Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 34:66 (Spring 2021)
Article: Jesus Will Baptize With The Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8)
Author: Kenneth W. Yates

JOTGES 34:66 (Spring 2021) p. 3

Jesus Will Baptize With The Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8)

Kenneth W. Yates

Editor

I. Introduction

“I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8).

In Mark 1, John the Baptist comes to the nation of Israel. His ministry is one of preparation. He paves the way for the coming Messiah. Part of that ministry involved baptizing the people in water. But he also informs the people that the ministry of the Messiah will be different. One difference will involve baptism. John declares to the people: “I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (v 8).

Clearly, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is greater than the baptism with water. The Messiah’s ministry will not only be different from John’s, it will also be greater. But to what does the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” refer? Who received this baptism? This article will attempt to address these issues.

II. The Majority View

It is safe to say that in Acts 2, the majority of Evangelical scholars see in the birth of the Church the fulfillment of John’s statement concerning the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:5, the Lord tells the disciples that they will be baptized in the Holy Spirit in a few days, and this occurs on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4). It appears as if this baptism initially was experienced by approximately 120 people (Acts 1:15).

JOTGES 34:66 (Spring 2021) p. 4

Grassmick takes this view. He claims that this baptism of the Holy Spirit was predicted in the OT as an expected feature of the Messiah’s ministry (Isa 44:3; Ezek 36:26–27; Joel 2:28–29).1

Stein agrees and says that the baptism of the Spirit here in Mark 1:8 is associated with the Christian Church. The water baptism of John must be understood as Christian baptism. Both of these baptisms are to be taken together and are literal. The baptism of the Spirit begins in Acts 2 when the Spirit brings in the new age.2

In a similar fashion, France s...