TGoMS: Chapter 1v1-8

I decided today to start reading and studying the Gospel of Mark. I’ve been following a “Read your Bible in a year” for the last 3 years and 10 months. I’ve not given up but I’ve found it really uninspiring recently so I’ve taken a break. I’m going to post notes as I go and make a little collection of them.

This morning I read verses 1-8 of chapter 1 [ebible.com NAS]

[1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
[2] As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
[3] THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’”
[4] John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [5] And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. [6] John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. [7]And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. [8] “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

One of the things that stuck out at me straight away was the quote in verse 2 about the messenger preparing the way. I think often we see messengers purely as “delivery boys” in a dump-and-run style. In this situation though the messenger is active and it’s what we should be. We are not just to point the way to God and His salvation but also to ready the person for what they will hear.

The other things I got from this passage were more questions than anything! In verse 4 it talks about John’s baptism being “.. of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”. I wondered in the context of the Old Testament whether this is a new offering in the similar vein to sacrifce of animals and if it satisfied God at all.

Lastly, in verse 8. Is this the first mention of the Holy Spirit as a seperate entity? I want to find out more about the origins of the Trinity as I know the Jews have different view on it to Christians.

More questions than thoughts and I’ll post updates if I get any great revelation tomorrow!

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This is a series of posts on The Gospel of Mark. I’m taking notes for myself really but if you have input then please leave a comment so myself and others can benefit. In no way do I think I’m some great theologian so please feel free to point out the flaws in my logic. The rest of this series can be found here.

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