Read an Excerpt

Mark

The Humanity of Christ

Thomas Nelson

Inaugurating the Servant

Mark 1:1–2:28

Drawing Near

How and when did you hear the good news about Jesus? What were your first impressions of Him?

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The Context

Mark's Gospel was intended for a Gentile audience, especially a Roman one. Mark is the Gospel of action; the frequent use of "immediately" and "then" keeps his narrative moving rapidly along. Jesus appears in Mark as the Servant (Mark 10:45) who bursts on the scene to suffer for the sins of many. Mark's fast-paced approach would especially appeal to the practical, action-oriented Romans.

Without commenting on Christ's birth or childhood, Mark begins his record of the life of Jesus with a description of John the Baptist — the one prophesied to be the forerunner of Messiah. The brief public ministry of John the Baptist paved the way for the introduction and inauguration of God's Servant (1:1–11). Mark then quickly sketches the beginning of Christ's ministry — His temptation and His departure from Judea (due to opposition at home). Relocating his headquarters in Galilee, Jesus set about calling some disciples, teaching in the synagogue of Capernaum (authenticated by the healing of a demoniac), healing many (including Peter's mother-in-law), touring Galilee with Simon and others, and cleansing a leper followed by much (unwelcome) publicity. Chapter two of Mark continues this rapid-fire description of events — forgiving and healing a paralytic, calling Matthew, and attending the banquet at Matthew's house.

Next, Mark sets the stage for what is to come as he describes the beginning of controversies with the Jewish leaders over the Sabbath — beginning with the incident involving the disciples' picking grain on the day of rest.

Keys to the Text

Gospel: The Greek word translated as gospel means "a reward for bringing good news" or simply "good news." In His famous sermon at the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1 to characterize the spirit of His ministry: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel [good news] to the poor" (Luke 4:18). The gospel is not a new plan of salvation; it is the fulfillment of God's plan of salvation that was begun through the nation of Israel, was completed in Jesus Christ, and is made known by the church. The gospel is the saving work of God in His Son Jesus Christ and a call to faith in Him. Jesus is more than a messenger of the gospel; He is the gospel. The good news of God was present in His life, teaching, and atoning death. Therefore, the gospel is both a historical event and a personal relationship. (Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

Unleashing the Text

Read 1:1–2:28, noting the key words and definitions next to the passage.

Mark 1:1–2:28 (NKJV)

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in the Prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You."

3 "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.'"

4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

7 And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.

8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.

11 Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.

13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men"

18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.

20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.

22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,

24 saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!"

25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"

26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.

27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."

28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.

31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.

33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.

34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.

37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."

38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."

39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."

41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."

42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once,

44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

2:1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.

2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.

3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.

4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."

6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,

7 "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?

9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, Arise, take up your bed and walk'?

10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" — He said to the paralytic,

11 "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."

12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

13 Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them.

14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him.

15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him.

16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"

17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?"

19 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.

21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse.

22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins."

23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.

24 And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"

25 But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:

26 how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?"

27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

1) What was the role of John the Baptist, and why was it significant in the inauguration of Jesus' ministry?

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(Verses to consider: Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1; Matt. 3:1–11; John 1:19–34)

2) Underline all the times Mark uses the word "immediately" in 1:1-2:28. What do you think Mark was trying to convey about Jesus and His ministry by using this term repeatedly?

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3) Review the events that happened during the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. Identify three lessons you can learn from Jesus' example in dealing with Satan.

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(Verses to consider: Matt. 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13; Heb. 4:14–16; 1 John 3:8)

4) What miracles did Jesus do at the outset of His ministry, and what did they indicate or prove?

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Going Deeper

For a broader picture of Jesus' purpose, read Isaiah 52:13-53:3. This Old Testament passage provides some insight into what the coming Servant would do and experience.

Exploring the Meaning

5) How did the prophecy in Isaiah 52-53 portray God's Servant (the Messiah) who would come?

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6) In what ways does the prophecy in Isaiah 52–53 compare or contrast with Mark's introduction of Jesus?

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7) Looking back through Mark 1–2, what happened to Christ's message when word of His miraculous power began to spread?

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8) Review Mark 1:16–29 and read Matthew 10:1–4. Jesus hand-picked His disciples to become fishers of men. For example, Simon the Zealot was so-called because he wanted to see the overthrow of Roman authority; meanwhile, Matthew the tax collector had been in cahoots with the Romans. Why do you think Jesus selected such a diverse group? What might the diversity of these men mean for the spread of the good news?

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Truth for Today

Evangelism is the purest, truest, noblest, and most essential work the church will ever do. The work of fishing men and women out of the sea of sin, the work of rescuing people from the breakers of hell, is the greatest work the church is called by God to do. Rescuing men from sin is God's great concern. Evangelism has been called the job of God. God sent His Son to earth — to preach, die, and be raised — for the very purpose of saving men from sin.

Reflecting on the Text

9) John Knox once pleaded with God, "Give me Scotland or I die." How does such a passion for telling people about Jesus compare with the programs of many modern-day churches?

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10) Jesus came to bring salvation to a lost world. He gathered followers who would emulate Him in this task. What does it mean to you to be a "fisher of men"?

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11) The power and authority of Jesus are made clear in the opening chapters of Mark. In what areas of your life do you need the powerful and compassionate touch of Christ today?

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Personal Response

Write out additional reflections, questions you may have, or a prayer.

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Excerpted from Mark by John MacArthur. Copyright © 2007 John F. MacArthur, Jr.. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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