Identity comes before mission. It’s hard, that is, to do much of anything lasting or significant – and...

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And 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. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well...

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And 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. Take note: the heavens don’t simply part in this scene. No, they are torn...

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. There’s some serious ambivalence about this verse. Actually, it’s not the verse, but the event it narrates. So before getting to the specifics of the story of Jesus’ baptism, I want to spend a...

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
”See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.’” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a...

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way; 
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” As we’ll see throughout this gospel, Mark is very influenced...