Mark 1:5-8 commentary: many came to be baptized, confessing their sins

5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

I was given a vial of water by a former high school classmate who conducts pagan religious ceremonies for tourists at places like the pyramids in Egypt. It is water from the spot on the Jordan River where tradition says Christ was baptized by John the Baptist contained in a vial purchased at an abbey or church at Glastonbury in England that tradition says was founded by, among others, Joseph of Arimathea. This meaningless relic I mention only as a curiosity.

Here is the word “all” is used without distinction as you can see by comparing this verse to Luke 7:30. This is not “all” without exception, as in every person in Judea. Some obviously did not.

See how “all” is used here. Here is “all” without exception.

Romans 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

The one exception is Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

Here John the Baptist is dressed like Elijah, as well as coming in the power and spirit of Elijah.

2 Kings 1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

Elijah plows hearts to prepare the field for the sower of the seed.

7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

This is where we get the phrase, “I’m not worthy to untie [a certain person’s] shoes.”

Elijah is truly humble. Most of the time when you hear a Christian get up in church and say, “I’m a wicked sinner”, you know he doesn’t believe that. He believes he’s ‘all that and a bag of chips’ with God.

8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Here are two distinct baptisms mentioned. One, literally with water, and two, literally with the Holy Ghost. In Matthew 3:11 there are three baptisms in one verse;

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

You don’t want the third baptism. You don’t want anything to do with the Lake of Fire.

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

There is one true Lord but many lords;

1Corinthians 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

The true baptism that Mark tells you about Jesus doing puts you into Jesus Christ. It’s not by water but by the Spirit.

1Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

You must be baptized with the Holy Ghost to receive Christ.