Baptism
Excerpt
In fulfillment of the preceding prophecy, John came (egeneto,“appeared”) on the stage of history as the last Old Testament prophet (cf. Luke 7:24-28; 16:16), signaling a turning point in God’s dealings with mankind. John was baptizing in the desert region (erēmō, dry, uninhabited country) and preaching a baptism of repentance. The word “preaching” (kēryssōn) could be rendered “proclaiming as a herald,” appropriate in light of the prediction in Mark 1:2-3.
John’s baptism was no innovation since Jews required Gentiles wanting to be admitted into Judaism to be baptized by self-immersion. The startling new element was that John’s baptism was designed for God’s covenant people, the Jews,and it required their repentance in view of the coming Messiah (cf. Matt. 3:2).
This baptism is described as one relating to or expressive of repentance for (eis) the forgiveness of sins. The Greek preposition eis could be referential (“with reference to”) or purpose (“leading to”) but probably not cause (“on account of”). “Repentance” (metanoia) occurs in Mark only here. It means “a turn about, a deliberate change of mind resulting in a change of direction in thought and behavior” (cf. Matt. 3:8; 1 Thes. 1:9).
Grassmick, John D. “Mark.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 103. Print.
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