A. Jesus: God’s Good News (1:1-3)

V.1 links the gospel about Jesus with OT anticipation (vv.2-3), especially Isaiah’s “good news”: “Here is your God!” (Isa 40:9; see 40:1-11; 52:7). In a way consistent with Jewish ideas of the kingdom as “the coming of God” (see Beasley-Murray, 1-62), Mark heralds Jesus' coming as the advent of God. “The gospel about Jesus Christ” (NIV) is better read as the good news of Jesus Christ, with Jesus as both author and content of the euangelion.

V.1 attributes two important titles to Jesus. Christ appears eight times in Mark. The story constantly reinterprets this title, suggesting the need for a more adequate understanding of the Christ among Mark’s audience. Son of God is the ruling title for Jesus in this story (Kazmierski). As Mark’s story defines these titles, Jesus' followers will better appreciate his significance and better understand the nature of discipleship.