At the beginning of Lent, the Gospel of Mark continues on a blistering pace: in six verses, Jesus is baptized, driven into the wilderness, John was arrested, and Jesus proclaimed the good news of God. 

In these six verses, Kiri, Max, and Mason ask Sarah Stenson about the details that could get overlooked when focusing on the big events happening in these verses. 

At Jesus’ baptism, Sarah explains how the Greek word for “just” in the verse, “and just as he was coming up out of the water,” means immediately. There’s no separation in time between Jesus’ baptism and the heavens being torn apart. There’s no separation between God and man. There’s no separation between us and the kingdom of heaven anymore. 

Sarah also teaches us why Jesus needed to be baptized. Baptism is for sinners, but Jesus’ baptism is for Him to begin taking on our sin. To do what God sent Him to do. To be glorified. How is Jesus glorified? By taking our sin, dying, and being resurrected to give us new life in His forgiveness. 

Plus we get into Jesus being tempted in the wilderness and being waited on by angels, all in six verses! 

COURSES

Do you like what you learn in the conversations on Scripture First? Luther House of Study has numerous interactive courses available for free on subjects ranging from the Lutheran Catechism to core Christian beliefs. Visit lutherhouseofstudy.org to see their available courses, create an account to track your progress, and dive deeper into your learning.

SING TO THE LORD

Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: Sing to the Lord! Martin Luther said, "Next to the word of God, the art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." To understand the importance of hymnody in the Lutheran church, Lars Olson and Mason Van Essen sit down with Zachary Brockhoff each week to discuss the lectionary's hymns, their meaning and history, and how the music preaches the Gospel.

• 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3IjGmMa
• 🎧 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3VHikh3
• 💻 Luther House of Study's website: http://bit.ly/SingtotheLord

GOSPEL

Mark 1:9-15 

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.10 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.11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

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