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February 18, 2015

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New Testament in a Year

Read the New Testament from start to finish, from Matthew to Revelation.

Duration: 365 days

Mark 1:1-22

The Preaching of John the Baptist

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

²As 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)
³
A voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
^[b]Make His paths straight!’”^(B)

⁴^[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]. ⁵And 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. ⁶John 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) ⁷And 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]. ⁸As 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

⁹In 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); ¹¹and a ^[h]voice came out of heaven saying: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased and delighted!”^(E)

¹²Immediately the [Holy] Spirit forced Him out into the wilderness. ¹³He 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

¹⁴Now after John [the Baptist] was arrested and ^[i]taken into custody, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of [the kingdom of] God, ¹⁵and 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].”

¹⁶As 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. ¹⁷And 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.” ¹⁸Immediately they left their nets and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example]. ¹⁹Going 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. ²⁰Immediately 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].

²¹They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.^(F) ²²They were completely amazed at His teaching; because He was teaching them as one having [God-given] authority, and not as the scribes.

Footnotes

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.
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.
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.
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.
Mark 1:8 The Greek here can be translated with, in, or by.
Mark 1:10 Mark uses the word “immediately” almost forty times in his gospel.
Mark 1:10 The three persons of the Godhead were present: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Mark 1:11 See note Matt 3:17.
Mark 1:14 Cf 6:17 ff.
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.
Mark 1:16 One of the followers of John the Baptist (John 1:40).
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.

Amplified Bible (AMP)