Week 2: Introduction (1:1–20)
WEEK 2: INTRODUCTION
The Place of the Passage
This opening passage of Mark sets the stage for the rest of the Gospel. Mark starts with the words, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (1:1). Mark is writing, above all else, about the gospel, as the first words out of Jesus’ mouth reiterate: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (1:15). What is the gospel? Mark explains that it is the good news of the fulfillment of God’s promises, and the rest of Mark will show how Jesus fulfills yet transforms Old Testament hopes, especially the hope for a coming king.
The Big Picture
Mark 1:1–20 shows us the good news that Jesus came as the fulfillment of all the promises of the Old Testament.
Reflection and Discussion
Read through the complete passage for this study, Mark 1:1–20. Then review the shorter passages below and write your own notes on the following questions—first with regard to John the Baptist (vv. 1–9) and then with regard to Jesus (vv. 9–20). (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 1893–1894; also available online at www.esvbible.org.)
1. The Ministry of John the Baptist (1:1–9)
In the first verse of his Gospel Mark indicates what is driving him to write, and then immediately quotes the Old Testament as he begins writing. What do these opening few verses teach us about why Mark is writing and the roles both John the Baptist and Jesus play in this?
Many scholars believe Mark introduces Jesus as bringing about a new “exodus”1 for the people of God, similar to the liberation from Egypt in the book of Exodus. This is because Mark frequently seems to allude to passages in Isaiah in which God promises a new “exodus” to his people (e.g., Isa. 11:11–16; 40:3–11; 42:16; 43:2, 5–7, 16–19; 48:20–49:11; 51:10). What in Mark 1:1–13 might lead to this conclusion?
There are several similarities between Isaiah 40:1–3 and the way Mark presents John the Baptist. What are some of them?
Untying the straps of sandals can be the responsibility of a low servant, but it was something that a Jewish person was not supposed to do. What does this tell us about John’s statement in Mark 1:7?
John says that the one coming after him “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”2 (1:8). We know from Mark 1:2–3 that Mark sees his Gospel account as building on the Old Testament, so what might Mark have in mind in verse 8? For clarification read Isaiah 32:15, 44:3, Ezekiel 11:18–19, and Joel 2:28. Note also what happens with the Spirit in Mark 1:10.
2. The Ministry of Jesus (1:9–20)
Jesus comes to the Jordan River and is baptized3 by John. John himself has already made it clear that Jesus is greater than he is, so this cannot be an act of submission to John. Instead Jesus is likely identifying with the people. How might later statements by Jesus, such as Mark 10:45, further fill out the significance of Jesus’ baptism?
With the descent of the Spirit, Jesus is commissioned for unique service (note Isa. 11:2; 42:1; 61:1). In light of the way Mark views Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament, what is the significance of this? Others had been commissioned for unique service to God in the past—Adam, for instance, or Israel. How is Jesus both similar to and different from these other servants? How does the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness by Satan4 reinforce the connection between Jesus and other Old Testament servants of God? Where else in Scripture do we see a servant of God being tempted by Satan while “with the wild animals” (Mark 1:13)?
Mark 1:14–15 is a sort of summary statement of Mark’s whole Gospel. Here we see that “the kingdom of God is at hand.” God has done this by bringing history to a climax (“the time is fulfilled”), yet at the same time people are called to respond in a certain way (“repent and believe”). What do we learn of the nature of the kingdom of God here? How does this differ from popular expectations of the Jews at this time regarding what the coming of God’s kingdom would look like, as they visualized the kingdom in terms of political liberation from Roman rule?
In 1:16–20 Jesus calls the first four disciples. Read Jeremiah 16:15–17 and consider what it meant for Jesus to call these four men to be “fishers of men” (Mark 1:17).
What do we learn from verses 18 and 20 about the nature of Christian discipleship?
Read through the following three sections on Gospel Glimpses, Whole-Bible Connections, and Theological Soundings. Then take time to reflect on the Personal Implications these sections may have for your walk with the Lord.
Gospel Glimpses
GOOD NEWS AT ITS CORE. While the Bible is filled with commands, and these commands must unquestionably be heeded by believers, the overarching story line of the Bible is one of rescue and deliverance—of gospel. The message of the Bible, at its core, is what has been done by God in Christ for sinners, as the first verse of Mark underscores: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Mark wrote to recount good news. His Gospel relates what God has done for us in Jesus.
THE PROMISE-KEEPING GOD. In Mark’s focus on Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament expectations, we see the grace5 of God in his commitment to keep his promises to his people, despite their waywardness. “I will be your God, and you shall be my people” was a constant refrain throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Ex. 6:7; Lev. 26:12; Jer. 7:23). Yet God’s people were consistently faithless. God sent his own Son, however, to do what his people had always failed to do. Although Adam and Israel were both God’s “son,” to neither of them could God finally say, “with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Those who are in Christ, however, can be fully assured that God is “well pleased” with them, because they have been covered by Christ’s righteousness and adopted into God’s family as his very children. God keeps his promises.
CALLING THE ORDINARY. We also see the grace of God in the calling of the first four disciples. Peter, Andrew, James, and John did nothing to seek out Jesus. Jesus sought them out. Indeed, not only is the initiative totally on the side of Jesus, but Jesus goes to blue-collar, untrained fishermen to begin to build his church. Here, as throughout the Bible, God in his grace chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27).
Whole-Bible Connections
SON OF GOD. In Mark 1:1 Jesus is called “the Son of God.” One layer of meaning here may highlight the deity of Christ: Jesus is God’s Son in that he is himself God. Another layer of meaning, however, connects the title “Son of God” in Mark 1:1 with a whole-Bible trajectory. Adam was “the son of God” (Luke 3:38). Adam failed, however, to walk in obedience to God. God later called Israel to be his “son,” and the Bible even describes God as calling Israel his “firstborn” (Ex. 4:22–23). Yet Israel, too, failed. Jesus, however, was the final Son of God, the true Firstborn, the Son who succeeded where all others had failed (Mark 1:11). Because of his obedient sonship, God is pleased to adopt into his own family those who are united to the Son by faith (Rom. 8:14–17; Heb. 2:10). Mark 1 taps into this whole-Bible theme.
WILDERNESS TESTING. Immediately after his baptism, Jesus is driven by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he is tested for 40 days. This picks up a theme that travels through the Old Testament: Moses spent 40 days on barren Mount Sinai (Ex. 34:28); Israel was tested for 40 years in the desert (Deut. 8:2); and Elijah spent 40 days in the desert, too (1 Kings 19:8). In each case the “wilderness” experience was a testing ground of sorts.
KINGDOM OF GOD. Jesus’ first words in Mark are, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (1:15). The coming of the kingdom of God means that God’s rule over people’s hearts and lives is being established in and through Jesus. The kingdom is a whole-Bible theme in that Eden was set up as a little “kingdom” of God with Adam, the first king, commissioned to rule over the earth (Gen. 1:28). The king theme is heightened with the setting up of the kingship in Israel, and especially with David, to whom God promises a lasting dynasty (2 Sam. 7:8–16). With Jesus this kingdom dawns decisively, and he will one day bring this kingdom to completion, sitting on his throne for all the world to see (Rev. 4:1–11).
Theological Soundings
DEITY OF CHRIST. Jesus is “the Son of God” (Mark 1:1), not only in that he is the one called by God to rule the earth as God’s representative, but also in that he is God. This is reinforced in Mark 1:3, where “prepare the way of the Lord” (Isa. 40:3) originally referred to Yahweh but is applied by Mark to Jesus. The New Testament teaches that Jesus is included in the divine identity (1 Cor. 8:6; Rom. 9:5; Col. 1:15–20; Heb. 1:3). While there are distinctions of persons within the one Godhead, Jesus Christ is as much God as God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
TRINITY. In Mark 1:9–11, Jesus is baptized. We are told that the Spirit descended on him like a dove, and a voice from heaven affirmed Jesus’ sonship. We see here all three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit. Broadly speaking, Christian theology teaches that the Father orchestrates salvation, the Son accomplishes salvation, and the Spirit applies salvation.
SALVATION. “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repentance and faith (faith is the noun form of the Greek word translated believe) are the two basic motions on the part of the believer in receiving Christian salvation. Throughout the New Testament these two are linked (e.g., Acts 20:21; Heb. 6:1). We might say faith and repentance are two sides of the single coin of salvation. In repentance we turn from sin; in faith we turn to God.
Personal Implications
Take time to reflect on the implications of Mark 1 for your own life today. Make notes below on the personal implications for your walk with the Lord of (1) the Gospel Glimpses, (2) the Whole-Bible Connections, (3) the Theological Soundings, and (4) this passage as a whole.
1. Gospel Glimpses
2. Whole-Bible Connections
3. Theological Soundings
4. Mark 1:1–20
As You Finish This Unit . . .
Take a moment now to ask for the Lord’s blessing and help as you continue in this study of Mark. And take a moment also to look back through this unit of study, to reflect on a few key things that the Lord may be teaching you—and perhaps to highlight or underline these to review again in the future.
Definitions
1 The exodus – The departure of the people of Israel from Egypt and their journey to Mount Sinai under Moses’ leadership (Exodus 1–19; Numbers 33). The exodus demonstrated God’s power and providence for his people, who had been enslaved by the Egyptians. The annual festival of Passover commemorates God’s final plague upon the Egyptians, resulting in Israel’s release from Egypt.
2 Holy Spirit – One of the persons of the Trinity, and thus fully God. The Bible mentions several roles of the Holy Spirit, including convicting people of sin, bringing them to conversion, indwelling them and empowering them to live in Christlike righteousness and service, supporting them in times of trial, and enabling them to understand the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost in Acts 2 in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (e.g., Ezek. 36:26–27). The Spirit was vitally active in Jesus’ life and ministry on earth (e.g., Luke 3:22).
3 Baptize – Literally “to immerse” or “to wash.” Refers to the Christian practice of immersing a new believer in water as an outward sign of the inward reality of regeneration. This regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit (see John 3:5, 8; Titus 3:5). Considerable disagreement exists as to the method of baptism (i.e., sprinkling vs. immersion) and who may be baptized (i.e., believers only vs. believers and their infant children).
4 Satan – A spiritual being whose name means “accuser.” As the leader of all the demonic forces, he opposes God’s rule and seeks to harm God’s people and accuse them of wrongdoing. His power, however, is confined to the bounds that God has set for him, and one day he will be destroyed along with all his demons (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).
5 Grace – Unmerited favor, especially the free gift of salvation that God gives to believers through faith in Jesus Christ.