Mark 1:9-11 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
Is it possible that Mark, the gospel-writer, the Evangelist, was part of the war on Christmas? He didn't write about Christmas at all.
Of course I'm being ludicrous - the war on Christmas or lack thereof is completely an American 21st Century invention - but it's interesting to note that, for at least one of the four gospel-writers (and really, I'd include John as well), Christmas was largely irrelevant. How and where and when this person was born was not important to them.
Mark starts with Jesus' baptism - as an adult. What's important to Mark is not a birth and angels and shepherds - but a baptism. And what a baptism it was! In this baptism we get a voice from heaven to share the message. This is as close as we get in Mark to a Christmas proclamation - this is the message from heaven at the start about who this person is. Jesus is God's Son. Jesus is the Beloved One. God is pleased with Jesus. And that's the most important Christmas message of all - we are followers of the beloved Son of God. Merry Christmas!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for a full calendar. Plan to join us for Christmas Eve worship at 3 (Family Worship), 5 (Holy Communion and candlelight), and 11 (Holy Communion and candlelight). Pre-service music one-half hour before each service time. Then, we will gather for worship on Sunday, Christmas Day, at 10 am.
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