01092021 – Mark 1. 4-11 Epiphany I
Nothing is said, about any CONVERSATIONS between JESUS and the BAPTIZER.
Mark is SILENT on any such dialogue.
They NEED not speak.
No words need to PASS between THEM.
Besides that, the MOMENT is not really about THEM. It is being saved for SOMEONE ELSE.
I would imagine after physically baptizing a couple hundred people or so – a day, John did not seek out – nor did he desire to hear – any small talk. No conversation was needed or necessary.
Remember, it was a baptism OF REPENTANCE for the forgiveness of your sins…
By physically “BEING THERE,” by simply “SHOWING UP,” you were declaring your DESIRE, your NEED, your SEEKING a sense of forgiveness in your life.
YOU were seeking IT out.
It WAS desirable.
It was a GOOD THING.
It SHOULD BE a much sought after thing!
And by the looks of the SHEER NUMBER of people OUT HERE – on the river banks, it was also becoming “a FASHIONABLE THING to do”…ALL KINDS of people were present.
Were they ALL taking it SERIOUSLY?
It was a “curiosity.”
Something “new.”
Something “different.”
Unheard of…before any of this…it did make you think…
Look at all the people lining the banks…
Were “THEY” already baptized? Or are they just WATCHING, you know, checking it out, FIRST?
“Gaukers” we called them! Rubber-necking it. You could HEAR them on the banks…
“Watch this one!”
“I bet this guy – really makes A REALLY BIG SLASH!” “Whoa! Did you see that one!” SO, conversation there was. Nervous anticipation, you might say.
(JUST NOT between Jesus and John.)
We could ALL use a little more FORGIVENESS in our lives, couldn’t we?
“Just dunk me and get this THING over…alright?
“This water smells, funny!”
“Can I plug my nose, first?”
Ah, THE SMALL TALK…for sure, it was there.
Certainly it was present…at least, from some…of those BEING BAPTIZED.
“I don’t like it when I get water in my eyes.” “Should I keep them closed tight?”
“And, what about my mouth?”
“I do not want to swallow any of that Jordan River water!” “That stuff is NASTY!”
“Hey Baptizer, how many of THESE have you done today?” Should I take off my watch? It is a TIMEX, you know!
The way Mark tells it, and remember, he IS the FIRST ONE to record IT…
“In those days…Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee.” Pretty straightforward, enough!
The words, they come from Mark. But who knows, quite possibly they come from people who were actually there at the moment… You know, eye-witnesses…
And as Jesus was coming UP OUT OF THE WATER…That was when it all happened.
The heavens, the sky, the clouds were RIPPED APART…torn asunder…split in half. I can’t explain it.
It SEEMED LIKE something came down from the heavens above and alighted on him…a light, a bird, something…
And then, a booming voice came from UP THERE somewhere, saying “YOU ARE MY SON, THE BELOVED; WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED!”
Did you hear that?
Are we hearing things?
What just happened here?
What was that? Was that you?
What do you make of it?
Did you see it, TOO?
What’s going on? Did it just thunder?
And all of a sudden, there was SHEER SILENCE. No LAUGHTER. No SPEAKING. No NOTHING. You could have heard A PIN DROP and hitting the surface area of the water. It was THAT quiet.
And the guy, just walked away like nothing had happened…still dripping wet with the waters of the Jordan…