Daily Devotional For Saturday, September 26, 2026

Good morning Southside! I am following the One Year Chronological Bible reading suggestion and any Bible verses you see highlighted in bold (ex. John 3:16), means it is a link to that verse. All you have to do is click on the reference and it will take you to the verse online. Our daily devotional reading for today comes from Mark 1:9-11:

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. (10) Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; (11) and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” (NASB).

This is the story of the baptism of Jesus. It is a story we all know all too well and because of that, I want to point out some things that maybe you do not know or have not learned and have not considered until now. Because Jesus was sinless, He did not need to be baptized. In Matthew’s account, John the Baptizer, John insisted that Jesus should baptize him (Matt. 3:14-15). In Jesus’ baptism, He chose to identify with us by placing Himself with us sinners and placed Himself among the guilty (us) not for His salvation, but for ours. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, something miraculous happened (Mk 1:10-11). 

There are 3 signs given and in Scripture 3 is an important number. Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for 3 days and 3 nights (Jonah 1:17). Jesus was in the tomb for 3 days and 3 nights (Matt. 12:40). The trinity consists of 3 – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted for 3 years. In heaven, the angels sing a hymn repeating the world “holy” 3 times (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). 

In the Old Testament, there are 3 patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God’s 3 main attributes are: omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience. In Scripture, 3 symbolizes completeness. At this baptism, the Trinity was present: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God the Father speaks, God the Son is baptized and God the Holy Spirit descended. Jesus did not become the Messiah at His baptism because was already God’s Messiah since His birth (Lk. 1:11-16; Lk. 1:46-55; Lk. 2:8-12; Lk. 2:25-32).

• The first sign was Jesus saw the heavens torn or ripped open. This is the same word used to describe a piece of clothing being ripped apart or something being ripped out of your hand.  The rip is noticeable, but in this case, it seems only Jesus could see the heavens being ripped open. 

This should bring to your mind another time God ripped something in a very public way: the curtain in the Temple upon Jesus’ death on the cross (Matt. 27:51; Mk. 15:38; & Lk. 23:45). This curtain was 60 feet in length and 30 feet across and 4-5 inches thick. No human could rip this curtain but again, heaven ripped this curtain to make the same point at Jesus’ second “baptism” – “This is My Son in whom I am well pleased.” The Greek New Testament word translated as “ripped open” is [σχίζω; schizō]. This is where we get the word “schism.” This reminds of the prophet Isaiah’s words in Isaiah 63:19-64:2.

John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River, which is 680 feet below sea level. The Jordan River flows from the fertile northern Galilee to south to the Dead Sea in the desert which is 1,300 below sea level. We do not know the exact spot where the baptism took place though many touring companies will give you a location for money. Jesus’ ultimate baptism would be His crucifixion.

Nazareth was a military town with a Roman Garrison and it had all the sin and corruption that comes in a military town. It had a horrible reputation for every vice you can think of. So maybe you understand Nathaniel’s question to Philip in John 1:46. New Testament scholar Bruce Barton gives us some other reasons Jesus chose to be baptized:

“Although Jesus didn’t need forgiveness, He was baptized for the following reasons: (1) to confess sin on behalf of the nation, as Isaiah, Ezra, and Nehemiah had done (see Isa. 6:5; Neh. 1:6; Ezra 9:2); (2) to fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15) in order to accomplish God’s mission and advance God’s work in the world; (3) to inaugurate His public ministry to bring the message of salvation to all people; (4) to show support for John’s ministry; (5) to identify with the penitent people of God, thus with humanness and sin; (6) to give us an example to follow. John’s baptism for repentance was different from Christian baptism in the church. Paul had John’s followers baptized again (see Acts 19:2-5). Jesus, the perfect man, didn’t need baptism for sin, but He accepted baptism in obedient service to the Father, and God showed His approval. We need this same attitude of humility, submission to God, and dedication to servanthood” (Source: Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary, “Matthew,” pp. 14-15).

John the Baptizer knew the Messiah had come but he did not know when the revealing of His coming would be made public. So the first sign God used to confirm Jesus’ Messiahship was the ripping apart the heavens. 

• The second sign was the Holy Spirit descending like a dove. Luke’s Gospel leads us to believe that this was visible to all there. 

A dove in Scripture usually represents God’s Presence, power and promise. Genesis 1:2 says that when God started creating, “His Spirit hovered over the darkness?” – much like a bird or dove hovers. Noah used a dove to determine if it was safe for everyone to leave the Ark (Gen. 8:6-12). The descending of the Spirit signified God’s workings in the world; the arrival of the Messiah would have been marked by the descending of the Spirit, in this case, in the form of a dove. Jesus himself would read from the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 61:1-2). Jesus’ full comments can be read in Luke 4:18-19. 

• The third sign everyone there heard the voice of God affirming Jesus’ as Messiah and Savior of the world. This reminds us of Isaiah’s prophecy some 700 years earlier about the Messiah in Isaiah 42:1-17.

Reflection Assignment:  We do not need to hear God’s audible voice today because we have God’s voice in His Word and through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. As you think back, through these 2 means (the Word, the Spirit), how has God spoken the most to you? What would you say have been three of the most moving times in your life where you knew God spoke to you? What difference since has those moments made in your life and your discipleship?

Scripture To Meditate On: John 15:26, Jesus said, But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about Me” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, thank You that You have not left me alone. Thank You for Your affirming hand, voice and presence in my life. I know I never thank You enough for Your grace to me. My prayer is that what You have started in me when You gave me Your life, You will complete in me. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly