Theophylact Bulgarian. Commentary on the Gospel of Mark
Mark 1: 9. And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Mark 1:10. And when he came out of the water, immediately John saw the heavens opening open and the Spirit, like a dove descending on Him.
Mark 1:11. And a voice came from heaven: You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Jesus does not come to baptism for the remission of sins, for He did not create sin, nor for receiving the Holy Spirit, for how could John's baptism give the Spirit when it did not cleanse sins, as I said? But He also does not go to repentance to be baptized, because He was 'greater than the Baptist himself' (Matthew 11:11). So what does it come for? No doubt in order for John to announce Him to the people. Since many flocked there, he deigned to come in order to witness to many who He is, and together also in order to fulfill “all righteousness,” that is, all the commandments of the Law. Since obedience to the baptizing prophet, as one sent from God, was also a commandment, Christ fulfills this commandment as well. The Spirit descends not because Christ has a need for this (for in essence He dwells in Him), but so that you know that the Holy Spirit also descends on you at baptism. At the descent of the Holy Spirit, the testimony is immediately spoken. Since the Father spoke from above: “You are the Son Mine ”, so that those who heard would not think that He was talking about John, the Spirit descends on Jesus, showing that this is said about Him. The heavens are opened so that we know that they are also opened to us when we are baptized.
Mark 1:12. Immediately thereafter, the Spirit leads Him into the wilderness.
Mark 1:13. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the beasts; and angels ministered to him.
Teaching us not to lose heart when after baptism we fall into temptations, the Lord goes uphill to temptation, or, better, does not leave, but is led away by the Holy Spirit, showing through the fact that we ourselves should not be thrown into temptations, but accept them when they comprehend us. And he goes up the mountain so that, because of the desolation of the place, the devil might take insolence and come to Him; for he usually attacks when he sees that we are alone. The place of temptation was so wild that there were many animals. Angels began to serve Him after He defeated the tempter. All this in the Gospel of Matthew is set forth in greater length.
Mark 1:14. After John was betrayed, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God
Mark 1:15. and saying that the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe in the gospel.
Hearing that John was delivered to prison, Jesus withdraws to Galilee, so that to show us that we should not go into temptations ourselves, but to avoid them, when we do fall, - to endure. Christ preaches, apparently, the same thing with John, somehow: 'repent' and 'the kingdom of God is at hand.' But in fact, it is not the same thing: John says “repent” in order to turn away from sins, and Christ says “repent” in order to lag behind the letter of the Law, which is why he added: “believe in the Gospel”, for that whoever wants to believe according to the gospel has already abolished the Law. The Lord says that the 'time is fulfilled' of the Law. Until now, - he says, - the Law was in action, and from now on comes the Kingdom of God, life according to the Gospel. This life is justly presented as the “Kingdom” of Heaven, for when you see that one who lives according to the Gospel behaves almost as incorporeal, how can you not say that he already has the Kingdom of Heaven (where there is no food or drink), although it seems to be also far.
