Mark 1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

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.

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;

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.

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

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.

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

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.

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

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.

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

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.

And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

And all the city was gathered together at the door.

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.

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

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.

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

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.

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.

What does Mark 1:12 mean?

Explanation

Mark 1:12 describes the event immediately following Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist.

In this verse, the Spirit is portrayed as compelling or driving Jesus into the wilderness.

The use of the word "immediately" emphasizes the suddenness and urgency of the action.

The wilderness is often symbolically associated with a place of testing, spiritual struggle, and solitude.

The passage suggests that Jesus is being led by the Holy Spirit to a place where he will be tested or prepared for his forthcoming ministry.

This verse sets the stage for the subsequent event, Jesus’ temptation by Satan.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is generally regarded as the earliest of the four canonical gospels and is believed to have been written around 60-70 AD. The wilderness held significant meaning in Jewish history and literature.

It was a place where the Israelites wandered for 40 years and also a setting for encounters with God. The act of going into the wilderness is richly symbolic, reflecting themes of dependence on God, purification, and preparation.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Jesus being driven into the wilderness by the Spirit can represent the human experience of being led by God, sometimes into challenging circumstances, for the purposes of growth and testing.

In Christian thought, this event can also be viewed as a demonstration of Jesus' obedience to God's will, reaffirming Jesus' divinity and his role as the Messiah.

It also highlights the role of the Holy Spirit as an active agent in the life of Jesus, and by extension, in the lives of believers.

Practical Applications

The verse can be applied to modern life by recognizing that spiritual growth often occurs in times of solitude and testing, and that one may be led into difficult situations for a greater purpose.

Believers may find comfort and guidance in this verse by understanding that, like Jesus, they can rely on the Holy Spirit during times of trial and preparation.

Cross-References

Luke 4:1: "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,"
Matthew 4:1: "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil."
Hebrews 4:15: "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word translated as "driveth" is "ἐκβάλλει" (ekballei), which means to cast out, expel, or send forth, indicating a forceful action.

The term for "Spirit" is "πνεῦμα" (pneuma), which refers to the Holy Spirit or divine spirit.

The Greek setting emphasizes the strong influence of the Spirit in this action.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient religions and myths, the concept of a hero or god entering a harsh landscape for a period of trial or battle is a recurring theme.

Examples include the Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh venturing into the Cedar Forest, and the trials faced by the Greek hero Heracles (Hercules).

These stories often feature elements of self-discovery and confrontation with one's own nature or with a supernatural adversary.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse does not directly relate to science, modern psychology would offer insights into the effects of solitude and nature on human cognition and emotional well-being.

Such environments are often associated with introspection and spiritual or psychological trials, much like what Jesus may have experienced in the wilderness.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse tend to emphasize the preparatory nature of Jesus' time in the wilderness.

Many scholars see this as a period of spiritual fortification before his public ministry.

The consensus among experts is that this period was instrumental in setting the stage for Jesus' confrontation with Satan, and his resistance to temptation is viewed as a vital aspect of his sinlessness and obedience to God's will.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 1:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?