June 5-11, 2022

Compiled by Dr. "Joey" Alan Le, Ph.D.

The Proclamation of John the Baptist (vv1-8)

v1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

At this time, the word “gospel/good news” was used to describe the birth of a new king or to announce a great military victory (Coleman 2019, 1594).

In the OT “the son of God” was used to describe angels and divine figures (Dn 3:25), as well as Israel’s kings (Ps 2:7), as figures who exercised a god-like authority over the people. In the NT, the phrase came to identify Jesus’s divine nature as the one who is fully God (Coleman 2019, 1594).

Mark the evangelist writes this Gospel to describe the gospel of Jesus Christ. How would you summarize the Christian gospel, in your own words?

v4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Most Jewish people in this time thought that if they were born into a Jewish family and did not reject God’s law, they would be saved. John told them instead that they had to come to God the same way that non-Jews did. This would have been offensive. The point of John’s baptism is that everyone has to come to God on the same terms (Keener 1993, Mk 1:4-5). What assumptions do people hold, believing that they are good enough in God’s eyes?

What do John’s unfashionable clothes symbolize? It’s exactly what Elijah the prophet wore. John also ministered in the same area Elijah had—in the desert near the Jordan River! The OT prophesied that Elijah would return before the Messiah came. Read Malachi 4:5-6 and Mark 9:2-5, 11-13. Other notable parallels: Elijah passed on authority to his successor, Elisha, who received a double portion of his spirit. Christ’s ministry would eclipse John’s as well. And Elisha’s ministry didn’t begin in fullness until after Elijah passed from the scene. The same was true of Christ and John (Keller, 2).

v7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me.

Technically, John is not all that powerful or mighty. He will end up a prisoner in Herod’s dungeon and will be quickly executed, his head handed to the king on a platter (6:14–29). Our usual understanding of power must change. John is powerful by virtue of his mighty proclamation of God’s will and of what God is about to do. The more powerful one who is to come is powerful because he will be the one who executes God’s will. John comes as a voice crying, a lowly servant. Jesus comes as the beloved Son, who also will serve. The more powerful one is not an invincible warrior who vanquishes his foes with the sword. He will die a powerless death on a cross (Garland 1996, 46-47). How do the usual ways people understand power compare and contrast with the way the Gospel of Mark describes power?

The Temptation of Jesus (vv12-13)

v12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

Unseen forces are working within history to accomplish God’s redemptive purposes (Garland 1996, 51).

Ancient Jews commonly believed that demons were attracted to places like the desert or graveyards. Listeners would feel the suspense as Jesus battled with Satan on Satan’s own turf (Keener 1993, 1:12).

v13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan

Satan is the real Enemy, and the real battle is spiritual and cosmic. That is partly why the Spirit is introduced here. God is initiating this mission of restoration, renewal, and healing. The Kingdom of God arrives, and Satan resists. This is the interpretive backdrop of all the upcoming battles in the rest of Mark’s story. How does this spiritual truth help you process the difficult situations that test your faith?

Jesus Calls the First Disciples (vv16-20)

What factors led you to follow Jesus?

v17 And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’

Jesus does not put up a sign-up sheet asking for volunteers to come when they’re ready. He doesn’t hold office hours, waiting for inquiring students. Becoming a disciple of Jesus is more of a gift than an achievement. Ordinary, untrained, unprepared people going about their everyday routines are caught in God’s net of grace, and transformed into fisher of people (Garland 1996, 84).

v18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Discipleship in Mark is not part-time volunteer work on one’s own terms and convenience. One must be prepared to leave everything to follow him. Simon and Andrew turn from their nets; James and John turn from their father and their boat (not just their nets). … They had to leave the securities, even their livelihoods, no matter how meager or substantial they were, for something new and unpredictable. Jesus’ call to discipleship sounds unreasonable and scandalous. It seems too risky, too reckless (Garland 1996, 84). Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest) on your willingness to over God’s call? What losses or risks have taken because you live for Christ?

What keeps you from fully committing to God? Perhaps it is the fatal Illusion that our real needs are physical, and so the most important task in life is to find material security. But Jesus not only delivers us from bondage of unclean spirits and disease, but he also delivers us from bondage to material concerns. There is more to life than catching a string of fish. Centering oneself on God is most important. Throw caution to the wind. Give up everything you have. Everything pales in comparison to the supreme worth of God (Garland 1996, 85).

Jesus Heals Many at Simon's House (vv29-34)

v31 she began to serve them.

The woman gets the privilege to do what angels do (Mk 1:13) and what Jesus came to do (Mk 10:45) ... serve (Smith 2007, 67). Jesus would eventually give his life as an act of service. God takes the form of a servant. To follow Christ is about dying, giving one’s life to serve. What motivates you to serve others?

Jesus Cleanses a Leper (vv40-45)

v41 Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!”

While everyone else recoils in horror, Jesus reaches out to touch. Others might doubt whether the leper is worth their time and effort. Jesus does not hesitate to heal and include him in society (Garland 1996, 87). He never condemns the afflicted. He never tells people that they are sinners or that they are possessed by unclean spirits. Instead, Jesus is confident in the power of God, who touches the unclean and restores the banished to community and the sick to a meaningful role of service. Christ’s touch is a sign of acceptance. He does not treat people as outcasts or as some kind of a pollutant (Garland 1996, 89). How do your usual interactions with others compare with Jesus’?

v44 go, show yourself to the priest

The leper was cut off from his society (Lev 13–14). This procedure would enable the man to be reunited with his people. Indeed, all three healings so far—a demoniac, a woman and this leper—have been of “outsiders” on whom Jesus has shown compassion (Twelftree 1999, 63). They are now included in society once more. List some groups of people who have been marginalized in society. How can you serve or engage some of the “outcasts” in your community this week?