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 good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,
2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
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 water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 1:1-8, The beginning of Jesus' ministry -- John the baptizer
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,
2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
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 water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
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!
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.) Both passages imply that the Messiah will be led by a messenger, a prophet, who points people to the Messiah.
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.
The Greek word used for the Jewish Messiah was "Christ" but let us not forget its Jewish meaning. The Jews had long awaited this promised Messiah, of the lineage of David.
Some manuscripts do not have "the Son of God" in verse 1.
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.) Both passages imply that the Messiah will be led by a messenger, a prophet, who points people to the Messiah.
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.
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 -- and by his ritual of baptism.
The baptism ritual was most likely the ritual washings required of a convert to Judaism. So John's "baptism" is a symbolic statement that these people are renewing their membership in Judaism, in preparation for this great change.
The preposition "with" in verse 8 could just as easily be translated "in" (say the NIV footnotes.) The physical baptism in water is a prelude to the immersion in the Holy Spirit which is to come.
The baptism ritual was most likely the ritual washings required of a convert to Judaism. So John's "baptism" is a symbolic statement that these people are renewing their membership in Judaism, in preparation for this great change.
The preposition "with" in verse 8 could just as easily be translated "in" (say the NIV footnotes.) The physical baptism in water is a prelude to the immersion in the Holy Spirit which is to come.
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