The Gospel of Mark	
Lecture 13:
Mark 1:1-13
Thomas a Kempis
•	In his book The Imitation of Christ, advises his readers to concentrate upon _____________________as He is revealed in the Gospels. “Let our foremost resolve be to _____________________upon the life of Christ.”
Mark is the story of Jesus
•	See Mark 1:1
•	Yet, Mark shows us Jesus in a different light than Matthew, Luke and John. 
•	While the others provide similar details about Jesus, Mark provides us with some very _____________________detail that only someone close to Jesus could have known: His_____________________, and inner responses are given. Jesus is seen up close and personal.
Most Christians Know 
•	Some of the stories about Jesus, but few ever do an intense study of his words, _____________________, and personality.
•	Robert Louis Stevenson said that we should read the Gospels “freshly like a book, not droningly and_____________________.” If we do we will be moved and startled. 
The Winter of AD 64-65
•	A great fire broke out in Rome.  It burned for six days and nights, destroying huge sections of the city.
•	Emperor_____________________, who is remembered for fiddling while Rome burned, was rumored to have been responsible for the fire. 
•	Nero blamed the _____________________who were unpopular and were often accused of promoting seditious ideas.
Mark’s Gospel 
•	Appeared shortly after the fire of Rome.
•	It’s easy to see why Mark was written as Christians were under _____________________and martyrdom.
•	Many asked “Why risk dying for their faith?”  IT was a time to remember the acts and _____________________of Jesus.  IT was a matter of life and death.
1. The Beginning of the Gospel (1:1-3).
•	Verse 1 – “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ”
•	This verse is open to some interpretation:
•	A) some think it is the ministry of John the _____________________that begins the gospel area.
•	B) others think it is the whole _____________________that follows which has the account of Jesus’ ministry.
“Gospel”
•	Means “_____________________”.
•	the “Gospel of Jesus Christ” means in Greek, “the good news about Jesus Christ.” 
•	Mark presents Him as _____________________ (Jesus=Jehovah is salvation).  
•	Messiah=(Christ, the One anointed to be God’s agent in redemption).
•	“Son of_____________________” = a title expressive of Jesus’ unique relation to the Father.
The Quote in v. 2-3
•	“As it is written in the prophets”. These verses are a combination of _____________________3:1 (v. 2) and Isaiah 40:3.
•	This is the only _____________________quote in Mark.
•	The heart of the quote is verse 3.  It referred to an ancient custom of preparing a smooth road over which a king might ride to visit some part of his realm. God’s messenger was sent before Christ to prepare the way for him to be received into men’s hearts.
The Old Testament Context
•	Of these verses speak of _____________________ (v. 2 = Malachi 3:1ff) and _____________________ (v. 3= Isaiah 40:1ff).
•	Christ will judge men in their sins, but will comfort or save those who believe in Him.
•	This is the two fold nature of the “gospel” (Rom 1:16-18)
•	To preach the gospel one must declare both facets of Christ’s work.
2. The Mission of John the Baptist (1:2-8).
•	Mark writes for _____________________who are interested in action.
•	Therefore Mark did not include the genealogy or virgin birth.
•	This fact does not nullify what _____________________and Luke does, but simply shows us that Mark is ready to get to the action.
John’s Ministry
•	Is located in “the_____________________”
•	Matthew is more specific “the wilderness of Judea”
•	A reference to the rugged and forbidding area west of the Dead Sea.
John’s Ministry
•	His ministry began probably around AD_____________________. Luke gives the clearest indication of time by the appearance of John by reference to _____________________contemporary persons.
Five Things About John’s Ministry
•	1) a fulfillment of _____________________ (v.2-3)
•	2) _____________________in nature (2,3)
•	3) work of _____________________ (v.4)
•	4) work of _____________________ (4,7)
•	5) produced a great_____________________.
Baptize Means
•	To dip, submerge, plunge or_____________________.
•	This took place in the Jordan River which is identified with the deserted region of_____________________.
Preach
•	Is “_____________________” which means “to herald”. A herald of a king was to be heard and obeyed as though he was the king himself.
Camel’s Hair (v. 6)
•	Was not a _____________________but _____________________woven out of camel’s hair. 
Locust’s & Wild Honey
•	Were dried _____________________according to some. 
•	Others think locusts refers to a _____________________bean.
•	Wild honey is found in plentiful quantities in the caves and hills of Judea.
Verse 7-8
•	Give a sample of John’s_____________________. He magnified the one coming after him as “mightier than I”.  
Latchet
•	Was a leather thong which held _____________________to one’s feet.  When one arrived as a guest a slave loosed these latchets. John was even unworthy to do the _____________________work.
John’s Baptism compared with Jesus’ Baptism
•	John baptized with_____________________. What is it that the Messiah would baptize with? (v.8).
•	John’s rite was external; Jesus’ baptism would effect _____________________change. John led men to pledge to break with sin; Jesus would cleanse from sin. John was the forerunner of the Christ.
3. Baptism of Jesus (9-11)
•	Mark did not explain Jesus’_____________________, but simply told of His residence.
•	“In Jordan” reads “into (eis) the_____________________.”
•	They went down into the river.
Verse 10
•	Uses the first “straightway” or “_____________________” (euthus).
•	“out of (ek) water”. This does not mean coming out of the water itself, but _____________________from the baptismal water.
In the Greek Text
•	The “_____________________” refers to “he saw”
•	As soon as Jesus came up out of the water He saw the heavens “_____________________” up, split like a garment and the Spirit descended like a dove upon (eis) him.
Luke says
•	The Spirit was in the shape of a _____________________ (3:22), suggesting the totality of the Spirit.
•	He came upon Jesus in fulness, anointing Him for His work.
•	Jesus never performed a miracle until after this _____________________with power.
“A Voice out of Heaven”
•	Saying “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (v 11).
•	“_____________________” is written out, so it is emphatic. “Thou and no one else”.
•	Jesus was/is the unique Son of God. Note the _____________________presence of deity: “Father”-(Voice), Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit (dove). The triune God evidenced as Jesus began His ministry.
Why Was Jesus Baptized?
•	To confess_____________________?
•	To identify with sinful men?
•	To show the conclusion of John’s _____________________and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
His Baptism
•	Is a prophecy of His death and_____________________. 
•	The dove is symbolic of _____________________and sacrifice.  So there is suggested the sacrifice of the sinless one. 
God’s voice authenticated Jesus as God’s approved Son (9:7).
All the Synoptics
•	Mention three things that happen in relation to His baptism:
•	1) the rending of _____________________
•	2) the descent of the Spirit
•	3) the _____________________of the Father
4. The Temptation of Jesus (1:12-13)
•	Scroggie says, “Perhaps no feature of Christ’s life has been a subject of greater study than His_____________________. That He could have been tempted . . . Has been a baffling mystery to many devout minds.  But it must be recognized that temptation is a _____________________element of human experience.”
Broadus calls the temptations
•	“one of the most wonderful, mysterious, awful scenes of the world’s history,” asks _____________________Jesus should be tempted.
Broadus’ Reply
•	1) The temptation gave proof of Christ’s true_____________________.
•	2) It was part of his example to us.
•	3) It formed part of his personal _____________________ (Heb 5:7-8)
•	4) It contributed to his preparation to be a sympathizing intercessor (Heb 2:18; 4:15)
•	5) It formed part of the great conflict in which the seed of the woman was to bruise the head of the serpent.
Five Facts of the Temptation in Mark
•	1) The temptation followed the baptism. Mark says “_____________________”.
•	2) Jesus was led by the Spirit into this experience. (Mark’s “driveth” suggests a kind of irresistible_____________________. This means that the impulse was not the result of Satan. Christ was under the direction of the Spirit and as such was taking the battle into the enemy’s camp!”
•	Temptation is never to be sought, “Lead us not…”
Fact three
•	3) The experience took place in the_____________________– that is in a barren, forsaken area inhabited by wild beasts (as Mark says).
•	Most of our deep battles are faced in private.  Some think this is about _____________________miles north of Dead Sea and across from Jericho. Others don’t agree.
Fact Four
•	4) The Experience lasted _____________________days.  This means that there was forty continuous days of testing.  The end of those forty days is climaxed with these _____________________temptations.  
Fact Five
•	5) The agent in the temptations was _____________________ (adversary).  Matthew speaks of him as “the devil” (_____________________) and the tempter.  Luke calls him “the devil”. It is debated