Mark is my favorite book in the Bible because he is vivacious with his writing. The youngest of the gospel writers, his full name is Mark John. Mark is “man of war”, and John is “gift of God.” let’s get started with chapter 1 and verse 1 reads.
Mark 1
[1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
The New Testament over laps the Old Testament. This is the beginning of Christ Ministering to them in Judea.
Mar.1:2] As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Where is this prophesied, we go to Isaiah. And Isa.40:3 reads.
Isa.40:3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
[4] Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
[5] And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
And again, in Malachi 3:1 we read.
Mal.3:1] Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
[2] But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
[3] And he shall sit as a refiner and purifer of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Woe to the Levitical priest that persecute him. Christ becoming our Passover Lamb. Did you catch that, He will come to this temple. Back to Mark and it reads.
Mar.1:3] The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John the Baptist becoming that one that cried in the wilderness.
Mar.1:4] John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
The baptism of repentance, let us not forget this. We are baptized so that on repentance we are forgiven.
Mar.1:5] And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
[6] And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
The food and clothing of the prophets. He came in the spirit of Elijah, not that he was Elijah. This only being the first advent.
Mar.1:7] And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
[8] I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
He was speaking of Jesus the Son of God. John baptized with water and Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. This is Baptism. That Jesus died and went into the tomb, (under water). And that He was resurrected (came out of the water).
Mar.1:9] And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
Came from Nazareth, but born in Bethlehem.
Mar.1:10] And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
That John saw the heavens open, not that anyone else saw it. Again, this is baptism, three days in the tomb, like Jonah 3 days in the belly of the fish.
Mar.1:11] And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
And this is the public notice that the LORD made.
Mar.1:12] And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
[13] And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
Mark does not give the details of Christ and Satan in the wilderness. But we just studied Matthew and in chapter 4:1-11 you can get the whole story. Back to Mark and it reads.
Mar.1:14] Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
[15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
After baptizing the Lord, John the Baptist was put in prison for teaching the word of God to Harod, his brothers’ wife didn’t like it so he was put in prison because is was not lawful for Harod to have his brothers’ wife.
Mar.1:16] Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
[17] And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
[18] And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
Just a simple “follow me” is all it took, why? These 12 disciples were chosen long before they were in their mothers’ womb. They obviously stood against Satan in the first earth age, and the Lord knew he could count on them. Can the Lord count on you? Let’s go to Jeremiah 1:4 and read.
Jer.1:4] Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
[5] Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
[6] Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
[7] But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
The Lord will call on his elect to stand against Satan in these end times. Are you ready, he will speak through you, this is called the Pentecost tongue. Acts 2, and Joel 2. Back to Mark and it reads.
Mark1:19] And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
[20] And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
These two also dropped everything, and followed Jesus.
Mar.1:21] And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
[22] And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
Could you imagine being there, hearing Jesus speak. They probably never heard the truth spoken before. Remember the scribes and pharisees at this point were Kenites. And would eventually kill Jesus.
Mar.1:23] And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
[24] Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
They knew who he was because they were evil spirits that were on earth to do Satan’s works. On earth we have the Holy Spirit and evil spirits. There are no ghosts, but there are spirits. But that they knew him is what’s important.
Mar.1:25] And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
[26] And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
[27] And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
Did you know that Jesus gave us this authority also. Let’s go to Luke 10:19 and read.
Luke10:19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
[20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Never fear evil spirits but let them fear you. Back to Mark and it reads.
Mar.1:28] And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
[29] And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
[30] But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
[31] And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
I always joke “she must have been a really good cook”.
Mar.1:32] And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
[33] And all the city was gathered together at the door.
[34] And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
Notice that some were sick, and some had evil spirits. Don’t let anyone tell you that a sick person has the devil. They don’t, and to say they are, is wrong and hurtful to a sick person.
Mar.1:35] And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
When you pray alone, keep it between you and the Father.
Mar.1:36] And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
[37] And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
[38] And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
[39] And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
Teaching always in the synagogue. Boldly.
Mar.1:40] And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
This leper was confident that Christ could heal him, and asked IF he would.
Mar.1:41] And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
[42] And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
Not legal for someone to touch a leper, but Jesus spoke and he was clean.
Mat.1:43] And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
[44] And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
And here is the law of the leper. Leviticus 14:1-7.
Lev.14:1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[2] This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:
[3] And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
[4] Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
[5] And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
[6] As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
[7] And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
I went there because none of the priest could heal him. But that they would know that the Lord was here, this is why Jesus did this. Back to Mark and it reads.
Mar.1:45] But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Now Jesus would still be busy teaching, but not so much in the cities. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible