1. John Prepares the Way (Mark 1:1-8) 

2. Ministry Beginnings (Mark 1:9-20) 

3. Manifesting Unequaled Authority (Mark 1:21-39) 

Central Truth: Jesus began His ministry with miraculous signs. 

Focus: Study the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry and follow Him. 

Evangelism Emphasis: Jesus calls all people to follow Him. 

Text: “Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). 

INTRODUCTION 



 The wilderness of Judea suddenly came to life! The solitary place became the rendezvous of a multitude. Not only the ordinary rabble, but even the aristocrats, socialites, and representatives of the ecclesiastical hierarchy came out into the wilderness to see and hear an eccentric evangelist who was holding forth on the banks of the Jordan River. 

 John the Baptist was evidently not a product of the Hebrew seminary. He was a rough, eccentric, straightforward, hard-hitting, divinely taught enemy of sin and hypocrisy, the champion of ethical righteousness in personal life and in society. He walked in the footsteps of men like Moses, Samuel, and Elijah. The society to which he addressed his message was honeycombed with deceit, hypocrisy, and corruption. Judaism was spiritually dead. Its leaders were spiritually blind. The times were ripe for a mighty revival. 

1. JOHN PREPARES THE WAY 

A. John’s Coming Prophesied (Mark 1:1-3) 

 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 

 Each of the Gospel writers has a different starting point. Matthew begins with the ancestry and birth of the King. Luke starts with the birth of the forerunner of the King. John introduces us to the pre-incarnate Christ, the Word of the eternal God. Mark opens his narrative with the ministry of John the Baptist. He has in view the antecedent facts of the Gospel, which prepared the way for our Savior’s coming. 

 That Mark accepted and assumed the deity of Jesus Christ is evident in his opening verse. It is “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,” which he is about to recount. The center and circumference of John’s message is therefore Christ Jesus, the Son of God. 

 In verse 2, Mark makes one of two important prophetic quotations from the Old Testament. The other is found in 15:28. He links the Gospel to Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1. He emphasizes the truth that He whose coming is announced by the “messenger” is indeed the very Son of God. So, Mark opens his account with the Baptist’s proclamation of the good news of the Son of God in the wilderness of Judea. He closes his narrative with a divinely entrusted charge to carry this Gospel “into all the world” (16:15). 

 In Mark 1:3, John claims no other distinction than that of serving as a “voice” to proclaim the coming of Israel’s King. When the Sanhedrin sent a delegation to question his credentials, John answered, “I am not the Messiah, I am only a voice in the wilderness.” John’s mission was that of preparing the way. He summons the people to a moral as well as social preparation for the coming of the Messiah. 

—Why did Jesus Christ need someone to “prepare . . . the way”? 

B.  John’s Work Described (Mark 1:4-8) 

 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. 

 John’s ministry marked the beginning of a new epoch in Israel’s history. His ministry was twofold: preaching and baptizing. The theme of his preaching was “repentance for the remission of sins.” He brought the public face-to-face with the unsolved problem of sin. He showed them that a mere ceremonialism was empty and futile. He laid the axe of truth at the very root of every false and hypocritical hope of salvation. He called on Israel to repent. The initiatory rite of baptism must therefore be accompanied—indeed, preceded—by genuine repentance and godly sorrow for sin. 

 That John the Baptist was a dynamic, if somewhat peculiar personality, judged by society’s standard, is evident from the vast crowds that went out from Jerusalem and came from all Judea to hear him. If any were drawn by mere curiosity, they were startled and shaken by his arresting message. Some doubtlessly were angered and turned away in disgust. Many were convicted of their sins and sought forgiveness, and sealed their repentance with the outward rite known as baptism. 

 What did the multitude in the wilderness hear as they listened to this rugged evangelist? They heard him humbly declare that One was coming who was infinitely greater than he. John baptized in water, but the Messiah would baptize people in the Holy Spirit. 

—Do you think we need more preachers like John the Baptist today? Why or why not? 

2. MINISTRY BEGINNINGS 

A. Baptism (Mark 1:9-11) 

9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

 “In those days”—that is, at the time when our Lord entered upon His public ministry—He appeared as one of many who came to be baptized by John the Baptist. Mark passes over in silence the Savior’s first thirty years and begins his account with reference to certain public and official acts rather than personal events. Jesus’ baptism was significant as an example, but it also serves as a proof of His full identification with humankind. His was a baptism of dedication to the work set before Him rather than a sign of repentance from sin, for there was no sin in Him. 

 Immediately as Jesus came up out of the waters of Jordan, there was given to Him a threefold seal of divine approval. First, He “saw the heavens opened,” being torn apart; second, He saw the Holy Spirit “like a dove descending upon him.” (Here, compare Genesis 1:2, when the Spirit is seen brooding like a bird over the primeval waters.) 

 Third, Jesus heard “a voice from heaven”—the voice of the Father bearing witness to His sonship—certifying to His position as a Son “beloved,” and His mission of redemption. The language here reminds us of Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 42:1. Attention is called to the revelation of the Trinity: The Father speaks, the Spirit descends, and the Son hears and sees, and is publicly certified as the Messiah. 

B. Temptation (Mark 1:12-13) 

12 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. 13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. 

 Mark’s account of the temptation of Jesus is exceptionally brief. Matthew and Luke declare that He was “led” by the Spirit into the place of temptation. Mark uses the stronger term, “driveth him.” Both the active and the passive sides are thus brought to our attention. 

 The wilderness ordeal was a necessary stage in preparing Jesus to become a sympathetic High Priest. Before He could qualify for this office, He had to challenge and break the power of Satan. The devil had to be defeated on his own battleground. That desolate wilderness—ground that bore every evidence of the curse—was a tangible proof of the reality of sin. With no mortal man near to encourage Him, and the wild beasts lurking about, Jesus faced the full blast of Satanic power during those forty long and lonely days. More formidable by far than the threat of wild beasts were the furious assaults of that “old serpent,” the devil. But the Father did not forget or abandon the Son. The angels came and “ministered” to Him—literally, “deaconed,” or served Him. 

—Why was Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness necessary? 

C. The Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-20) 

14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

 Several events transpired before Jesus began His first tour of Galilee. After His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. While He was there He cleansed the Temple, driving out the money changers (see John 2:13-22). He also carried on a conversation with Nicodemus by night (3:1-21). Then, Jesus returned to Galilee. On the way, He stopped in Samaria to talk with a woman at a well (4:1-42). In Galilee, He healed a nobleman’s son (vv. 46-54). He also preached in His hometown synagogue in Nazareth, where the people tried to kill Him (Luke 4:16-30). 

 Jesus preached some in the Lower Jordan area (see John 3:22-24). Two circumstances caused Him to leave that region: the growing hostility of the Pharisees (see John 4:1-3) and Herod’s imprisonment of John the Baptist (see Mark 1:14). On another level, it seems God’s purpose was being fulfilled in John’s arrest and that the time for Jesus’ ministry in Galilee had now come. 

 Against a background of hope that Jesus would establish an earthly kingdom and free the people from Roman domination, He proclaimed His purpose was to establish a spiritual kingdom. His followers never fully understood this during His earthly ministry. His message was the good news of the kingdom of God. 

 In verses 16-20, we see that Jesus would not engage in His mission without developing a team of helpers. He walks along the shore of the Sea of Galilee until He finds two brothers, Andrew and Simon (who would be named “Peter”) fishing. Jesus beckons them to a higher calling—“catching” people for His kingdom, and they leave their nets behind to follow Him. The pattern is repeated with two other brothers, James and John, who leave their father and their fishing boat to follow the Messiah. 

 Whether or not Christ beckons us to leave our vocation behind to follow Him in full-time ministry, all of us as Christians are called to do Kingdom service. He empowers us for service by baptizing us in the Spirit, as John the Baptist declared He would do (v. 8). 

Jesus’ Kingdom on Earth 

To the extent that the power of Satan was driven back by Jesus, God’s kingdom was established and gained ground. Satan continued to rule the sinful world; but wherever Jesus walked on the earth, there was the kingdom of God. He was the Messiah, the Spirit-anointed King.—French L. Arrington 

3.  MANIFESTING UNEQUALED AUTHORITY 

A. Astonishing Doctrine (Mark 1:21-22) 

 21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 

 Capernaum was located on the northwest shores of the Sea of Galilee. It was a thriving area where international trade routes crossed. On His first Sabbath Day in Capernaum, Jesus went to the synagogue. The synagogue was, of course, a Jewish place of assembly and worship. It was a lifelong custom of Jesus to be present each Sabbath Day in the synagogue. 

 Mark says Jesus not only attended the synagogue on the Sabbath, but He taught the lesson. The listeners contrasted the manner of presentation which Jesus used with the approach the scribes made, and they were amazed. The message of the scribes centered on additions that had been made to the commandments. They left their hearers with a feeling of guilt. Also, they never spoke their own convictions. Instead, they quoted various scribes on the subject. 

 In contrast to this, Jesus made no reference to any authority other than Himself. A familiar expression of His was: “You have heard that it was said . . . but I say unto you.” The people were not accustomed to that kind of authoritative teaching. “His words were so insightful,” wrote Ray C. Stedman, “so true to the experience and inner convictions of the men and women there that they nodded their heads, ‘Of course!’ and knew what He said was true. . . . This is important, because it means we ought to measure every teaching by what Jesus has said about the subject.” 

—What is the difference between religious authority and spiritual authority? 

B. Incomparable Power (Mark 1:23-28) 

23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 

 Demons, as well as people, took note of the message and mission of Jesus. As soon as He had finished speaking, a man possessed by an unclean spirit, provoked by what He had heard, responded with a strong outburst. The man was so dominated by demonic power that his personality was lost to that of the evil spirit. 

 The demon spoke through the man and said, “What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?” (v. 24 NKJV). By this, he meant they had nothing in common. There was a total incompatibility between them. They had entirely opposite interests. 

 Then, the demon posed another question, “Have You come to destroy us?” Their business was to destroy their hapless victims, and they dreaded the day when Jesus would turn the tables on them and bring them to ruin. They perceived their power was permitted and temporary and that Jesus had come to destroy their works. His presence was a threat to all demonic forces. 

 Then, the demon identified Jesus, “I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” (NKJV). Drawing an expression from Psalm 16:10, a messianic psalm, the demon realized he had an explanation for Jesus’ authority. He acknowledged Christ’s true character and identity as the One empowered by the Holy Spirit. How strange that the demon knew Christ was God’s Son, but the religious leaders of the day could not recognize that! 

 Jesus sharply rebuked the demon and ordered him to be silent and to come out of the man. Submitting to Jesus’ authority, the evil spirit threw the man into convulsions, gave a deafening shriek, and left him. This action represented a last fling, an attempt to show what he would have done had he been permitted. However, he found himself impotent before the restraint of the Lord, so he could not hurt the man. 

 The people—already astonished at the teaching of Jesus—were amazed by the expulsion of a demon with only a word of command. When this demon was confronted by Jesus, he was forced to leave the person he was inhabiting. The demon was reluctant to go, but he had to leave. He was overwhelmed by a superior power. The people had not seen or heard anything like this before. This miracle illustrated the teaching and displayed the character and glory of the Teacher. 

 Within a few hours, the word of what had happened in the synagogue spread throughout the whole region of Galilee. By evening, the people were bringing the sick and the demon-possessed into the city to be healed by Jesus. 

Not Afraid 

I’m not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me—he’s got judo I’ve never heard of. But he can’t handle the One to whom I’m joined; he can’t handle the One to whom I’m united; he can’t handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature.—A. W. Tozer 

C. Quiet Healing (Mark 1:29-31) 

 After a synagogue service where everybody went home talking about the miraculous deliverance of a demon-possessed man, Jesus walked down the street to Peter’s house, where Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed and running a high fever. Remembering what had happened in the synagogue service, they immediately told Jesus about her condition. Jesus walked into the room where she was, stood over her, and rebuked the fever. Then He took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her. 

 The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law was perfect, immediate, and complete. As evidence of this, she began to prepare a meal for them. Her service to them was also an expression of gratitude to the lovely Lord for His healing touch. 

—What does this healing reveal about Jesus? 

D. Crowds and Solitude (Mark 1:32-39) 

 32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. 

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 

 To bring the sick to Jesus for a cure on the Sabbath Day would have been regarded as unlawful. But as soon as the Sabbath was over—it ended at sundown—people began to bring their sick and demon-possessed to Him. A large crowd gathered at Peter’s door—including the suffering, those who had brought them, and those who came to see what was going to happen. 

 These sick ones were afflicted with various types of disease. This did not matter to the compassionate Christ. He “healed many” of them (v. 34). The word translated many means “all who were brought.” Jesus also drove out many demons. He did so with a word of command (see Matt. 8:16). He forbade them to speak, thereby silencing their cries of recognition. They were utterly powerless to do anything before Him. 

 Can you imagine how physically exhausted Jesus must have been after this Sabbath Day? He preached the sermon in the synagogue and delivered the demon-possessed man; He healed Peter’s mother-in-law; and He healed and delivered the sick and demon-possessed that were brought to Him in the evening. Yet, Mark says Jesus got up very early the next morning (while it was still dark) and went out to an uninhabited place, where He spent time praying. 

 Jesus is teaching us the source of His authority through these prayer times. He did not act on His own authority; He received His authority from the Father (see John 5:19; 14:10). Jesus’ power came from the One who dwelt in Him. 

 The popularity Jesus gained in the synagogue service, which resulted in virtually the whole community coming to Peter’s house in the evening, continued the next morning. When Peter awoke, he discovered Jesus was gone and that the multitudes were back expecting to find the Lord there. They expected the miraculous manifestations of the day before to continue on this day. 

 Peter and his companions formed a search party to track Jesus down. When they found Jesus, they told Him that everyone was looking for Him (v. 37). The implication was that He was missing a great opportunity in Capernaum. 

 Jesus’ perspective was quite different from that of Peter and the townspeople. He understood the importance of being alone with God in order to be effective with people. He understood the principle of praying in secret and seeing the Father honor Him openly. 

 Jesus did not respond as Peter and his companions had expected Him to. Although all of Capernaum was clamoring for more, Jesus said He must go into the nearby towns and preach the Gospel there (v. 38). 

 True to His calling, Jesus journeyed to other towns and preached the Gospel. He also cast out demons (v. 39). The mighty works He did served to heighten His fame, but He never performed these miracles to impress His audience. They served to confirm and authenticate His message. And this was His message: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (v. 15). 

—Where do you go to quietly meet with the Father? How frequently do you go there? 

JESUS’ MINISTRY CONTINUES 

 The call from Jesus to you and me is to “come” (Mark 1:17). To come requires no special ability; only a willingness and the putting forth an effort to move toward Him. Then, following in His steps (“after Me”) and not after the flesh, He takes charge and remakes us. The Creator who made us now, thorough a move to Him, makes us anew. He does not make us to be a vessel beautiful to behold, but one to be useful to Himself. 

 Our business is to fish for souls and to win them to Christ. All people have sinned and have “come short of the glory of God’ (Rom. 3:23). They are lost in the sea of life. So, we must launch out into the deep, follow Jesus’ instructions, and thereby help to continue His mission. 

Daily Devotions: 

M.  God’s Angel Prepares the Way (Exodus 23:20-26) 

T.   A Voice in the Wilderness (Isaiah 40:3-5) 

W.  Behold, He Is Coming (Malachi 3:1-3) 

T.  Jesus, the Son of God (Luke 4:38-44) 

F.  Jesus’ Authority Questioned (Luke 20:1-8) 

S.  Jesus’ Authority Affirmed (Hebrews 1:1-4)