This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
"One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
In this passage, Mark illustrates for us the baptism of Jesus. Here we learn a little bit about John the Baptist. His work in proclaiming one mightier than he connects his prophetic work to the prophesy found in Malachi that the Lord will send Elijah. John the Baptist is the New Elijah and here he baptizes Jesus with water. In Mark's baptism Jesus encounters a Dove, an allusion to the Holy Spirit. The voice from the heavens is God the Father's who is blessing Jesus and saying to the world that Jesus' relationship to the Father is that he is the Son of God. Jesus' baptism marks the commissioning of his ministry.
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