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 1:5 mean?

Explanation

Mark 1:5 describes a scene during the ministry of John the Baptist, where people from the Judean countryside and Jerusalem came to him at the Jordan River.

They were baptized by John as they confessed their sins.

The act of baptism is a symbolic representation of spiritual cleansing and is often associated with repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

The passage highlights the widespread impact that John had on the people as it indicates that large numbers were drawn to his message and were participating in this act of repentance.

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Historical Context

This verse comes from the Gospel of Mark, which is generally considered to be the earliest of the four canonical gospels of the New Testament. Written around 60-70 AD, the text is addressing a Greco-Roman audience during a time when Christianity was in its formative years.

Jewish customs, including ritual washing for purification purposes, were a part of the religious practices at the time. John's baptism, though sharing similarities with Jewish purification rites, signified something new, a preparation for the imminent arrival of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse implicates several key points:

The significance of John the Baptist: According to prophecy, he is the "voice crying out in the wilderness" preparing the way for the Lord (Isaiah 40:3).
The concept of repentance: Baptism by John symbolized the individual's acknowledgment of sin and the desire to be cleansed in anticipation of the Messiah.
The anticipation of the new covenant: This practice foreshadowed the Christian baptism that would follow after Jesus' death and resurrection, which would signify not only repentance but also identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, Mark 1:5 urges believers to:

Recognize the need for spiritual renewal and the confession of sins as part of the Christian faith.
Understand the significance of baptism as an outward expression of an inward faith and commitment to follow Christ.
Embrace a mindset of preparation and openness to God's work in their lives, akin to how the people of Judea were preparing for the arrival of Jesus.

Cross-References

Matthew 3:5-6: "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."
Acts of the Apostles 19:4: "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."

Language Study

The original language of Mark's Gospel is Greek.

Key Greek words in Mark 1:5 include:

baptized (βαπτιζόμενοι, baptizomenoi): Often understood as immersion or submersion, reflecting the action of being fully plunged into the water.
confessing (ἐξομολογούμενοι, exomologoumenoi): Means to acknowledge or admit openly, with connotations of praising or giving thanks.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons to other ancient mythologies highlight how rituals of water purification were common in various religions.

In Ancient Egypt, rites of passage often included a cleansing in the Nile.

Similarly, Hinduism has long held practices of bathing in the Ganges River to purify oneself.

The key difference in John's baptism lies in its connection to the repentance of sins and the preparation for the Messiah, which is unique to Judeo-Christian belief.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the act of baptism in natural bodies of water may have aided physical as well as spiritual cleanliness, especially considering the living conditions at the time.

Today, the application of religious water rituals can be seen to have psychological benefits, providing a sense of community, identity, and purification to adherents.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have commented on Mark 1:5 in various ways.

Some emphasize John the Baptist's role in fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and preparing the way for Jesus.

Others point out the social and communal aspect of the baptismal practice, noting that the public confession of sins may reflect a communal repentance and an acknowledgment of a shared need for salvation.

Various experts analyze the reasons behind the Gospel of Mark starting with John's ministry, indicating the significance of John's role in setting the stage for the public ministry of Jesus Christ.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:5 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 1:5 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?