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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

CHAPTER ONE:
PREPARATIONS FOR THE APPOINTED TIME

[“The Beginning of the Evangel”]
Key word: Teaching

Mark 1:1-8 – The Beginning of the Good News

|| Matthew 3:13-17 1

1	Matthew 3:13-17: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK1:1 This is the origin of the Good News about Jesus Christ the Son of the God. 2

2	The Son of God: Now recognized as not adequately supported.

MK1:2 Just as it is written in Isaiah the Prophet, 3 “See, I am sending My messenger before you and he will prepare your way … [Malachi 3:1]

3	Isaiah the Prophet: Two verses are quoted. [Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3]

MK1:3 The voice of one crying aloud: ‘In the desert prepare a road for the Lord: 4 Make His highways straight.’” [Isaiah 40:3]

4	The Lord: Or, “the Lord’s way” or “YHWH’s way.” The Hebrew source of the quotation has the noma sagrada, YHWH [Yehowah; Jehovah]

MK1:4 So John the Baptizer came from the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. MK1:5 People of all kinds when out to meet him in the wilderness as well as the inhabitants of Jerusalem of all classes. These were baptized by him in the Jordan river, openly confessing their sins [against the Law of Moses]. MK1:6 John dressed in a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt. His food was locusts and wild honey. MK1:7 This was his message: “There is One coming after me who is greater than me. One whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop and loosen. MK1:8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the holy Pneuma.” 5

5	Baptize you with the holy Pneuma: On the holy Pneuma see notes on 1 Corinthians 2:16 and 1 Corinthians 12:13.

Mark 1:9-11 – An Approved Son Baptized

|| Matthew 3:13-17 6

6	Matthew 3:13-17: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK1:9 It was at this moment that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. MK1:10 And instantly on rising up out of the water he saw the sky parting, and the Pneuma descending like a dove upon him. MK1:11 Then a Voice came from the sky, saying: “You are My beloved Son whom I approve.”

Mark 1:12-13 – Tempted by the Devil

|| Matthew 4:1-11 7

7	Matthew 4:1-11: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK1:12 Immediately the Pneuma pressured Jesus 8 to go out into the desert.

8

Immediately the Pneuma pressured Jesus: Or, KJV: the spirit driveth; NOR: took him; KNX: sent him out; WEY: impelled him; RHM: urged him. The words “instantly” and “immediately” are favorite words of Mark and his narrative moves along at a breath-taking pace as though he must write with great haste.

MK1:13 There he remained for forty days as the Devil kept tempting him. Though he was among the wild beasts the angels attended to him. 9

9

Among the wild beasts the angels attended to him: Or, NOR: surrounded by wild beasts; KNX: lodged with the beasts. Only Mark mentions this interesting point. The desert seems empty, but at night animals come alive and surely the Nazarene heard and saw the wilderness animals that then moved about in that spring time desert. We can only paint the picture with our own imagination.

Mark 1:14-15 – Kingdom Has Drawn Near

|| Matthew 4:12-17 10

10	Matthew 4:12-17: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK1:14 Later, after John had been thrown into prison, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the Good News of the God. MK1:15 He said: “The appointed time has drawn near, and the Kingdom of the God 11 has drawn close. Repent and continue to believe in the Good News.”

11	God: As in most other occurrences the article precedes God. Here the Greek is TOU THEOU [of the God], elsewhere it is HO THEOS or TON THEON. [See notes on John 1:1]

Mark 1:16-21 – Becoming Fishers of Men

|| Matthew 4:18-22 12

12	Matthew 4:18-22: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK1:16 Now while walking beside the sea 13 of Galilee Jesus saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. As they were fishermen they were casting their nets into the sea.

13	Walking beside the sea: We see the Nazarene’s footprints in the sand.

MK1:17 Jesus said to them: “Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers for men.” MK1:18 At once they left their nets and followed him. MK1:19 Continuing a little further he saw James the son of Zebedee 14 and his brother John. They also were in their boat mending the nets, and he immediately called them.

14	Zebedee: Or, Zabdi.

MK1:20 They immediately left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, 15 and they went and followed Jesus.

15	Left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men: We can imagine the look on his face as he sees his sons leave for a life he could not begin to imagine, nor could history at this time.

MK1:21 So they came to Capernaum, and on the next Sabbath he entered the synagogue 16 and began to teach.

16	He entered the synagogue: There is a synagogue uncovered by archaeologists here that was built by the charity of a Roman centurion. Later Paul will follow the Nazarene’s example in using the Jewish synagogue system as the frame work for the beginning of Christianity.

Mark 1:22-28 – Teaching in a Synagogue

|| Luke 4:31-37

MK1:22 The people were astounded at his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, and not as the Bible Copyists. 17

17	Bible Copyists: Or, scribes. These were men who devoted their lives to making precise copies of the Hebrew Bible. We see their fingers stained black from ink, and the older men with arthritic joints from such labors.

MK1:23 Suddenly right there in their synagogue there was a man possessed by an unclean demon. 18 He screamed out:

18	Unclean demon: Or, impure spirit.

MK1:24 “What is there between us, 19 Jesus the Nazarene? 20 Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are 21 – the Saint of the God!” 22

19	What is there between us: See notes on John 2:4.

20	Jesus the Nazarene: Note the designation used.

21	I know who you are: Note both the “us” and the “I.” It is the view of some that these spirits [demons, or fallen angels] knew this person during his pre-existence.

22	Saint of the God: Or, the Holy One of God. The demons use TOU THEOU [HO THEOS]. The language is understood by some to allude to Christ’s pre-existence.

MK1:25 But Jesus rebuked it, 23 saying: “Shut up! Come out of him!”

23	Rebuked it: Or, him. The Greek AUTO can permit “it.”

MK1:26 Then causing the man to have convulsions the unclean demon came out of him with a loud shriek. MK1:27 Everyone was astonished, so they began to ask one another: “What does this mean? A new teaching? 24 One with such authority that even unclean demons obey his orders!”

24	A new teaching: Or, doctrine.

MK1:28 And at once the report about Jesus spread everywhere in the countryside around Galilee.

Mark 1:29-31 – Peter’s Mother-in-law Healed

|| Matthew 8:14, 15 25

25	Matthew 8:14, 15: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK1:29 Then at once after leaving the synagogue they left with James and John to the house of Simon and Andrew. MK1:30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill in bed with a fever, and so without delay they told Jesus about her. MK1:31 So he went to her, and taking hold of her hand he raised her to her feet. Her fever left her and she began to serve them.

Mark 1:32-34 – A Variety of Sicknesses Cured

|| Matthew 8:16 26

26	Matthew 8:16: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK1:32 When it was evening and the sun had set, people came bringing Jesus all who were sick and the demonized. MK1:33 The whole town was gathered at the door. MK1:34 And Jesus cured many suffering badly with various sicknesses. He exorcised many demons and would not permit them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ. 27

27	They knew who He was: The Christ pre-existed in heaven before coming to earth. Compare notes on John 17:5 and Philippians 2:5-7.

Mark 1:35-39 – Private Prayers and More Preaching

|| Luke 4:42-44

MK1:35 Now early in the morning while it was still dark Jesus rose early, and leaving the house he went away to a lonely place and there continued in prayer. 28

28	A solitary place and there prayed: Several times Mark describes Jesus as a person who enjoyed his privacy. [Luke 4:42] Men who often go alone into the mountains or deserts are sometimes supposed by others as eccentric or abnormal.

MK1:36 And Simon and the others searched everywhere for him. 29

29	Searched everywhere for Him: The Nazarene has isolated himself well. He wants to be alone.

MK1:37 When they found Jesus they said: “Every one is looking for you.” MK1:38 Jesus told them: “Let us go elsewhere into the nearby country villages that I may also preach there, because for this [reason] I have come forth.” 30

30	God: Jesus was not God. He came from God. A possible allusion to his pre-existence.

MK1:39 And he went through all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out the demons.

Mark 1:40-45 – Leper Healed and Then More Isolation

|| Matthew 8:2-4 31

31	Matthew 8:2-4: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

MK1:40 Now a leper came to Jesus begging him on his knees, saying: “If you are willing you can cleanse me.” MK1:41 Moved with pity Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him and then said: “I am willing. Be cleansed.” MK1:42 Instantly the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. MK1:43 Jesus at once sent him away with strict orders, MK1:44 saying: “See that you tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest, and for your purification present the offerings that Moses appointed as evidence for them.” MK1:45 However, instead the man, after he left, began to tell every one and spread the word aboard, so that it became impossible for Jesus to publicly enter any village. So he remained outside in the open in lonely places and still the people kept coming toward him from every direction.

Review Questions on Chapter One