B1 A 1:1-8. THE FORERUNNER.
B 1:9-11. THE BAPTISM: WITH WATER.
C 1:12,13. THE TEMPTATION: IN THE WILDERNESS.
D E 1:14-20. THE KINGDOM.
F 1:21-8:30. THE KING.
F 8:31-10:52. THE KING.
E 11:1-14:25. THE KINGDOM.
C 14:26-42. THE AGONY: IN THE GARDEN.
B 14:43-16:14. THE BAPTISM: OF SUFFERING (DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION.
A 16:15-20. THE SUCCESSORS.
Mark is a Roman (Latin) surname. His Hebrew forename was John (Acts 12:12. John = Yahaveh's gift). He was a cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10). His mother's name was "Mary" (Acts 12:12). What may be gathered of his history can only be learned from Scripture references to him (cp. Acts 4:36; 12:12; 13:5,13; 15:37-39. Col. 4:10. 2 Tim. 4:11. Philem. v.24. 1 Pet. 5:13).
Mark was not the young man mentioned in ch. 14:51,52. See the notes there. His Gospel was not derived, as alleged, from any human sources; such assertions are at the best only conjectures. It was given to him, as Luke's Gospel was given to him, "from above" (Luke 1:3). This precludes all theories about "copying" and human "inditing" and "transcribing". There are other reasons for the omission and inclusion of certain events, which depend on, and are to be gathered from, the Divine perfections of the Word of God. Such omissions and inclusions are to be explained by the special presentation of the Lord as Yehovah's Servant and not by the conflicting and uncertain speculations as to the "sources" of this Gospel.
To this special presentation of the Lord, in Mark, is due the fact that while He is addressed as "Lord" in the othe 3 Gospels 73 times; by His disciples 37 times, and by others 36 times (5 of which are rendered "Sir"); He is addressed as such in the Gospel of Mark, only twice,; once by the Woman (a Greek or Gentile), 7:28, where it should be rendered "Sir:; and 9:24, where "Lord" is omitted by all the critical texts as well as by the ancient Syriac Version. Moreover, He is spoken of as such by the Holy Spirit through the Evangelist only twice (16:19,20), but that was after His ascension into heaven.
To this presentation of the Lord in this Gospel as Yehovah's servant, are due also the minute references to His activities, not only to what he said, but how He said it; what He did, and how He did it. These are not due to any "peculiarities" of the human writer, but to the Divine supplements of the Holy Spirit. Hence we are told:---
We are told also of the fear, astonishment, and sore amazement of the disciples (4:41; 6:51; 10:24,26); and of the effect of the Lord's words and works on the People (2:2; 3:10,20; 4:1; 5:21,31; 6:31,33; 8:1).
The activities and movements of Yahaveh's Servant" are always prominent, from the very "beginning"; which, without any preface, introduces the public ministry of the Lord, setting forth on the one hand the very height of His Divine power (1:27,31; 2:12; 3:10; 5:29; 6:56; 7:37); and on the other the depth of His feelings as man - His fatigue, &c.(4:38; 11:12; 14:36;); His sympathies and compassion (6:34; 8:2); His love (10:21); His composure (4:38-40; 15:5); His seeking solitude (1:35; 6:30-32); His wonder (6:6); His grief (3:5); His sighing(7:34; 8:12); His anger and displeasure (3:5; 10:14). See note on "immediately" (1:12).
How the disciples were sent forth "two and two" (6:7);
How the centurion "stood by, over against" the Lord (15:39);
How the people were made to sit "in ranks" (6:40);
How the Lord went to pray (1:35);
How He withdrew "to the sea"(3:7); and how He "sat in the boat on the sea" (4:1);
How he was in the stern, asleep "on a pillow" (4:38); how He sat (12:41; 13:3).
The 4 Gospels are treated in The Companion Bible (of which a large portion of this study is used) not as 4 culprits brought up on a charge of fraud, but as 4 witnesses whose testimony is to be received.
A A 1-3. Prophecy. By God of John.
B 4,5. John. His mission.
B 6. John. His person.
A 7,8. Prophecy. By John, of Christ.
26 A.D.
Mark 1)
1 The beginning of the glad tidings (a Hebraism. No Article. Cp. Hos. 1:2, "[The] beginning of the word of Yahaveh by Hosea". It is the beginning not of the book, but of the facts of the good news. See 8:11) of Jesus Christ (Jesus the Messiah. Iesous is the same as the Heb. Yahshua. Christ is the Greek translation of the Heb. Mashiah. Christos has the same meaning, from chrio, to anoint), the Son of God; (This title expresses the relation of the Son to the Father (Matt. 1:20. Luke 1:31, 35); and of all those who are begotten of God. Christ is "the heir of all things" (Heb. 1:2), and is invested with "all power", and is "the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25), having power to raise the dead (John 5:25).)
2 According as it has been written (i.e. its stands written) in the prophets (Mal. 3:1. Isa. 40:3), "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, which shall prepare Your way before You. (= angelos)
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare you the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.' " (= Yehovah)
4 John (cp. Matt. 1:3-6. Luke 3:1-4 it came to pass [was] baptizing in the wilderness, and was preaching (or heralding) the baptism of repentance resulting in the remission of sins.
5 And there kept going out to him all the country (or territory) of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized by him in the river of Jordan (occ. only in Mark), confessing (see Matt. 3:6) their own sins.
6 And John was clothed with camel's hair (not a skin, but a garment worn with camel's hair. Cp. 2 Kings 1:8), and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts (see Matt. 3:4) and wild honey; (Plentiful then and now.)
7 And preached, saying, "He who comes [is] mightier than I before me (as to time. Not the same word as in v.14), the thong of whose sandals I am not fit to stoop down (a Divine supplement) and unloose. (To loosen the sandals of another was a proverbial expression)
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit. (Pneuma Hagion = "power from on high")
B C 9. The Lord. His coming to John.
D 10-. Seen. The heavens opened.
D -10. Seen. The dove descending.
C 11. The Lord. The Voice coming to Him.
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth (= the guarded one) of Galilee (= circuit), and was baptized of John into Jordan.
10 And immediately coming up away from the water, He saw the heavens parting,
and the Spirit as a dove descending upon Him:
11 And there came a voice out of heaven, saying, "You are My Son, the beloved (as in Matthew and Luke), in whom I have [ever] found delight."
C E 12. The Spirit. Compulsion.
F 13-. Satan. Temptation.
F -13-. Wild beasts. Companionship.
E -13. The Angels. Ministration.
12 And immediately (a word characteristic to this Gospel, setting forth as it does the activities of "Yahaveh's Servant". The Greek words which it represents [in this and other renderings of eutheōs and euthus) are used [in Mark] 26 times directly of the Lord and His acts; while in Matthew they occur only 5 times, in Luke once, and in John twice) the spirit drives Him out into the wilderness. (Divine supplemental information as to character of the leading of Matthew and Luke)
13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days (40 = probation), being tempted of Satan;
27 A.D.
16 Now as He was walking beside the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net in the sea: for they were fishermen.
17 And Jesus said to them," Come you after Me (this call explains Acts 1:21,22. The official mission comes later, in 3:17, &c.), and I will make you to become fishers of men."
18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed Him.
19 And when he had gone a little farther from there (a Divine supplement, here), he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. (See Matt. 4:17)
20 And straightway He called them:
and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants (a Divine supplement), and went after Him.
21 And they went into Capernaum = city of compassion; and straightway on the sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and began teaching.
23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an evil spirit; and he shouted out,
35 And in the morning, rising up while yet night (a Divine supplement, here), He went out, and departed into a desert place, and there was praying. (Meditation, He showed us the way)
40 And there came a leper (see Ex. 4:6) to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him (shows faith and worship), and saying to Him, "If You will (a condition of uncertainty with probability), You can make me clean."
D E 1:14-20. The 1st Period. Subject: The Proclamation of The Kingdom.
F 1:21-8:30. The 2nd Period. Subject: The Proclamation of The King. His Person.
F 8:31-10:52. The 3d Period. Subject: The Rejection of The King.
E 11:1-14:25. The 4th Period. Subject. The Rejection of The Kingdom.
E G1 14,15. The Proclamation of the Kingdom.
G2 16-20. The Calling of Four Disciples.
14 Now after that (this commences the 1st subject of the Lord's ministry, which occupies in Mark only 6 verses) John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, "The season is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near [for the setting up of the kingdom: repent you, and believe in the gospel." (A Divine supplement to Matt. 4:17)
G2 a 16. Two brethren. Simon and Andrew.
b 17. Their call.
c 18. Their obedience.
a 19. Two brethren. James and John.
b 20-. Their call.
c -20. Their obedience.
F H1 1:21-2:12. Teaching and Miracles.
J1 2:13-22. Call of Levi.
H2 2:23-3:12. Teaching and Miracles.
J2 3:13-19-. Calling of the 12.
H3 3:-19-6:6. Teaching and Miracles.
J3 6:7-30. Mission of the 12.
H4 6:31-8:30. Teaching and Miracles.
H1 K1 1:21,22. Teaching. With authority as Lord.
L1 1:25-34. Miracles: Unclean spirit (23-28); Fever (29-31); Many (32-34).
K2 1:35-39. Teaching, and exercising authority.
L2 1:40-45. Miracle; The Leper.
K3 2:1,2. Teaching. The Word of God.
L3 2:3-12. Miracle: Palsy, and Divine Act. Forgiveness of sins.
22 And they were astonished at His doctrine (that was His mission, He taught the Word of God): for He taught (referring to the character of His teaching as setting forth as Divine. See Matt. 7:29) them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
24 Saying, "Let us alone; what have we to do with You (see 2 Sam. 16:10. They, the evil spirits, knew He had the power. They knew Him before in the 1st earth age), You Jesus [the] Nazarene? are You come to destroy us? I know You Who You are (the man said this, the evil spirit moving him), the Holy One of God." (Thus again the Person of the Lord is declared. Cp. Ps. 16:10. Luke 1:35)
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent (cp. Matt. 22:12), and come out of him."
26 And when the unclean spirit had thrown him into convulsions, and cried with a loud voice (a Divine supplement, here), he came out of him. (Why did the unclean spirit have to come out? Because God placed all His power in the hand of Jesus Christ. Jesus placed the same power in your hand in His name (Luke 10:17-19).)
27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What thing is this? what new teaching is this? (new in character, not in time. See Matt. 9:17; 26:29; 27:60) for with authority commands He even the unclean spirits, and they do obey Him." (This upset the people. This was not new! They had no choice but to obey Him, because of the power of the hand of God.)
28 And immediately His report spread abroad into all the region round about Galilee.
29 And immediately, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. (They went to Simon Peter's house to get some rest.)
30 But Simon's wife's mother (Peter was married) was laying sick in a fever, and immediately they tell him about her.
31 And He came (on the same sabbath) and took her by the hand ( divine supplement, here), and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she began ministering to them. (Jesus makes everything alright. Jesus touched her hand with His hand. When Jesus touches someone, they are changed.)
32 And at evening, when the sun did set (a Divine supplement, here), they kept bringing to Him all that were diseased (cp. Matt. 4:23,24), and them that were possessed with demons. (See MATT. 8:6,28)
33 And all (put for the greater part) the city was gathered together to the door. (A Divine supplement, here)
34 And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew Him. (Because it was not time yet)
36 And Simon and they that were with Him followed after, Him. (a Divine supplement, here)
37 And when they had found Him, they said to Him, "All men are seeking for you." (a Divine supplement, here)
38 And He said to them, "Let us go into the neighboring country towns (or villages), that I may preach there also (nothing new, see Isa. 61:1-3): for this am I came I forth."
39 And He preached in their synagogues in all Galilee, and cast out demons.
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion (a Divine supplement, here), put forth His hand, and touched him, and said to him, "I will; be you clean."
42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43 And he strictly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
44 And sad to him, "See you say nothing to any man: but go your way, show yourself to the priest (Lev. 14:1-32), and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded (1 of 8 times in Mark. 8 = new beginnings), concerning a testimony to them.
45 But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus was no longer able to openly enter into any city, but was without in desert places: and they kept coming to Him from every quarter.