according to Mark - 2

Pericopae 2&3. Jesus’ (baptism &) anointing.

Jesus’ testing by God, and temptation by the Satan.

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It came to pass, in those days, Jesus came

from Nazareth of Galilee and was

then washed clean in the Jordan by this famed

ol' John, and straightaway, when he was (washed…

&) coming up out of the water he

saw tearing of (the curtains blue above),

the sky (that separates realities),

the spirit coming down (to us from Love),

then resting on him, settling as a dove.

And out of those same heavens came a voice:

You are the son of me, and you're belov'd!

In you I am delighted - YOU'RE MY CHOICE !

And straightaway the spirit threw him out

into deserted regions, where he was

for forty days then tempted by (that “lout”,)

"Accuser", and was with wild animals.

God's messengers were also serving him.

(Instead of keeping out, they’re opening up

those flaming swords that never had grown dim.

God's rule through his own son will soon erupt!)

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9 Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ Ναζαρὲτ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη εἰς τὸν Ἰορδάνην ὑπὸ Ἰωάννου. 10καὶ εὐθὺς ἀναβαίνων ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατος εἶδεν σχιζομένους τοὺς οὐρανοὺς καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα ὡς περιστερὰν καταβαῖνον εἰς αὐτόν· 11καὶ φωνὴ ἐγένετο ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν· σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν σοὶ εὐδόκησα.

 12Καὶ εὐθὺς τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτὸν ἐκβάλλει εἰς τὴν ἔρημον.13καὶ ἦν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τεσσεράκοντα ἡμέρας πειραζόμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ σατανᾶ, καὶ ἦν μετὰ τῶν θηρίων, καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι διηκόνουν αὐτῷ. Mark 1:9-13 NA28

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Q: Both the Hebrew word Messiah, and the Greek word Christ , mean "anointed". What was this practice of anointing, in Jewish history and culture? If Jesus was the Messiah of God, or the Christ of God, when was he anointed? And who by?

Q: Can you see how the similar (though previously quite distinct) concepts of baptism & anointing get fitted together, when the title of "Christ" or "Messiah" is fitted to Yeshua of Nazareth? [This fits the early church's universal experience of "the way" (& spirit) of Jesus].

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