Mark 1

1. What is the historical background?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark was written a few decades after the resurrection of Christ and after the church has had some time to consider what His resurrection meant.  Mark’s testimony, most likely the testimony of Peter, takes us to the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry and the first announcements of the arrival of the Kingdom of God and Jesus, the Son of God.  The topics Mark chooses begin to reveal who Jesus is and what He is doing.

2. What does this passage teach us about God?

After 400 years of silence, God initiates a major movement in revelation history and a step closer to reconciliation.  He is still interested in His people even though sin continues to plague them (v1-8).

Jesus can be understood in His superior comparison as the Son of God.  David who also was called a son of God was Israels king, an under-King to God almighty, whereas Jesus is the ultimate Son of God.  God’s authority reigns finally in Him (v9-11).

Jesus can also be understood in His humanity, being subject to the same temptations that tempt any man.  But where men and Israel failed in the wilderness that tried them, He will be victorious, the One in whom God is well pleased (v12-13).

With Jesus first coming, the Kingdom is also come, and for all of us whom it concerns, there is only one appropriate response to it’s arrival, repentance (v14-15).

God intends that men will be called to participate in the Kingdom’s arrival, rather than take a passive role, God calls men to first learn and labor with Christ (v16-20).

The Kingdom’s coming and how it relates to this world can be understood by the type of miracles it’s King performs. Unclean spirit’s are cast out.  People with diverse diseases are healed as though they were never sick.  Leprosy is reversed, leaving no trace that it once plagued it’s victim.  The Kingdom then is God’s saving power to the restoration of the world and humanity.  Where sin has left its mark, the Kingdom now reverses and heals.  It is returning to the way the world was before man rebelled against God inviting in corruption and death  (v21-45).

3. How do we apply this passage to modern life?

It is time to repent and bring oneself humbly under the reign of Christ who will restore all things to Himself.  Have you surrendered yourself to His reign?  Will you participate with Him in the coming of the Kingdom?  Have you responded with repentance and belief?

Will you “wait” for the Kingdom as it surely is to come?  If God chooses to not immediately heal your ailments, both physically and spiritually, will you still serve and patiently wait for the final restoration?  There are an endless amount of implications the coming Kingdom has to informs our faith.   Will you spend time to contemplate what those might be?

4.  How does this passage point to Jesus and the Gospel?

The restoration that the Kingdom will bring will ultimately come through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.   We are compelled to believe and repent, not just because He is God and His power is great, but He is the God who loves and dies so His enemies might be healed of their sin and restored to God in friendship.