Mark 1:1-8 Introduction to Mark's Gospel

Joel and Mary Nadel, Covenant Fellowship

From: The Holy Bible and J.C. Ryle’s “Expository Comments on the Gospels - Mark”

House Rules: Phones, Respect, Stay on the Text

Theme: Mark 10:45

Mark 10:45 NASB95

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

About The Letter

Written for Gentile readers, especially Romans.

• Mark presents Jesus as the ultimate servant.

• Mark emphasizes what Jesus did rather than what he said. The word immediately is used over forty times to show Christ as a servant of “action.”

• Eighteen miracles (over half of Christ’s thirty-five recorded miracles) are in the Book of Mark.

• Mark is the earliest and shortest of the Gospels.

• Some consider that Mark recorded the recollections of the apostle Peter about Jesus’ life.

• Chapters 1–8 center on Christ’s ministry to the multitudes; chapters 8–10 deal with his ministry primarily to the disciples.

• Chapters 11–16 focus on Jesus’ rejection by the Jewish rulers and his sacrifice of his life for the multitudes.

• Mark devotes almost as many chapters to the last week of Christ’s life (six chapters) as he does to the prior three years of ministry (eight chapters).

• Key verse to summarize

About the Author

• Tradition holds that Mark is the author of this Gospel.

• Jewish; born in Jerusalem, probably from a well-to-do family. His mother, Mary, had a large house that was a meeting place for believers and they had servants (Acts 12:12–16).

• He was Barnabas’s cousin, and he went on the first missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas.

• Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. Resulted in Barnabas not going with Paul on the second missionary journey. (Silas went)

• Very close to the apostle Peter, who may have been the one who led Mark to Christ.

• Fully restored to service when Paul, nearing the end of his life, said Mark was useful for service and asked Mark to come see him.[1]

[1] Cooper, R. L. (2000). Mark (Vol. 2, pp. 1–2). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Why is Mark different from the other Gospels? (from J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels)

Shortest

More about what Jesus did than what He said

Nothing about His birth or early life

Details not found in other Gospels

It is all profitable, for teaching, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness. (2 Tim 3:16)

What does Mark teach us about Jesus?

Son of God – Trinity

Died for sinners

The only possible sacrifice for a lost and fallen people

We need a saviour like this since we only deserve condemnation for our rebellion

Mark 1:1–8 NASB95

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’ ” John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And 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. John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. And 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. “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Prologue to the Gospel of Mark (1:1–15)

The prologue introduces the Gospel of Mark by presenting Christ’s forerunner and the initial preparation and ministry of Christ.

It lingers on John the Baptist’s conformity to OT Scripture, pointing out that God has indeed fulfilled his promises to bring the forerunner of Christ (1:1–8).

The prologue also presents the baptism and temptation of Jesus, emphasizing Jesus’ identification as God’s Son and as the last Adam, again in conformity to OT expectation (1:9–13).

The prologue also encapsulates Jesus’ message, which regards the fulfillment of God’s plan and the call to repent and believe (1:14–15).

The section is designed to make the point that God is fulfilling his redemptive plan precisely as he said he would.

Let’s take a look at the first four verses: What do we learn about Jesus?

Mark 1:1–4 NASB95

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’ ” John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

The Son of God

This is the most important thing we can know, and it is significant it is the first statement of the Gospel

God of God, one person of the Trinity

The Son’s job was to redeem us from our sins - precious doctrine

We are woefully sinful

Only Jesus was sinless and righteous

As the Son of God, He was the only possible sacrifice that could atone for our sins, and give us the righteousness necessary to have a relationship with God.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins

John the baptist’s ministry – a fulfillment of Scripture

Nothing happens by chance – from before the beginning of time, God planned to send His Son to redeem His people

From the time of Abraham, God revealed His plan to us, with increasing clarity over time. God spoke it to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses, as well as the prophets

All worked out according to God’s plan, including our redemption

The OT points us to Jesus – we should be looking for Him when we read it.

A baptism of repentence for the forgiveness of sins

What is repentence?

What are sins? Who are they an offiense against?

Why is repentence important?

John the Baptist’s impact on the nation of Israel – v. 5:

Mark 1:5–6 NASB95

And 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. John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.

We often overlook the impact John had on the Jewish nation

His ministry drew people from all over the country – he was a national figure

He got their attention

He prepared the people for the coming of God’s Messiah, the Saviour

He was a popular preacher, but in the end, very few came to Christ

Hearing and admiring a popular preacher does not get you to heaven – A commitment to Christ, as the Lord of your life, does that.

John’s Mission: to exalt Christ and announce His coming. (vv. 7-8)

Mark 1:7-8 “And 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. “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John sought to point people to Christ – to announce the good news that they did not have to die in their sins.

He did not seek glory or praise – rather He directed that glory and praise to the Saviour

He spoke of the Holy Spirit – he predicted that Christ would send His Spirit to fill us.

The Holy Spirit was mightier than John - John’s following was clear evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit

In conclusion

No one, in history, had so clearly and precisely proclaimed the coming of the Messiah

Good ministers and preachers must do two things:

Proclaim Christ/set Him before the people - show them His fulness and power to save

Proclaim the Holy Spirit and His power.

Do all preachers do this?

Think about this:

What do you know, by practical experience, about the truth’s John preached?

Sin

The Messiah

The Good News

What do you think of Christ? Do you see a need for Him? Have you fled to Him for peace?

Has He worked in/changed your heart?

Eternal life and death depend on these questions. If a man does not have the Spirit of Christ, He is none of His (Rom. 8:9)

Pray

Prayer Requests

6) Next week: Mark: 1:9-20. The Saviour Comes