The gospel of Mark is one of the earliest New Testament writings, probably the earliest gospel. It is brief, energetic, dynamic. It starts right in....
Mark 1:1-8 The beginning of Jesus' ministry -- John the baptizer
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" -- "a voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
A pericope is a short dynamic story, somewhat self-contained. Much of the Gospel of Mark consists of these short events, dramatically recalled by Peter, copied down later by Mark. Here is the second pericope in Mark's gospel:
Mark 1:1-8 The beginning of Jesus' ministry -- John the baptizer
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" -- "a voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
The quote in verse 2 is from the Old Testament prophet, Malachi (Mal. 3:1) and the quote in verse 3 is from the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3.) What do these quotes say about the expected recipients of this letter by Mark?
Judea was the center of the ancient homeland of the Jews, the descendants of Israel. In this time, the region was under the control of the Roman empire, with considerable autonomy left to the local peoples. The phrase, "make straight paths for him", is an announcement that significant change is coming.
Judea was the center of the ancient homeland of the Jews, the descendants of Israel. In this time, the region was under the control of the Roman empire, with considerable autonomy left to the local peoples. The phrase, "make straight paths for him", is an announcement that significant change is coming.
How is John the Baptist described? What type of individual is he? And why does the story seem to begin with him? (Even to the ancient reader, John is a strange character. The reader is expected to be a little shocked by him!)
Mark skips any significant prologue. The others gospels tell us a little about Jesus's life before his ministry began. Mark is simpler, more direct. All that matters here is the short three years of Jesus's ministry!
Mark skips any significant prologue. The others gospels tell us a little about Jesus's life before his ministry began. Mark is simpler, more direct. All that matters here is the short three years of Jesus's ministry!
Mark 1:9-13 The beginning of Jesus' ministry -- baptism and temptation
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
Nazareth is some distance north of Galilee, 70-80 miles.
Why is Jesus baptized? What happens when he is baptized? Theologically, philosophically, this is an intriguing passage. If Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God, as taught elsewhere in the New Testament – and in the early church – why does he need to be baptized?
Note that heaven was "torn" open! This describes a dramatic, almost violent, action.
Note that heaven was "torn" open! This describes a dramatic, almost violent, action.
What does Jesus do after the baptism? Why? What is baptism? How is Jesus' baptism different from that of John?
Why does Mark leave out so much? (Eg. "He was with the wild animals and angels attended him.") Couldn't he have said a little more??
1:14-15 The kingdom begins
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
Jesus has finished his time in the desert and is ready for ministry. Does the imprisonment of John stir Jesus to ministry?
Jesus emphasizes the "good news" (or "gospel") of the coming kingdom. The concept of repentance is a positive change, in the direction of the kingdom of God.
1:16-20 Four disciples
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
There are now four official disciples, Simon, Andrew, James and John. Why does Jesus suddenly pick these people? (Is it really sudden? Or does it appear this way through Mark's collapsing of time?)
Capernaum is near Nazareth, in northern Israel (Galilee.) Jesus first begins teaching, as any Jew would, in a synagogue, on the Sabbath (Saturday.)
Mark 1:21-28 A different teacher!
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"
The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."
News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Capernaum is near Nazareth, in northern Israel (Galilee.) Jesus first begins teaching, as any Jew would, in a synagogue, on the Sabbath (Saturday.)
Mark 1:21-28 A different teacher!
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"
The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."
News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Of course news spreads! Is this good?
How is Jesus's teaching received?
(NIV footnotes say "evil spirit" might be "unclean spirit".) What is the effect of the "evil" or "unclean" spirit? And why does Jesus hush it up?!
How is Jesus's teaching received?
(NIV footnotes say "evil spirit" might be "unclean spirit".) What is the effect of the "evil" or "unclean" spirit? And why does Jesus hush it up?!
We will continue with Mark 1 next time.
Yes, this passage seems like shorthand. John's baptism is described as one expressing repentance for the forgiveness of sins. So this makes it seem like Jesus is doing it for the same reasons as everyone else until we see what happens when he comes up out of the water. No one else being baptized by John gets a sign like that--the Holy Spirit descending on him as a dove and the voice from heaven pronouncing his pleasure in his Son. That's pretty big clue that something different is going on with Jesus than everyone else there that day. But what is not really explained. What is suggested pretty quickly, however, is that the baptism is not for repentance from sin because he goes into the desert to be tempted by the devil and there the angels minister to him.
ReplyDeleteActually, it dawns on me that in this passage, the baptism and temptation are rolled into the one little pericope, so intended to be taken together as one unit of meaning. That strengthens the impression that his baptism is for a different reason than everyone else--or at least that its relationship to sin is different than everyone else. In fact, it precedes a great period of temptation to which he does not succumb, unlike everyone else who presumably succumbed to temptation long before their baptisms. BTW, the mention of the wild animals in the desert is interesting. Is this about divine protection? Is it an aspect of the temptation? Is he out there communing with the wild animals (probably not, given the context, but I won't dismiss it out of hand).
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