Mark 1:9

¶ And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

And {G2532} it came to pass {G1096} in {G1722} those {G1565} days {G2250}, that Jesus {G2424} came {G2064} from {G575} Nazareth {G3478} of Galilee {G1056}, and {G2532} was baptized {G907} of {G5259} John {G2491} in {G1519} Jordan {G2446}.

Shortly thereafter, Yeshua came from Natzeret in the Galil and was immersed in the Yarden by Yochanan.

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan.

Commentary

Mark 1:9 marks a profound moment in the life of Jesus: His baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. This event signals the formal commencement of His public ministry and His intentional identification with humanity, setting the stage for His redemptive work.

Context of Jesus' Baptism

This verse precisely locates Jesus' origin, stating He came "from Nazareth of Galilee." Nazareth was a modest town, often dismissed in Jewish society, as highlighted by the question, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46). His journey to the Jordan River was deliberate, signifying His voluntary submission to the baptism administered by John the Baptist. John's ministry, characterized by a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Luke 3:3), served as a crucial prophetic preparation, fulfilling Old Testament predictions of a messenger who would prepare the way for the Messiah (Malachi 3:1).

Key Themes and Significance

  • Humility and Identification: Despite being sinless (Hebrews 4:15), Jesus willingly underwent a baptism designed for sinners. This act powerfully demonstrated His profound humility and solidarity with humankind, embracing our condition to offer salvation.
  • Inauguration of Public Ministry: Jesus' baptism is consistently portrayed across the Gospels (Matthew 3:13-17, Luke 3:21-22) as the definitive beginning of His public work. It was immediately followed by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the Father's audible affirmation, confirming His divine Sonship and messianic role.
  • Fulfillment of Righteousness: As noted in Matthew's account (Matthew 3:15), Jesus declared His baptism was "to fulfil all righteousness." This suggests not only the completion of prophetic expectations but also the establishment of a righteous example for all who would follow Him.

Linguistic Insight

The Greek word for "baptized" is baptizo (βαπτίζω), which fundamentally means to immerse, submerge, or dip. This linguistic root supports the understanding that John's baptism, and subsequently Christian baptism, involved full immersion in water, symbolizing a profound transformation or burial and resurrection to new life.

Practical Application

Jesus' baptism serves as a foundational example and holds significant implications for believers today:

  • Obedience: Jesus, though God, submitted to the Father's will and the established righteous path, modeling obedience for us.
  • Identification: For Christians, baptism is an outward declaration of an inward spiritual change, signifying our identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:4).
  • Beginning of Service: Just as Jesus' baptism marked the launch of His ministry, our own spiritual commitments, often symbolized by baptism, can initiate a renewed sense of purpose and dedication to God's service.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 2:23 (4 votes)

    And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

  • Matthew 3:13 (4 votes)

    ¶ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

  • Matthew 3:17 (4 votes)

    And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

  • Luke 3:21 (3 votes)

    ¶ Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

  • Luke 3:22 (3 votes)

    And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.