Mark 1:5-8. There went out to him all Judea, &c. So disposed were the people to receive his baptism. See note on Matthew 3:5. The latchet of whose shoes, &c. That is, whose servant I am not worthy to be, or to perform for him the meanest offices. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost The promise of which is made to you and your children, Acts 2:39; where see the note, and on Matthew 3:11. read more
15. Preaching of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-17; John 1:19-28)The preaching of John soon attracted opposition from the Jewish religious leaders. They sent representatives to question him and then report back on what he taught and who he claimed to be. John denied that he was promoting himself as some new leader in Israel. He did not consider himself to be either the prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15,Deuteronomy 18:18 or the ‘Elijah’ promised in Malachi 4:5. He was only a... read more
There cometh One = He Who eometh [is]. after = behind; as to time. Not the same as in Mark 1:14 . latchet = thong. shoes = sandals, To unloose the sandals of another was a proverbial expression. Figure of speech Paranoia ( App-6 ). Supplemental to "bear" in Matthew 3:11 . not . Greek. ou. App-105 . worthy = fit. stoop down . A Divine supplement. Occurs only here. read more
I. INTRODUCTION 1:1-13This opening section of the book sets the stage for the presentation of Jesus Christ as the unique Servant of the Lord. Mark omitted references to Jesus’ birth and youth. These subjects are irrelevant when presenting the life of a servant."The accent falls upon the disclosure that Jesus is the Messiah, the very Son of God, whose mission is to affirm his sonship in the wilderness. His encounter with Satan provides the background for the delineation of the conflict between... read more
1. The ministry of John the Baptist 1:2-8 (cf. Matthew 3:1-6, 11-12; Luke 3:3-6; 15-18)The writer pointed out that the ministry of Jesus’ forerunner fulfilled prophecy. It made a significant impact on those whom John contacted. [Note: For parallels between the ministries of John the Baptist and Elijah, See Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, 1:255-56.] Then Mark recorded the essence of John’s message. read more
B. Jesus’ preparation for ministry 1:2-13Mark proceeded to record three events that the reader needs to understand to appreciate Jesus’ ministry correctly. They are John the Baptist’s ministry, Jesus’ baptism, and Jesus’ temptation. Two words that recur through this section of the text are key to understanding Mark’s emphasis: desert and the Spirit. [Note: See Frank J. Matera, "The Prologue as the Interpretive Key to Mark’s Gospel," Journal for the Study of the New Testament 34 (October... read more
Mark’s synopsis of John’s message is brief (cf. Matthew 3:7-10; Luke 3:10-14). It stresses the coming of the mighty One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John described the greatness of this One by contrasting himself with the Messiah. Slaves did not have to untie their masters’ sandals, but John felt unworthy to do even this most menial task for Messiah. This emphasis on the humility of God’s servants persists through this Gospel.Another contrast is the baptisms of the two men (Mark... read more
Baptism of Jesus. Beginning of the Ministry1-8. Appearance of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1; Luke 3:1). See on Mt and Lk. St. Mark’s Gospel, being based on the reminiscences of Peter, begins with the public ministry of Jesus, or, rather, with His connexion with the Baptist, through which Peter and other apostles first became acquainted with Him. It, therefore, omits the birth narratives, although it is possible that St. Mark was acquainted with them (see on Mark 6:3).1. The beginning] It is... read more
(7) There cometh one mightier than I.—See Note on Matthew 3:11; but note the slight difference—not, as there, “whose shoes I am not worthy to bear,” but “the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.” Latchet,” a word now obsolete, was the “thong” or “lace” with which shoes or sandals were fastened. To stoop down and loosen the sandals was commonly the act of the servant who afterwards carried them, but it expressed more vividly what we should call the menial character... read more
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 1:4-8
See the notes at Matthew 3:3, Matthew 3:5-6, Matthew 3:11. read more