On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson examine the opening words of the Gospel of Mark.

In this episode of Preaching the Text, we discuss Christ's baptism by John in the Jordan River.

The question remains, how do we get connected to this Isaianic Servant? How do we get into a relationship with Him so our perspectives and lives might be changed? We want to see God rightly, so where do we look?

The word which justifies by bringing faith in baptism is the same powerful word that recreates, regenerates, and re-births a human being in baptism.

The one who embodies the dove, that is, the Holy Spirit will be mounted upon the staff of Calvary.

You are not in debt to sin. You don’t owe it anything. There’s no reason for you to serve it.

Not only does God reveal the identity of Jesus in this season through what we see and hear Jesus doing and saying, but God also reveals His gracious will through Jesus despite what we see and hear.

Paul is thinking of the cross and empty tomb, but the liturgical calendar places us at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, not the end: Jesus standing waist deep in the Jordan River.

Does God come that we might serve Him, or that He might serve man? Craig and Troy revisit the end of Matthew 3 to bring out the implications of what it means for Jesus to serve us by fulfilling all righteousness.

God doesn't demand that you wash yourself and come up to Him in holiness, but instead He comes all the way down to you in the filth of your sin.