Mark 1:9-13
Mark’s gospel is characterized by a concise telling of the events in Christ’s life. While not as verbose as the other gospels, Mark managed to encapsulate the grandeur of His ministry on earth.
These verses are a wonderful example. Here Mark recounts both the baptism of Jesus, and his temptation in the wilderness in just five verses.
The baptism of Jesus contains God’s witness that this was His Son. “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (vs. 11).
The temptation of Jesus expresses His perfect example. “Tempted by Satan,” yet, as Peter later stated, a man “who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:22-23).
As such, He left us “an example, that [we] should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
