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Introduction to the

GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

At the beginning of his Gospel, Mark gives us a wonderful little summary of the life of John the Baptist.  It goes like this: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.' John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 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. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 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. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Matthew does it differently.  He focuses on the wonderful One Who was to come after John.  in the first chapter of his gospel, he tells us what the angel had told Joseph about the Son of Mary - even before He was born. The angel had said, "Thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins." A little fuller understanding can be ours if we are aware that the Name Jesus, in Hebrew, is Jeshua, which means "Jehovah saves." So Matthew was really saying the same thing Mark was saying when he called Him "Jesus Christ, the Son of God." That divine Sonship of Jesus is in fact the very heart of Mark's Gospel.

In reading this Gospel, though, we need to get more personal – we need to ask ourselves what we ourselves think about Jesus. According to Mark and Matthew, He is Jesus, He is Christ, and He is the Son of God. Is He those things to you? It will be very good for us to really understand what these names mean for us personally. I've told you what the Hebrew for "Jesus" means. The word "Christ," on the other hand, is just the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew "Messiah," which means "anointed One." Anointing is the special act of God to commission Jesus for His task on earth.  So the personal question is, do you relate to Him as the divinely commissioned Savior and as your Lord sent from Heaven?

If He is these things to you, then you're also ready to admit that you need a Savior - One to save you from sin and judgement. In your heart you say to Him to Him, "Blessed Jesus, I need You. I am guilty of rebellion against my good and loving God. I want to end that rebellion now, and I'm ready to give myself over to You entirely.

But do you also recognize that He is sent from the very throne of God, and that He is commissioned (anointed) to be Savior and Lord? If you do, then you're also willing to say to God, "Holy God, I confess my sin. I come to Your Christ, and I want to enter His Kingdom.  I want Him as Lord of my life."

So you're actually confessing that He is your Lord, and you admit that He wasn't your Lord previously. You admit that you tried to run your own life, be your own lord and master, and didn't want any interference at all. Now, though, you're willing to say, "Lord, I rebelled and went my own way, but now I surrender to You. Be my Lord, my King, and my Master henceforth - in everything I do or think or say."

With these thoughts, we've begun our study in reverse order – with the application.  There's a reason.  We  can't really receive any benefit from the study of Mark's Gospel without that application.  I pray you've considered these things.  If so, then let's continue.


Mark 1:1-8 Anointed!

Verse one stands as the title and summary for the entire Gospel. Mark says he is writing "The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God." The Greek translated "Gospel" just means "good news," or "announcement of good," and Mark's Gospel is going to tell us about someone Who is really good - Jesus Christ.

But he begins his gospel at a different starting point than that of Matthew or Luke - he begins with the ministry of Jesus after His baptism by John the Baptist and anointing by the Holy Spirit. He leaves out the Birth and childhood of Jesus, and begins where Jesus' ministry began.

He had good reason to begin there. Jesus wasn't anointed on earth for His ministry until His baptism (although He was anointed by God in heaven in a much more profound way). Thus Mark says that this is "the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (anointed One), Son of God." Mark begins with Jesus' anointing and the ministry that flowed from that anointing.


Commissioned and Sent from the Throne!

There are some important things we need to notice about this phrase, "Jesus Christ, Son of God." Do you remember how He got the name Jesus? You remember that it was a specially- given name, a name that was first announced by the angel of the Lord who appeared to Joseph. He instructed Joseph to "call his name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." If you look up the Hebrew from which the Greek name Jesus comes, you find that it's "Yehoshua" or "Yeshua," which just means "Yahweh is salvation." He was not only to be named "Jesus," but He was to actually be the "Jesus." We've already seen that the Name "Christ" (Hebrew "Messiah) means "the anointed One." So He was anointed (commissioned) as Savior, and that was to be His ministry.

The additional title "Son of God" is also extremely important. It tells us that this One Who is the anointed Savior is not just an ordinary man, specially commissioned by God. He is the eternal, co-equal, essential Son, the second Person of the Godhead! He's an adequate Savior!


Good Preparation

Mark begins by telling us that John the Baptist is the "messenger" sent by God to prepare Jesus' way before Him. He does that preparatory work verbally, by telling everyone he meets to get ready for the coming of the anointed Savior. He also tells them to make their hearts and lives right for His coming to each of them! Then, in addition to his verbal message, John also does his preparatory work by performing a very meaningful ritual called baptism, and by having those being baptized confess their sins.


A Demonstration of the Heart

His activities are specifically detailed: he was baptizing people out in the desert in the waters of the Jordan. As they came to him to be baptized, John was telling them that their baptism should be a sincere sign of their repentance toward God and of God's forgiveness toward them. At least part of it's meaning is expressed in verses 7, 8. These verses express John's own feelings about the Messiah, and it's safe to assume that he hoped that the baptism he administered would be a demonstration of those same feelings in the people who heard him.


Preparation for an Awesome Savior

In verse 7, he says: "After me is coming One Who is mightier than I, concerning Whom I am not worthy to stoop and undo the tie-strings of His sandals!" John was completely awed by the One sent from GOD who is GOD!" That's why he continues in the same vein: "I indeed am baptizing you in water, but He shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit!" John is telling us that Jesus is GOD, because only GOD can send the Holy Spirit!


No More Sin Against HIM!

How should this message affect John's hearers (including us)? Verse 4 tells us that he "was preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." Their response, then, should have been repentance. Baptism was to be a demonstration of that repentance. As a ceremonial washing, it was a demonstration in the sight of the holy God that the one being baptized admitted being a sinner and wanted to be cleansed of his or her sins, wanted to be done with them, wanted them out of his or her life, and wanted a new life of dedication to God's ways.

All this was being done by way of preparation for the coming of Messiah. Why such preparation? For two reasons: Messiah is sent from the holy Throne of GOD, and preparation for His coming should therefore include heartfelt renunciation of rebellion against HIM!

Secondly, because the Messiah is the promised Redeemer, the Savior from sin, only those who truly wanted to eliminate sin from their lives would be prepared for Him. In becoming aware of that need, in demonstrating to God - and to themselves - their sincere desire to be cleansed from sin, those who were repentant needed to be aware of the only One Who could truly and effectively deal with that sin. By heartfelt repentance, indicated in baptism, they were saying, in effect, "Come, my Savior! I need YOU, and I believe in YOUR ability to save and YOUR willingness to save!"


A Blessed Result!

John, as the herald of the Savior's coming, could truthfully say that the "baptism of repentance" was "for the forgiveness of sins," because the Savior would indeed be the Savior of truly repentant sinners, and forgiveness would indeed be theirs if they demonstrated that repentance in their baptism!

Pastor.

I think also that Mark would leave out the birth story etc., as he was only a boy following the other disciples during Christ's life on earth.  Almost certainly he was the one wounded when escaping from Gethsemane after Jesus arrest.  "Who Moved the Stone" Frank Morison..  He certainly was a most observant young man and I agree he wrote about the risen Christ.  
After Jesus' death Mark became a disciple of Peter and whereas he had seen from a distance he was now able to learn  much more as an adult.  He truly accepted Jesus Christ as the Messianic person and that was his message.
I have always been amazed that some Jews,a friend of mine included are able to say "Oh yes He's the Christ of God, without realising the interpretation of "Christ" is "Messiah". Here is the Rock over which they still stumble.

THANK-YOU PASTOR AL. I shall continue to study this Gospel with you.
St. Mark's Gospel is often given away by local churches here for it's simplicity and EXACTNESS.

Jenny.

Thanks Al.

I'm printing them out and putting them into my binder.  I love the book of Mark.

Hi Brother Al
I have been reading your message on the first 8 verses of Mark.  Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us.
A couple of things I will mention and if you would like to comment that will be fine.  I have been told that Mark is actually Peter's story that he shared with John Mark and Mark wrote it down.
The other thing I remember hearing or reading is that the Gospel of Mark is the most translated book in the world and appears in more languages than any other.  Also I would add I have been told that it was really written for the gentile perhaps more than the Jew.

Al it is good to be in contact with you once again, and know that your unwavering faith is still in tact.

Boots

It's so good to be hearing from you once again, Boots!  I agree with you that the Gospel of Mark is really Peter's Gospel.  I personally think that the reason it's the most translated/read/etc. is that it's the simplest, most action-packed Gospel.  I recommend it to all new Christians.  Get acquainted with Christ by getting acquainted with Mark!

Hi Al
I like your last comment; "Get acquainted with Christ  by getting acquainted with Mark".

Have a nice day
Boots

With the hectic schedule I've had in the last couple of weeks, I got behind in my studies in Mark.  I have this evening gone over part 1 again and will continue with part 2 tomorrow.

Thanks so much Al.  I really enjoy these studies.