DBG - October 17 - Mark 1-3

Mark writes his Gospel primarily to a Roman audience.  He presents Christ as the Servant of the Lord.  In comparison to the other Gospel, Mark spends more time on what Christ did instead of what He said.  There is a tradition that Peter was the source for much of Mark’s information (see I Peter 5:13). 

A few quick facts about Mark:

In this chapter Christ early ministry in Galilee.

vs. 1-8 – This parallels Matthew 3:1-12, Luke 3:1-18, and John 1:19-34.  The ministry of John the Baptist is the starting point for Mark’s Gospel.  John was the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1.  The message, popularity, and lifestyle of John are all highlighted.

vs. 9-11 – This parallels Matthew 3:13-17 and Luke 3:21-23.  Christ’s ministry begins with His baptism by John in the Jordan River.  We have the appearance of the Trinity: Christ in the water, the Spirit descending as a dove, and the Father speaking His approval.

vs. 12-13 – This parallels Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13.  Mark does not into the details of Christ’s temptation, merely noting it as a divine appointment.

vs. 14-15 – This parallels Matthew 4:17, Luke 4:14-15, and John 4:43-45.  The arrest of John by Herod Antipas prompts Christ to move His ministry into Galilee.  We note the summary of His message here.  It was a call to repent while there was still time.  This could be the first occasions where He preached publicly.

vs. 16-20 – This parallels Matthew 4:18-22 and Luke 5:1-11.  Christ begins to call disciples to follow Him.  Simon and Andrew first heed the call, then James and John.  These were all fishermen whose livelihood was fishing the Sea of Galilee.

vs. 21-28 – This parallels Luke 4:31-37.  Christ is teaching in a Synagogue on the Sabbath when He is interrupted by a demon-possessed man.  The demons had more sense the than the people gathered because they recognized Who Christ was (James 2:19). 

vs. 29-34 – This parallels Matthew 18:14-17 and Luke 4:38-41.  As Christ’s fame spreads, people seek Him out for healing.  Simon Peter’s mother-in-law is one of these.  Note that Christ does not allow the demons to identify Him before the people.  He did not want people to put their faith in Him based on the word of a demon.

vs. 35-39 – This parallels Matthew 4:23-25 and Luke 4:42-44.  Christ takes a short break to spend time in prayer with His disciples.  They then travel throughout Galilee preaching and performing miracles.

vs. 40-45 -  This parallels Matthew 8:2-4 and Luke 5:12-16.  Christ’s popularity skyrockets after He touches and heals a leper.  The leper ignores Christ’s instructions not to tell anyone, and instead tells everyone he sees. 

In this chapter Christ begins to encounter opposition.

vs. 1-12 – This parallels Matthew 9:2-8 and Luke 5:17-26.  Christ returns to Capernaum and the people mob Him as He enters.  He is teaching in a house when four men determine to bring their crippled friend to Him to be healed.  They resort to breaking a whole in the flat roof and lower him down in front of Christ.  He forgives the man of his sins, which is something only God can do.  The critics scoff at this in their minds, so Christ goes further.  He heals the man, which is something only God can do.  The difference is only one produces an instant and pronounced outward effect.  If Christ can heal, He can forgive sins.

vs. 13-14 – This parallels Matthew 9:9 and Luke 5:27-28.  Matthew the tax collector is called to follow Christ.

vs. 15-17 – This parallels Matthew 9:10-13 and Luke 5:29-32.  Matthew holds a feast to honor Christ and invites his publican friends to meet Him.  The Pharisees and scribes criticize Him for eating with sinners.  Christ response that these are the people that need to be reached out to in order to bring them to repentance.

vs. 18-22 – This parallels Matthew 9:14-17 and Luke 5:33-39.  John the Baptist’s disciples question Christ’s apparent lack of fasting and decorum in eating with sinners.  Christ responds that it was a time for rejoicing while He was with them.  He signals through the illustrations  of cloth and wine bottles (skins) that what He was doing was something new and incompatible with the old way of thought held by the Pharisees.

vs. 23-28 - This parallels Matthew 12:1-8 and Luke 6:1-5.  Christ’s next controversial action is eating grain on the Sabbath.  While walking through a field of wheat or barley, they took some of the grains and ate them.  Again, I remind you that this is not corn like our modern maize.  The word corn here is used for grain.  Christ defends His actions by appealing to David’s example in I Samuel 21:1-7, who at the shewbread he should not have been permitted to have.  He then asserts His authority over the Sabbath. 

In this chapter Christ chooses the Twelve.

vs. 1-6 – This parallels Matthew 12:9-14 and Luke 6:6-11. Christ now enters the Synagogue and heals a man with a withered hand after challenging his critics on the lawfulness of the action.  Instead of celebrating the miracle, the Pharisees begin to plot against Christ.

vs. 7-12 – This parallels Matthew 12:15-21.  People flock to Christ to hear Him speak and seek miracles.  I think of here of John 21:25.  We know of so many miracles that Christ did, but there are countless more that we will not learn of until we reach Heaven.

vs. 13-19 – This parallels Matthew 10:2-4 and Luke 6:12-29.  Christ chooses the twelve disciples out of His many followers.  These men are about to go through the greatest education program under the greatest Teacher to be entrusted with most important mission the world has known.  Mark also notes that this act sparked more criticism.

vs. 19-30 - This parallels Matthew 12:22-37 and Luke 11:14-23.  Christ is accused of doing miracles through demonic powers.  Evil accomplishes evil.  Good accomplishes good.  To mistake Good for Evil is one of the highest forms of blasphemy. 

vs. 31-35 - This parallels Matthew 12:46-50 and Luke 8:19-21.  While Christ is teaching in Capernaum, it appears that Mary and a contingent of family members probably from Nazareth pay a visit.  The lesson here is not that family ties are not important (see Exodus 20:12), but that there are stronger ties and greater responsibilities than family.  Blood ties are strong but not compared to those bound together in Christ’s blood!

Mark highlights the actions of Christ.  It is a flurry of activity.  While activity does not necessarily mean there is progress, there can be no progress without activity.  Christ went about preaching and helping others.  We should do no less.

Our hymn today is “Christ, a True Friend,” written by John newtons in 1779.

One there is, above all others,
well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love beyond a brother's,
costly, free, and knows no end;
they who once His kindness prove,
find it everlasting love!

Which of all our friends to save us,
could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
reconciled in Him to God;
this was boundless love indeed!
Jesus is a Friend in need.

Men, when raised to lofty stations,
often know their friends no more;
slight and scorn their poor relations
though they valued them before.
But our Savior always owns
those whom He redeemed with groans.

When He lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was His name;
now, above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same;
still He calls them brethren, friends,
and to all their wants attends.

Could we bear from one another,
what He daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother
loves us though we treat Him thus;
though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.

O for grace our hearts to soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
we, alas! forget too often
what a Friend we have above;
but when home our souls are brought,
we will love Thee as we ought.