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 1:33 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 1:33 is part of the account in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus is at the beginning of His public ministry.

It describes a scene where Jesus, after healing the mother-in-law of Simon Peter, sees the entire city of Capernaum gathering at the door of the house where He was staying.

This mass gathering likely includes people seeking healing, deliverance from demonic possession, and those who are simply curious about Jesus and His teachings.

The verse illustrates the immediate and overwhelming response of the population to the presence and miraculous works of Jesus.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Capernaum was a town located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. In the time of Jesus, it was a bustling fishing community and a Roman administrative center.

It is significant in the New Testament as the place where Jesus settled after leaving Nazareth and performed many miracles.

The context of Mark 1:33 shows Jesus actively engaged in His healing ministry, which rapidly increased His fame throughout the region. This miraculous healing attracted large crowds, reflecting the prevalent longing for physical and spiritual healing among the people of that time.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Mark 1:33 highlights several key insights:

Divine Authority: Jesus’ ability to heal and cast out demons demonstrates His authority over illness and spiritual forces, which is a testament to his divine nature.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus’ healing ministry fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah who would bring salvation and healing (Isaiah 61:1-2).
The Kingdom of God: The gathering of the crowds can be seen as a microcosm of the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God, where restoration and healing are central to Jesus' mission.

Practical Applications

This verse can encourage believers to bring their needs to Jesus, trusting in His power to restore and heal. It also serves as an inspiration for Christians to open their doors to their communities, creating spaces where people can experience the love and compassion of Christ.

Additionally, it underlines the importance of being a witness to the transformative power of the gospel which, when shared, naturally draws others to seek its source.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:24: "And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them."
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 Greek, the city (πόλις, polis) implies not just the physical location, but the inhabitants as well. The verb "gathered together" (συνήχθησαν, synēchthēsan) is in the aorist passive indicative form, showing a completed action where the people passively find themselves congregated.

The term "door" (θύρα, thyra) signifies not just a physical gateway but also represents the boundary between the private space of the house and the public life of the community.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, healing deities like Asclepius in Greek mythology also drew large crowds seeking relief from ailments.

However, Jesus differs in that He is not merely an intermediary god of healing but central to the monotheistic belief system where He embodies both the divine and the savior.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science recognizes the placebo effect, where belief in healing can contribute to an individual's recovery.

While not discounting the miraculous nature described in the Bible, this understanding can offer insight into how the population's faith in Jesus' power may have played a role in their response and subsequent healings.

commentaries

John Calvin emphasizes that Jesus' power to heal is evidence of His divine mission, and the gathering of the city is the natural response to the recognition of that divine power.
William Lane in his commentary on the Gospel of Mark highlights the social disruption caused by the gathered city given the scale of the need for healing and deliverance.
**R.T.

France** notes that the use of the term 'city' by Mark is significant, as it displays the wide-reaching impact of Jesus' ministry early in His public life.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:33 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 1:33 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?