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The Preaching of John the Baptist

The beginning of the [facts regarding the] good news of [a]Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written and forever remains in the [writings of the] prophet Isaiah:

Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way—(A)

A voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
[b]Make His paths straight!’”(B)

[c]John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins [that is, requiring a change of one’s old way of thinking, turning away from sin and seeking God and His righteousness]. And all the country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem were continually going out to him; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a [wide] leather [d]band around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.(C) And he was preaching, saying, “After me comes He who is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, and I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the straps of His sandals [even as His slave]. As for me, I baptized you [who came to me] with water [only]; but He will baptize you [who truly repent] [e]with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.(D) 10 [f]Immediately coming up out of the water, he (John) saw the heavens torn open, and the [g]Spirit like a dove descending on Him (Jesus); 11 and a [h]voice came out of heaven saying: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased and delighted!”(E)

12 Immediately the [Holy] Spirit forced Him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted [to do evil] by Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered continually to Him.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

14 Now after John [the Baptist] was arrested and [i]taken into custody, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of [the kingdom of] God, 15 and saying, “The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life] and believe [with a deep, abiding trust] in the good news [regarding salvation].”

16 As Jesus was walking by the shore of the [j]Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon [Peter] and Simon’s brother, [k]Andrew, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, [l]Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example]. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were also in the boat mending and cleaning the nets. 20 Immediately Jesus called to them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers, and went away to follow Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example].

21 They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.(F) 22 They were completely amazed at His teaching; because He was teaching them as one having [God-given] authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out [terribly from the depths of his throat], 24 saying, “[m]What business do You have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet (muzzled, silenced), and come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions, and screeching with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all so amazed that they debated and questioned each other, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits (demons), and they obey Him.” 28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere throughout the district surrounding Galilee.

Healing the Crowds

29 And immediately they left the synagogue and went into the house of Simon [Peter] and Andrew, accompanied by James and John.(G) 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they told Him about her. 31 Jesus went to her, and taking her by the hand, raised her up; and the fever left her, and she began to serve them [as her guests].

32 Now when evening came, after the sun had set [and the Sabbath Day had ended, in a steady stream] they were bringing to Him all who were sick and those who were under the power of demons, 33 until the whole city had gathered together at the door. 34 And Jesus healed many who were suffering with various diseases; and He drove out many demons, but would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him [recognizing Him as the Son of God].

35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon [Peter] and his companions searched [everywhere, looking anxiously] for Him, 37 and they found Him and said, “Everybody is looking for You!” 38 He replied, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so I may preach there also; that is why I came [from the Father].” 39 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching [the gospel] in their synagogues and casting out demons.

40 And a leper came to Him, begging Him and falling on his knees before Him, saying, “If You are willing, You are able to make me [n]clean.”(H) 41 Moved with compassion [for his suffering], Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 The leprosy left him immediately and he was cleansed [completely healed and restored to health]. 43 And Jesus [deeply moved] admonished him sternly and sent him away immediately, 44 saying to him, “See that you tell no one anything [about this]; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your purification what Moses commanded, as proof to them [that you are really healed].”(I) 45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news [of his healing], to such an extent that Jesus could no longer openly enter a city [where He was known], but stayed out in the unpopulated places; yet people were still coming to Him from everywhere.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:1 Mark’s gospel is believed to be directed primarily to Gentile believers in Rome. Since Gentiles would not necessarily be familiar with the Jewish title Messiah, he emphasizes instead the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.
  2. Mark 1:3 A ruler or nobleman traveling in the wilderness would have a crew of workmen preparing and clearing the road ahead of him. In spiritual terms, John the Baptist was clearing the way for the arrival of the Messiah by preparing the hearts of his followers.
  3. Mark 1:4 Considered the last of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist was the son of Zecharias (Zechariah) the priest and his wife, Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were related (Luke 1:36), and Mary may have been with Elizabeth at the time John was born (Luke 1:56). John the Baptist is not to be confused with John the Apostle who, along with his brother James, was among the twelve disciples of Jesus.
  4. Mark 1:6 This band (sash, girdle) was about six inches wide and had clasps or fasteners in front. It was used to carry personal items such as a dagger, money or other necessary things.
  5. Mark 1:8 The Greek here can be translated with, in, or by.
  6. Mark 1:10 Mark uses the word “immediately” almost forty times in his gospel.
  7. Mark 1:10 The three persons of the Godhead were present: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
  8. Mark 1:11 See note Matt 3:17.
  9. Mark 1:14 Cf 6:17 ff.
  10. Mark 1:16 A fresh water lake about 13 miles long and 7 miles wide, almost 700 feet below sea level and center of a busy fishing industry.
  11. Mark 1:16 One of the followers of John the Baptist (John 1:40).
  12. Mark 1:17 The concept of “follow” can represent three separate possibilities: in the early stages of His ministry, (1) walking with Him physically (literally), that is merely being in His presence regardless of personal belief or commitment; (2) accepting and identifying with the salvation He offered; and later on (3) being identified with Him by being subject to the scorn and rejection of unbelievers because of personal belief and commitment to Him.
  13. Mark 1:24 Lit What to me and to you, originally a Hebrew idiom which does not translate well into English. The idiom is meant to inform the other person that the speaker is not aware of any obligation between them and does not wish to deal with the other person (cf 2 Sam 16:10).
  14. Mark 1:40 Lepers were ceremonially unclean according to OT law (Lev 13:45, etc.) and were not to come into physical contact with other people. The leper’s request was the same as asking for healing.

The Beginning of the Besuras HaGeulah (the Good News of Redemption) of Yehoshua, Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach [the] Ben HaElohim.

Just as it has been written in Yeshayah HaNavi, HINNENI SHOLEIACH MALACHI (Behold, I send my messenger) before your face, UPINNAH DERECH LEFANAI (and he will prepare the way before me, [SHEMOT 23:20; MALACHI 3:1]), he will prepare your way.

KOL KOREY BAMIDBAR (A voice of one shouting in the wilderness, TARGUM HASHIVIM YESHAYAH 40:3): Prepare the Derech Hashem (the way of the L-rd). Make his paths yashar (straight)!

Yochanan came with a mikveh mayim in the midbar, preaching a tevilah of teshuva for the selichat avon.

And all Yehudah and all Yerushalayim were going out to him, and they were submitted to a tevilah using the Yarden River as a mikveh mayim, making vidduy [to Hashem] of their averos (sins).

And Yochanan had camel hair clothing and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was arbe and devash. [MELACHIM BAIS 1:8; VAYIKRA 11:22]

And he was preaching, crying out as a maggid [for the Moshiach], saying, Hu Habah (He who Comes, i.e. Moshiach) after me has more chozek (strength) than me. I am not worthy to stoop down and remove his sandals.

I give you a tevilah in a mikveh mayim, but he [Moshiach] will give you a tevilah in the Ruach Hakodesh.

And it was during that period that Yehoshua from Natzeret of the Galil came and submitted to Yochanan’s tevilah in the mikveh mayim of the Yarden.

10 And ofen ort Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach came up out of the mikveh mayim, and he saw Shomayim being torn open, the Ruach Hakodesh of Hashem descending like a yonah on him.

11 And there was a bat kol out of Shomayim, ATAH BNI AHUVI ASHER BCHA CHAFATSTI (You are my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased).

12 Then the Ruach Hakodesh ofen ort thrusts him out into the midbar.

13 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was in the midbar arbaim yom varbaim lailah, undergoing nisyonos by Hasatan; and he was with the chayyat hassadeh (wild beasts, IYOV 5:23), and the malachim were the meshartei Hashem ministering to Moshiach.

14 Now after Yochanan was arrested, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach came to the Galil, proclaiming the Besuras HaGeulah of Hashem,

15 And saying, The appointed time has been fulfilled and the Malchut Hashem has come near. Make teshuva, and have emunah in the Besuras HaGeulah.

16 And passing along beside Lake Kinneret, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach saw Shimon and Andrew, the brother of Shimon, casting a reshet into the sea, for they were daiyagim (fishermen).

17 And he said to them, Come, follow me [as my talmidim], and I will make you to become daiyagei adam

18 And ofen ort, leaving their nets, they followed Moshiach.

19 And going on a little, he saw Yaakov Ben Zavdai and Yochanan his brother, who were also in the sirah (boat) repairing the nets.

20 And ofen ort he summoned them; and, leaving Zavdai their father in the sirah with the sachirim (hired workers), they went away to follow Moshiach.

21 And they enter into Kfar-Nachum, and ofen ort on Shabbos, entering into the shul, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach exercised the ministry of moreh (teacher).

22 And they were astounded at Moshiach’s torah (teaching), for he was teaching them as one having samchut, and not as the Sofrim.

23 And, ofen ort, there was in their shul a man with a ruach hatameh, and he shouted,

24 Saying, Yehoshua of Natzeret, mah lanu vlach? (What to us and to you?) Have you come to bring us churban (destruction)? I have daas [of the raz, secret, mystery of] who you are, HaKadosh of Hashem (the Holy One of G-d).

25 But he rebuked the shed, saying, Shekit! Gey zich! And come out of him.

26 And, the ruach hatumah, throwing him into convulsions, let out a shrai and came out of him.

27 And all were astounded so that they began to discuss with each other, saying, What is this? Torah Chadasha with samchut? He gives orders to the shedim and they obey him?

28 And the besuroh (news) of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach ofen ort (immediately) went forth everywhere into the surrounding region of the Galil.

29 And ofen ort (immediately), coming out of shul, they went into the bais (house) of Shimon and Andrew with Yaakov and Yochanan.

30 And the chamot (shviger, mother-in-law) of Shimon was bedridden and fever-stricken, and ofen ort (immediately) they tell Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach about her.

31 And approaching, holding her hand, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach lifted her up, and the kaddachat (fever, DEVARIM 28:22) left her, and she then began functioning as their mesharetet (servant, keli kodesh, lady minister), waiting on them.

32 When erev (evening) came, with the setting of the shemesh (sun), they brought to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach all the cholim (sick persons) and all those possessed by shedim (demons).

33 And the whole shtetl gathered together at the delet (door).

34 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach administered refuah (healing) to many cholim (sick persons) suffering from various machlot (illnessess), and he cast out many shedim (demons). And he did not permit the shedim to give utterance, for the shedim knew the raz (mystery, secret) of his identity, that he was the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

35 And very early, while it was still dark, having got up, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach went out and away to a desolate place, and was davening shacharis there.

36 And Shimon and those with him searched for Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

37 And they found Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and they say to him, Everyone is seeking you [SHIR HASHIRIM 1:4; CHAGGAI 2:7].

38 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, Let us go elsewhere into the neighboring shtetlach, so that also there I may preach. For it was for this [purpose, tachlis] I came. [YESHAYAH 61:1]

39 And he came preaching in their shuls (synagogues) and casting out shedim in [the] whole [region of] the Galil.

40 And an ish metzorah (leper) comes to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach begging him and kneeling down and saying, If you are willing, you are able to make me tahor (clean).

41 And being filled with rachmei Shomayim [and] stretching out his hand, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach touched [the man] and says to him, I am willing. Be made tahor.

42 And ofen ort (immediately) the ish metzorah (leper) went away from Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and he was made tahor.

43 And having sternly warned him, ofen ort (immediately) Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach sent him away.

44 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, See [that] you say nothing to anyone, but rather go show yourself to the kohen and offer [the korban] for the tohorah (purification) of you which Moshe (Rabbeinu) gave mitzvah, for an edut (testimony) to them. [VAYIKRA 13:49, 14:1-32]

45 But the one having gone out began to preach many things and to spread the dvar, so that no longer was Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach able to openly enter into [the] shtetl, but he was outside in desolate places. And they were coming to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach from every direction. [T.N. Ac 12:12,25;15:37,39; Co 4:10; PM 24; 2Ti4:11 1K5:13 attest to Markos’ authorship credentials.]