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.