A brief introductory section showing how the work of John the Baptist, and the baptism and temptation of Jesus, led up to the ministry in Galilee. MARK 1:1 is perhaps best taken as the title to the whole book. It may be a late addition, but it represents the writer's point of view. Like Luke, he r... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK 1:14 TO MARK 3:6. THE FIRST PERIOD OF THE GALILEAN MINISTRY. Mark 1:14 f. Jesus Announces in Galilee the Nearness of the Kingdom. Not immediately after the Temptation, but after the arrest of John (Mark 6:17), Jesus returned to Galilee from the south country and took up John's message. Like Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CALL OF THE FIRST DISCIPLES. The sudden call and unhesitating response argue, according to Porphyry (_c._ A.D. 300), either the incompetence of the lying historian or the stupidity of the disciples. But Mk. does not imply that this was the first these men had seen or heard of Jesus (_cf._ John 1... [ Continue Reading ]
A SPECIMEN DAY IN CAPERNAUM. With His first followers, Jesus went to Capernaum (p. 29), a border town in the kingdom of Antipas, on the high road from Ptolemais to Damascus (HNT, _ad loc.;_ Matthew 4:13 *). Mk.'s information now becomes more detailed, and he records the events of the first Sabbath a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MIRACLE OF HEALING IN SIMON'S HOUSE. Jesus and His disciples were apparently Simon's guests in Capernaum. Simon's wife's mother (? the hostess) was sick, and the members of the household appealed to Jesus. He lifted her up and not only freed her from fever, but restored her to strength so that s... [ Continue Reading ]
AT EVEN WHEN THE SUN DID SET: Simon's wife's mother was healed on the Sabbath. When the Sabbath was over, the house was besieged with sick persons. Jesus healed many. Each case seems to be treated individually. Mk. especially mentions the cure of the possessed.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DECISION TO LEAVE CAPERNAUM. The concourse of sick embarrasses Jesus, either because the work of healing tended to obscure His message or because Capernaum threatened to monopolise His attention. Simon may have remembered how the Master left the house and went out of the city to pray. To Simon's... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEALING OF THE LEPER. By placing this incident at this point in his narrative, Mk. gives a further reason for the difficulty which met Jesus on His return from Capernaum. The story with Mk.'s ending connects closely with ch. 2. We have here a work of healing (not, as some think, a request to Jes... [ Continue Reading ]