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 1:32 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 1:32 from the New Testament of the Bible describes an event that took place in the early ministry of Jesus Christ.

The setting is in the evening, after the sun had set, which is significant as this was the end of the Sabbath when work could be lawfully resumed according to Jewish tradition.

The people of Capernaum, recognizing Jesus’ healing power, brought to Him all those who were suffering from various diseases and those who were demon-possessed.

The verse captures the urgency and desperation of the people seeking help, as well as the magnitude of Jesus' healing power and authority over physical illnesses and evil spirits.

It suggests that Jesus' reputation as a healer had spread quickly, prompting many to seek Him out for miracles.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

At the time of this event, it was the Sabbath, an observed day of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening for the Jewish people. Work, including the carrying of the sick, was restricted during the Sabbath hours.

Hence, the people waited until sundown to bring the afflicted to Jesus.

The mention of "even" suggests the immediacy with which they sought Jesus' intervention as soon as the Sabbath restrictions were lifted.

This historical context also highlights the deep concern the people had for the sick and demon-possessed, to the extent that they would bring them to Jesus at the earliest opportunity allowed by their laws.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the verse demonstrates several key insights:

Jesus’ power over sickness and evil forces, affirming His divine nature and messianic identity.
The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah as a healer (e.g., Isaiah 53:5).
The compassion of Jesus, who did not turn the people away despite the late hour.
The belief in the existence of supernatural evil, demonstrated by the reference to demon possession.

Different Christian traditions have interpreted and emphasized these theological aspects in various ways. For example, some focus on the compassion of Christ, while others see this as a confirmation of Christ’s divine mission and authority.

Practical Applications

In terms of practical applications:

The passage inspires believers to bring their problems to Jesus, regardless of their nature, with faith in His ability to heal and deliver.
It encourages acts of compassion and helping those in need at every opportunity.
The verse shows the importance of communal care, as the people of Capernaum collectively acted in the interest of the ailing among them.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:16: "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:"
Luke 4:40: "Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of the New Testament, a few key words stand out:

"even" (ὀψίας, opseias): meaning evening or late afternoon, indicating the time after sunset.
"diseased" (ἀσθενοῦντας, asthenountas): meaning those who are weak, sick, or without strength.
"possessed with devils" (δαιμονιζομένους, daimonizomenous): those who were influenced or tormented by demons.

The language emphasizes the severity of the conditions of those brought to Jesus, showcasing the breadth of His healing ministry.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The act of healing and exorcism in Mark 1:32 can be compared with other ancient religious traditions.

In many ancient cultures, such as the Egyptian and Greek, healing was often associated with deities and involved ritualistic practices.

Exorcism of evil spirits was common in various religious traditions as it was believed that evil spirits could cause both physical and mental illnesses.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific perspectives would approach the concepts of disease and demon possession differently. Diseases are understood through the lens of medical science, involving pathology, diagnosis, and treatment based on empirical evidence.

The concept of demon possession may be interpreted by psychologists as manifestations of mental health issues. Medical anthropology also considers how cultural contexts affect the understanding of illness and healing practices.

Commentaries

Scholars and theologians have various interpretations of this verse.

Some highlight Jesus' role as the compassionate healer who ministers to both physical and spiritual needs.

Others focus on the messianic implications of Jesus' actions as signs of the Kingdom of God breaking into history.

Generally, there is consensus on the significant impact of Jesus' healing ministry, which serves as a testament to His authority and the profound effect He had on the people of His time.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:32 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 1:32 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?