Mark 1

Mark called his gospel "the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" - and then quoted Isaiah's and Malachi's prophecy about John the Baptist. 

John the Baptist baptized and preached "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." People from Judea and Jerusalem went to him in the wilderness and were "baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins."

He wore clothing made from camel's hair and a leather belt, and he ate locust and wild honey. He preached that "...One [comes] after me who is mightier than I...I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 

When John baptized Jesus, "...He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a Voice came from heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

The Spirit "drove" Jesus into the wilderness for forty days, where He was tempted by Satan; "and the angels ministered to Him."

After John the Baptist was in prison, Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God: 

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.

Jesus then called His disciples: Simon and Andrew, in which He told them to follow Him, and "He will make them fishers of men;" and James and John, who also followed Him. 

Jesus taught in the synagogues and the people were amazed because He taught as One with authority. He also cast out demons, who knew Jesus as the Holy One of God. Jesus rebuked the demons and they obeyed Him. His fame spread. 

Jesus healed Simon's mother-in-law, and He healed many others, including a man with leprosy, who told Jesus, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Jesus warned not to tell anyone who healed him, but the man "proclaimed it freely, and Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places, and they came to Him from every direction."

Also, Mark shared in his gospel that Jesus rose early, before the sun, to go and pray privately. 

COMMENTARY

Mark 1 began with the ministry of John the Baptist and the first year of Jesus' ministry. There is no genealogy. 

John the Baptist preached repentance and baptized into remission for sins, as he prepared the world for "the One who remits sins."

Real baptism is with the Holy Spirit and serves as a personal testimony, while water baptism is symbolic or ritualistic. Jesus was baptized to "identify Himself with mankind. 

THE TRINITY

Notice the trinity: even though the word is not in the Bible, the Godhead is. When Jesus was baptized, we see Jesus, the second Person of the Godhead; the Spirit of God, third Person of the Godhead, who descended like a dove upon Jesus; and the voice from heaven, "Thou art my beloved son..." which was the Father, the first Person of the Godhead. 

Also, during Jesus' baptism, "John the Baptist introduced Jesus, God the Father identified Him and put His seal upon Him. And next, the temptation in the wilderness initiated Him."

In the wilderness, Jesus was tempted by Satan for forty days. This act proved to the Romans (Mark's target audience) that Jesus is worthy. He did not fail the test as other men did, like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. 

After the temptation, Jesus' ministry began. His message was "Repent and believe the gospel." Jesus demonstrated that He had all authority. "He taught as One who had authority," and "He demonstrated that He had power." He cast out demons, who knew He was the Son of God, and he healed hundreds of people. And though He was extremely busy healing people, He still made time for communion with God the Father, as He found a quiet place to pray before the sun had risen. 

credit: Heart Light