I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
All Commentaries on Mark 1:8 Go To Mark 1
Jerome
AD 420
According to the above-mentioned prophecy of Isaiah, the way of the Lord is prepared by John, through faith, baptism, and penitence; the paths are made straight by the rough marks of the hair-cloth garment, the girdle of skin, the feeding on locusts and wild honey, and the most lowly voice; whence it is said, “John was in the wilderness. "For John and Jesus seek what is lost in the wilderness; where the devil conquered, there he is conquered; where man fell, there he rises up. But the name, John, means the grace of God, and the narrative begins with grace. For it goes on to say, “baptizing.” For by baptism grace is given, seeing that by baptism sins are freely remitted. But what is brought to perfection by the bridegroom is introduced by the friend of the bridegroom. Thus catechumens,(which word means persons instructed,) begin by the ministry of the priest, receive the chrism from the bishop .And to show this, it is subjoined, “And preaching the baptism of repentance”.
Now by John as by the bridegroom’s friend, the bride is brought to Christ, as by a servant Rebecca was brought to Isaac .
Who again is mightier than the grace, by which sins are washed away, which John signifies? He who seventimes and seventy times seven remits sins . Grace indeed comes first, but remits sins once only by baptism, but mercy reaches to the wretched from Adam up to Christ through seventy-seven generations, and up to one hundred and forty-four thousand.
The shoe is in the extremity of the body; for in the end the Incarnate Saviour is coming for justice, whence it is said by the prophet, “Over Edom will I cast out my shoe.”.
For what is the difference between water and the Holy Spirit, who was borne over the face of the waters? Water is the ministry of man; but the Spirit is ministered by God.
