Why Baptism? Mark Chapter 1 verses 9-11
Objectives:
• Participants will know why baptism is a Sacrament and why we cannot be saved without it.
Anchor
Review of last week’s study “Point to Christ”
10-minute discussion
• What are your favourite prophecies that point to Christ?
• Please share if you received any new insights or were able to share what you learnt with someone else this week.
Add
Mark 1:9-11
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Weekly Learning Task
5-minute discussion
Do we see any of the “5 Mark Themes” from Bible Study 1 in this passage?
- Jesus’ power.
- Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God to people.
- His disciples struggle to understand who he is
- The religious leaders are corrupt and hypocritical and are united in their hatred for Jesus.
- A surprising cast of characters who do get who Jesus is and come to him in faith.
Learning Task 1 – Why baptism is a sacrament
10-minute discussion
• Why was Jesus baptised?
• What do you think happens at our baptism, outwardly and inwardly?
• Statement: “Both the Lord’s Supper and Baptism have been instituted by Christ.”
What do you think this means? Two statements that may help:
A Sacrament is a sacred act instituted by Christ that unites God’s Word with an element.
In Luther’s Smallcald Articles (Article V on Baptism): “Baptism is nothing else than the Word of God in the water, commanded by His institution, or, as Paul says, a washing in the Word (Ephesians 5:26).”
Learning Task 2 – The heavens torn open
Read Mark 15:37-38
10-minute discussion
• What was the significance of the temple curtain being torn?
• How does this relate to Mark 1:10 that we’ve just read?
Apply
Read John 3:5
5-minute discussion
• What can you conclude from this?
10-minute discussion
In his Large Catechism Luther writes on Holy Baptism:
“Let everyone esteem his Baptism as a daily dress in which he is to walk constantly, that he may ever be found in the faith and its fruits, that he suppress the old man and grow up in the new.”
The 2nd verse of the hymn “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It” says:
Sin, disturb my soul no longer:
I am baptized into Christ!
I have comfort even stronger:
Jesus’ cleansing sacrifice.
Should a guilty conscience seize me
Since my Baptism did release me
In a dear forgiving flood,
Sprinkling me with Jesus’ blood!
• How does our baptism give us comfort?
• When should we remember it?
Away
• Think about how you could respond to a non-believer who says “What is Baptism?” and be prepared to bring your conclusions with you next week.
• Read the words to the hymn “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It” and remember your baptism!