Mark 1

The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophets, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you:

the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’”

John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.

All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.

I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”

In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.

He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.

Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom,

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”

Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”

Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.

Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.

They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.

Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,

saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!”

Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!”

The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.

Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.

He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them.

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by demons.

All the city was gathered together at the door.

He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.

Simon and those who were with him searched for him.

They found him and told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”

He said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason.”

He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.

A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.”

Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.”

When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean.

He strictly warned him and immediately sent him out,

and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”

But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places. People came to him from everywhere.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter introduces the Gospel of Mark by presenting the arrival of Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy, marked by John the Baptist’s preparatory ministry, Jesus’ baptism and temptation, and the beginning of his public ministry in Galilee. It sets the tone for Mark’s fast-paced narrative, emphasizing Jesus’ authority, divine identity, and mission to proclaim the Kingdom of God.

Flow.

The chapter opens with a citation of Malachi and Isaiah, identifying John the Baptist as the prophesied forerunner who prepares the way for the Lord.
John’s preaching of repentance and baptism is followed by the appearance of Jesus, whose baptism reveals his divine Sonship through the descent of the Spirit and the voice from heaven.
After Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, he launches his ministry by proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom, calling disciples, and demonstrating authority through teaching, exorcisms, and healings.
The chapter closes with Jesus cleansing a leper, an act that spreads his fame despite his command for silence, foreshadowing the tension between his identity and public perception.

Connections. Following the introduction of Jesus as the Son of God in chapter 1, the pattern of his Messianic mission—marked by authority, urgency, and secrecy—begins to unfold. This sets the foundation for chapter 2, where Jesus’ authority to forgive sins will be directly challenged, deepening the conflict that chapter 1 initiates. The themes of divine identity and opposition, introduced here through revelation and response, are central to the unfolding narrative.

What it teaches. The chapter affirms the deity and mission of Christ in line with divine prophecy (WCF 8.1, HC LD 12). Jesus is revealed as the Son of God (, 11), anointed by the Spirit (), and commissioned for redemptive work (). His authority over sin, sickness, and demons reflects the inbreaking reign of God (WCF 7.3). The call to repent and believe corresponds to the biblical requirement for faith in the promised Savior (HC LD 32; Canons of Dort II.5). The temporary restriction on proclamation () aligns with the “Messianic secret” motif, preserving the proper revelation of Christ’s work until its fulfillment (WCF 8.6).

Apply. Jesus acts with divine authority to cleanse, heal, and call sinners into his Kingdom.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.