Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Mark 1

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Mark 1:¹ The beginning of the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Mark 1:² As it is written in the Prophets (Isaiah the prophet):

“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.”

Mark 1:³ “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”

Mark 1:⁴ John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

From Topic: Sins and Answers

We cannot stop sinning because we were born sinners; unless we receive the blood of Jesus and accept the power of the Holy Spirit. Only then can we progress to become more Christ-Like.

Mark 1:⁵ 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.

Mark 1:⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

Mark 1:⁷ 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.

Mark 1:⁸ I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

• To be baptized is to be baptized into the service of the Lord God; death to self and risen to a new life of service called “born again”.
• When Jesus was baptized He was also baptized in “death to self”, in order to do the will of the Father.

John Baptizes Jesus

Mark 1:⁹ It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Mark 1:¹⁰ And immediately, coming up from (out of) the water, He saw the heavens parting (torn open) and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.

• An image of the veil in the temple between the Holy of Holies, where God descends onto the mercy seat, and the rest of the temple. When Jesus was crucified and an earthquake occurred, the veil was also torn open.

Mark 1:¹¹ Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Satan Tempts Jesus

Mark 1:¹² Immediately the Spirit drove Him (sent Him out) into the wilderness.

Mark 1:¹³ And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts (dangers); and the angels ministered to Him (and protected Him).

• The number “Forty” signals “its time for a change”.

Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry

Mark 1:¹⁴ Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel (good news) of the kingdom of God,

Mark 1:¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God [has drawn near] is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Four Fishermen Called as Disciples

Mark 1:¹⁶ 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.

Mark 1:¹⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

Mark 1:¹⁸ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Mark 1:¹⁹ 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.

Mark 1:²⁰ And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit

Mark 1:²¹ Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.

Mark 1:²² And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 1:²³ Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,

Mark 1:²⁴ 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!”

Mark 1:²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet (Lit. Be muzzled), and come out of him!”

Mark 1:²⁶ And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.

Mark 1:²⁷ Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine (teaching) is this? (or: What is this? A new doctrine with authority!)? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

Mark 1:²⁸ And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed

Mark 1:²⁹ Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

Mark 1:³⁰ But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.

Mark 1:³¹ So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

Many Healed After Sabbath Sunset

Mark 1:³² At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.

Mark 1:³³ And the whole city was gathered together at the door.

Mark 1:³⁴ 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.

Preaching in Galilee

Mark 1:³⁵ Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a (deserted) solitary place; and there He prayed.

Mark 1:³⁶ And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.

Mark 1:³⁷ When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

Mark 1:³⁸ 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.”

Mark 1:³⁹ And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Mark 1:⁴⁰ 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.”

Mark 1:⁴¹ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

Mark 1:⁴² As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

Mark 1:⁴³ And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once,

Mark 1:⁴⁴ 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.”

• “Say nothing to anyone”, because Jesus knew the Jewish Leaders would not take easily to His authority. Ironically, He had to live in order to die on time: He had to be the Passover Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Only then would “His time have come”

Mark 1:⁴⁵ 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.

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