the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Mark 1:1-13
The Gospel according to Mark is that of the perfect Servant. We find here neither the account of the birth of the Lord Jesus, nor His genealogy. This is because the only things which determine the value of a servant are his qualities of obedience, faithfulness and readiness to serve. But from the first words He is described as the Son of God, so that the reader is not misled about the Person whose humble service is going to be narrated; it is about a willing Slave. Being in the form of God, the Lord Jesus has Himself taken the form of a servant (or slave – Philippians 2:6-7).
Preceded by the witness of John, the Lord immediately begins His ministry and this first chapter is characterised by the use of the word "immediately" or "straightway" (it occurs 11 times). The Lord Jesus submits Himself to baptism. Even though He is "holy, harmless, undefiled" (Hebrews 7:26), He takes His place among repentant sinners. But, so that He is not confused with them, God makes a solemn declaration from heaven about His "holy servant Jesus" (Acts 4:27; Acts 4:30 JND trans.), a declaration which comes before His ministry. It is not, "Thou art my beloved Son in whom I will be well pleased", but "in whom I am well pleased".
Then the Lord Jesus is driven by the Spirit into the wilderness in order to bind the Enemy who held us in slavery (Mark 3:27). Everywhere where we have been led astray by sin, love and obedience led the Lord Jesus to deliver us.
