Today we're reading Mark 1:1-13. You can read it in your own Bible, read it online at BibleGateway.com (a FABULOUS free resource that has all the major translations of the Bible in one place), or read it below. Remember the key questions we'll be asking as we read: What's happening (who, what, where, when, why), what's the main idea, and what do you think the author is trying to say, and how might this apply to my life? Feel free to chat about anything else that stands out to you, too.
Mark 1
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b] 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”[c]—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”[d]
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[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted[g] by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
Mark 1
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b] 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you,who will prepare your way”[c]—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”[d]
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[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.”
Okay, my answers were just mysteriously zapped, and I have to get to work, so I'll take this is a sign that YOU GUYS should answer the questions for yourselves first! I'll re-post my answers after work!
ReplyDeleteAlso, check out www.e-sword.net for free downloads of various Bibles and resources
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of Mark is to present the person, work and teachings of Jesus. Jesus was announced to the people of Rome by John the Baptist. The approximate date of this book is between A.D.55 and 65
ReplyDeleteI find that Jesus being announced is similar to when Adam and Eve were in the Garden and soon after they had sinned God came to them with tremendous mercy and gentleness. He wooed them back into His presence just as he woos us back to Him today. We can choose to listen or turn a deaf ear.
Here's my answers to the questions
ReplyDelete1) What’s happening?
An introduction to the Gospel of Jesus, the Son of God: starting with a description of John the Baptist and his ministry and then quickly moving on to the baptism and temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness.
Who – this gospel is written by Mark, who was most likely a believer of Jesus Christ initially through Peter’s Ministry (1 Peter 5:13). According to Colossians 4:10, it is possible that he was Paul’s nephew and his parents were Barnabas and Paul’s sister (Mary, see Acts 12:12). If this is so, his name would be John Mark. This would mean that he was a Jew and a Roman citizen.
What – Mark is going to introduce the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; that is, an introduction to the good news of Jesus Christ, (that the Messiah is come to establish the Kingdom). Mark depicts Jesus Christ as Servant, as one who is busy and gets things done. Key verse is Mar 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Where – the wilderness at the river of Jordan. The River Jordan is symbolic of Israel possessing the land (Numbers 33). The wilderness represents the condition of the majority of people in Israel (Deuteronomy 9:1-6), they were thinking that God was going to bless them because of their righteousness and although they were doing the works, their heart was far from God.
When – Mark begins with the ministry of John the Baptist. The prophets, Malachi and Isaiah, foretold of John’s ministry as the one who would break the silence of God (Amos 8:11) that Israel experienced during those 400 years between Malachi and Matthew. Then he quickly goes to when Jesus Christ came to the river of Jordan to be baptized of John.
Why – Israel was in a state of rebellion toward God and the time was fulfilled (Mark 1:15) and Israel needed to change their mind about their standing before God and separate themselves from unbelieving Israel because God was getting ready to pour out his wrath (Matthew 3:7)
2. What is the Main Idea?
Separation – separate from the unbelieving nation, change your mind about thinking your righteousness is good enough and believe what God said.
3. What do I think the author is trying to say?
There is so much that Mark is telling us but the main thing is that this is “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ” – the good news of the person of Jesus Christ. He is here!! For Israel the message is to repent and be baptized in order to be identified with the believing remnant and separate from those who do not believe because judgment is coming before the kingdom is set up.
4. How might this apply to my life?
Since Mark states this is the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, I think it is important for me to really get to know who He is and why He came: to minister and not be ministered to. Also, just as John played an important role, not to get to haughty and always remember that it is not about me or what I have done, but it is about the Lord Jesus Christ, who He is and what He has done that matters.
Also, the “wilderness” seems to be the place we come to when we recognize who we are in and of ourselves before we are able to move on to become what God has intended us to be.
Wow, great answers and conversation, everyone!!! I'll just post the things I had that were different from what you've already posted.
ReplyDeleteThe split quote at the beginning of the passage was interesting--Mark melds a quote from Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 in the beginning of his Gospel, giving his Roman Christian readers a crash course in what the prophets said about John the Baptist.
My friend Sanna brought up an interesting point on Facebook, saying that she had always wondered what it meant that the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus "like a dove." I always imagined a dove flying down out of they sky and landing on Jesus' shoulder, but now I want to do a little more research on this--does the passage mean that the Holy Spirit incarnated as a dove (and if so, since when does the Holy Spirit incarnate?), or that it appeared in a form that looked like a dove (like the tongues of flame that later came down on the disciples, but obviously wasn't physical fire), or was it an analogy--the Holy Spirit descended on him the way a dove would descend on him?
I definitely need to do some research about this. What about you guys--any ideas about what this means?
Wow, Nancy! What a wonderful job of laying this out!!!
ReplyDeleteWho...Mark. One of the commentaries that I read indicated that there is a great deal of controversy over whether this was John Mark or another Mark. Apparently, at that time, Mark was as common a name as Mary! But this we know; that Mark came to belief in Christ through the ministry of Peter. So...how could he be the one running naked through the garden? (See Jen's earlier postings)
What...Mark is apparently recording what Peter saw and experienced. It would make sense then, that this book is so matter of fact; he was just writing down what he heard from Peter. The emotion of the experience would not really come into play while writing.
When...Everything that I read indicated that this was written sometime between 52 and 68. Pretty close to what you wrote down, Nancy.
Where...The wilderness. I liked what you said, Nancy. "Also, the “wilderness” seems to be the place we come to when we recognize who we are in and of ourselves before we are able to move on to become what God has intended us to be." But I tend to experience the wilderness before I come to recognize who I am. I experience the "Hosea chapter 2" kind of thing before I find out who I am and who God intends me to be. I tend to run my own way, then God has to remind me that I am His. Sometimes this involves Him having to "strip me naked" and taking me to the wilderness where I end up running around to everything that I think will "quench my thirst". And, of course, I don't find what my heart is looking for so I run around even more until I am ready to listen to His tender voice. He is always faithful to woo me back to Himself and place me in right relationship with Him again. Hallelujah!!!
Why...I agree with Nancy. (I'm taking a short-cut here. Tee-hee) God's people were apparently unrighteous and John the Baptist was calling them to repentance.
OK...here are the questions that I am pondering:
1. What in the world induced John the Baptist to baptize for repentance, for the forgivness of sins? I know that the baptism didn't forgive the sins, the repentance did. But this was not the practice, at that time, to get your sins forgiven. Sacrifice was still the "correct" way to forgiveness of sins.
2. If John's baptism was for the forgiveness of sins, why did Jesus go to be baptized? I think I have some understanding of this...He was our "priest" and did so to confess the sins of the nation...but still, this seems an odd thing for Him to do. What did He have to confess? Did He stand there before being dunked and cry out about the sins of the nation instead of His own sins? People were watching, so wouldn't they have assumed that He came to be baptized for the forgiveness of HIS sins? Did they also see the dove descending? What in the world was God's purpose in this? I have to study some more, obviously!
So how does this apply to my life? Here's what I came away with (aside from more questions than I want to deal with right now!):
ReplyDelete1. John the Baptist looked/dressed like a wierdo, ate like a "poor" wierdo and talked like a wierdo!
1a. Am I willing to "look, act, dress, talk" like a wierdo if God asks me to?
2. I need to get more answers about Jesus' baptism.
2a. He is obviously the Son of God and God is very pleased with Him. He is God incarnate! I love this!!! God with us, Emmanuel! And, He lives in me!!! (great rejoicing!)
2b. He obviously was indicating, by His own baptism, that John the Baptist was doing what God called him (John) to do. Otherwise, He wouldn't have participated.
2c. He wasn't afraid to associate with "weirdos"!
2d. He wasn't afraid to do "strange/new" things in front of others.
3. When Jesus went into the wilderness, many accounts say that He was being tempted (all the while) by Satan. I believe that. And that He was with the wild beasts. I'm sure there were wild beasts where He was. And that the angels attended to Him.
3a. When I am tempted and/or tormented by Satan, do I really stop to realize that Jesus was tempted for 40 days, non-stop, in every way possible, for me? Well, the answer to that one is a resounding, "NO". Like I said earlier (the Hosea 2 passage), I usually begin by running around in panic, looking for answers- for something to comfort me. How foolish, when He is there all the time! And, He can comfort me because He went through every kind of torment that I go through.
So...I have a lot to think about.
It's obvious that John the Baptist saw the dove descend. It must have looked like a dove. Here's what I wonder:
ReplyDelete1. When Jesus was concieved in Mary, the Holy Spirit came upon her and she was "overshadowed" by the power of the Holy Spirit, proving that this conception was of God.
a. Did Jesus experience the same thing (of a sorts)?
b. Was this to show John that, though he proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God, Jesus REALLY, REALLY, REALLY was the Son of God? No wondering at all? I can't help but believe that John heard about Jesus all of his life. They were cousins. Elizabeth and John had such a life changing experience at the time of John's and Jesus' conceptions (John jumping in Elizabeth's womb), that they had to have told all of this to John (JtB). But this was second hand knowledge to JtB. Did he wonder at all at his own calling? His own "wierdness"? Did he lay in bed and wonder what in the world he was really about? I sure would have! I mean, he was only human...unlike his cousin.
What an incredibly, precious gift this must have been to JtB; to see the dove descend. The times that God has made Himself "known" to me were very precious and very real. If fact, so much so that those moments changed (change) my life. My head/thoughts, my heart, my feelings, my beliefs were and are changed by those moments.
ReplyDeleteZachariah...good grief! JtB's parents were Elizabeth and Zachariah. Sorry...a bit too tired!
ReplyDeleteI'm copy-pasting the second comment Sanna left on FB, after the site wouldn't let her comment, so everyone can enjoy it. Hopefully, no more technical issues!!!
ReplyDeleteSanna says:
Hmmm...not sure how to post on the blog, will try to figure it out! I LOVED everyone's comments!!! Here are some additional thoughts after reading other's remarks:
Really enjoyed everyone's comments! Good questions too. Lots to ponder. In terms of main points I also believe the role of repentence is very important. In repentance, we are to see the Messianic Age in a new way, not the way that was expected. We are to change our thinking. We are receiving a King that is totally unexpected in that He is a servant king. Very interesting thoughts on the dove Jenny. Recall in Gen the dove was involved in a new creation. We are all created new in Christ. Related? Jesus' baptism is for a different reason than our own baptisms. See Psalm 2, which is a coronation psalm, and see especially 2:7. It appears Mk 1:11 is a remez of that verse of psalm 2? Also, the "spirit of the Lord" comes upon people in the OT, but Jesus is the 7th in the line of leaders. #6 is King David. #7 often symbolizes perfection in the Bible. Jesus is THE king of kings.
I've particularly enjoyed the comments about the wilderness--lots to think about there!!! And Sanna, the parallel of the dove being involved in God's new creation after the flood is really interesting. I've heard that people in the Greek world associated the dove with divinity, and that it was so revered that it actually had a protected status in some areas (like cats in ancient Egypt), but the idea of the dove being associated with the world's "second chance" makes more sense.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Mark's identity--from what I've read, the problem is that no one is sure if there were three Marks, or one. Hippolytus (sp?) said that there were three of them, and that John Mark, Mark the Evangelist, and Mark the nephew of Barnabas were all part of the original seventy that Jesus sent out. But Hippolytus was kind of weird, by accounts, and lived a couple hundred years after the fact. :-P According to the Wycliffe commentary, most modern scholars think that there was only one Mark, John Mark, mentioned in the Bible. But again, there's no way to be sure.
in answer to Gail's question 1:
ReplyDelete1.What in the world induced John the Baptist to baptize for repentance, for the forgivness of sins? I know that the baptism didn't forgive the sins, the repentance did. But this was not the practice, at that time, to get your sins forgiven. Sacrifice was still the "correct" way to forgiveness of sins.
But now, things are progressing…
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
The law and the prophets looked forward to the time of the kingdom, but with John’s ministry we see the good news of the kingdom of God is that “the time if fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). Now Israel needs to prepare herself to become that nation of priests as God promised back in Exodus 19:5-6.
Notice what Peter says on the day of Pentecost:
(Acts 2:38 KJV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Notice what needs to be done in order for one to enter into the office of a priest:
Exodus 29:1-4, 7 KJV And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish, (2) And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: of wheaten flour shalt thou make them. (3) And thou shalt put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bullock and the two rams. (4) And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt WASH THEM WITH WATER. … (7) Then shalt thou take the ANOINTING OIL, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.
2. If John's baptism was for the forgiveness of sins, why did Jesus go to be baptized? I think I have some understanding of this...He was our "priest" and did so to confess the sins of the nation...but still, this seems an odd thing for Him to do. What did He have to confess? Did He stand there before being dunked and cry out about the sins of the nation instead of His own sins? People were watching, so wouldn't they have assumed that He came to be baptized for the forgiveness of HIS sins? Did they also see the dove descending? What in the world was God's purpose in this? I have to study some more, obviously!ss
ReplyDeleteFirst, I believe the scripture gives the mode as sprinkle: Ezekiel 36:25 KJV Then will I SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER UPON YOU, AND YE SHALL BE CLEAN: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Second, it is my understanding the definition of baptism is “to place on or into for the purpose of identification. Those who were baptized by John became identified with the believing remnant within the nation of Israel, the Little Flock. Third, keep in mind what is going on, those that believe are preparing themselves to become that nation of priests.
When Jesus Christ is baptized by John, it is at the time he begins His public ministry. He does this when he is 30 years old (the age when one entered into the priesthood) Christ was washed and anointed that day to fulfill the office of a priest.
Oil is a type of the Holy Ghost. The dove represents the Holy Spirit.
About the dove:
Psalms 68:13 KJV Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
Silver – redemption money
Gold – royalty
As the wings of a dove – redemption and glory through Jesus Christ.
The baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ has to do with identification with the believing remnant. We can see this in Jeremiah, notice both the LORD (he) and Israel (she) are called by the same name:
Jeremiah 23:5-6 KJV Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (6) In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jeremiah 33:15-16 KJV In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. (16) In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
(It is sort of like when couples marry, the woman takes the man’s name)
We can see a picture of the trinity here: Father (voice), Jesus Christ (Himself), Holy Ghost (dove)