MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:1 Introduction. Mark begins his account with the public ministry of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:2 Mark identifies John the Baptist as the predicted one who prepares THE WAY OF THE LORD (see Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1). ISAIAH THE PROPHET is named because he was more prominent than Malachi, and more of the quoted material comes from him. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var ima [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:4 JOHN 1:1 prepares the way for Jesus by calling people to REPENTANCE, which means turning to God for FORGIVENESS OF SINS. Baptism was not the means by which sins were forgiven but rather was a sign indicating that one had truly repented. WILDERNESS. See Isaiah 40:3. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:5 ALL THE COUNTRY OF JUDEA AND ALL JERUSALEM. John’s ministry fulfills the promise of a “new exodus” in which Israel is delivered from the wilderness and symbolically enters into THE RIVER JORDAN again to receive God’s promises of end-time salvation. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:6 John’s clothing and food are like that of other preachers in the desert (see 1 Kings 17:4, 1 Kings 17:9). On LOCUSTS, see note on Matt. 3:4. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:7 The one for whom John is preparing the way (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1) WILL BAPTIZE... WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (Isaiah 32:15; Isaiah 44:3; Joel 2:28; see note on Matt. 3:11). Untying the straps of SANDALS could be the responsibility of a low servant, but [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:9 WAS BAPTIZED. Jesus identifies with the sins of his people, even though he himself is free from sin (Mark 10:45). GALILEE is the region west of the Jordan and the Sea of Galilee and north of Samaria. In the NT era Galilee was ruled by Herod the Great (see note on Matt. 2:1), th... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:10 Mark uses the word IMMEDIATELY 41 times in his Gospel. It suggests a sense of urgency and often introduces a new incident or a surprising turn of events. The SPIRIT of God descends upon Jesus at his baptism (see note on Luke 3:22). Jesus is thus commissioned for a unique servi... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:12 TEMPTED BY SATAN. See note on Matt. 4:1. “Being tempted” indicates that the temptations happened over the 40-day period and were not limited to the three temptations mentioned by Matthew (Matthew 4:1) and Luke (Luke 4:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.get [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:14 The GOSPEL is the “good news” that THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND. God’s rule over people’s hearts and lives is now being established, and people should REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL. The kingdom will ultimately include the restoration of all creation (see Revelation 21:1),... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:16 Demonstration of Jesus’ Authority. The first half of Mark’s Gospel shows that Jesus has authority over sickness, over the laws of nature, and over the demonic world. It also highlights Jesus’ unique and authoritative teaching, and his sending out of his disciples. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var i... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:20 THEY LEFT THEIR FATHER... WITH THE HIRED SERVANTS. Several of Jesus’ first disciples were not poor but were self-employed fishermen. As seen here, James and John were part of a family business. Levi (Mark 2:14) was a fairly well-to-do tax collector. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = documen... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:22 The main purpose of Jesus’ earthly ministry was TEACHING rather than performing miracles or casting out demons, although these actions showed that God was with him. The SCRIBES mentioned here may have been a local group of men who taught in the synagogues, rather than the scri... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:23 By naming Jesus as THE HOLY ONE OF GOD, the demon may have been trying to exercise power over Jesus. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:26 THEY WERE ALL AMAZED. Casting out this demon confirms Jesus’ authority to teach. See note on Matt. 12:27. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:32 SUNDOWN marks the end of the Sabbath (roughly 6:00 P.M. Saturday). People are now permitted to come to Jesus with their needs. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:40 A LEPER is ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 13:45). As an outcast, he is financially and socially isolated, and is dependent on charity. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:41 TOUCHED HIM. Instead of the leper making Jesus unclean, Jesus’ touch actually makes the leper CLEAN. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:44 SAY NOTHING. This is Mark’s first report of Jesus telling a healed person not to tell anyone of his being healed (see note on Matt. 8:4). SHOW YOURSELF TO THE PRIEST is commanded so that the healed person will be declared ceremonially clean (Leviticus 14:2). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK—NOTE ON MARK 1:45 The people often miss the true purpose of Jesus’ ministry by focusing too much on his miracles. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]