kept hidden, why? - baptism of the Lord B 2015

There are differences in the way the baptism of Jesus is narrated in the four gospels, but the gospel of Mark has the most unique among them.  Mark narrated the baptism of Jesus as some event personal only to Jesus and the Father.   Only Jesus it would seem saw the sky open and torn in two. Only Jesus, it would seem, saw the dove, the Holy Spirit descending on him.  And when the Father spoke, he spoke directly to Jesus, it would seem only to Jesus saying “you are my beloved son, with you I am well pleased.”  The dialogue sounded private – a dialogue between the Father and Jesus only.  In contrast the other gospels would narrate this with an announcement meant to be heard by all with the Father announcing, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.  But with the gospel of Mark it is – "you are my beloved son".

Why is this so?  Scholars say there are several reasons.  We will just consider one.

Mark they say is merely consistent with his theme of the secret or hidden identity of Jesus.  The real identity of Jesus must be kept secret.  For Mark these events in the Jordan, the sky being torn open, the dove descending on him and those words of the Father that Jesus is indeed his beloved Son does not prove anything.  Jesus is Son of God, Jesus is the Christ not because of his baptism and the events surrounding it.  Jesus is Christ not because of that glorious event in the Jordan.  No.  For the gospel of Mark he is beloved Son because he suffered and died for us on the cross.  The true identity of Jesus can never be known, the real identity of Jesus can never be truly and fully revealed, until we come to that part of the story when he was nailed and died on the cross.  The identity of Jesus has to be kept hidden until we reach the cross.  This is why the gospel  of Mark portrayed the baptism of the Lord differently from the other evangelists, he portrayed it as something private, just between Jesus and the Father.  Mark seemed to have wanted to gloss it over so that he can highlight the event which he believed truly defined who Jesus is.

So if this is what defines Christ, what would define a disciple?

It is not the glorious, the miracles, the victories, the successes, the triumphs, the accomplishments.  Our real identity as disciples is defined by how much we have suffered and far are we willing to suffer for Jesus.  That was how Mark saw things.  He wrote to a people who are afraid to suffer, to people who are afraid to sacrifice.  He wrote to a people who defined discipleship in terms of miracles received and experienced.  He wrote to a people who only saw and celebrated the magnificent, the wonderful, the glorious and the miraculous.  He wrote to a people who are afraid to suffer.

And yet it is only in suffering can we truly identify ourselves with the Lord.