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÷÷MARK 1

MARK 1

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS*

*Although they are not inspired, paragraph divisions are the key to understanding and following the original author's intent. Each modern translation has divided and summarized the paragraphs. Every paragraph has one central topic, truth, or thought. Each version encapsulates that topic in its own distinct way. As you read the text, ask yourself which translation fits your understanding of the subject and verse divisions.

In every chapter we must read the Bible first and try to identify its subjects (paragraphs), then compare our understanding with the modern versions. Only when we understand the original author's intent by following his logic and presentation can we truly understand the Bible. Only the original author is inspired—readers have no right to change or modify the message. Bible readers do have the responsibility of applying the inspired truth to their day and their lives.

Note that all technical terms and abbreviations are explained fully in the following documents: Special topic: Brief Definitions of Greek Grammatical Structure,  Special topic: Textual Criticism, Special topic: Glossary., and Special topic: Abbreviations

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

÷MARK 1:1

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: MARK 1:1
 ¹The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

1:1 "The beginning" Does this introductory phrase refer to

1. the very beginning as in Gen. 1:1 and John 1:1-3
2. the beginning of Jesus' incarnation , John 1:14
3. the beginning of Jesus' public ministry (i.e., Peter's personal experiences, cf. 1 John 1:1-3,5)

The first paragraph specifically refers to OT prophecy about the Messiah from Isaiah. The gospel story begins in the prophetic tradition of Israel. The quote in Mark 1:2 and 3 is a combination of Mal. 3:1 and Isa. 40:3.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ARCHĒ

SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT)

▣ "of the gospel" With Mark probably being the first written Gospel, this is the first use of the term euangelion (cf. Mark 1:14,15; 8:35; 10:29; 13:10; 14:9) by a Gospel writer (Paul's use in Gal. 2:2 and 1 Thess. 2:9 would be chronologically earlier). It is literally "the good news" or "the good message." This obviously reflects Isa. 61:1 and possibly 40:9 and 52:7. The Jerome Biblical Commentary says "Mark's use of the word 'gospel' is akin to that in Paul where it can mean either the act of proclaiming or the content of what is proclaimed" (p. 24).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GOSPEL

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KERYGMA OF THE EARLY CHURCH

▣ "of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" Its grammatical form (i.e., GENITIVE) can be understood as

1. the message given by Jesus
2. the message about Jesus

Number 2 is probably the intended meaning. However, the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, published by IVP, says "The genitive ('of') is probably both SUBJECTIVE and OBJECTIVE: Jesus proclaims the gospel and it proclaims his story" (p. 285).

Mark 1:1 is not a complete sentence. It is possibly the title of the book. The ancient Greek uncial Manuscripts א, A, B, D, L, and W add the phrase "Son of God," which is followed by the NKJV and the NRSV, TEV, and NIV, while it is missing in

1. א*
2. the Palestinian Syriac
3. one Coptic manuscript
4. the Georgian Version
5. the Armenian translation
6. a quote of this text from Origen's commentary on John

The UBS⁴ gives the inclusion a "C" rating (difficult to decide).

SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF GOD

It is difficult for modern Christians who love and trust the Bible to deal rationally with these Greek manuscript variants, but as difficult as it is for our assumptions about inspiration and preservation of God's self-revelation, they are a reality. This addition even looks purposeful, not accidental. Early orthodox scribes were conscious of the early heretical views about Jesus, such as adoptionism, which asserted that Jesus became the Son of God. These early scribes often modified the Greek texts they copied to make them more theologically orthodox (cf. 1 John 5:7-8).

SPECIAL TOPIC: TEXTUAL CRITICISM

▣ "of Jesus" Usually in first century Judaism the father named the child. In this case the heavenly Father, through an angel, named the child (cf. Matt. 1:21). Jewish names often carried symbolic meaning; this one was no exception. The Aramaic name, Jesus, is a combination of two Hebrew NOUNS:

1. YHWH (Hebreww Y and a vowel prefixed)
2. salvation (Hosea, BDB 448)

He was the Promised One, the Messiah.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRIST JESUS AS LORD

SPECIAL TOPIC: OT TITLES OF THE SPECIAL COMING ONE

▣ "Christ" This is the Greek translation of the Hebrew term "Messiah," which means "an anointed one." In the OT God's anointing of leaders (i.e., prophets, priests, and kings) symbolized His calling and equipping them for an assigned task.

The term "Messiah" is not used often in the OT (cf. Dan. 9:25,26 for the eschatological king, see SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH), but the concept surely is. It is parallel to Matt. 1:1, "son of David," which refers to a royal descendant of Israel's ideal king "David." God promised David in 2 Samuel 7 that one of his descendants would always reign in Israel. This promise seemed shattered by the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and deportation of its inhabitants (i.e., 586 B.C.). However, the prophets began to see a future Davidic seed (i.e., Isaiah, Micah, Malachi). Jesus is the promised "son of David," "son of man" (cf. Dan. 7:13), and "son of God" (used five times in Mark).

It is striking that the only time in the entire Gospel that the designation "Jesus Christ" is used is in the opening verse (only twice in Matt. and John and not at all in Luke). Normally, Mark uses "Jesus." This usage fits the theological emphasis of Mark on the humanity of Jesus, while His deity is veiled (i.e., Messianic secret) until the completion of His Messianic mission (i.e., Suffering Servant, cf. Isaiah 53; Mark 10:45). It is not until the book of Acts that "Jesus Christ" becomes a recurrent title.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF MAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF GOD

÷MARK 1:2-8

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: MARK 1:2-8
 ²As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
 "Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
  Who will prepare Your way;
  ³The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
 'Make ready the way of the Lord,
 Make His paths straight.'"
⁴John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. ⁶John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. ⁷And he was preaching, and saying,"After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. ⁸I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

1:2 "As it is written" The word "written" is PERFECT TENSE, which was a Jewish idiom used to denote God's eternal revelation (i.e., Scripture).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (its uniqueness and inspiration)

▣ "in Isaiah the prophet" This quote is a combination of Mal. 3:1 and Isa. 40:3. It is not from the Hebrew Masoretic Text or the Greek Septuagint of Isa. 40:3. Because of this some scribes changed the text to "written in the prophets" (i.e., in the Prophets section of the OT canon). The SINGULAR is found in the Greek uncial manuscripts א, B, L and D, but the PLURAL is in MSS A, and W.

Isaiah 40-66 has two major eschatological emphases:

1. the Suffering Servant (i.e., especially Isa. 52:13-53:12)
2. the new age of the Spirit (especially Isaiah 56-66)

In the following brief opening verses of Mark there are several possible allusions to Isaiah.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW CANON

▣ "'send My messenger ahead of You'" The term "messenger" can refer to an angel (BDB 521, cf. Exod. 23:20a, which would be another allusion to the Exodus), but here it refers to a "messenger" (cf. Mal. 3:1). This may be a word play on the term gospel (i.e., good message). This is one of the few OT quotes in Mark which was written primarily for Romans. It refers to the ministry of John the Baptist (cf. Mark 1:4). It shows that the OT prophetic tradition is being fulfilled (this is also reflected in Jesus' healings and exorcisms, which are also Messianic prophecies in Isaiah; see SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIANIC ERA, III). The ministry of John the Baptist is mentioned in all four Gospels.

1:3 "'The voice of one crying in the wilderness'" This is a quote of Isa. 40:3 from an unknown source. There were several Hebrew versions of the OT circulating in first century Palestine.

The term "wilderness" (see Hebrew Lexicon, BDB 184) means uninhabited pasture land rather than dry, windswept, sandy desert.

▣ "'Make ready the way of the Lord'" This is an AORIST ACTIVE IMPERATIVE, which denotes urgency. The phrase originally referred to physical preparation for a royal visit (cf. Isa. 57:14; 62:10). It came to refer to the ministry of John the Baptist spiritually preparing the way for Jesus the Messiah.

SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.

▣ "'Make His paths straight'" The MT and LXX have "make straight the paths of our God." Mark (or Peter) modified the text (or quotes an unknown textual form) to make it specifically relate to Jesus, not YHWH.

SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD (adon and kurios)

1:4 "John the Baptist" Why did John baptize with water?

1. OT precedent to signify the inauguration of the "new covenant" (cf. Exod. 19:10,14; Isa. 1:16; Jer. 31:34; Ezek. 36:25)
2. a cleansing act from ceremonial defilement (cf. Leviticus 15)
3. prophetic eschatological imagery of life-giving water from God (e.g., Isa. 12:2-3; Jer. 2:13; 17:13; Ezek. 47:1; Zech. 13:1; 14:8; Rev. 22:1)
4. imitation of proselyte baptism as the initiation rite to become part of the people of God
5. a rabbinic way of preparing all pilgrims to approach YHWH in His temple (possibly by immersion, cf. Miqvaot tractate in Mishnah). This ritual bath is still practiced by Muslims before entering a mosque.

SPECIAL TOPIC: BAPTISM

▣ "appeared" This may be Mark's way of alluding to the prophecy of the surprising appearance of Elijah before "the sudden appearance" of Messiah (cf. Mal. 3:1).

▣ "preaching" This is the term "heralding" (kērussō), which means "to proclaim widely or publicly a message" (cf. Mark 1:4,7,14,38,39,45). Mark does not use the VERB form of gospel (euaggelizō, see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GOSPEL).

John came preaching a baptism for repentance (see SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE). This same message was continued by Jesus, but with the added emphasis of "faith" (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KINGDOM OF GOD). The twin covenant needs of repentance and faith shown by baptism becomes the items of the Apostolic sermons in Acts (i.e., the kerygma)

1. Peter
   1. first sermon of the church (Acts 2:37-39)
      (1) repent
      (2) be baptized
   2. second sermon of the church (Acts 3:16,19)
      (1) faith
      (2) repent
2. Philip (Acts 8:12)
   1. believe (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST)
   2. be baptized
3. Paul
   1. Philippian jailer (Acts 16:31,33)
      (1) believe (see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT)
      (2) baptized
   2. goodbye to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:21)
      (1) repentance toward God
      (2) faith in Christ
   3. testimony before Agrippa (Acts 26:18)
      (1) turn from darkness (Satan), i.e., repent
      (2) to the light (God)

For me the requirements of the New Covenant are

1. repent
2. believe
3. obey
4. persevere (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE)

The goal of the New Covenant is Christlikeness now so that others will see the change and be attracted to faith in Christ!

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

▣ "baptism of repentance" The baptism is not the mechanism of forgiveness, but the occasion of the believers' public profession of faith. This is not a sacramental act, but a new attitude toward sin and a new relationship with God. It is an outward sign of an inner change.

SPECIAL TOIC: REPENTANCE (OT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (NT)

▣ "for the forgiveness of sins" The term "forgiveness" literally means "put away." This is one of several biblical terms for forgiveness. It has possible theological connections to the OT Day of Atonement (cf. Leviticus 16) where one of the two special goats is driven away from the camp of Israel, symbolically bearing their corporate sin away (cf. Lev. 16:21-22; Heb. 9:28; 1 Pet. 2:24).

The phrase "of sins" is an OBJECTIVE GENITIVE.

SPECIAL TOPIC: FORGIVENESS (OT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: ATONEMENT

1:5 "all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem" This is an oriental overstatement (i.e., hyperbole; see G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, pp. 110-117), but it illustrates the tremendous impact of John's preaching. He was the first prophetic voice since Malachi some 400 years earlier. This is IMPERFECT TENSE which means that people were continually coming because

1. they recognized John as a prophet
2. felt a spiritual need

▣ "being baptized" This is also IMPERFECT TENSE which speaks of continuous action in past time. Many Jews were sensing a new day of God's activity and were preparing for it.

SPECIAL TOPIC: BAPTISM

▣ "confessing their sins" This is a PRESENT MIDDLE PARTICIPLE, which literally means "to say the same." This was their public profession of their need for spiritual forgiveness.

There is the implication that if these Jews repented and changed their lifestyles, YHWH would fully forgive their sins (cf. 2 Chron. 7:14; Mark 1:4; Matt. 3:6; Luke 3:3). This is surely the OT pattern. It involved full forgiveness through repentance, faith, lifestyle change, and now baptism as an outward symbol! This OT pattern is modified by Jesus' Messianic ministry. The same items are still valid, but now personal faith in Jesus as the Christ is the central issue (cf. Acts 2:38; 3:16,19; 20:21). The four Gospels form a transitional period. Mark 1:14-15 is in the John the Baptist period, but it theologically foreshadows the finished gospel message (i.e., repent, believe, and live a new life). The main issue is who Jesus is! He is YHWH's representative, revealer, and agent of redemption and judgment. This is the reason for the Messianic Secret in Mark. Jesus is fully God from the very beginning (i.e., virgin conception), but this was not fully revealed until after His resurrection and ascension.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CONFESSION/PROFESSION

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GOSPEL

1:6 "John was clothed with camel's hair" This was his normal everyday clothing (i.e., PERFECT MIDDLE PARTICIPLE). This was not the skin of a camel, but cloth woven from camel's hair (cf. 2 Kgs. 1:8; Matt. 3:4). He was a man of the desert and a prophet (cf. Zech. 13:4). John, like Luke, lived like Elijah, who Mal. 3:1 and 4:5 said would be the forerunner of the Messiah.

▣ "locusts and wild honey" This was typical food of desert people. Locusts were levitically clean and acceptable food (cf. Lev. 11:22). He ate what was naturally available.

1:7 This verse and Mark 1:8 show the preparatory theme of John the Baptist's message. He recognized his role and place in relation to God's Coming One (cf. John 3:30). He felt himself to be a servant, a slave (i.e., only slaves took off another's shoes). John's self-depreciation is recorded in all four Gospels (cf. Matt. 3:11; Luke 3:16; and John 1:27; also in Paul's preaching in Acts 13:25). This was probably included by the Gospel writers because a heretical following later developed around John the Baptist (cf. Acts 18:24-19:7).

1:8 "I baptized you with water" Remember, John's baptism was preparatory. This does not refer to Christian baptism. John was the last OT prophet (cf. Luke 16:16), a transition preacher, not the first gospel preacher (cf. Luke 16:16; Acts 19:17). He, like the quotes from Isaiah, links the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

SPECIAL TOPIC: BAPTISM

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

▣ "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" This is in contrast to John's baptism. The Messiah will inaugurate the new age of the Spirit. His baptism will be with (or "in" or "by") the Spirit. There has been much discussion among denominations as to what event in the Christian experience this refers. Some take it to refer to an empowering experience after salvation, a kind of second blessing. Personally I think it refers to becoming a Christian (cf. 1 Cor. 12:13). I do not deny later fillings and equippings, but I believe there is only one initial spiritual baptism into Christ in which believers identify with Jesus' death and resurrection (cf. Rom. 6:3-4; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:12). This initiating work of the Spirit is delineated in John 16:8-11. In my understanding the works of the Holy Spirit are:

1. convicting of sin
2. revealing the truth about Christ
3. leading to acceptance of the gospel
4. baptizing into Christ
5. convicting the believer of continuing sin
6. forming Christlikeness in the believer

SPECIAL TOPIC: BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT

÷MARK 1:9-11

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: MARK 1:9-11
 ⁹In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; ¹¹and a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

1:9 "Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee" Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, lived a few years in Egypt, and then settled in Nazareth, the hometown of Joseph and Mary, which was a small, new settlement of Judeans in the north. Jesus' early ministry was in this northern area around the Sea of Galilee, which fulfills the prophecy of Isa. 9:1.

SPECIAL TOPIC: JESUS THE NAZARENE

▣ "Jesus. . .was baptized" The Gospels differ in their early chronologies of Jesus' ministries in Galilee and Judea. It seems that there was an early Judean ministry and a later one, but all four Gospels' chronologies must be harmonized in order to see this early Judean visit (i.e., John 2:13-4:3).

Why Jesus was baptized has always been a concern for believers because John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. Jesus did not need forgiveness for He was sinless (cf. 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 7:26; 1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:5).

The theories have been:

1. it was an example for believers to follow
2. it was His identification with believers' need
3. it was His ordination and equipping for ministry
4. it was a symbol of His redemptive task
5. it was His approval of the ministry and message of John the Baptist
6. it was a prophetic foreshadowing of His death, burial, and resurrection (cf. Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12)

Whatever the reason, this was a defining moment in Jesus' life. Although it does not imply that Jesus became the Messiah at this point, which is the early heresy of adoptionism (cf. The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture by Bart D. Ehrman, pp. 47-118), it held great significance for Him.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ADOPTIONISM

This is a very common term in Mark. It characterizes his Gospel. Here euthus is translated "immediately" or "straightway" (cf. Mark 1:10,12,18,20,21,20,28,42; 2:2,8,12; 3:6; 4:5,15,16,17,29; 5:5,29,42; 6:25,27,45, 50,54; 7:35; 8:10; 9:15,20,24; 10:52; 11:3; 14:43,45; 15:1).

This is the term that gives the Gospel of Mark its fast-paced, action-oriented feel, which would have appealed to the Roman mentality. This word group is used about 47 times in Mark (cf. A Translator's Handbook on the Gospel of Mark by Robert Bratcher and Eugene Nida, p. 29).

▣ "coming up out of the water" This may be an allusion to Isa. 63:11, where it originally would have referred to the Red Sea (i.e., a new exodus in Jesus, who would soon be tempted for forty days as Israel was for forty years). This verse cannot be used as a proof-text for immersion. In context it may imply coming out of the river, not coming from under the water.

▣ "He saw" This may imply that only Jesus saw and heard this Messianic affirmation. If so, this would fit into the recurrent theme of Mark's Messianic Secret. However, the other Gospels also record this event in a similar way (cf. Matt. 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22).

▣ "heavens opening" This may be an allusion to Isa. 64:1. This term means to rip open, which would have been imagery for tearing open the canopy above the earth (cf. Gen. 1:6).

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN (OT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH

▣ "the Spirit like a dove" The origin of this imagery may be

1. the Spirit brooding over the water in Gen. 1:2
2. the birds Noah sent out of the Ark in Gen. 8:6-12
3. the rabbis' use of it as a symbol of the nation of Israel (cf. Ps. 68:13; 74:19)
4. a symbol of gentleness and peace (cf. Matt. 10:16)

One reason I personally am so committed to the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation, which focuses on authorial intent as expressed in the literary context, is the tricky or clever way ancient interpreters (as well as modern ones) manipulated the text to fit their preset theological structure. By adding the numerical value of the letters of the Greek word "dove" (peristera), which equals 801, one gets the same numerical value of the Greek words alpha (equals 1) and omega (equals 800), so the dove equals the eternal Christ Spirit. This is so clever, but it is isogetic, not exegetic! See "Bible Interpretation Seminar"

▣ "upon Him" This is the PREPOSITION eis which means "into." It is not meant to imply that Jesus did not already have the Holy Spirit, but this was a special visible sign of the Spirit's empowerment for His assigned Messianic task. This may also be an allusion to fulfilled prophecy (cf. Isa. 63:11).

Mark uses the preposition "into" (eis), but Matthew and Luke use "upon" (epi). This is because Mark's Gospel, which has none of the birth narratives or visitations, begins Jesus' ministry with this baptismal event. This brevity was used by the heretical groups, Adoptionists and Gnostics, to assert that Jesus, a normal human, was supernaturally empowered with "the Christ Spirit" at this juncture and thereafter was able to do the miraculous. Later scribes, therefore, changed the preposition to "to" (pros).

SPECIAL TOPIC: ADOPTIONISM

SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM

1:11 "a voice came out of the heavens" The rabbis called the heavenly voice a Bath Kol (cf. Mark 9:7), which was the method of affirming God's will during the interbiblical period when there was no prophet. This would have been a powerful divine affirmation to those familiar with rabbinical Judaism.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVEN

▣ "'You are My beloved Son'" These two titles unite the royal aspect of the Messiah (Ps. 2:7) to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah (Isa. 42:1). The term "son" in the OT could refer to

1. the nation of Israel
2. the King of Israel
3. the coming Davidic Messianic King

Notice the three persons of the Trinity in Mark 1:11: the Spirit, the voice from heaven, and the Son, the recipient of both.

SPECIAL TOPIC: BELOVED

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SON OF GOD

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY

▣ "My beloved" This phrase is either

1. a title for the Messiah as in the NRSV, NJB, and Williams translations
2. a descriptive phrase as in the NASB, NKJV, and TEV

In the Greek translation of the OT, the Septuagint (LXX), this would be understood as "favorite" or even "only," similar to John 3:16.

▣ "in You I am well-pleased" This descriptive phrase is paralleled in Matt. 3:17 and 17:5 (the Transfiguration). However, the descriptive phrase is missing in Mark 9:7 and Luke 9:35.

÷MARK 1:12-13

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: MARK 1:12-13
 ¹²Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. ¹³And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.

1:12-13 This account of the temptation of Jesus is so brief compared to Matt. 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13. In these accounts the purpose of the temptation is clear: how would Jesus use His Messianic powers to accomplish His redemptive task (cf. James Stewart, The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ, pp. 39-46)? But what could Mark's brief account mean? It is possible that Peter saw this event as a symbol of Jesus' defeat of evil (i.e., by the empowering of the Spirit), a foreshadowing of the Passion Week. But this is only speculation. The text itself gives no clue except the event's timing—just after Jesus'

1. enduing by the Spirit
2. affirmation by the Father, but before His public ministry

This is one of the three events mentioned before Jesus' public ministry

1. John's ministry
2. John's baptism
3. Satan's temptation

1:12 "Immediately" See note at Mark 1:10.

▣ "the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness" The term "impelled" is the strong term "throw out" (often used of exorcisms, cf. Mark 1:34,39; 3:15,22, 23; 6:13; 7:26; 9:18,28,38). The Son's temptation was by the agency of the evil one, but instigated by the Spirit (cf. Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). It was God's will that Jesus be tested! I would like to recommend two good books on this topic, The Life and Teaching of Jesus by James S. Stewart and Between God and Satan by Helmut Thielicke.

In the OT the wilderness was a time of testing for Israel, but also a time of intimate fellowship. The rabbis called the wilderness wandering period the honeymoon between YHWH and Israel. Elijah and John the Baptist grew up in the wilderness. It was a place of seclusion for training, meditation, and preparation for active ministry. This period was crucial for Jesus' maturity (cf. Heb. 5:8).

SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT

1:13 "forty days" This is used both literally and figuratively in the Bible. It denotes a long indeterminate period of time (i.e., longer than a lunar cycle, but shorter than a seasonal change).

SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #7

▣ "was being tempted" This is an IMPERFECT PASSIVE PERIPHRASTIC linked to an IMPERFECT ACTIVE "to be" VERB. The term "tempt" (peirazō) has the connotation of "to test with a view toward destruction." From the FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCES in Matthew 4 (cf. Mark 4:3,6) we learn that the temptation was over how to use His Messianic power to accomplish God's redemptive will.

SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK TERMS FOR TESTING AND THEIR CONNOTATIONS

SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD TESTS HIS PEOPLE, #4

▣ "by Satan" The Bible repeatedly asserts a personal, supernatural force of evil.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SATAN

▣ "the wild beasts" This is possibly a simple reference to an uninhabited area. However, because wild beasts are used as imagery for or names of the demonic in the OT (cf. NEB) this could also refer to a place of demonic activity (cf. Ps. 22:12-13,16,21; Isa. 13:21-22; 34:11-15).

These wild beasts could also be a continuing allusion to the new exodus, the new age of restored fellowship between mankind and the animals (cf. Isa. 11:6-9; 65:25; Hosea 2:18). The Bible often describes the new age as a restoration of the Garden Eden (cf. Genesis 2; Rev. 21-22). The original image of God in mankind (cf. Gen. 1:26-27) is restored through Jesus' sacrificial death. Full fellowship, which existed before the Fall (cf. Genesis 3), is possible again.

▣ "angels were ministering to Him" This is an IMPERFECT TENSE which means

1. ongoing action in past time
2. the beginning of an activity in past time

Angels ministered to

1. Elijah in the wilderness in the same way (i.e., providing food, cf. 1 Kgs. 18:7-8). This may imply Jesus as the new prophetic voice (cf. Deut. 18:18-22)
2. Israel in the wilderness, so too, to Jesus while in the wilderness. This may have implied Jesus as the new Moses paralleling his baptism and testing (cf. 1 Cor. 10:1-13).

÷MARK 1:14-15

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: MARK 1:14-15
 ¹⁴Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, ¹⁵and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

1:14-15 These two verses are a summary statement. Mark often uses this technique (cf. Mark 1:14-15,21-22,39; 2:13; 3:7b-9; 6:7,12-13). These summaries convey several theological truths

1. Jesus was popular and many came to hear Him preach/teach
2. Jesus was powerful, exorcizing demons and healing people
3. He transferred His power to His disciples (i.e., the mission trips of the Twelve and the seventy)
4. the purpose of Jesus' proclamation was repentance and faith (see full not at Mark 1:4)

1:14 "John had been taken into custody" John was imprisoned (i.e., paradidōmi, which is used twenty times in Mark for "turned over to the authorities") by Herod Antipas because he continued to publicly condemn Herod's marriage to his brother's ex-wife (cf. Mark 6:16-17).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FAMILY OF HEROD THE GREAT

▣ "Jesus came into Galilee" Mark records Jesus' ministry geographically in Galilee, in Judea, in Galilee, and in Judea. Jesus left southern Palestine when John was arrested (cf. Matt. 4:12; Luke 4:14-15; John 1:43). Ministry in the predominantly Gentile northern Palestine was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 9. No one expected anything spiritually significant to begin in this region, far removed from the temple (cf. John 1:46) and the first to be defeated and exiled by the Mesopotamian powers (i.e., Assyria and neo-Babylon).

SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIANIC ERA, I

▣ "preaching the gospel of God" This use of the term "gospel" must be qualified. At first Jesus' message was similar to John's. The full gospel of Jesus will not be complete until after His life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Mark 1:15 gives the content of Jesus' early preaching. What John preached was personally embodied in Jesus of Nazareth.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GOSPEL

1:15 "'time is fulfilled'" This phrase is introduced by hoti, which usually denotes a quote and is common in Mark. This reflects Peter's memory of Jesus' words. This is PERFECT PASSIVE INDICATIVE, which has prophetic/messianic significance (cf. Eph. 1:10; Gal. 4:4; 1 Tim. 2:6; Titus 1:3). The PASSIVE VOICE reflects God's activity in and control of time and history.

▣ "the kingdom of God" This refers to God's reign. It is both a present reality and a future consummation. In Matthew's Gospel this is usually referred to as "kingdom of heaven." These phrases are synonymous (compare Matt. 13:11 with Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10). The kingdom arrived when Jesus was born. It is described and embodied in Jesus' life and teachings. It will be consummated at His return. It was the subject of Jesus' sermons and parables. It was the central theme of His spoken messages.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KINGDOM OF GOD

This is a PERFECT ACTIVE INDICATIVE, which implies that the kingdom was a past reality (cf. Mark 1:1-3) as well as a current reality (cf. Matt. 12:28; Luke 11:20; 17:21). The phrase "the time is fulfilled" parallels this phrase and emphasizes the reality of God's prophetic word now becoming a historical event. The "New Age of Righteousness" was inaugurated at Jesus' birth, but not fully known until the Passion Week's events and not fully empowered until Pentecost.

Although the Kingdom has truly come, there are also NT texts which imply that its complete manifestation is future (cf. Mark 9:1; 14:25; Matt. 26:29; Luke 22:18; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). What we do with Christ now determines our eschatological hope (cf. Mark 8:38).

▣ "repent" See SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (NT) and SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT)

▣ "and believe in the gospel" The parallels in Matt. 4:17 and Luke 4:14-15 do not have the same summary.

SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KERYGMA OF THE EARLY CHURCH

÷MARK 1:16-20

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: MARK 1:16-20
 ¹⁶As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁷And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make become fishers of men." ¹⁸Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. ¹⁹Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. ²⁰Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

1:16 "the Sea of Galilee" This lake goes by several names in the Bible.

1. the Sea of Chinnereth (cf. Num. 34:11; Josh. 12:3; 13:27)
2. Lake of Gennesaret (cf. Luke 5:1)
3. Sea of Tiberias (cf. John 6:1; 21:1)
4. Sea of Galilee (most common, cf. Mark 1:16; 7:31; Matt. 4:18; 15:29; John 6:1)

▣ "Simon and Andrew. . .casting a net" Notice Peter is the first officially called "disciple" in Mark, while in John 1:35-42, it was Andrew. The Sea of Galilee supplied all of Palestine with fish. This net refers to hand nets, which were about 10 feet by 15 feet across. Fish were a main staple of the Jewish diet.

1:17 "Follow Me" This is an ADVERB functioning as an AORIST IMPERATIVE. This must not have been the first encounter between Jesus and these fishermen (cf. John 1:35ff). This is their call to be official, permanent followers of a rabbi (cf. Mark 1:17 and 20). See full note at Mark 2:14.

▣ "I will make you become fishers of men" This is a word play on their vocation. Fishing in the OT was often imagery for judgment (cf. Jer. 16:16. Ezek. 29:4-5; 38:4; Amos 4:2; Hab.1:14-17). Here it is imagery for salvation.

1:18 This is repeated in Matt. 4:18-22, but a slightly different account is found in Luke 5:1-11.

1:19-20 "boat" These were large fishing boats. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were prosperous middle class fishermen (i.e., had hired servants). John apparently had business contracts to regularly sell fish to the priestly families in Jerusalem (i.e., John was known by them, cf. John 18:15-16).

÷MARK 1:21-28

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: MARK 1:21-28
 ²¹They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. ²²They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. ²³Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, ²⁴saying, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are the Holy One of God!" ²⁵And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" ²⁶Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. ²⁷They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." ²⁸Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

1:21 "Capernaum" Jesus, because of the city of Nazareth's lack of faith (cf. Luke 4:16-30) and as a fulfilment of prophecy (cf. Matt. 4:13-16), took this city as His headquarters (cf. Mark 2:1). Ministry in the city of Capernaum (cf. Mark 1:21-3:6) is used to depict typical activity of Jesus. These events reveal clearly His authority, power, and Messiahship. This is like a glimpse into the daily life and activity of Jesus during this entire period of public ministry.

▣ "immediately" See note at Mark 1:10.

▣ "Sabbath" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SABBATH.

▣ "synagogue" This is from a compound word which literally means "to come together." It was Jesus' custom to attend worship regularly. The synagogue developed in Mesopotamia during the Babylonian Exile. It was a place of worship, education, and cultural preservation. It was the local expression of the Jewish faith, as the temple was the national expression. There was at least one synagogue in every town with at least ten Jewish men.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SYNAGOGUE

▣ "began to teach" It was customary for someone from the congregation or a distinguished guest to be chosen to lead the teaching part of the worship service. Usually a passage from the Torah (i.e., Genesis – Deuteronomy) was read and a passage from the Prophets (i.e., Joshua – Kings and Isaiah – Malachi).

1:22,27 "amazed" Literally this meant "struck to attention." Jesus' teaching style and content were radically different from that of the rabbis. They quoted one another as authorities, but He spoke with God's authority (cf. Matt. 5:17-48). Jesus' teachings and actions caused amazement, astonishment, and even fear (cf. Mark 1:22,27; 2:12; 5:42; 6:2,51; 7:37; 9:6,15; 10:26,32; 11:18; 14:33).

1:22 "not as the scribes" Jesus did not quote oral tradition (i.e., Talmud). The Jews were concerned that they might break God's commands, so every verse of the Torah (the writings of Moses, Genesis – Deuteronomy) was interpreted by rabbinical discussions. Later these developed into schools, one liberal (i.e., Hillel) and one conservative (i.e., Shammai). The leading rabbis of these two ancient schools were often quoted as authorities. The scribes were the professional teachers of Judaism who interpreted the oral tradition to local situations and needs. Most scribes in Jesus' day were Pharisees.

SPECIAL TOPIC: RABBINICAL HERMENEUTIAL TECHNIQUES

SPECIAL TOPIC: SCRIBES

SPECIAL TOPIC: PHARISEES

1:23 "man. . .with an unclean spirit" This was a case of demon possession (cf. Mark 1:34). Notice he was still in worship, keeping up appearances. The NT makes a distinction between physical illness and demon possession, although they often had the same symptoms. In these cases the demon controls the person. The person has lost his own will. The Jewish worldview assumed the presence of spiritual beings, good (cf. Mark 1:13; Matt. 18:10; Acts 12:15; 2 Kgs. 6:17) and evil (cf. Mark 1:23,26,27; 3:11,20; 5:2,8,13; 6:7; 7:25), who affected people's lives.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DEMONIC (unclean spirits)

SPECIAL TOPIC: EXORCISM

This is literally "what to us and to you." In A Translator's Handbook on the Gospel of Mark, Bratcher and Nida note that "In classical Greek the phrase would mean 'what have we in common?' Here, however, it corresponds to the Hebrew 'Why do you meddle with me'" (p. 49). This idiom is illustrated in Judges 11:12; 2 Sam. 16:10; 19:22; 1 Kgs. 17:18; 2 Chr. 35:12.

▣ "Jesus of Nazareth" See SPECIAL TOPIC: JESUS THE NAZARENE

▣ "Have You come to destroy us" Grammatically this could be either a question or a statement. This was an OT idiom of hostility (cf. Judg.11:12; 2 Sam. 16:10; 19:22; 1 Kgs. 17:18; 2 Kgs. 3:13; 2 Chr. 35:21). Evil knows it will one day be judged!

▣ "the Holy One of God" This was an OT Messianic title. This was not a voluntary confession but a calculated attempt to cause trouble for Jesus. Jesus was later accused of receiving power from Satan (cf. Matt. 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15).

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE

SPECIAL TOPIC: OT TITLES FOR THE SPECIAL COMING ONE

1:25 "Jesus rebuked him" Mark uses this VERB often:

1. sometimes of demons (cf. Mark 1:25; 3:2; 9:25)
2. of the wind and sea (cf. Mark 4:39)
3. of His own disciples (cf. Mark 8:30,33; 10:13)

▣ "Be quiet" This is an AORIST PASSIVE IMPERATIVE meaning "be muzzled" (cf. Mark 4:39). Jesus' two commands directed at the demon are strong terms with negative connotations. Jesus would not accept demonic testimony.

▣ "come out of him" This is an AORIST ACTIVE IMPERATIVE.

SPECIAL TOPIC: EXORCISM

1:26 Several physical manifestations of an unclean spirit leaving a person are recorded (cf. Mark 1:26; 9:26; and Luke 9:39). This may have been a way of confirming that the evil spirit had truly left.

This first sign of power clearly shows the Messianic implications of Jesus. The OT title (cf. Ps. 16:10) by which the demons acknowledge Him and His power to control and judge them clearly reflects the spiritual authority of Jesus of Nazareth (cf. Mark 1:27c). This account is paralleled in Luke 4:31-37.

SPECIAL TOPIC: OT TITLES FOR THE SPECIAL COMING ONE

1:27 "What is this? A new teaching with authority" This Greek word for "new" (i.e., kainos) means "new in point of quality," not "new in point of time." The phrase "with authority" can refer to Jesus' teaching (cf. Matt. 7:29; NASB, NRSV, NJB) or to Jesus' commanding (cf. Luke 4:36; NKJV, TEV). Since Luke 4:36 is a direct parallel, the second option seems best.

The source of Jesus' authority would become the central issue between Jesus and the Jewish leaders (cf. Mark 11:28; Matt. 21:23; Luke 20:2). They could not deny His power so they impugned its source. This is the unpardonable sin!

SPECIAL TOPIC: AUTHORITY

SPECIAL TOPIC: UNPARDONABLE SIN

▣ "the unclean spirits obey Him" See SPECIAL TOPIC: EXORCISM

1:28 "immediately" See note at Mark 1:10.

▣ "the news about Him spread everywhere" Such a public exorcism would have been told and retold repeatedly.

÷MARK 1:29-31

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: MARK 1:29-31
 ²⁹And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. ³¹And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them.

1:30 "Simon's mother-in-law" This shows that Peter was married. His wife is never mentioned in the NT. She may have been dead, but 1 Cor. 9:5 implies she traveled with Peter. This account is paralleled in Luke 4:31-37 and Matt. 8:14-17.

▣ "was lying sick" This is an IMPERFECT TENSE which shows continuous action in past time. She had been sick for some time.

▣ "with a fever" This literally means "fever-stricken." This is a PRESENT TENSE, which implies an ongoing problem. Notice this illness was not linked to demon possession (cf. Mark 1:32). Jesus' power over sickness is another sign of His person and Messianic mission. As often in the Gospels, Jesus' miracles were as much for the disciples as for the recipient. Jesus is clearly revealing Himself to His newly chosen Apostles. Here He acts in compassion on the Sabbath. This would have been shocking to these Jewish men.

1:31 "raised her up" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEALING

÷MARK 1:32-34

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: MARK 1:32-34
 ³²When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. ³³And the whole city had gathered at the door. ³⁴And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

1:32 "When evening came" Apparently this was after twilight, so the Sabbath was officially over and physical healings were now rabbinically legal.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEALING

▣ "bringing to Him" This is an IMPERFECT TENSE which means "continually carrying." Jesus did not want to be known as a miracle worker, but a proclaimer of truth (cf. Luke 4:43), yet the word was out (cf. Mark 1:28).

▣ "ill" Mark 1:32 implies that "all" who were sick or demon possessed in the entire town were brought to Jesus. Mark 1:34 states that He healed or delivered "many" of them, but not everyone. It is interesting that the terms "all" and "many" are often used synonymously in the Bible (cf. Isa. 53:6 vs. 53:11,12 and Rom. 5:18. vs. 19). It is uncertain whether Jesus healed everyone brought to Him or many of them. At the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, it is recorded that Jesus only healed one of many sick persons. Jesus did not go out of His way to heal, but if the situation presented itself (i.e., a teaching moment for the disciples plus Jesus' compassion for the hurting and needy) He acted in power. He did go out of His way for the purpose of evangelism (i.e., the Samaritan woman, cf John 4, especially Mark 1:4). Healing was a sign, but evangelism was the purpose and focus of His ministry.

There is some confusion about Jesus' methodology in healing; sometimes it is dependent on the faith response of the sick person, sometimes on the faith of one of their friends or loved ones, and often for the purpose of showing His power, unrelated to faith on the receiver's part. Salvation did not automatically accompany physical deliverance or healing.

▣ "these who were demon possessed" Notice the distinction between illness and demon possession.

SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMONIC (unclean spirits)

1:33 These townspeople were curious and some were desperate for physical health and spiritual wholeness.

1:34 "He healed many" This verse is the first of many in Mark (cf. Mark 1:34,43-44; 3:12; 4:11; 5:43; 7:24,36; 8:26,30; 9:9) which have often been referred to as "Mark's Messianic Secret." Jesus tells the disciples and those He heals not to tell about His healing acts. Jesus did not want to be known merely as a healer or miracle worker. These were only signs that pointed to His Messiahship, which at this point in His life had not been fully revealed. Jesus came to

1. reveal the Father
2. give Himself as a sacrifice for sin
3. give believers an example to follow

The healings and deliverances were only signs of His compassion for the weak, sick, and outcast. This was also an OT predicted sign of the ministry of the Messiah (cf. Isa. 61:1).

▣ "was not permitting the demons to speak" This is IMPERFECT TENSE, implying several exorcisms (cf. Mark 1:24). Jesus would not accept demonic testimony.

SPECIAL TOPIC: EXORCISM

÷MARK 1:35-39

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: MARK 1:35-39
 ³⁵In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. ³⁶Simon and his companions searched for Him; ³⁷they found Him, and said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." ³⁸He said to them, "Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for." ³⁹And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.

1:35 "In the early morning, while it was still dark" This refers to last watch of the night, sometime between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m.

▣ "was praying there" This is IMPERFECT TENSE which shows Jesus' regular prayer life. In Luke's Gospel this emphasis is often repeated. In Mark there are only three examples of Jesus praying: here, the feeding of the five thousand (cf. Mark 8:6), and in Gethsemane (cf. Mark 14:32-42).

1:37-39 The people were looking for Jesus because He healed them, not because of His teaching (cf. Luke 4:43). Jesus was continually on the move because

1. He wanted all to hear His message
2. His mission was misunderstood

Jesus felt deeply that He had been sent (cf. Luke 4:43) to proclaim the gospel of God (cf. Mark 1:14-15). He sensed that He was not sent as a miracle worker or healer, but as the establisher of a new day, a new relationship with the Father, the inauguration of the kingdom of God! The centrality of His person, the content of His message, His redemptive acts, and His glorious resurrection and ascension were the focus of His message. Mark's Messianic Secret is a literary way of asserting that these things would not be fully understood or revealed until years in the future.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE KERYGMA OF THE EARLY CHURCH

1:39 There is a textual variant in Mark 1:39. Some ancient Greek manuscripts have "he went" (cf. א, B, L, the Palestinian Syriac, and the Coptic translations, also NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB), while the Greek uncial manuscripts A, C, D, W, the Vulgate, and Peshitta translations, as well as the Greek text used by Augustine, have "he was" (cf. NKJV). The Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament by Bruce Metzger, pp. 75-76, asserts that a copyist changed "he went" to match Luke 4:44. This is a good example of the fact that most Greek manuscript variations make no significant theological or historical difference as to the overall meaning of the account.

SPECIAL TOPIC: TEXTUAL CRITICISM

÷MARK 1:40-45

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: MARK 1:40-45
 ⁴⁰And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." ⁴¹Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." ⁴²Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. ⁴³And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, ⁴⁴and He said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." ⁴⁵But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.

1:40 "a leper" This is paralleled in Matt. 8:2-4 and Luke 5:12-16. Judaism saw leprosy as an illness inflicted by God (cf. 2 Chr. 26:16-21). Contact with the leper would make one ceremonially unclean. This disease meant total social alienation! It is culturally surprising that this socially ostracized person approached Jesus and that Jesus would touch him (cf. Mark 1:41). The OT disease called leprosy, discussed in Leviticus 13-14, describes many types of skin diseases, all of which excluded one from worship.

▣ "on his knees" In Luke 5:12 it says he fell prostrate before Jesus. Jesus was not like the other rabbis. He took time to care for the outcast and ostracized.

▣ "If you are willing, You can make me clean" This is a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE which means potential action. He was not doubting Jesus' power (i.e., the leper calls Jesus "Lord" in Matt. 8:2), but His desire to act.

1:41 "Moved with compassion" Jesus cares for humanity made in the image of God. The Western Text, MS D, has "indignant," but MSS א, A, B, and C have "pity." The words are similar in Aramaic. Although the oldest and best manuscripts have "pity" the most unusual reading would have been "indignant" or "angry." (See SPECIAL TOPIC: TEXTUAL CRITICISM) There are several other places in Mark where Jesus' anger is recorded in unexpected contexts (cf. Mark 1:43; 3:5 and 10:14; also one in John 11:33, 38). His anger may have been directed at the disease or the evil of this age.

Mark portrays Jesus as fully human, feeling and expressing the full range of human emotions, for Himself as well as others.

1. pity or anger (Mark 1:41; 3:5)
2. physical hunger (Mark 2:25)
3. deep sigh (Mark 7:34, 8:12)
4. indignance/sternness (Mark 10:14)
5. love (Mark 10:21)
6. grief/trouble (Mark 10:33-34)
7. desertion (Mark 15:34)
8. thirst (Mark 15:36)

▣ "touched him" This was a ceremonial "no no!" Jesus touching people is a common occurrence in the Gospels (cf. Mark 7:33; 8:22; 10:13; also several times people touched Jesus, e.g. Mark 3:10; 5:22-28,30,31; 6:56) as a gesture of personal care and concern.

SPECIAL TOPIC: LAYING ON OF HANDS

▣ "be cleansed" This is an AORIST PASSIVE IMPERATIVE. Jesus heals with the same personal authority by which He expels demons.

SPECIAL TOPIC: HEALING

1:43 "sternly warned him" Literally this is "snorted," which means an inarticulate groan. This reflects Mark's Messianic Secret. The Gospel was not yet finished, and the message was still incomplete. Jesus did not want to be known as a miracle worker.

▣ "immediately sent him away" This is the same strong word used of the Spirit driving Jesus into wilderness (cf. Mark 1:12).

For "immediately" see note at Mark 1:10.

1:44 "offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded" This requirement related to the healing of leprosy (cf. Leviticus 13, 14; Deut. 24:8). Jesus did not reject the OT (cf. Matt. 5:17-19), but the oral traditions that had developed within Judaism (cf. Matt. 5:21-48). Possibly this was also for a witness to the priests.

1:45 "proclaim" This is a PRESENT INFINITIVE. This was in direct disobedience to Jesus' strong request (cf. Mark 1:43-44).

▣ "stayed out in unpopulated areas" This referred to the uninhabited pasture lands like Mark 1:3.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Why did Mark begin with John the Baptist's ministry? Who does John represent?
2. Does baptism impart or symbolize forgiveness?
3. Why was Jesus baptized? Was He sinful and in need of repentance?
4. Where in this section is evidence for the Trinity implied?
5. Why was Jesus tempted? In what areas of His life did the temptation come?
6. Is God's kingdom here or is it future?
7. Does Mark 1 describe the first encounter between Jesus and the fishermen?
8. Why were the people in the synagogue in Capernaum so surprised at Jesus' teaching?
9. Is demon possession a reality or a cultural superstition?
10. Why did the demons reveal who Jesus really was?
11. Why is cleansing the leper so significant?
12. Why did Jesus command the leper to tell no one what had happened to him?

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