Theophilus
Administrator
Mark 1:1–2
THE BEGINNING [of the facts] of the good news (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 Just as it is written in the prophet Isaiah: Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will make ready Your way.
Written to the Church, You and I.
Personal Application. Mark’s Gospel teaches that the life of discipleship means following Jesus along the same path of misunderstanding and rejection that He encountered. For followers of Jesus in all ages the warning and promise are sure: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (8:34, 35).
Mark underscores the need for faith in the person, message, and power of Jesus to help those in need (see 1:15; 2:5; 4:40; 5:34, 36; 6:6; 9:19; 11:22–24). The opposite of such faith can be seen in the motif of hard hearts (see 3:5; 7:14–23; 8:17). The incarnate Christ that Mark describes is One who is willing and able to help those in extreme need.
Finally, Mark’s Gospel assures Christian workers of all generations that the same attesting miracles that accredited the ministries of the apostles will continue as characteristic features of God’s people under the New Covenant
THE BEGINNING [of the facts] of the good news (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 Just as it is written in the prophet Isaiah: Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will make ready Your way.
Written to the Church, You and I.
Personal Application. Mark’s Gospel teaches that the life of discipleship means following Jesus along the same path of misunderstanding and rejection that He encountered. For followers of Jesus in all ages the warning and promise are sure: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (8:34, 35).
Mark underscores the need for faith in the person, message, and power of Jesus to help those in need (see 1:15; 2:5; 4:40; 5:34, 36; 6:6; 9:19; 11:22–24). The opposite of such faith can be seen in the motif of hard hearts (see 3:5; 7:14–23; 8:17). The incarnate Christ that Mark describes is One who is willing and able to help those in extreme need.
Finally, Mark’s Gospel assures Christian workers of all generations that the same attesting miracles that accredited the ministries of the apostles will continue as characteristic features of God’s people under the New Covenant