Mark Chapter 1

(Tap footnote to read it.  Old Testament quotations are underlined.  "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.¹"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love".  However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior.  It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings.  (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".)  Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé".  Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing.  It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )

John the Baptizer

1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus the Anointed, God’s Son.
2. Just as it is *written in [Isaiah the prophet]:¹“Isaiah the prophet” many manuscripts have “the prophets” instead “Behold, I am sending My messenger before your face; he who will fully prepare your way.”²quotation/allusion to Malachi 3:1, which Mark appears to be using as a ‘preface’ of sorts to the following verse, which is a quote from Isaiah.  Also, see previous note.
3. “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.”³quotation/allusion to Isaiah 40:3
4. John appeared; the man baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance⁴“repentance” this Greek word it doesn’t speak of remorse or guilt for wrong actions. Rather, it literally means to “think differently after” or to “reconsider”, with an assumed change in behavior. To both the Hebrews and 1st century Greeks/Romans, a change in mind was synonymous with a change in behavior; you couldn’t have the first without the second. for forgiveness of sins.
5. And the whole region of Judea was going out to him, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6. And John was *clothing himself with camel’s hair clothes and had a leather belt around his waist,⁵quotation/allusion to 2 Kings 1:8, which describes the prophet Elijah as “a hairy man with a leather belt around his waist”. and eating locusts and wild honey.
7. And he was proclaiming, saying: “He who is coming after me is mightier than I; He whom I’m not worthy of stooping down to untie the strap of His sandals.
8. “I baptized you in water; but He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus is baptized, tempted, and calls disciples

9. And it happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10. And immediately coming up from the water, He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit coming down on Him like a dove.
11. And a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in you I’m well pleased.”
12. And immediately the Spirit drives Him out into the wilderness.
13. And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan.  And He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him.
14. And after John was handed over to prison, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God,
15. and saying that: “The time has been fulfilled and the kingdom of God has drawn near.  Repent!⁶“Repent” this Greek word doesn’t speak of remorse or guilt for wrong actions. Rather, it literally means to “think differently after” or to “reconsider”, with an assumed change in behavior. To both the Hebrews and 1st century Greeks/Romans, a change in mind was synonymous with a change in behavior; you couldn’t have the first without the second. and believe in the gospel.
16. And passing along the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew (Simon’s brother) casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
17. And Jesus told them: “Come, follow Me and I will make you become fishers of men.”
18. And having immediately left the nets, they followed Him.
19. And having gone a little further, He saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, and they were in the boat mending the nets,
20. and He called them immediately.  And having left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, they went away after Him.

Jesus heals many

21. And they enter into Capernaum; and having entered immediately into the synagogue on the Sabbaths, He was teaching.
22. And they were being stunned on account of His teaching, for He was teaching them like a man having authority⁷“authority” It’s possible that the “authority” that stunned the crowd was a technical term.   Properly called “semikhah”, the Jewish word literally means “laying on of hands”.  Its origins (as a technical term of authority) go back to Moses.  Moses was given authority by God, and God commanded him to pass some of that “authority” to Joshua by “laying hands on him” in the sight of the people.  (Num27:15-23, Deut 34:9)  The Jews believed this authority was then passed down through “laying on of hands” to Jesus’ day.  Rabbis with semikhah had the authority to make decisions in the meaning of the Law and other spiritual matters.  In Jesus case, that meant a new interpretation of the Law.  However, ordinary scribes (Torah teachers) could only teach what those with semikhah had established. and not like the scribes.
23. And immediately there was a man with an unclean spirit in their synagogue, and he cried out
24. saying: “What’s between you and us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did you come to ruin us?  I *know who you are, the Holy One of God.”
25. And Jesus rebuked him saying: “Be silent and come out of him.”
26. And the unclean spirit made him convulse, and having cried out in a loud voice, it came out of him.
27. And all of them were amazed, so as to discuss to themselves, saying: “What is this new teaching with authority?  He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey Him.
28. And the report about Him immediately went out everywhere into the whole neighboring region of Galilee.
29. And having come out of the synagogue, they immediately went into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30. Now, Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever, and immediately they speak to Him about her.
31. And having approached and grasped her hand, He raised her up and the fever left her, and she was serving them.
32. Now, it having become evening after the sun set, they were bringing to Him all the men being sick and the demon-possessed men.
33. And the whole city was *gathering together at the door.
34. And He healed many sick with various diseases and cast out many demons; and He wasn’t permitting the demons to speak because they had known Him [to be the Anointed].

Jesus leaves and heals a leper

35. And having risen very early in the morning with much night remaining, He went out and departed into a desolate place, and He was praying there.
36. And Simon and the men with him went after Him.
37. And when they found Him, they also tell Him that: “Everyone is⁸“everyone is” is literally “all are” seeking you.”
38. And He tells them: “We should depart into the neighboring towns by another way so I might proclaim there also, for I came for this.
39. And He went, proclaiming in their synagogues and in the whole of Galilee, and casting out demons.
40. And a leper comes to Him, imploring Him, and falling on his knees, and saying to Him: “If you want to, you are able to cleanse me.”
41. And having been moved with compassion and extended His hand, He touched him and tells him: “I want to; be cleansed.”
42. And immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was cleansed.
43. And having sternly warned him, He immediately sent him away.
44. And He tells him: “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the priest and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing,⁹quotation/allusion to Leviticus 14:2-32 for a testimony for them.”
45. And having gone out, he began to proclaim it often and to widely report the matter, so that He was no longer able to openly enter into a city, but He was out at solitary places, and they were going to Him from all sides.

 

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