Mark 1:10 (NKJV)

Verse of the Day

Bible Commentary

Mark 1:10 is a Bible verse in the New Testament which describes the amazing events that took place immediately after John baptized Jesus.

John the Baptist had quite a following. He was anointed by God as the messenger of Jesus Christ. God spoke these words about John through Isaiah the prophet (Mark 1:2-3):

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, ³ the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”

John boldly proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:5 says that all of the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

He cleared the path for the arrival and ministry of Jesus Christ, just as God proclaimed. John had a huge responsibility and ministry, which he diligently carried out. In Mark 1:7-8, he preached,

“After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John recognized that as important as his calling was, it paled in comparison to the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The day finally arrived when Jesus appeared at the Jordan River and took His place in line to be baptized.

The Moment Arrived

John knew who He was. This was the moment he had been waiting for. This was the moment his faith became sight. This was the moment his dream was realized.

He was humbled and questioned Jesus in Matthew 3:14, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15)

And so John baptized Jesus.

And true to John’s proclamation, when Jesus came up out of the water, an amazing event took place. In Mark 1:10, John said he saw the heavens being torn open. The Greek translation for “open” is: to split or sever, break, divide, open, rend.

Imagine what it must have looked like to see the sky—the heavens—being torn open! And next? Mark 1:10 says the Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove.

The heavens were torn open to release something upon the earth. That something was the Holy Spirit from Heaven, and it descended upon Jesus. This was the public announcement of God’s anointing upon His Son, the Christ.

Not only did the Spirit descend upon Jesus like a dove, but the voice of God came from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)

God the Father was speaking directly to Jesus, and all the people were witness to it. Jesus received a public confirmation of His anointing and calling right there in front of John and all the people. It was recorded so you and I could also know and believe that God sent His Son for us.

Unlocking the Truth – No More Separation

When the heavens were torn open and the Spirit descended, it never said the heavens were closed again. The Holy Spirit remained with Jesus. This event was also a signal of the time when Jesus would hang on the cross, and the veil of the temple would be torn from top to bottom.

When the veil was torn, it symbolized the restoration of a broken relationship between God the Father and man. Sin no longer separated us from God, because the penalty had been paid through Jesus Christ. He redeemed us.

The veil was a tangible item, and when it was torn in two, every physical barrier that stood between us and God was also removed. We could then approach God without a mediator, and have a personal relationship with Him.

The heavens being torn open represents the intangible barriers we cannot see that have separated us (the bride) from Jesus Christ (our Husband). These barriers are the principalities and powers that Jesus conquered. (Colossians 2:15)

Both the tangible (the physical), and the intangible (soul and spirit) are restored to the Father through Jesus Christ the Son. Perfect love has cast out fear (1 John 4:18). Perfect love has broken down the middle wall of partition (Ephesians 2:14).

In Jesus Christ, there is no more separation between us and the Father, or between us and the heavens.

Study the Bible verse of Mark 1:10 to know a full reconciliation to God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ.