Mark 1
Mark 1:4-11:
4John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
5Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.
8I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.
11Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
4John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
5Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.
8I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.
11Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:12-13:
And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. |
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Forty, in their minds, was a "fourspace number suggesting the idea of a foundation for something to follow, and idea of completeness. So the number forty is frequently used in the scriptures to indicate a completed preparation for something to follow.
These two verses contain Mark's account of the temptation of Jesus. He does not describe the three separate temptations which are given in the book of Matthew. But he has some features of his own. They are expressed in the words "immediately," driven," and "wild beasts."
The word "immediately" is also translated "straightway." Mark uses the expression 41 times in his gospel account. The temptation happened immediately after Jesus' baptism. Immediately after what? Immediately after the baptism. The initiative in this temptation was not taken by Satan; it was taken by the Holy Spirit. He did not wait til the tempter came, but obliged the tempter to come. He forced the fight., We ought to follow his lead far more there. Most of us just wait until we are tempted, and then half scared , seek for help. But we could always pray ahead and take the ground before the Evil One can come. That is what the Holy Spirit does here.
It is impossible, in this life, to escape the assault of temptation. Temptation, however, is used for the good in that it strengthens the nerve and sinew of our minds and hearts and souls. The ancient Hebrew writers made a practice of using numbers to symbolize ideas.
These two verses contain Mark's account of the temptation of Jesus. He does not describe the three separate temptations which are given in the book of Matthew. But he has some features of his own. They are expressed in the words "immediately," driven," and "wild beasts."
The word "immediately" is also translated "straightway." Mark uses the expression 41 times in his gospel account. The temptation happened immediately after Jesus' baptism. Immediately after what? Immediately after the baptism. The initiative in this temptation was not taken by Satan; it was taken by the Holy Spirit. He did not wait til the tempter came, but obliged the tempter to come. He forced the fight., We ought to follow his lead far more there. Most of us just wait until we are tempted, and then half scared , seek for help. But we could always pray ahead and take the ground before the Evil One can come. That is what the Holy Spirit does here.
It is impossible, in this life, to escape the assault of temptation. Temptation, however, is used for the good in that it strengthens the nerve and sinew of our minds and hearts and souls. The ancient Hebrew writers made a practice of using numbers to symbolize ideas.
Mark 4:13-20:
And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” |
"Why did Jesus call money deceitful? It's not what it seems. It's like a fish line that looks attractive to a fish until he gets it in his mouth. When he finds out, by then it's too late. He's been tricked." --Ralph Doudera ("Wealth Conundrum" p37)
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Mark 1:14-15: Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” |
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Jesus preached that an entrance into the Kingdom of God required both repentance and faith. (Mark 1:15). Repentance was the first thing He preached (matt 4:17) and the last thing He commanded (Rev 3:19). In fact, in this second reference, He urged people to exercise zeal in thewier repentance. WE might ask ourselves how zealous we are about seeing the need to continually turns away from sin and the ways f self and turn toward the Lord. There is a great need for repentance in the life of the believer because he still has a flesh nature which must be broken of its power and conquered by the Holy Spirit. True repentance then, is much more than aligning oneself with the Christian religion. The Greek word which we translate as repentance is metanoia. It is the combination of the two words meta (after, following) and noieo (think). Metanoia means to reconsider, or to experience a change in one's line of thinking.
--Steve Gallagher; At The Altar of Sexual Idolatry
--Steve Gallagher; At The Altar of Sexual Idolatry
Repent! "I have sinned" are important words, but do not necessarily mean repentance. Pharoah said "I have sinned," in mere terror and hardened his heart the moment the judgment was removed. Achan said "I have sinned," like some criminal on the scaffold who confesses only when the consequences of his iniquity stares him in the face. Balaam said "I have sinned," but still went on in spite of the drawn sword of the angel, dazzled by the gleam of Balak's gold. Judas said "I have sinned," but in him was despair and remorse as he flung down in the temple the accursed pittance for which he sold his soul. Saul said "I have sinned," but only to return to his demoniac ways. Job said "I have sinned," and humbled himself under the mighty hand of God and God exulted him. David said "I have sinned," and in a wailing in his heart went on to discover that God restores to godly sorrow a clean heart and a free spirit, The prodigal son said, "Father, I have sinned," and rose weeping and into his fathers arms.
This is the mystery of the Kingdom: that the Kingdom of God has come among men and yet men can reject it. The Kingdom will not experience uniform success. Not all will receive it. This was a staggering thing to one who knew only the Old Testament. When God’s Kingdom comes, it will come with power. Who can resist it? Who can withstand God? But precisely this is the mystery of the Kingdom. The Kingdom is here, but it can be rejected. One day God will indeed manifest HIs mighty power to purge the earth of wickedness, sin and evil; but not now. God’s Kingdom is working among men, but God will not compel them to bow before it. They must receive it; the response must come from a willing heart and a submissive will.
God is still dealing with us in this same way. God will not drive you into His Kingdom. It is not the business of those who are called to the ministry of the Word to speak with authoritarian compulsion. We speak as emissaries of God, but we plead and do not demand, we persuade and do not drive. We implore men to open their hearts that the Word of His Kingdom may have its fruitage in their lives. But men can reject it. They can spurn the Gospel of the Kingdom. They can scorn the preacher of the Word; and he is helpless.
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Mark 1:21-26:
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. |
![]() You have to wonder – did the people in the synagogue around the demon-possessed guy have any idea about his possession? Did the man greet people, make normal chit-chat, etc., before the spirit inside him was provoked by Christ?
Respected Bible teachers who have encountered demonic activity report that there is no one-size-fits-all profile for people who are suffering from demonic affliction. Those who have written on the subject include author and pastor Chip Ingram who describes his encounters with demons in his book The Invisible War, Dallas Seminary professor and theologian Merrill Unger who has written widely on the subject concerning his personal interactions with the demonic, and well known pastor Chuck Swindoll who wrote in his small book entitled Demonism: "On a few occasions I have assisted in the painful process of relieving them [people who come to him for spiritual help] of demons." -Robin Schumacher (Charles Swindoll, Demonism (Portland, OR: Multnomah, 1981), pp. 18-19. ) |