Mark's Gospel: Chapter 1
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Key words
- Wilderness: an area of land that has not been used to grow crops or had towns and roads built on it, especially because it is difficult to live in as a result of its extremely cold or hot weather or bad earth
Alaska is the last great wilderness.
- At hand: near in time or position
We want to ensure that help is at hand.
- Rebuke: to speak angrily to someone because you disapprove of what they have said or done
He was publicly rebuked for his involvement in the scandal.
- Convulse: to (cause to) shake violently with sudden uncontrolled movements
He was so sick that he was convulsing, and foaming at the mouth.
- Cast out: to get rid of someone or something, especially forcefully
He became homeless after he was cast out by his family.
Read the article to find the answers
- Where did Jesus come from to be baptised?
- Where did the Spirit lead Jesus?
- What was Jesus doing to the sick people He met?
- Why did Jesus have to leave the city?
The prophets wrote:
"I am sending my messenger before you, he will prepare your way."
John the Baptist was in the wilderness, dressed in camel's hair, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People came to him from all over Judea. They confessed their sins and were baptised by him in the Jordan River. He told them:
"Someone greater is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals. I have baptised you with water, but He will baptise you with the Holy Ghost."
Then Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptised by John. When He came up out of the water, the heavens opened and the Spirit flew down onto Him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven:
"You are my beloved Son; I am well pleased with you."
The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for forty days where He was tempted by Satan.
After John the Baptist was arrested
Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Gospel:
"The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel."
As He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers fishing and said to them:
"Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Immediately they left their fishing nets and followed Him. A little further on He saw two other fishermen in their boat, mending their nets. He called them and they followed Him to Capernaum. When they arrived He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. The people were amazed at His teaching, because He was so different from the other teachers. At that moment a man with an unclean spirit came and cried out:
"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said:
"Be quiet! Come out of him!"
And the unclean spirit convulsed the man, cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. They were all amazed and began to ask one another who Jesus was and the news of Jesus spread throughout the whole region of Galilee.
When they left the synagogue, they went to the house of the fisherman named Simon. Simon's mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever. So, Jesus took her by the hand, lifted her up, and the fever left her.
After the sun went down, all the sick and those possessed by demons came to Him. The whole town was there, and He healed many who had various diseases and cast out many demons.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, and went to a quiet place to pray. Simon and his companions looked for Him, and when they found Him, they told Him that everyone was looking for Him. He said to them:
"Let's go to the next towns so that I can preach there too. This is why I have come."
He went all over Galilee
As He preached in the synagogues and cast out demons, a man with a serious skin disease got down on his knees and begged Jesus to heal him. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out, touched him and said:
"I will, be made clean."
Immediately the man was healed. Jesus told him:
"See that you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest and offer what Moses prescribed for your purification as a testimony to them."
But the man told everyone, and Jesus became so popular that He had to leave, and people from all over the country went to see Him outside of the city.
Discussion questions
- Do you have any questions about any of the vocabulary or grammar in this article?
- Have you ever been to Galilee?
- Have you ever been to a synagogue?
- What do you know about baptism?
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