ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Mark 1

Mark 1:1–15 Introduction. Mark begins his account with the public ministry of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus.

Mark 1:1 Rather than beginning with the genealogy of Jesus (as do Matthew and Luke) or offering a theological background to the gospel (as does John), Mark focuses on the actual beginning of the gospel in the life and ministry of Jesus. The “gospel” is the good news of the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Mark 1:2–3 Mark identifies John the Baptist as the predicted one who prepares the way of the Lord (see Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1). Isaiah the prophet is named because he was more prominent than Malachi, and more of the quoted material comes from him.

Mark 1:4 John prepares the way for Jesus by calling people to repentance, which means turning to God for forgiveness of sins. Baptism was not the means by which sins were forgiven but rather was a sign indicating that one had truly repented. wilderness. See Isa. 40:3.

Mark 1:5 all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem. John’s ministry fulfills the promise of a “new exodus” in which Israel is delivered from the wilderness and symbolically enters into the river Jordan again to receive God’s promises of end-time salvation.

Mark 1:6 John’s clothing and food are like that of other preachers in the desert (see 1 Kings 17:4, 9). On locusts, see note on Matt. 3:4.

Mark 1:7–8 The one for whom John is preparing the way (Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1) will baptize . . . with the Holy Spirit (Isa. 32:15; 44:3; Joel 2:28; see note on Matt. 3:11). Untying the straps of sandals could be the responsibility of a low servant, but it was something that a Jewish person was not supposed to do.

Mark 1:9 was baptized. Jesus identifies with the sins of his people, even though he himself is free from sin (10:45). Galilee is the region west of the Jordan and the Sea of Galilee and north of Samaria. In the NT era Galilee was ruled by Herod the Great (see note on Matt. 2:1), then by his son Herod Antipas (Matt. 14:1; Mark 6:14), and then by Herod Antipas’s nephew Herod Agrippa I.

Mark 1:10–11 Mark uses the word immediately 41 times in his Gospel. It suggests a sense of urgency and often introduces a new incident or a surprising turn of events. The Spirit of God descends upon Jesus at his baptism (see note on Luke 3:22). Jesus is thus commissioned for a unique service (see Isa. 11:2; 42:1; 61:1). Mark quotes from the OT to show that Jesus is the Son of God (Ps. 2:7) and the servant of God (Isa. 42:1). The heavenly voice confirms the eternal sonship of Jesus. All three persons of the Godhead—the Spirit, the Father, and the Son—are involved here.

Mark 1:12–13 tempted by Satan. See note on Matt. 4:1. “Being tempted” indicates that the temptations happened over the 40-day period and were not limited to the three temptations mentioned by Matthew (Matt. 4:1–11) and Luke (Luke 4:1–13).

Mark 1:14–15 The gospel is the “good news” that the kingdom of God is at hand. God’s rule over people’s hearts and lives is now being established, and people should repent and believe in the gospel. The kingdom will ultimately include the restoration of all creation (see Rev. 21:1), but that will come in stages.

Mark 1:16–8:26 Demonstration of Jesus’ Authority. The first half of Mark’s Gospel shows that Jesus has authority over sickness, over the laws of nature, and over the demonic world. It also highlights Jesus’ unique and authoritative teaching, and his sending out of his disciples.

Mark 1:16–3:12 Jesus’ Early Galilean Ministry. The call of the disciples is intertwined with descriptions of Jesus’ authority over demons and sickness, as well as with authoritative teaching.

Mark 1:20 they left their father . . . with the hired servants. Several of Jesus’ first disciples were not poor but were self-employed fishermen. As seen here, James and John were part of a family business. Levi (2:14) was a fairly well-to-do tax collector.

Mark 1:22 The main purpose of Jesus’ earthly ministry was teaching rather than performing miracles or casting out demons, although these actions showed that God was with him. The scribes mentioned here may have been a local group of men who taught in the synagogues, rather than the scribes who “came down from Jerusalem” (3:22). Jesus taught with his own divine authority, not simply repeating the traditions of others.

Mark 1:23–25 By naming Jesus as the Holy One of God, the demon may have been trying to exercise power over Jesus.

Mark 1:26–28 they were all amazed. Casting out this demon confirms Jesus’ authority to teach. See note on Matt. 12:27.

Mark 1:32–34 Sundown marks the end of the Sabbath (roughly 6:00 p.m. Saturday). People are now permitted to come to Jesus with their needs.

Mark 1:40 A leper is ceremonially unclean (Lev. 13:45–46). As an outcast, he is financially and socially isolated, and is dependent on charity.

Mark 1:41–42 touched him. Instead of the leper making Jesus unclean, Jesus’ touch actually makes the leper clean.

Mark 1:44 say nothing. This is Mark’s first report of Jesus telling a healed person not to tell anyone of his being healed (see note on Matt. 8:4). Show yourself to the priest is commanded so that the healed person will be declared ceremonially clean (Lev. 14:2–31).

Mark 1:45 The people often miss the true purpose of Jesus’ ministry by focusing too much on his miracles.