Be a disciple. Make disciples.
As you work your way through the Gospel of Mark - remember to focus on knowing and following Jesus, and on making disciples. This video series will give you the information you need to understand the Gospel of Mark IN PREPARATION for your discipleship group. Please do not watch these together. Use them to prepare for the discussion in your group as you discover who God is and how to live in obedience to Him. May you experience His presence among you!
Resources
Life Application Study Bible Apple App or Android App
YouVersion Bible App Zondervan Bible Background CommentaryContents
Author
- Mark was a disciple of Peter
- Also known as John Mark
- Accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:13)
Date
- Between 55 and 65 AD
Setting
- 30 years after beginning of the church
- Christianity had spread throughout the Roman empire all the way to Rome
- Nero started a great fire in Rome and blamed Christians
- Followers of Jesus questioned why they were suffering
Themes
- Jesus a suffering servant that is full of action on the move to build his kingdom
- He did not come as a conquering king; he came as a servant.
- True greatness in Christ’s Kingdom is shown by service and sacrifice
Purpose
- To encourage believers overcome with fear
- To explain their current struggles
- To grow the Kingdom
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
1:1 Gospel - Christ - Son of God
- Gospel:
- for Jews, good news of the coming King. Isaiah 52:8-10
- for Romans, good news of a significant event; reference to Caesar Augustus
- Christ:
- Greek for Messiah, "Anointed one"
- All kings of Israel were anointed
- The Jews were expecting the Messiah to come and deliver them from their Roman oppressors
- Son of God
- for Jews: the OT describes the Messiah as God’s son; Psalm 2:1-8
- for Romans: the Caesar
1:2-3 Isaiah the Prophet
- Isa 40:3 and Malachi 3:1
- Isa 40 - written during the Babylonian exile, 540–530 BC
- Mal 3 - during the time of the Persian Empire, 450-430 BC
1:4-5 John - Baptism - Repentance
- John: Roman officials of this day were always preceded by an announcer
- Baptism: a visible sign that a person had decided to change his or her life, giving up a sinful and selfish way of living and turning to God
- Repentance:
- To baptize a Jew as a sign of repentance was a radical departure from Jewish custom
- It meant that they were turning from personal sin and trusting in the coming Messiah
1:6 Wilderness - Camel's Hair/Belt
- Wilderness: Elijah was taken up on the banks of the Jordan River near Jericho; 2 Kings 2:7-12
- Camel's Hair/Belt: Elijah wore these things; 2 Kings 1:8
1:7-8 Sandal Straps - Baptized by the Holy Spirit
- Sandal straps: Untying someone sandals was a task that only a slave would do so
- Baptism by the Holy Spirit: the Messiah will come, filled with the Holy Spirit, and be the righteous King and Judge of His people; Isaiah 11:1-8
- Jesus is the Messiah, Son of God, and righteous King of the Kingdom of God promised throughout the OT and greater than any earthly king!
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
1:9-11 Nazareth - Baptized by John
- Nazareth: despised and avoided as it had contact with many cultural influences; sinful. It had a Roman garrison and soldiers were brutal.
- Baptized: when a king was anointed for Israel the coronation would include the singing of Psalm 2: "...You are My Son, Today I have fathered You..."
1:12-13 Wilderness - Satan
- Wilderness: Jesus is shown to be sinless. See Matt 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13
- Satan: means enemy. He was once a highly positioned angel until he became prideful and rebelled against God. See Ezekiel 28:12–17, Isaiah 14:12–15, and Revelation 12:7–9
- Jesus is the coming King, but He is very different than early kings. He comes as a sympathetic King who identifies with us
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
1:14-15 John - Galilee - Gospel
- John: had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
- Galilee: this fulfilled Isaiah 9:1-2
- Gospel: good news that the long-awaited Messiah has come to begin God’s personal reign on earth
- Repent: to change one's mind, involves a turning from sin to God. Luk 13:3, Luke 15:7
1:16-20 Fishermen - Follow Me - Immediately
- Fishermen: from catching to fish to influencing people so that they are "caught" and led into the Kingdom
- Follow Me: Prophets did not call people to follow them, but to follow God. Mark shows Jesus calling disciples with divine authority
- Immediately: there was a strong hope among Jews at the time that the Messiah would soon appear
1:21-28 Capernaum - Synagogue - Sabbath - Authority - Unclean Spirit
- Capernaum: military center for Roman troops; many merchants, and highways. 1000-1500 people. It was heavily influenced by pagan practices.
- Synagogue: gathering of Jews for the purpose of learning God’s word. It was customary for the synagogue leader to ask visiting teachers to speak.
- Sabbath: a day of rest and worship commanded by God, Friday evening to Saturday evening. Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 31:13-17
- Authority: Jewish teachers often quoted from well-known rabbis. Jesus taught as one with authority.
- Unlcean spirit: also called demons—operate under Satan's authority. Their mission is to deceive, tempt, and ultimately enslave people in sin. Whenever demons encountered Jesus, they were completely overpowered.
- Jesus offers His Kingdom, requiring repentance and faith in the gospel.
- Jesus has authority - in teaching, and over the spiritual realm
- Not only is He the Messiah, the King…but He has the power of God
And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and 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, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
1:29-39 Fever - Not Permit to Speak
- Fever: this brought shame. It was an illness in and of itself caused by demons, divine beings, or curses. Leviticus 26:14-16, Deuteronomy 28:22.
- Jesus did miracles to prove He is the Messiah, demonstrate life in His kingdom (there is no sickness), and authenticate his message of this good news that He is the Messiah
- Not Permit to Speak: He doesn't need or want testimony from such unreliable sources. He also has His own time and planning.
1:40-45 Leper - Show Priest
- Leper: a variety of skin diseases, a symbol of impurity; It was a sign that the victim had committed some hidden sin for which God was punishing him it meant exclusion. Leviticus 13:45-46.
- Show Priest: the reason is because commands were given in Leviticus. Leviticus 14:18-20.
- Jesus demonstrated what it's like in the Kingdom and His power over sin and its effects (like sickness). God is at work!
- Jesus made it clear that He is the promised Messiah, King, Savior, and He has the power of God
- He also wants His offer of the Kingdom to spread to many
When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. And some people came, bringing to Him a man who was paralyzed, carried by four men. And when they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and after digging an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralyzed man was lying. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?” Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were thinking that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you thinking about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralyzed man, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home.” And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” And He went out again by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them. As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating with tax collectors and sinners?” And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
2:1-6 Paralyzed - Forgiven - Scribes
- Paralyzed: A Jewish audience in Jesus' time would see this as a consequence of sin.
- Forgiven: Isaiah 43:25 only God can forgive sins. Jesus is claiming that He knows what God has done. He's speaking for God. He's claiming authority. Talmud: “A sick man does not recover from his sickness until all his sins are forgiven him..."
- Scribes: learned scholar—often referred to as a scribe or teacher of the law. Custodians of the traditions on Jewish life.
2:7-13 Blaspheming - Son of Man
- Blaspheming: Jesus was claiming to do something only God could do. Leviticus 24:16.
- Son of Man: it’s a reference to Daniel 7:13-14. "...to Him was given dominion, honor, and a kingdom..."
2:14-17 Levi - Tax Collectors - Pharisees
- Levi: Matthew, the disciple who wrote the Gospel of Matthew; He collected taxes for the Roman government, who oppressed the Jews.
- Tax Collectors: They were considered impure because of their contact with Gentiles.
- Pharisees: committed to strict obedience to Jewish law, believing that only a holy and faithful people could safeguard Israel from divine judgment. They tried to bring the purity standards of the temple into everyday life, with a strong emphasis on laws concerning ritual cleanliness and separation.
- Jesus claimed to be God – He can forgive sins
- The Kingdom is for those who are repentant, not those who are righteous in their own eyes
- God is looking to forgive those with repentant hearts…not to condemn
John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they came and said to Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “While the groom is with them, the attendants of the groom cannot fast, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast, on that day. “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.” And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?” Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.”
2:18-22 Fasting - Unshrunk Cloth
- Fasting: People fasted to show that they're waiting for something good to come…or it was a way to process something difficult they might be going through.
- Unshrunk Cloth: To make wine you put grape juice into a new wine skin. As the wine ferments, it causes the skin to expand, making it stretch. It then becomes wine. If you try to put new grape juice in that wineskin the whole thing will burst because it has already been stretched and cannot stretch anymore. So it will not work. Jesus is saying that he is bringing in a new era and the old doesn't mix.
2:23-28 Grainfields/Sabbath - David/Abiathar
- Grainfields/Sabbath: He wasn’t stealing. In fact, in Leviticus 19:9-10 God commanded farmers to leave grain for travelers. Jesus was disregarding extra laws that the religious leaders came up with. These are called "oral traditions" or "traditions of the elders."
- David/Abiathar: 1 Samuel 21:1-6. David asked the high priest at the time, Abiathar, if he and his men could eat the bread in the temple. According to Leviticus 24:7-9, the priests were commanded to make bread and consecrate it for the Lord, but to save life, it was okay to give it to David.
- Jesus is the Promised Messiah and He has come to usher in a new era.
- He has authority over the Sabbath. He is the Law-Giver.
- He tears away at the idea that our relationship with God is transactional, Master to Servant, dependent on our performance.
Coming soon
5:1-7 Gerasenes - Tombs - Unclean Spirit
- Gerasenes - a gentile area
- Tombs - Tombs were frequently located in caves and were known as haunts for demons.
- Unclean Spirit - They try to gain power over Jesus by speaking His name aloud. At that time, people believed that knowing a spirit’s name gave them authority over it.
5:9-16 Legion - Pigs
- Legion - the spirits reply with “Legion,” a term for a Roman military unit of over 5,000 soldiers. This reveals that the man was possessed by a great multitude of demons.
- Pigs - (Leviticus 11:7), pigs were considered unclean, meaning that Jews were forbidden from eating or even touching them. The pigs likely belonged to a swine collective, indicating that this region was predominantly pagan. Swine also carried painful associations with the persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes, who defiled the temple by offering pigs on the altar and sought to wipe out Jewish identity through brutal oppression (1 Macc. 1:41–61)
5:17-20 Beg to leave - Go and tell
- Beg to leave - They may have been afraid of his supernatural power, which they could neither control nor appease like their pagan gods. They may also have feared that he would continue to destroy their pigs, their source of livelihood.
- Go and tell - the man had been isolated and unable to speak; telling others about his healing would confirm his restoration and help him reintegrate into society, find work, and reconnect with friends and family. Also, by sending the man to spread the news, Jesus was extending his ministry beyond the Jewish people, making this man the first missionary to the Gentiles.”
Jesus desires that all people experience salvation and He has all the power needed to redeem us. He also desires that we share what He has done with others.
