The Gospel according to Mark

by

J.W.Weeda

 

Introduction

This is a verse by verse study of the book of Mark

The one who wrote down this book about the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ is Mark. He was also called John. His official name is John Mark. He was the son of the sister of Barnabas. 

Chapter 1

Mark 1 verse 1: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Verse 1: The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Gospel means Good News, glad tidings. The whole book is the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ when He was on earth till the crucifixion and the resurrection of the Lord and after He was risen and told His disciples what to do after He would be not with them but with His Father in heaven on the right hand of the Father. 

Mark 1 verse 2: As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Verse 2: Maleachi spoke about this in Maleachi 3 verse 1. We read there :  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and theLord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of  hosts. The prophet Maleachi spoke about John the Baptist. John the Baptist was God's messenger and send to prepare Christ's way.  In Matthew 11 verse 10 we read:  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. In Isaiah 40 verse 3 we read: The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of theLord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. John was the first in the four gospels who brought the Good News to the people. He was the one in the wilderness and crieth to the people of Israel. They had to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. 

Mark 1 verse 3: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Verse 3: In John 1 verse 23 we read:He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. This was John the Baptist!

Mark 1 verse 4:  John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 

Verse 4: John baptized people in the wilderness. He preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Israel must repent to the Lord because they had turned away from God! That's why John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 

Mark 1 verse 5: And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

Verse 5: Think about this verse! All the inhabitans of the land of Judaea and they of Jerusalem came to John. Jewish people and were baptized of him in the river of Jordan. John the Baptizer baptized them all! He didn't baptize by immersion, that was impossible! So much people to immerse! It was sprinkling persons what we read also in the Old Testament.  They were baptized and confessed their sins. They made known their sins. People felt quilty and repented to confess their sins and be baptized. It was belief and works: that was the Gospel which John the Baptist preached. 

Mark 1 verse 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;

Verse 6: This is how John was dressed like this: camel's hair and a girdle of a skin upon his hips. He ate locusts and wild honey. Wild honey was very healthy and in locusts there is a lot of  egg white. A good meat substitute

Mark 1 verse 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.

Verse 7: John the Baptist preached this: One came after him Who is stronger or mightier than me. I am not worthy to stoop down  and unloose His shoes.  In Matthew 3 verse 11 we read this:  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mark 1 verse 8:  I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Verse 8: Here Mark mentioned only that the Lord Jesus Christ shall baptize the people with the Holy Ghost and he mentioned not with fire. Many of these people followed later the Lord Jesus Christ.