Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 1

The first verse seems to be a title. It may refer to the entire gospel or only to the ministry of John the Baptist.

Since in Ac 1:22 the starting point of the Good News is stated to be “from John’s baptism” (cf. also Mt 11:12), Mark may have this in mind here. Another possibility, however, is that by using “beginning” Mark is imitating Ge 1:1 and wants his readers to realize that his book is a new beginning in which God reveals the Good News of Jesus Christ. Taken in this way, the first verse is not only a title for the entire book but a claim to its divine origin.

The word “gospel” comes from the old English “god-spel” (“good news”) and translates accurately the Greek euangelion (GK 2295). In the NT the Good News is that God has provided salvation for everyone through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Mark to convey this Good News, he has created a new literary genre—“a gospel.” This gospel is “about Jesus Christ.” Mark intends to proclaim the gospel, already known and experienced by the Roman believers, by rooting it in the events of Jesus’ life. There are indications that they had lost hold of these historical roots.

“Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew “Joshua,” which means “The LORD is salvation” or “salvation of the LORD,” or “The LORD saves.” This name was revealed by the angel to Joseph before Jesus was born and describes his mission of being Savior (Matthew 1:21). “Christ” is the Greek word for “anointed” (see comments on 8:29 for a full discussion of the word). The last phrase, “the Son of God,” is an important theme in Mark’s gospel (cf. 1:11; 3:11; 5:7; 9:7; 12:6; 13:32; 14:36, 61; 15:39).

Mark cites the OT to show that any true understanding of the ministry of Jesus must be firmly grounded there. “It is written” underscores a strong belief in the unchanging authority of the Scriptures. The quotations that follow are from Mal 3:1 (though it differs in reading “your way” instead of “the way before me,” allowing for a messianic interpretation of this passage) and Isa 40:3.

Mark brings together these OT texts in a striking way. He cites God’s promise of a messenger “to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared” (Exodus 23:20), i.e., through the wilderness to the Promised Land. Isaiah 40:3 looks forward to the coming of another messenger “in the desert,” who will go before the people of God in a second Exodus to prepare for the revelation of God’s salvation in Christ.

Mark cites the OT to show that any true understanding of the ministry of Jesus must be firmly grounded there. “It is written” underscores a strong belief in the unchanging authority of the Scriptures. The quotations that follow are from Mal 3:1 (though it differs in reading “your way” instead of “the way before me,” allowing for a messianic interpretation of this passage) and Isa 40:3.

Mark brings together these OT texts in a striking way. He cites God’s promise of a messenger “to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared” (Exodus 23:20), i.e., through the wilderness to the Promised Land. Isaiah 40:3 looks forward to the coming of another messenger “in the desert,” who will go before the people of God in a second Exodus to prepare for the revelation of God’s salvation in Christ.

Since Mark wants to highlight the saving facts of Jesus and their theological meaning for the Roman church, he does not include a nativity narrative. He immediately begins with the ministry of John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Messiah. This is precisely where Peter begins in his proclamation of the gospel in Ac 10:37.

John appeared suddenly, “baptizing in the desert region,” the arid regions west of the Dead Sea. This general area was the abode of the Qumran sect. Though John likely came in contact with these people, it does not appear as if they exerted much influence on him, at least not as regards his baptismal practices or his great emphasis on ethical conduct and eschatological judgment.

John preached baptism as an indication that repentance either had already occurred or accompanied it. The end result is the forgiveness of sins. God’s direct response to true repentance is forgiveness.

John’s preaching caused great excitement, for many people kept going out to him. Although there is an element of hyperbole in Mark’s report, it nevertheless implies that John’s preaching aroused much interest and created a great stir. Jerusalem is at least twenty miles from the Jordan River and about four thousand feet above it. It was hard going down the rugged Judean hills to the Jordan and even harder coming back up. John preached the coming of the Messiah. This raised popular excitement to a fever pitch.