By: Erin M Diericx 

A devotion on Genesis 1:1-5 and Mark 1:4-11.

The juxtaposition of the separation of light and darkness within creation story and Jesus’s baptism is a way to emphasize the difference between the darkness and the light. It shows the importance of Jesus being the light of the world, which can be very dark as we have seen this past year.

Within the creation story, God separated the light from the darkness on the first day, so it seems fitting for Jesus’s first public action is his baptism to symbolize him as light of the world and to tie him to repentance and forgiveness. As the light of the world, Jesus becomes a beacon to all individuals who are not in a relationship with God.

John the Baptist introduces as “the one who is more powerful” than him and as someone who he is unworthy of (John 1:7 NRSV). The idea of being unworthy is something that individuals, including Christians, battle with throughout their lives. This unworthiness steams from the world setting standards for individuals to meet and when they fail to do so they are tagged with not being worthy of whatever they would earn. This unworthiness comes from Satan who feeds on this loneness in individuals to separate them from God. 

Jesus comes to John the Baptist, a misfit, in wilderness, not in a beautiful cathedral. Jesus begins his public with an unconventional act by starting outside of Jerusalem, outside of the temple and is named as God’s son, the beloved, who God is well pleased with by a voice from heaven (Mark 1:7). As Christians, we often think of the most holy moments happening in the temple or the church, yet Jesus often has his holy moments in the wilderness far from the temple. 

By starting his public ministry with his baptism in the wilderness, Jesus, the Son of God, marks himself as a human being, as an ambassador to the fallen human race from God as God. Jesus did not have to be baptized; however, Jesus, God in the flesh, has taken the form of a human being in order to feel what we feel, to experience what we experience, to be as we are, yet without sin. His baptism becomes the mark of being in union with Triune God. 

Although Jesus goes to Jerusalem during his three years of ministry, Jesus spends most of the time outside of the Jewish center. As the light of the world, Jesus goes beyond the Jewish world into Judea and Galilee in order to draw individuals into the light. Jesus travels into the wilderness, into the darkness to draw people into the light in order to know, to be into a relationship with him.

Jesus Christ goes beyond the boundaries to reach people in their specific context, situation to rescue them from Satan’s grip by extending God’s forgiveness, mercy, and grace to them. Jesus builds individuals up by drawing them out of the darkness and into the light. 

This is the light that once we repent and seek forgiveness we are able to enjoy eternal life with the Triune God. This light is what we, Christians, take into the world to lead others out of the darkness and into the light. This light is what gives us hope. This light grants us the promise of eternal life. This light is what we, Christians, take into the in order to draw others into a relationship with God the Father. 

Therefore, we, Christians, are called upon carry God’s light within us to shine his light into the darkness, into the world. We are called upon to spread this light by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, into the world. We are called upon to walk in the light to be an expression of God’s love in the world.

O Lord, we are struggling as individuals, as communities, as  nations, as your children. We come to you with heavy burdens that only you can contend with.

We lift up the sick and dying. May they feel your comfort and peace, and grant those who have died entrance into your heavenly kingdom.

We lift up those who are struggling to provide the essentials of food, shelter, and clothes for their loved ones and themselves. Grant the individuals and families the courage to ask for help, and  for others to answer the call.

We come together, although physically apart, as one voice, one body, because we are never truly alone, especially when we turn to you. Lead us by your light through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, with the Holy Spirit now and always. Amen.