Mark 1 - Your Will, Your Way, in Your Time!
The gospel of Mark is the shortest gospel at 16 chapters. It was written between 60-70 A.D. thus making it the shortest gospel. It moves very quickly from story to story. The author is most likely John Mark, who traveled Paul on a missionary trip and also assisted the apostle Peter. Peter was likely the source for most of his gosepl. Mark's gospel focuses on the power of the kingdom of God, as Jesus showed that power to his apostles and then equipped them to do the things he was doing (and us!). Here is more commentary on Mark's gospel from Insight for Living, by Charles Swindoll.
Overview of the Gospel of Mark
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b] 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”[c] 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”[d]
Mark's gospel does not give any details of the birth of Jesus. The good news he will share with us is about the Jesus, who is the Messiah and the Son of God. "Messiah" is the Hebrew word, and "Christ" is the Greek word for "the Anointed One". So he is saying that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Son of God. Mark cites the prophet Isaiah 40:3, who propbecied 6 centuries before Jesus' birth about how John the Baptist would announce the Messiah.
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 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. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.”
John the Baptist came from the prophetic tradition, which usually involved a life in seclusion and an austere lifestyle, as evidenced by what he wore and what he ate. There had been a long period of silence from any prophet for hundreds of years. Though John was in a very remote place near the Jordan in the wilderness, news must have spread about him because people came from both the countryside and Jerusalem.
John's water baptism was one of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John made it clear that his baptism was only a preparation Jesus would give which was the Holy Spirit. Though John the Baptist realized Jesus was more powerful than him, he knew he was called to baptize Jesus and did so.
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
Mark describes Jesus' baptism in a similarly to Luke and Matthew, but when he describes the Spirit descending on Jesus he sees, "heaven being torn open". The Greek word for "torn" is significant and New Testament scholar F.F. Bruce says this about it,
"Heaven opened wide for this. The ancient Greek for this phrase is strong. It has the idea that sky was torn in two, “being rent asunder, a sudden event.” (Bruce)
Like in Luke and Matthew, we hear the Father's audible voice saying, "You are my Son, whom I love and with you I am well pleased." It is rare God speaks audibly but this is one of those occasions. This was signficant not only for Jesus to hear but also for those who came from all around to see it. Once again Jesus was "sent out by the Spirit" into the wilderness to be "tempted by Satan". The other means for the Greek word for "tempted" is "tested". Satan tempts but God uses it to test us.
The word for "sent by the Spirit" is probably better translated "drove Jesus into the Spirit". I.e It was not just a gentle nudge. This is the same word for when Jesus "drove out demons".
Between verses 13 and 14 there is almost an entire year skipped by Mark of Jesus' life (TPT. Many of the events we learn of in John's gospel. The beauty of having 4 gospels is that each writer gave us different details and events in our Savior's life. All of them are important in our understanding of Jesus the Messiah.
After he was done with his testing the angels "attended" him. They were ministering angels, one of the many roles angels play in the New Testament.
The sense in Mark is that the angels ministered to Him at the end of this time of intense temptation. This shows Jesus’ authority, not only over the wild beasts, but also over the angels. They are His servants.
Jesus Announces the Good News
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Jesus' first sermon was simple. The word for sermon in the Greek is "proclaiming". Greek "kerygma) A sermon is always to proclaim boldy about the Good News and God's kingdom drawing near through him. The kingdom of God (remember Matthew used the term kingdom of heaven) had come in new way.
The "time is come" comes from the Greek word, "kairos". It is different than the word for time which is "chronos", which which is where get our word for "chronological order". "Chronos" is running time and "kairos" is the "right or opportune time." We often call this "God's timing". Often we want God to do things on our timing (like Jesus' return) but we need to always wait for God's timing.
There was a beautiful old praise song called, "In His Time". The lyrics go, "In his time, in his time. He makes all things beautiful in His time. Lord, please show me every day, as You're teaching me Your way, That You do just what You say in Your time."
A great to think about how God might answer your prayer is, "Your will, your way, in your time!"
Jesus' message was. "Repent and believe the good news!" The good news was that not only was Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, but the kingdom of God had drawn near with his coming. So then the word "repent" takes on the meaning of turning from my kingdom, where I am in charge, to Jesus' kingdom where he is in charge. This is how we participate in His kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven.
So often we relate to repentance as merely turning from our sin (giving up drinking etc...). But we are not just repenting for repentance sake, we are repenting so that we can more experience Jesus and His kingdom. You might say, "I am drinking to the extent it gets in the way of me participating in Jesus' kingdom here on earth." This will be a continual emphasis of Mark, showing us the power of the kingdom of God and how we can participate in it.
It is significant that Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, not in Jerusalem, which was the center of Jewish religious life. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but grew up on Nazareth of Galilee. While there were Jews living there, there were a lot of Gentiles living there as well.
Jesus spent most of His time in the region of Galilee, usually only going up to Jerusalem for the appointed feasts. Galilee was a large, populated area north of Judea and Jerusalem, where Jews and Gentiles lived together, though usually in their own distinct cities.
Galilee was not a small backwater region. According to the ancient Jewish historian Josephus, Galilee was an area of about 60 by 30 miles and had 204 villages, with none less than 15,000 people. This means there were more than 3 million people in the extended region. - Guzik
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
16 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. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
Jesus then went to the Sea of Galilee where he called his first disciples. Jesus met his first disciples on their turf. They were fishermen on the Sea of the Galilee. Jesus' call was simple and direct, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Note their response! They immediately left their nets and followed Jesus. I'm not sure if they had already known about Jesus or what prompted their response. but they didn't wait around. This is another characteristic of Mark's gospel. The events and people in them move quickly. I.e. "immediately", "at once".
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Apparently James (aka known as Jacob and some argue this is his correct name) and John lived right next store, as Jesus called them in a similar manner with similar verbiage. Like Peter and Andrew they "at once" left their occuapations and followed Jesus.
It took me a while to fully follow Jesus with my whole life. I am glad he was patient with me. What about you? Have you "picked up your nets to follow him"? I don't think this always means that you have to quit your job, but I do think it means we have to realize the most important thing in our life is to follow him wherever he leads us. In Luke's gospel he says we cannot serve two masters. I.e. God and money
Zebedee's name means "gift of God". Zebedee's gift to God was his two sons. Like any father, I am sure he was sad to see his sons go but happy with who they were going with. There is no greater gift a father (or mother) can give that to give your kids to Jesus!
Jesus has now called his first four disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who we know the most about. But we know there will be eight more too.
Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “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!”
Capernaum became the hub of Jesus ministry with his disciples. Because there were many Jews there and there was a local synagogue, where the Jews met on the Sabbath day (which was sundown Friday night until sundown on Saturday night). The people were amazed at his teaching. Note the two different words, "preaching" and "teaching". To the Gentiles and Jews he "preached the good news" publicly. In the synagogue he taught from the law and prophets, as the rabbis and teachers of the law did. Jesus had to be recognized as a rabbi to teach on the Sabbath in the synagogue.
One can go to Capernaum today and see the remains of an ancient Jewish synagogue, which still has the foundation of this same building Jesus taught in. - Guzik
Apparently Jesus taught differently than their usual rabbi's/teachers of the Law. Most importantly he taught with authority.
i, Jesus taught with authority because He had authority. He brought a divine message and was confident that it was from God. He wasn’t quoting from man, but from God.
ii. Jesus taught with authority because He knew what He was talking about. You can’t teach with authority if you aren’t familiar with your material.
iii. Jesus taught with authority because He believed what He taught. When you believe what you teach, it comes through to your audience with authority.
You could apply the opposite to all of those point to the teachers of the law. As a pastor, I need to always remember when I preach or teach it is not in my authority, but in the name and authority of Jesus. It would be bettter to not say anything at all, than to speak in any other way publicly.
Then, something very unusual happens, as Jesus is teaching. A man possessed by an evil spirit (aka demon-possessed) cried out and asked Jesus what he wanted with them. Had he come to destroy them?What makes this extremely ironic is that this man recognized who Jesus was. He said he knew Jesus was "the Holy One of God". Many of the religious leaders would never recognize Jesus, as the Holy One of God, but on this day this demon possessed man did.
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 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 impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
With the same authority Jesus preached and taught with, Jesus command the demon to come out of the man. The demon showed it had some control over the man, when he spoke through him, and now he shakes the man violently. Importantly the demon came out of the man.
The people were amazed. They attributed what Jesus did to Jesus' teaching. They connected what Jesus taught about to his powerful act of deliverance of this man. If our teaching is never linked to God moving in power, we have to wonder what kind of message we are teaching. People often say, "That was a good sermon pastor!" But did it give them or did they use its power in their lives.
Of course, news about this spread throughout the whole region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
Jesus went from the synagogue with his four disciples to Peter's home, where his mother in law had a fever. In those days without antibiotics, fevers could be deadly. Since Peter had a mother in law it suggests he was married. The disciples had faith Jesus could heal her, so they brought him to her. In this case Jesus did not say anything to her, but just took her up by the hand and her fever was gone. Right away she waited on them.
She gave thanks for his healing her by serving them all. Any time Jesus does anything for us, it is good for us to respond in service to others in gratitude.
Note that Jesus healed in many ways. He spoke and cast out the demon, and now he merely touched the woman's hand, and she was physicially healed. There is no magical way or method to healing someone. The important thing is that it is done in tbe authority and power of Jesus' name.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
That Saturday night word must have gotten out, because many people brought to Jesus BOTH the sick and the demon possessed. They all came to Peter's doorstep. It says Jesus helaed many of their sicknesses and drove out man demons. In this case he did not allow the demons to speak. Since the previous demon had revealed Jesus' identity as the Son of God, Jesus was not ready for this to go public yet.
When it says he drove out many demons and healed many sicknesses does that mean he did not heal all of them?
Matthew 4:23 gives us a clue, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people"
Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
As we learn to our life like Jesus did, we see a very important principle here. After a full day of ministry, Jesus went to a solitary place and prayed. Jesus knew where his strength and power came from. Though Jesus was the Son of God, He was still human. He only had so much energy and stamina. Also, spiritually he needed a "refill" from the Father.
I was just at a pastor's conference, where the speaker talked about the hundreds of pastors he works with who experience burnout. Some recover, some don't! But there is a great likelihood they did not take enough time to stop working, go to a solitary place, and pray and meet with Jesus! This is true for any of us in ministry whether full time or not.
Jesus probably did not tell the disciples where he was, so they would not bother him. But when they found him it sounds like where wondering what he was doing as they said, "Everyone is looking for you!'
There is a good chance if you are in full time ministry most of the time "everyone will be looking for you!"
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Even this early on in his ministry, Jesus realized that he only had some much time to preach and teach about the kingdom, and then show its power by driving out demons and healing people. Note that driving out demons is a very common theme in Mark's 1st chapter. We often get freaked out when someone talks about demons, or the demonic realim. Or, we talk about people who are demon-possessed. Movies like the Exorcist have not helped. But obviously it was a big part of what Jesus' first day looked like.
There is probably a lot more demonic activity happening in our churches than we would like to think. There will be many people will deal with that are afflicted by spiritual entitties. Someone doesn't have to be demon possessed to be afflicted by a demon. We never have to be afraid of any demonic power(s). We have authority in Jesus' name to cast them out. In 1 John it says,
"Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world." 1 John 4:14
Jesus again preached and then cast out demons. He talked about the kingdom and then showed what the kingdom looked like!
As you think about being a follower of Jesus, do you think you could do the things Jesus was doing in this chapter? Why or why not? If we have the Spirit of Jesus living in us, why would we not have access to the same power of Jesus, especially when he said in the gospel of John,
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12
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