Mark 1
The gospel of Mark begins with a quote from Isaiah about a messenger being sent before the Lord. John, who baptized people with water was that messenger. When Jesus was baptized by John, the Spirit of God descended upon him and God said, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus compelled by the Spirit, went from there into the wilderness for forty days, tempted by satan but ministered to by angels. After John’s imprisonment, Jesus began preaching about the kingdom of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Jesus called his first disciples who left all to follow him. In Capernaum, on the Sabbath, Jesus taught in the synagogue where he rebuked an unclean spirit and cast it out of a man. Jesus healed the fever of Simon-Peter’s mother in-law and she served him. That evening, Jesus began healing illnesses and casting out demons. In the morning, Jesus went out to pray but when his disciples found him, they departed with him to another city. Jesus did as he had done in Capernaum from city to city in all of Galilee. Jesus healed a leper who despite Jesus’ warning, spread the news of Jesus’ ability to heal.
John the baptist was not the Christ but was sent to prepare people for the coming of Christ. Like John the baptist, we ought to be preparing the world for Christ’s return. When John was imprisoned, Jesus’ preaching, teaching and healing ministry began. The first to leave all and follow him were Peter, Andrew, James and John. We ought to leave anything that is keeping us from following Jesus. At Jesus’ baptism, was the triune God: Father and Son and Holy Spirit, one God in three persons, all of whom are equally God in essence. Jesus’ wandering in the wilderness was representative of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness of sin for forty years. We should understand that it represents the time between justification and glorification. Throughout Galilee, Jesus preached the kingdom of God in open air, compelled people to repent and believe, taught in their synagogues and had compassion for their afflictions. Following Jesus means doing as our Lord did: preaching, teaching and having compassion.
