Day 29 – Monday, February 10, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Mark 1

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

The Forerunner of the Servant

Matt. 3:1–11; Luke 3:3–16; John 1:19–34

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ² As it is written in the Prophets:“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,Who will prepare Your way before You.”³ “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘Prepare the way of the Lord;Make His paths straight.’ ”⁴ John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. ⁵ Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. ⁸ I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 1:1–8.

Points to Ponder:

• In this passage, Mark records the life of John slightly differently than Matthew. Matthew was very much trying to reach a Jewish audience, and therefore spoke of the prophecies fulfilled in Christ and John was even recorded as he addressed the errors of the Jewish leaders in this gospel.
• Mark is more about the actions of Christ than the gospel of Matthew.
• The main difference in the story of John the Baptist in the two gospels is the particular comparison of John’s baptism in water and the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire that will come from the Messiah.
• Mark is often more brief in the details with which he describes the gospel, but is nevertheless clear in his concision.
• Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience. Mark wrote more generically.
• Mark seems to concentrate on the humanity of Christ.

The Baptism of the Servant

Matt. 3:13–17; Luke 3:21–23

⁹ It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. ¹¹ Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 1:9–11.

Points to Ponder:

• This brief description of the baptism of Christ does not include the dialogue between Jesus and John, but simply describes the act.
• He definitely describes the event of the baptism in the same context. Jesus the Son is baptized, the Holy Spirit descends, and the Father speaks.

The Temptation of the Servant

Matt. 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13

¹² Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. ¹³ And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 1:12–13.

Points to Ponder:

• In this passage, Mark describes Jesus’ trek into the wilderness. Matthew said He was led. Mark says that the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.
• A side note: although the different gospel writer’s accounts may contain different information, there is still great harmony. Some may have recorded things as directed by the Holy Spirit that others were not. We have the different stories so that we can see the broadest and most diverse views of Jesus possible.
• Mark’s account does not record the exchange between Satan and Jesus, but simply says He was tempted by Satan.
• Both accounts tell of the angels’ ministering to Jesus afterward.

The Work of the Servant

Matt. 4:12–17; Luke 4:14, 15

¹⁴ Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to 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, and believe in the gospel.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 1:14–15.

Points to Ponder:

• Whereas Matthew spoke of the prophecies of specific cities, Mark simply declares that when John was imprisoned, Jesus’ public ministry began.
• The message He spoke was the same as that in Matthew.

The First Disciples are Called

Matt. 4:18–22

¹⁶ And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.¹⁹ When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. ²⁰ And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 1:16–20.

Points to Ponder:

• This passage is almost identical to the passage in Matthew. It is only found in Matthew and Mark
• He calls His first disciples, Simon Peter and Andrew, two brothers, and James and John, two brothers.
• This is evidence that families can work together in the service of the King

Demons are Cast Out

Luke 4:31–37

²¹ Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. ²² And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.²³ Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ²⁴ saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” ²⁶ And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. ²⁷ Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” ²⁸ And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 1:21–28.

Points to Ponder:

• This passage is found only in Mark and Luke.
• It chronicles Jesus’ visit to Capernaum, the first of His public ministry.
• He taught in the synagogue with great authority, beyond that of the religious teachers of His day.
• As He was teaching, a demon-possessed man recoiled against Jesus, asking why He was there, and calling Him “the Holy One of God.”
• Jesus rebuked him and cast him out of the man, and the man was free.
• All the people watching were amazed, and asked what this great thing was. His authority in teaching and His authority over unclean spirits caused Jesus’ fame to spread all over the region of Galilee.

Peter’s Mother-in-Law is Healed

Matt. 8:14, 15; Luke 4:38, 39

²⁹ Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰ But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. ³¹ So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 1:29–31.

Points to Ponder:

• This story largely parallels the account in Matthew, but adds some detail, specifically about who was present.
• Jesus took Peter’s wife’s mother by the hand and lifted her up and she was healed immediately and began to serve the guests.

Many Healings

Matt. 8:16, 17; 4:23; Luke 4:40–44

³² At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. ³³ And the whole city was gathered together at the door. ³⁴ Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.³⁵ Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. ³⁶ And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. ³⁷ When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”³⁸ But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”³⁹ And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 1:32–39.

Points to Ponder:

• After the scene in the synagogue and the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, crowds began to gather in Capernaum, as people brought their sick and demon-possessed to Jesus for healing and deliverance.
• He met their needs, but commanded the demons to be silent about His identity.
• Jesus rose early the next morning and went out to a “solitary place” to pray.
• This passage is paralleled in Matthew, and Jesus said the same thing there. When the disciples found Him in His solitary place, He said that they should go preach in other towns also.
• So Jesus and His disciples traveled a circuit throughout the region of Galilee, preaching, healing, and casting out demons.
• We can have this power today if we will spend time in prayer and believe in faith.

A Leper is Cleansed

Matt. 8:1–4; Luke 5:12–16

⁴⁰ Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”⁴¹ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” ⁴² As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. ⁴³ And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, ⁴⁴ and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”⁴⁵ However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mk 1:40–45.

Points to Ponder:

• The final story of this chapter involves the cleansing of a leper
• In this passage, Jesus voluntarily reaches out to touch the leper. The leper requests His healing, and Jesus does one better: He touches him, and he is healed immediately. As I stated when we looked at the Matthew passage, the touch was not necessary. Any common Jewish religious leader would not have touched the leper, because they would have been considered unclean as well. But Jesus knew the healing was going to be wrought through His touch, and that He would not contract leprosy. His faith and His deity would protect Him.
• While Jesus asked the leper to keep this miracle quiet, he could not, and he told every one he met about Jesus. Jesus got so busy, and so many people came to Him, that He could not even enter a city, and had to stay in the desert where multitudes came to Him.
• If God is moving in a church, and souls are being saved, and bodies are being healed, and the bound are being delivered, people will come to see what God is doing. Get deep with God and He will show up in a miraculous way.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page.