Baptized for War: The Baptism of Jesus Launched His Battles with Evil in the Wilderness and Beyond

On January 10, 49 BC, Julius Caesar crossed the river Rubicon, an act that was a declaration of war. This Sunday, January 10, we will hear about Jesus crossing the baptismal river Jordan as a declaration of war against all evil. His baptism launched a full assault against the devil and all demons, beginning in the wilderness. In this video, Chad Bird explores the richly textured Old Testament background of Mark’s account of Jesus’ baptism. He highlights its connection to several OT texts.