Mark 1: 10 Commentary

Good discussion, and I don’t mean to dismiss any of the interesting hypotheses made here. But let’s keep in mind what “heaven” meant in those days. Heaven was where God lived. Somewhere “up there” Earth’s atmosphere ended and heaven began. That’s how the Bible portrays heaven and Earth and that’s how people imagined it. So the Holy Spirit had to “open” (break through) the border between Earth and Heaven so he could descend upon Jesus.

By Charles (wrote 1421 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 10/10/2011 13:01 pm

1)You have made a good point,Mary Katherine May.
The same Greek word “schizo” is used in Mark 1:10 for “opened’ and in Matthew 27:51 for “was rent”.
2)There is an interesting feature about the two incidents.
At the baptism of Jesus,the havens opened and a voice came from heaven saying,”Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Read Mark 1:11.
After Jesus was crucified,the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.The Roman centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus and the things that happened,feared greatly and said,”Truly this was the Son of God.”Please read Matthew 27:51-54.Romans 1:4.
3)I want to make one more point.
After the baptism of Jesus and after the voice from heaven has said,”Thou art my beloved Son”, Jesus was tempted by satan in the wilderness for forty days.Read Mark 1:12,13.
When Jesus was transfigured,a voice came out of the cloud which said,”This is my beloved Son,in whom I am well pleased;hear ye of him.”Read Matt.17:5;
Mark 9:7.After this incident,Jesus had to pass through the Gethsemane experience (Luke 22:39-45) and to go to Calvary to die on the cross for the sins of the people of the world.
4)Jesus Christ had dedicated the New Covenant by his blood on the Cross.
Matt.26:28.Read Heb.9:11,12.
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,that is passed into the
HEAVENS,Jesus the SON OF GOD,let us hold fast our profession.” Heb.4:14.
“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands,which are the figures of the true;but into HEAVEN itself,…”Heb.9:24
5)The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
“Having therefore,brethren,boldness to enter into the holiest by the BLOOD of Jesus,by A NEW & LIVING WAY,which he hath consecrated for us,through the VEIL,that is to say,his FLESH;” Heb.10:19,20.

By Alex (wrote 499 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/13/2009 07:19 am

The point to look at here, I believe, regarding the word OPENED in Mark 1:10 is to understand it’s relationship to the temple veil being RENT in Mark 15:38 at Jesus’ crucifixion. The source for the both is the same Greek word.(Strong’s 4977). Though I don’t fully understand the relationship as of yet, one is at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, one at his human death. When Mark in verse 1:1 calls the Savior’s baptism the BEGINNING in the context of the meaning of the word OPENED, the baptism and descent of the dove (as in Holy Spirit) become far more profound than I thought possible.

By Mary Katherine May (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 2/13/2009 05:41 am

It is interesting to find in Luke’s account that”….Jesus also being baptized,and praying,the heaven was opened.” Note the word “praying”.The ministry of Jesus began at His baptism.We can meditate on the prayer life of Jesus by reading Luke 3:21;5:16;6:12;9:18-20;29-36;11:1;22:39-46;23:34,46
(all in Luke’s Gospel).Prayer brings blessings from heaven.
Here are some quotes on prayer:
“Prayer is the golden key that opens heaven.’-Thomas Wilson.
“In the morning prayer is the key that opens the treasures of God’s mercies and blessings;in the evening it is the key that shuts us up under His protection and safeguard.”-ANON.
“Pray to God at the beginning of all thy works that thou mayest bring them all to a good ending.”-Xenophon.
“To get nations back on their feet,we must get down on our knees first.”
-Letter to Editor,Des Mosines register.

By Alex (wrote 499 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/23/2009 23:58 pm

I don’t know. My Bible says “opened.” But however it happened and whatever it looked like, I’m sure it was for our benefit (its not like the Lord needed to peal back the atmosphere to see His Son - He’s God! Nothing obscures His view) - So perhaps He did it to make us ask the question you just asked, “Why were the heaven’s opened?” The first thing that comes to my mind is a song:

And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul

By Jason (wrote 314 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/10/2009 21:57 pm

Why were the heavens “torn open”?

By ken (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 1/10/2009 18:30 pm