Mark 1:1-8 - The Beginning of the Good News
Mark 1:1) The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2) As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, 3) the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” 4) John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5) And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6) Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7) He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8) I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Gospel of Mark: Mark’s Gospel is the only book in the New Testament to specifically be called an account of the good news by the author himself. It is different from the other Gospels in many ways. There is no birth narrative. In its original form, it contained no resurrection appearances. It is the shortest Gospel, only 16 chapters , probably written to Greek speaking readers who are unfamiliar with Jewish customs. We don’t know the author for sure or exactly when it was written. Most believe it was probably written before 70 AD as there is no allusion to the destruction of the Temple that year, but it is hard to argue from silence. Most scholars place its writing somewhere in the 60’s, after, or during, Nero’s persecution of Christians in which Paul, Peter and scores of others were killed.
Mark’s Purpose: Mark is not a historian. He is a storyteller and evangelist who writes with one purpose: to bear witness to Jesus Christ as proclaimer and embodiment of the Kingdom of God. In doing so he challenges hearers to follow Jesus and mold their lives after him. His proclamation is not only for the individual. In Mark, Jesus calls, names, and sends both individuals and whole communities. That broad sense of how the call to discipleship works is an important component of Mark’s gospel.
Themes in Mark: This year as we work through Mark’s gospel in our lectionary and personal study, we will see a number of important themes: Jesus’ rejection by his enemies; the failure of his friends; the blindness of nearly everybody; the unfolding revelation of his true identity and his mission to ransom the world. For Mark, all of that serves to develop the theme of good news that he states in his very first sentence.
Who was John the Baptist? He was a prophet is the long and fiery tradition of the Old Testament prophets. He was concerned, as his forebearer’s were with two things, righteousness (living a moral and godly life) and justice (insuring that all are able to access the bounty of the promise.) He came from the priestly family of Zechariah and was a contemporary and cousin of Jesus, about six months older. He is reported to have lived some of his adult life as a hermit to prepare himself for his prophetic role. His strange dress, courageous speech, wildly charismatic manner, and the common belief that someone great (Messiah) was about to appear to save the people, made him enormously popular. His central message was repentance. He later ran afoul of King Herod’s wife and would up being beheaded.
Word Study
Vs. 1 beginning – Mark begins his Gospel with a word that reminds us of the opening words of the book of Genesis, “In the beginning.” Genesis describes the beginnings of life, particularly human life with God. Mark understands Jesus to be the beginning of the ‘new order’ or ‘new age’ of fulfillment with God.
Good news – everything about Jesus is good news to Mark, even the hard parts of life and of his story.
Christ – Mark is concerned that people properly understand who Jesus is. This word is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Messiah. It refers to the expected one who will be God’s anointed King and who will restore Israel to sovereignty and moral righteousness.
Son of God – a multifaceted term. Jews understood it to refer to God’s king who ruled the people on God’s behalf. Greeks used the term to refer to epic heroes of Greek myths. After the resurrection, Christians used it to refer to Jesus as divine.
Vs 2 – As it is written – this phrase conveys the great sense of expectancy in the people. They were standing on tip toe waiting for God to move.
Isaiah – this quote is actually a compilation of images from Malachi and Exodus. What Mark means to convey is that these references are only rightly understood through the lens or point of view of Isaiah.
Messenger – At this time, people believed that the appearance in history of an Elijah-like figure would be a signal that the Messiah was near.
Vs 3 – wilderness – The wilderness had great symbolic meaning for Israel. It is where, after the Exodus, the people wandered for 40 years until they could learn the lessons of intimacy and obedience which would fit them for life in the land of promise. In ancient tradition wilderness places were considered holy. It was in the wilderness that angels and demons lived.
Way of the Lord – there is much debate about what this phrase refers to and its significance. Most believe that it is a reference to a highway that would need to be made in order for Messiah, or the Lord, to get into the holy city and establish a new realm.
Vs. 4 – wilderness – this use of wilderness appears to refer to a desert region 10-15 miles wide and 60 miles long in the lower Jordan valley about 20 miles from Jerusalem. It was hot, unpleasant, and difficult to get to.
Baptism – it was not uncommon for Greeks who converted to Judaism to be baptized, that is to undergo ceremonial washing. It was very unusual for it to be practiced in this way by Jews, even though there were a number of richly practiced ceremonial washing that took place in homes.
Repentance – this word does not mean to feel sorry or remorseful for sin. It means to turn away from or leave something behind.
Forgiveness – those who believed that John either signaled the Messiah’s approach or was Messiah himself, would have believed that the end of time was near. This may explain the emphasis on baptism and forgiveness in anticipation of the last judgment.
Vs. 5 – whole Judean countryside – people were hungry for God. Prophecy, which was how they understood God to speak to them, had ceased in the way they could understand it 300 years before.
All – this is an exaggerated word which is intended to convey the massive response of the people to John.
Vs. 6 – camel’s hair – these were desert clothes.
Locusts – this word either refers to the insect or to the pods from locust trees.
Wild honey – together with locusts, this is the food of the poorest people.
Vs. 7 – powerful – this word means to have the ability to accomplish desired ends.
Untie the thong – this was the work of a slave. John is saying that he is not even worthy to act as Messiah’s slave.
Vs. 8 – Baptize you with Holy Spirit – In Mark’s Gospel there is no Pentecost account, and we are not sure exactly what he was talking about here. What is clear is that to a fearful and longing people, Jesus’ coming is marked by grace and intimacy with God, not by judgment alone.
Questions for Personal Reflection
- What makes something good news for you? How is God’s interaction with humankind sometimes portrayed as bad news? What is good about the gospel as far as you are concerned?
- What are the titles or attributes of Jesus (messiah, savior, Lord, shepherd, etc.) that are most personally compelling to you? Why?
- What do you think that most people expect that God will do for them? How does the person of Jesus fulfill or reinterpret those expectations?
- Do you believe that God speaks through prophets today? Do you think that people are longing for those kinds of messages?
- John the Baptist teaches us about our proper relationship to Jesus. He also demonstrates a life of simplicity, not seeking personal advantage. Do you see struggles for position and status as a problem in our day? What advice might John offer to those struggles?
- Mark’s understanding of baptism with the Holy Spirit has to do with grace and intimacy with God as the gifts Messiah brings. How do you experience that Baptism with the Holy Spirit? Which seems most real to you personally most of the time, judgment, or grace?