Mark 1
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.
This would be Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.
They refused both John and Christ. The Way has been given and many still refuse it today. Even while calling themselves "Christians".
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;
John is wearing the same clothing as Elijah wore. Very modest servants of God.
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.
This One is of course Christ Jesus Yahshua.
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
Before Christ, with John it was water, after Christ death on the cross, it's the blood that has baptized you. If you believe that being baptized by water saves you, than Christ needed not die on the cross. I got baptized because Christ was baptized. To be a Christian is to be Christ like.
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
Again, I believe we should be baptized, because Christ was and it represents His death, burial and resurrection.
10 And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him:
The dove is a symbol for the Holy Spirit of God. "Dove" Hebrew word # 3123; "yownay, yo-naw'; from 3196, a dove (from the warmth of their mating, # 3196 "Yayin, yah'-yin; unused root to efferveace; wine (as fermented); by impl. intoxication: banqueting, wine." "Dove" has another form of the word "Jonah" same one that later preached at Nineveh and the one that was swallowed by the giant fish but came out of its belly after three days. "Dove" or "Jonah", "Yayin" a plain wine. The warmth you would take on a cold day from a sip of Yayin, same as the dove of the Holy Spirit touching, warming your soul.
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.
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.
The Spirit drove Him to do this and by doing so showed us obedience and the power to overcome evil. 40 in biblical numerics = "probation" John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. With Christ in us, we can overcome ALL things. Who is in you? Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Christ comes to Galillee to bring The "Gospel" = "the good news", with The "kingdom" = The King and His dominion.
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
REPENT and BELIEVE the good news! Christ is The Way to The King and His dominion.
16 Now as He walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
These two are the first to be selected of His disciples.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
Following Christ Jesus will make you something beyond yourself. If you're not following Him, you follow satan.
18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed Him.
Catching fish takes wisdom, patience and common sense; so to be called "fishers of men" they knew immediately there was more to learn from Christ. Those with common sense know there's more to life than what you can see in the fleshly way.
19 And when He had gone a little farther thence, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
20 And straightway He called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after Him.
They could feel there was something more with following Christ than what the eye can see.
21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and taught.
Those within the synagogue of Capernaum were open to the teachings of Christ.
22 And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
Christ taught from The Word were the scribes taught tradition. It's simple for us to understand The Way we should go. Most churches today are tradition, lacking The Word.
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.
Many refused or didn't even take the time to know who Christ Jesus is, but this evil one knew, "The Holy One of God."
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
Christ work wasn't complete, so He informed this evil to shut its mouth. Those within the synagogue wouldn't understand what this spirit did understand.
26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
"Torn" here means that he went into convulsions and that evil spirit left 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.
Those within the synagogue at Capernaum had never seen that kind of authority over anything and never over such evil.
28 And immediately His fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
They took heed to His Words and actions.
29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
Christ and the other three disciples left the synagogue and went to Peter's house.
30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell Him of her.
"Anon" = "immediately" Christ was told of her.
31 And He came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
She was healed completely! She got right to work in the duties of her household as anyone would do for their visitors. She prepared water for cleaning their hands and feet and got to work on feeding them.
32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.
The whole city knew The One that could take away the pain. They heard and took action, many today hear and turn away.
34 And He healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew Him.
Christ silenced them because the people wouldn't have understood what they would say about Christ, it would cause confusion. God has a timing in His purpose.
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
This is an example for us all. We should all start our day talking to our Father. Rest in the fact, that after you have done your best, He will do the rest.
36 And Simon and they that were with Him followed after Him.
They woke up and went looking for Christ.
37 And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men seek for Thee.
The city was a buzz. They all wanted to know where He had gone.
38 And He said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
Christ work was done there and it was time to move on to the next towns. Notice here He said He did more than heal and cast out demons, He preached.
39 And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
40 And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.
He knows Christ can, but is unsure He will.
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
42 And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43 And He straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
Christ gave him a command and immediately told him to go.
44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
What this man takes to them and what they're to do is found in Leviticus 14:1-32. This cleansing was to be held until Christ blood was shed.
45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to Him from every quarter.
He ignored Christ command. I can only imagine he did this because of his excitement that others would accept him, when before they ran when he approached. He wanted to show his family of his healing.