A Promised Future
January 3, 2012 § Leave a Comment
The Gospel of Mark introduces a rich theology of baptism in its opening account of Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1:4-11). The words of a voice coming from heaven, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased”, allude to Psalm 2:7, but also reminds us 
about Isaac as the beloved son of Abraham (Genesis 22:2) and how the Spirit of God rests on His servants (Isaiah 11:2; 42:1). The meaning of these words constitute Jesus as the fulfillment of all God’s promises. In Jesus, God’s future is secured. And, most importantly, the future of the world is guaranteed in and through the future of Jesus. His death and resurrection changed the course of history. Now all of us have a promised future. Baptism is also our marker of identity. We are not defined by the forces of mortality, but by the life we have through the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is our only hope. We can base our optimism and pessimism for a new year on all kinds of criteria, but the criterium of baptism gives birth to true Christian hope that God is in control of the future regardless the circumstances.
