Mark
Copyright © 2008 Darroll Evans
CHAPTER 1
Mark 1:1-8
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son
of God;
It is believed by most
theologians that while this gospel account was written by Mark. This is actually the memories of the Apostle
Peter with Mark acting as the scribe.
Mark begins by declaring that
he was there in the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The very first thing Mark does is to proclaim
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Beginning (Gr. Archee-arxh) indicates the
commencement! Mark starts at the beginning.
That may seem strange since he does not mention the virgin birth. However, the beginning of the gospel is the
commencement of Christ’s preaching ministry.
At the beginning, Mark
announces that Christ Jesus is the Son of God!
That is a fact that is at the heart of all presentation of the gospel.
2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my
messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for
the remission of sins.
5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of
6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his
loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet
of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost.
Prior to the beginning of
Christ’s ministry on earth, God sent a messenger to proclaim, “The Messiah is
coming! Get ready!” That message was not to all nations. It was given exclusively to the Israeli
nation.
The second thing Mark does is
to appeal to the prophets. Certain
events must take place in the life of Jesus the Christ, Yahshua
haMesshiach. It was prophesied, “Behold,
I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.”
The one who would prepare the
way was a person who would become a “voice of one crying in the
wilderness.” That forerunner would
declare, “Prepare the way of the Lord! Make His paths straight!”
That voice crying out in the
wilderness, and that man who would fulfill that prophecy was John. Some now claim that those events must take
place again with them (acting on behalf of the Church) doing as John did and
getting things ready for the return of Christ.
That teaching is false!
According to Matthew 24:22
that except those days be shortened {by the return of Christ Jesus} no flesh
should be saved!
He is our Savior! We are not His!
John the baptizer, practiced
the ritual of Jewish immersion, mikvah, or baptism in the wilderness of
John baptized Jews (and
perhaps some proselytes) from all around Judea and even people from
In Acts 19, Paul met some of
John’s followers and re-baptized them with a believers’ baptism. Regenerational
baptism now has no place among Christians.
John wore a camel's hair
cloak. He had a leather belt. Think
about that! John is depicted as being a wild
man. But, I am certain that he was as
physically clean and as well groomed as most in his day. John was a first century Jew, and not a 20th-21st
century mountain man.
John’s clothes may not have
been the best of that day, but things change.
Today, a camel hair coat is expensive and most men wear leather belts.
John’s diet may seem strange
to us, but his diet of locusts and wild honey was normal for many Jews of that
day.
John proclaimed, “One is
coming Who is mightier than I am. I am
not worthy to untie His sandals. I have baptized you with water, but He shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”
He spoke of Christ Jesus!
Mark 1:9-11
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from
10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and
the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased.
Jesus came from Nazareth of
Galilee, and was baptized in the
Straightway
(Gr. eutheoos-euqewV), or at once, as Christ came out of the water, and
John saw the heavens opened, and a dove-like Spirit descended on Jesus.
That was followed by a voice
from heaven speaking to Jesus and saying, “You are my beloved Son! In You I am
well pleased (Gr. eudokeesa-eudokhsa), or delighted.
Mark 1:12-13
12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was
with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
“Immediately” is an English
word that is used 16 times in the KJV translation of Mark. However, the Greek
root eutheoos-euqewV is used approximately 40 times by Mark, which is much more often than any of the
other NT writings.
Immediately,
the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness.
That wilderness experience lasted 40
days. It was during that time that
Christ was tempted by Satan. At the end
of that experience, angels came to minister to Christ Jesus.
Why was Christ driven into
the wilderness? It was for His
learning. Part of His mission was to experience
the same things we experience. God may
have sympathy for us, but His
Son has empathy for us. He has experienced the power of Satan at work
against humanity.
Mark 1:14-20
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching
the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent
ye, and believe the gospel.
16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother
casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become
fishers of men.
18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee,
and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the
ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
It was following the 40 days
in the wilderness that John was put in prison.
Meanwhile, Jesus went to the area of Galilee, and preached the gospel of
the
As He walked on the shore of
the
Jesus told them, “Come after
me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Straightway
(Gr. eutheoos-euqewV), immediately, they left their nets, and followed
Him. When He had gone a little farther,
He saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
They too were fishermen, and they were in their ship mending the nets.
Straightway
(Gr. eutheoos-euqewV), immediately, Jesus called them: and they left their
father Zebedee with the hired servants, and followed Jesus.
Mark uses the Greek to show
the urgency of Jesus’ call. That urgency
has not diminished. The time to make a
decision for Christ is at the time of our calling.
Mark 1:21-28
21 And they went into
22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had
authority, and not as the scribes.
23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried
out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?
art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he
came out of him.
27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves,
saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority
commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about
Jesus, Peter, Andrew, James
and John went to
Those in attendance that day
were astonished (Gr. exepleessonto-exeplhssonto) at his doctrine, because Jesus taught them as one
that had authority. He did not teach
according to the style of the scribes, Pharisees and Rabbis.
In that Synagogue there was a
man suffering from an unclean spirit.
The demon within the man cried out, “Let us alone! What have we to do
with you Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who You are,
You are the Holy One of God!” Demons
knew who Christ was before humans did!
Jesus rebuked the demon
within the man, saying, “Shut up, and come out of him.”
After the unclean spirit
caused a spasmodic seizure, the demon caused the man to shout with a loud
voice, and then the unclean spirit came out.
Those in the Synagogue were
amazed! They discussed what they had
just seen and asked one another, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? This man commands unclean spirits with authority,
and they obey Him.
In those days a doctrine was
a way of life. If a person held to a
doctrine, he/she lived according to that doctrine. Today, a doctrine may be a theory with no
place in reality.
Immediately
(Gr. euthus-euquV) his fame spread throughout
Mark 1:29-34
29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into
the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of
her.
31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the
fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were
diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.
34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many
devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
Forthwith
(Gr. eutheoos-euqewV), immediately, when they left the synagogue, Jesus,
James and John went to Simon and Andrew’s home.
Simon Peter's mother-in-law
was sick. She had a fever and “anon”, or (Gr. eutheoos-euqewV) (immediately) they
told Him of her illness. The English
word “anon” simply means immediately.
Jesus took her by the hand,
and lifted her up. Immediately (Gr.
eutheoos-euqewV)
the fever left her, and she served them.
That evening, when the sun
set, the town’s people brought those who were ill, and demon possessed. They brought them to Jesus. The crowd was so
large that it seemed that the entire city had gathered at Simon’s home. Indeed, it may have been the entire city.
Jesus healed many that were
sick. He cast out many demons, but did
not allow them to speak, because they knew Him.
It was not time for His revelation to the population as a whole.
Mark 1:35-39
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and
departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach
there also: for therefore came I forth.
39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all
The next morning, Jesus arose
before dawn. He went out to pray
privately.
Simon Peter and the others
followed Him. When they found Jesus,
they told Him, “Everybody is looking for you.”
Jesus replied, “Let’s go to
nearby towns, so I may also preach there, because that is why I came.”
As they went throughout
Mark 1:40-45
40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and
saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and
saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and
he was cleansed.
43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew
thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses
commanded, for a testimony unto them.
45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the
matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was
without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
A leper came looking for
Jesus. Kneeling down to him, the leper
said, “If You are willing, You can make me clean!”
At that, Jesus was moved with
compassion. Jesus stretched out His hand
and touched the leper. Then, Jesus said,
“I am willing! Be clean!”
Clean (Gr. Katharistheeti-kaqarisqhti) indicates a purging
of all that defiles. In our redemption by the risen Christ, we are purged of
all that defiles us before God.
Jesus came to seek and to
save the lost (Luke 19:10). You may have
a positive relationship with God the Father without physical healing, BUT that is impossible without a
spiritual healing. Those who look to
Christ for only a physical healing are missing the point of His salvation!
As soon as he had spoken
those words, immediately (Gr.
eutheoos-euqewV),
the leprosy departed from that man, and he was cleansed.
Straitly
(Gr. eutheoos-euqewV), immediately Jesus warned him, and sent him
away. Jesus warned or charged the man to
keep silent about his healing.
Jesus told that man, “See to
it that you say nothing to anyone. Go you way, but show thyself to the
Levitical priests, and offer that which Moses commanded for your healing as a
testimony unto them.
Jesus had the man make an
offering as testimony to the Levites!
That was in keeping with Christ’s mandate to fulfill all righteousness.
Matt 3:14-15
14 But John forbad him,
saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15a And Jesus answering said
unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all
righteousness.
However, the man went out,
and began to tell all who would listen.
That in turn, caused so much attention to be focused on Jesus that He
could no longer appear in public within the city.