New Testament Commentary - Mark 1

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 1 Jesus is baptized by John—He preaches the gospel, calls disciples, casts out devils, heals the sick and cleanses a leper.
1 THE beginning of the ^agospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my ^amessenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The ^avoice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and ^apreach the ^bbaptism of ^crepentance for the ^dremission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all ^abaptized of him in the river of Jordan, ^bconfessing their sins.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
6 And John was ^aclothed with ^bcamel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat ^clocusts and wild honey; 7 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. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: ^abut he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was ^abaptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming ^aup out of the water^a, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a ^bdove descending upon him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.	10^a straightway coming up out of the water The language is plain and clear. The mode of baptism was imersion, for you do not come up out of the water strightway when merely sprinkled. But because of the contrivance of man and such applications as the baptizing of infants and perhaps the death bed baptism of Emperors, the method of baptizing by sprikling emerged in the apostate church, likely memicing a ceremonial process of the pagan preference.
12 ^aAnd immediately the Spirit driveth him into the ^bwilderness. 13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, ^apreaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The ^atime is fulfilled, and the ^bkingdom of God ^cis at hand: ^drepent ye, and ^ebelieve the gospel.
16 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. 17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become ^afishers of men. 18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
19 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. 20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and ^ataught. 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had ^aauthority, and not as the ^bscribes.
23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an ^aunclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 Saying, Let us alone; ^awhat have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the ^bHoly One of God. 25 And Jesus ^arebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean spirit had ^atorn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with ^aauthority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and ^aanon they tell him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand, and ^alifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he ^ahealed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many ^bdevils; and ^csuffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may ^apreach there also: for therefore came I forth. 39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out ^adevils.
40 And there came a ^aleper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me ^bclean. 41 And Jesus, moved with ^acompassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43 And he ^astraitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 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. 45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to ^ablaze 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.