Mark 1
1
The Wonderful News
1This is the beginning of the wonderful news about Jesus # 1:1 The Aramaic is “the revelation of Jesus.” the Messiah, the Son of God. # 1:1 Although the words “Son of God” are missing from some Greek manuscripts, it is found in the Aramaic.
2It starts with Isaiah the prophet, who wrote:
Listen! I am sending my messenger ahead of you # 1:2 See Ex. 23:20; Mal. 3:1.
and he will prepare your way!
3He is a thunderous voice of one
who shouts in the wilderness:
“Prepare your hearts
for the coming of the Lord Yahweh, # 1:3 As translated from the Aramaic.
and clear a straight path # 1:3 Or “Prepare the way for the Lord and make his beaten paths straight, level, and passable.” This “way” is not a road, but preparing the heart, making room for the ways of the Lord.
inside your hearts for him!” # 1:3 See Isa. 40:3.
4John the Baptizer # 1:4 John was the son of Zechariah, a priest. As the son of a priest, John was qualified to serve in the temple but chose instead the lonely wilderness to begin his ministry of calling a nation to repentance and preparing the way for the Lord Jesus. was the messenger who appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance # 1:4 That is, “an immersion that will bring a change of heart and lead you into repentance” for the complete cancellation of sins. for the complete cancellation of sins. 5A steady stream of people came to be dipped in the Jordan River as they publicly confessed their sins. They came from all over southern Israel, # 1:5 Or “Judea.” including nearly all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 6John wore a rough garment made from camel hair, # 1:6 John was not afraid to violate religious taboos. A camel was considered unclean in the Jewish tradition. He was wearing what others considered to be unclean. Those who break loose of religious tradition will often appear to be undignified, as was John. His commission was to inaugurate a new way of living according to the truths of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. with a leather belt around his waist, # 1:6 This was considered to be the wardrobe of a prophet and was identical to what the prophet Elijah wore (2 Kings 1:8; Zech. 13:4). With a diet of locusts John points back to the four varieties of locusts mentioned in Joel 1:4. Locusts (grasshoppers) are an emblem of intimidation that will keep believers from taking their inheritance by faith. Israel thought themselves to be like grasshoppers in their own eyes because of the intimidation of the fierce inhabitants of the land. John the Baptizer arrives on the scene and makes locusts his food, eating up that symbol of intimidation (devouring the devourer). And he drank honey, which is a biblical metaphor of the revelation of God’s Word that is sweeter than honey (Ps. 19:7–10). John’s ministry was a prophetic statement from God that a new day had come, a day of leaving dead formalism and embracing new life in Jesus without intimidation. and he ate locusts and honey. 7And this is the message he kept preaching: “There is a man coming after me who is greater and a lot more powerful than I am. I’m not even worthy to bend down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8I’ve baptized you into water, but he will baptize you into the Spirit of Holiness!”
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
9One day, Jesus came from the Galilean village of Nazareth # 1:9 It is possible to translate the Aramaic as “Then one day Jesus came from victorious revelation” to be baptized by John. The word Nazareth can mean “victorious one,” and the word Galilee can be translated “the place of revelation.” and had John immerse him in the Jordan River. 10The moment Jesus rose up out of the water, John saw the heavenly realm split open, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove. # 1:10 The Lord Jesus was buried in baptism, symbolically into death (the Jordan) so that he might minister not in the natural way of men, but in the way of resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit. The dove, an emblem of the Holy Spirit, pictures both meekness and purity. The implication is that the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus and never left him. 11At the same time, a voice spoke from heaven, saying:
“You are my Son, my cherished one,
and my greatest delight is in you!” # 1:11 Although not a direct quotation, the wording is similar to Ps. 2:7.
12Immediately after this he was compelled by the Holy Spirit # 1:12 Or “cast out [or ‘thrown,’ or ‘pushed’] into the wilderness.” The Greek word ekballei is often used for driving out demons. This was a forceful compelling of the Holy Spirit. to go into an uninhabited desert region. 13He remained there in the wilderness for forty days, # 1:13 The “forty days” points to Moses, Elijah, and David, who were all great champions in Israel’s history. See Ex. 34:28; 1 Sam. 17:16; 1 Kings 19:8, 15. enduring the ordeals of Satan’s tests. He encountered wild animals, but also angels who appeared and ministered to his needs. # 1:13 Between vv. 13 and 14 there is an entire year of our Lord’s life that Mark skips over. Jesus spent most of that year in and around Jerusalem. The Gospel of John gives further details of that year in ch. 1.
Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him
14Later on, after John the Baptizer was arrested, Jesus went back into the region of Galilee and preached the wonderful gospel of God’s kingdom. # 1:14 As translated from the Aramaic and most Greek manuscripts. 15His message was this: “At last the fulfillment of the age has come! It is time for God’s kingdom to be experienced in its fullness! # 1:15 Or “the kingdom of God is at hand,” that is, God’s kingdom is close enough to reach. Turn your lives back to God and put your trust in the hope-filled gospel!” # 1:15 The Greek is “believe the good news” (“the gospel”), and the Aramaic is “put your trust in the joyful message of hope.” This translation merges both concepts, making it “the hope-filled gospel.”
16As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he noticed two brothers fishing: Simon and Andrew. He watched them as they were casting their nets into the sea 17and said to them, “Come follow me and I will transform you into fishers of men instead of fish!” # 1:17 The metaphor of “fishers of people” simply means that they will persuade others and catch people for God. 18Immediately they dropped their nets and left everything behind to follow Jesus. 19Walking a little farther, Jesus found two other brothers sitting in a boat, along with their father, mending their nets. Their names were Jacob # 1:19 Or “James.” Other translations of the Bible substitute James for Jacob. Both Greek and Aramaic leave the Hebrew name as it is, Jacob. This translation will use the correct name, Jacob, throughout. and John, and their father Zebedee. # 1:19 Zebedee means “my gift.” Zebedee’s gift to Jesus was his sons. A wise father will always want his children to be given to Jesus. 20Jesus immediately walked up to them and invited the two brothers to become his followers. Jacob and John dropped their nets, stood up, left their father in the boat with the hired men, and followed Jesus. # 1:20 What a powerful effect Jesus had upon people! One encounter with the Son of God compelled these businessmen to leave their trade and follow Jesus. We learn from Luke 5:10 that the family of Zebedee was in business together with Simon (Peter) and Andrew. They owned the boat and had a hired crew, which makes one think they were somewhat prosperous business owners, for commercial fishermen in the time of Jesus were usually wealthy.
People Stunned by Jesus’ Teachings
21Then Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum, # 1:21 Capernaum means “the village of Nahum.” Nahum means “comforted.” Jesus did many miracles and made his Galilean base of ministry in “the village of the comforted.” and he immediately started teaching on the Sabbath day in the synagogue. 22The people were awestruck # 1:22 The Greek word used here, ekplesso, is a strong verb that means “awestruck, filled with amazement, astonished, panic stricken, something that takes your breath away (being hit with a blow), to be shocked, to expel, to drive out.” Clearly, Jesus spoke with such glory and power emanating from him that his words were like thunderbolts in their hearts. May we hear his words in the same way today. by his teaching, because he taught in a way that demonstrated God’s authority, which was quite unlike the religious scholars. # 1:22 Or “scribes” (experts of the Law). Jesus taught from an inner knowledge of God and his Word, for his teaching emphasized obedience to God from the heart, not just outwardly keeping of laws.
23Suddenly, during the meeting, a demon-possessed man screamed out, 24“Hey! Leave us alone! Jesus the victorious, # 1:24 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “Jesus the Nazarene” (“Branch” or “Scion”). I know who you are. You’re God’s Holy One and you have come to destroy us!” # 1:24 The demon knew Jesus’ true identity before the people did. This is not so much a question (Have you come to destroy us?), but rather an assertive and defiant declaration. There is no question mark in the Greek text. The demonized man was apparently comfortable in the presence of the religious teachers, but when Jesus stepped into the room, he spoke out and couldn’t resist the power of Jesus.
25Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Silence! You are bound! # 1:25 Or “muzzled.” Come out of him!”
26The man’s body shook violently in spasms, and the demon hurled him to the floor until it finally came out of him with a deafening shriek! 27The crowd was awestruck and kept saying among themselves, “What is this new teaching that comes with such authority? With merely a word he commands demons to come out and they obey him!”
28So the reports about Jesus spread like wildfire throughout every community in Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many
29Now, as soon as they left the meeting, they went straight to Simon and Andrew’s house, along with Jacob and John. 30Simon’s mother-in-law was bedridden, sick with a high fever, so the first thing they did was to tell Jesus about her. 31He walked up to her bedside, gently took her hand, and raised her up! Her fever disappeared and she began to serve them.
32Later in the day, just after the Sabbath ended # 1:32 Implied in the context. at sunset, the people kept bringing to Jesus all who were sick and tormented by demons, 33until the whole village was crowded around the house. 34Jesus healed many who were sick # 1:34 The Greek word kakos is actually the word for “evil”; however, it is traditionally translated “sickness.” with various diseases and cast out many demons. But he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew who he really was. # 1:34 Jesus wants us to proclaim who he is, not demons.
Jesus Prays, Preaches, Heals, and Casts Out Demons
35The next morning, Jesus got up long before daylight, left the house while it was dark, and made his way to a secluded place to give himself to prayer. 36Later, Simon and his friends searched for him, 37and when they finally tracked him down, they told him, “Everyone is looking for you—they want you!”
38Jesus replied, “We have to go on to the surrounding villages so that I can share my message with the people there, for that is my mission.” 39So he went throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the Jewish synagogues and casting out demons.
40On one occasion, a leper came and threw himself down in front of Jesus, pleading for his healing, saying, “You have the power to heal me right now if only you really want to!” 41Being deeply moved with tender compassion, # 1:41 This is an intense emotion. Some Greek manuscripts have “Jesus was moved with anger” (at the leprosy, not the man). However, the Aramaic is clearly “moved with compassion.” The two Aramaic words for “anger” and “compassion” are written almost identically. Perhaps both are correct. Jesus was deeply moved with compassion toward the man and angry at the disease. Jesus reached out and touched the skin of the leper and told him, “Of course I want you to be healed—so now, be cleansed!” 42Instantly his leprous sores completely disappeared and his skin became smooth! 43Jesus sent him away with a very stern warning, # 1:43 The Greek word embrimaomai can mean “to sternly give a warning”; however, in John 11:33 it is translated “was deeply moved with tenderness and compassion.” The miracle of healing this leper had a profound effect on both Jesus and the man who was healed. 44saying, “Don’t say anything to anyone about what just happened, but go find a priest and show him that you’ve been healed. Then bring the offering that Moses commanded for your cleansing as a living testimony to everyone.” # 1:44 See Lev. 14:1–32. Normally, touching a leper would make a man unclean, but in this instance, the leper was healed and Jesus was not defiled.
45But no sooner did the man leave than he began to proclaim his healing publicly # 1:45 Or “preach.” and tell the story everywhere.
Jesus’ growing fame prevented him from entering the villages openly, which forced him to remain in isolated places. Even so, a steady stream of people flocked to him from everywhere.
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Mark 1: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationMark 1
1
1A beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, Son of God.
2As it hath been written in the prophets, ‘Lo, I send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee,’ —
3‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye his paths,’ —
4John came baptizing in the wilderness, and proclaiming a baptism of reformation — to remission of sins,
5and there were going forth to him all the region of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and they were all baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6And John was clothed with camel's hair, and a girdle of skin around his loins, and eating locusts and honey of the field,
7and he proclaimed, saying, ‘He doth come — who is mightier than I — after me, of whom I am not worthy — having stooped down — to loose the latchet of his sandals;
8I indeed did baptize you with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
9And it came to pass in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John at the Jordan;
10and immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens dividing, and the Spirit as a dove coming down upon him;
11and a voice came out of the heavens, ‘Thou art My Son — the Beloved, in whom I did delight.’
12And immediately doth the Spirit put him forth to the wilderness,
13and he was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by the Adversary, and he was with the beasts, and the messengers were ministering to him.
14And after the delivering up of John, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of the reign of God,
15and saying — ‘Fulfilled hath been the time, and the reign of God hath come nigh, reform ye, and believe in the good news.’
16And, walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew his brother, casting a drag into the sea, for they were fishers,
17and Jesus said to them, ‘Come ye after me, and I shall make you to become fishers of men;’
18and immediately, having left their nets, they followed him.
19And having gone on thence a little, he saw James of Zebedee, and John his brother, and they were in the boat refitting the nets,
20and immediately he called them, and, having left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, they went away after him.
21And they go on to Capernaum, and immediately, on the sabbaths, having gone into the synagogue, he was teaching,
22and they were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
23And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,
24saying, ‘Away! what — to us and to thee, Jesus the Nazarene? thou didst come to destroy us; I have known thee who thou art — the Holy One of God.’
25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silenced, and come forth out of him,’
26and the unclean spirit having torn him, and having cried with a great voice, came forth out of him,
27and they were all amazed, so as to reason among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? what new teaching [is] this? that with authority also the unclean spirits he commandeth, and they obey him!’
28And the fame of him went forth immediately to all the region, round about, of Galilee.
29And immediately, having come forth out of the synagogue, they went to the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John,
30and the mother-in-law of Simon was lying fevered, and immediately they tell him about her,
31and having come near, he raised her up, having laid hold of her hand, and the fever left her immediately, and she was ministering to them.
32And evening having come, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all who were ill, and who were demoniacs,
33and the whole city was gathered together near the door,
34and he healed many who were ill of manifold diseases, and many demons he cast forth, and was not suffering the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35And very early, it being yet night, having risen, he went forth, and went away to a desert place, and was there praying;
36and Simon and those with him went in quest of him,
37and having found him, they say to him, — ‘All do seek thee;’
38and he saith to them, ‘We may go to the next towns, that there also I may preach, for for this I came forth.’
39And he was preaching in their synagogues, in all Galilee, and is casting out the demons,
40and there doth come to him a leper, calling on him, and kneeling to him, and saying to him — ‘If thou mayest will, thou art able to cleanse me.’
41And Jesus having been moved with compassion, having stretched forth the hand, touched him, and saith to him, ‘I will; be thou cleansed;’
42and he having spoken, immediately the leprosy went away from him, and he was cleansed.
43And having sternly charged him, immediately he put him forth,
44and saith to him, ‘See thou mayest say nothing to any one, but go away, thyself shew to the priest, and bring near for thy cleansing the things Moses directed, for a testimony to them.’
45And he, having gone forth, began to proclaim much, and to spread abroad the thing, so that no more he was able openly to enter into the city, but he was without in desert places, and they were coming unto him from every quarter.
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