Heaven’s Stamp of Approval

Mrk 1:9-11 (ESV) In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Mat 3:13-17 (ESV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. [14] John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” [15] But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. [16] And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; [17] and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Luk 3:21-22 (ESV) Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, [22] and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

We saw in the previous section that all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to John in the wilderness to be baptized by him in the Jordan River. Some scholars estimate that as many as 300,000 people came out to John to be baptized.

A quick geographical note about the possible location of where John baptized Jesus. We are told in John 1:28:

Jhn 1:28 (ESV) These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. (Show Map)

Out of the two possible locations shown, which one is more likely based on the descriptions from Scripture?

Mrk 1:5 (ESV) And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

John grew up in the hill country of Judea. So, it makes sense that when you tie in the description in Mark that the southern location is more likely.

Why is this location significant? It’s 5 miles east of Jericho. We are told of three significant events in the Old Testament that happened at this location.

• Joshua 3:16 tells us that the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land after 40 years of wilderness wandering at this location. God parted a flooded Jordan River and they crossed on dry ground.
• 2 Kings 2:8 tells us that Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan at this location after God miraculously parted the waters.
• Shortly after the crossing a chariot of fire descended and took Elijah to heaven.
• John the Baptist came in fulfillment of Malachi 4:5-6:
• Mal 4:5-6 (ESV) “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. [6] And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
• Jesus said that John was the fulfillment of that prophecy:
• Mat 17:10-13 (ESV) And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” [11] He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. [12] But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” [13] Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Why was Jesus baptized?

John would have prevented Jesus from being baptized. In fact, he said Jesus should baptize him instead. Jesus told John that it was fitting for him to be baptized in order to fulfill all righteousness.

Kent Hughes—“Because Jesus was sinless, he needed no baptism of repentance. But in his baptism he associated himself with us sinners and placed himself among the guilty—not for his own salvation but for ours—not for his guilt but for ours—not because he feared the wrath to come but to save us from it. His baptism meant the cross!”

What took place at the baptism of Jesus?

The baptism of Jesus was an announcement. What was being announced?

Heaven was dealing with the separation of sin.

• Mrk 1:10a (ESV) And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open…
• As you look through the pages of Scripture there are only two reasons described that the Lord comes down to man—
• He comes in salvation so that he can be with us.
  • Exo 3:8 (ESV) and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
• He comes in judgment to punish sinfulness.
  • Mic 1:3-4 (ESV) For behold, the LORD is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. [4] And the mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.
  • The heavens being torn open is a powerful, violent image. It’s like the Lord is trying to convey his hatred of sin. “Let me deal with this. Get out of my way. There is nothing in this world that is going to keep me from destroying the separation of sin.
  • Isa 64:1 (ESV) Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—
  • It has the idea that sky was torn in two, “being rent asunder, a sudden event.” (Bruce)
  • Mrk 15:38 (ESV) And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
• The kingdom of God and entry into it had been made possible through the person of Jesus Christ.

Heaven was empowering the work of salvation.

• Mrk 1:10b (ESV) …and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
• The Spirit of God descended upon him—indicating the power and the presence of the Lord.
• The Greek word can also indicate “into”. The Holy Spirit came into Christ in this moment, at the beginning of his earthly ministry to empower and equip Jesus for the work of bringing salvation.
• Isa 42:1-7 (ESV) Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. [2] He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; [3] a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. [4] He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. [5] Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: [6] “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, [7] to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
• John Piper says it like this, “When Jesus was baptized along with all the repenting people who wanted to be on God’s side, it was as though the commander-in-chief had come to the front lines, fastened his bayonet, strapped on his helmet, and jumped into the trench along with the rest of us. And when he did that, his Father in heaven, who had sent him for this very combat, signified with the appearance of a dove that the Holy Spirit would be with him in the battles to come.”

Heaven was authenticating the deity of Jesus.

• Mrk 1:11a (ESV) And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son…
• A declaration from heaven by God the Father, as to the identity of Christ—you are my beloved Son.
• Jesus has eternally been the Son.
• Psa 2:6-7 (ESV) “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” [7] I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
• The loving, personal relationship between the Father and the Son is expressed.
• That we must not doubt that Son of God is a declaration of deity is easily demonstrated by the actions of the Son that we shall see in Mark.
• – He forgives sins (2:5)
• – Heals the sick (1:40)
• – Cast out demons (1:24; 5:1-20)
• – Is Lord of the Sabbath (2:28)
• – Raises the dead (6:35-43)
• – Rises from the dead (16:1-8)

• This is also one of those unique moments in Scripture that completely validate the Trinity. Jesus, the Son, is baptized, identifying with those he came to save, crowning him as the King who has come to usher in his kingdom. The Holy Spirit descends into Jesus, empowering him for the mission, and the Father speaks, authenticating the Son and declaring his pleasure in him. 

Heaven was celebrating the obedience of the Son.

• Mrk 1:11b (ESV) …with you I am well pleased.”
• Why is the Father pleased? Because Jesus willingly came to do the will of the Father and to give his life as a ransom for the sins of the world.