Mark
Chapter 1
Prologue
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, [the Son of God]. [Commentary: Mark 1:1]
John the Baptist
It is written in the book of Isaiah, the prophet:
“I am sending my messenger
ahead of you to prepare your way.
Let the people hear the voice
calling in the desert:
Prepare the way of the Lord,
level his paths.”
So John began to baptize in the desert, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
All Judea and all the people from the city of Jerusalem went out to John to confess their sins, and to be baptized by him in the river Jordan.
John was dressed in camel’s hair and bore a leather belt around his waist. His food consisted of locusts and honey.
He preached to the people, saying:
“After me comes someone more powerful than I am;
I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
Baptism of Jesus
At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
And as he came up out of the water, heaven opened above him, and he saw the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
And these words were heard from heaven: “You are my Son, the Beloved, the One I have chosen.” [Commentary: Mark 1:9-11]
The Trial in the Desert
Then the Spirit led him into the desert.
Jesus stayed there for forty days and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, but angels ministered to him.
His Proclamation Begins
After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee and began preaching the Good News of God.
He said:
“The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.”
He Calls His First Disciples
As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them:
“Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”
Immediately, they left their nets and followed him.
Jesus went a little farther on and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; they were in their boat mending their nets.
Immediately, Jesus called them, and they followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.
He Teaches and Exorcises in Capernaum
They went into the town of Capernaum, and Jesus taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath.
The people were amazed by the way he taught, for he spoke with authority, not like the teachers of the law.
It happened that a man with an evil spirit was in their synagogue
and he shouted:
“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: you are the Holy One of God.”
Then Jesus faced him and said with authority:
“Be silent and come out of this man!”
The evil spirit violently shook the man and, with a loud shriek, left him.
Everyone was amazed and asked:
“What is this? With what authority does he preach? He even commands evil spirits, and they obey him!”
And Jesus’ fame spread throughout all the country of Galilee.
Heals and Exorcises Around the House
After leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to Simon and Andrew’s house, along with James and John.
Since Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, they immediately informed him about her.
Jesus went to her and, taking her by the hand, lifted her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sundown, people brought all the sick and those possessed by evil spirits to Jesus:
the whole town was pressing around the door.
Jesus healed many who had different illnesses and cast out many demons, but he did not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.
Jesus’ Prayer and Mission
Very early in the morning, before daylight, Jesus went to a secluded place where he prayed.
Simon and the others also went out looking for him;
and when they found him, they said:
“Everyone is looking for you.”
Then Jesus replied:
“Let us go to the nearby villages so I can preach there too; that is why I came.”
So Jesus began to preach in all the synagogues throughout Galilee, and he also cast out demons.
Heals a Leper
A leper approached Jesus and begged him:
“If you want to, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying:
“I do want to; be clean.”
The leprosy instantly left the man, and he was made clean.
As Jesus sent the man away, he sternly warned him:
“Don’t tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priest; and for the cleansing, bring the offering ordered by Moses; in this way, you will give them your testimony.”
However, as soon as the man went out, he started spreading the news everywhere, so Jesus could no longer openly enter any town. But even though he stayed in rural areas, people came to him from all over.
Commentaries
Prologue.
The first verse serves as a sort of introduction, outlining what Mark will discuss: “the Good News of Jesus Christ.” The word “Beginning” indicates not only the start of his work but also a new chapter in salvation history: the New Testament. The focus of this Good News is Jesus. Who is Jesus? Mark will reveal this gradually. For now, he simply states: He is the “Son of God.” This declaration will take on deeper meanings, culminating near the end of the Gospel, when a Roman centurion, upon seeing him die, proclaims: “Truly this man was the Son of God” (15:39).
John the Baptist.
John is the announced messenger (2-4). He is the expected “Elijah” who will prepare the way for the Lord (cf. Mal 3:23). And he does so with a baptism of repentance, of change of life (5). His manner of dress and diet reveal him as a prophet (6; cf. 2 Kgs 1:8; Zec 13:4). Many probably confused him with the Messiah. Mark clarifies this situation, saying that John’s status before Jesus is even lower than that of a servant before his master (7). John can only baptize with water (externally), whereas Jesus baptizes with the Spirit.
Baptism of Jesus.
Jesus takes on our sinful state, showing his commitment to sacrifice himself for others. The Spirit’s descent confirms the renewal of communication between heaven and earth. God becomes reachable to humanity through Jesus, his Son (cf. Ps 2:7; Is 42:1).
The Trial in the Desert.
Being the Son of God does not exempt Jesus from his human condition. That is why the same Spirit he receives from the Father at baptism is the one who drives him into the desert. For the people of Israel, the desert was traditionally a place of trial and decision-making, where they had to learn to trust God (cf. Deut 8). The forty days recall the trials experienced by Moses (Ex 34:28) and Elijah (1 Kgs 19:8). Satan is the adversary of the divine plan (Rev 12:7-9). Unlike Matthew and Luke, Mark says nothing more about the trials. However, he makes clear Jesus’s triumph, expressed in his coexistence with wild animals and in the service of angels (13).
His Proclamation Begins.
This brief passage concludes the introduction to the Gospel (1-13) and signals a new phase: Jesus’ activity in Galilee, which starts exactly when John the Baptist’s ends (14a). “Proclaiming” or ‘preaching’ is Jesus’ main focus. “The time is fulfilled” indicates the start of a new era. “The kingdom of God” isn’t a place but an experience of living according to God’s will (life, justice, solidarity, fraternity, peace). Jesus’ presence brings that kingdom closer. “Repent” means to change direction, to turn back to God, in this case, to believe in the Good News of Jesus.
He Calls His First Disciples.
Jesus calls and chooses his disciples to build a sense of community in his mission. Without community, there is no kingdom. Traditionally, the disciples would seek out their teacher. But here, it is Jesus who takes the initiative: he calls his disciples and gives them a mission—to be fishers of men. In response, the disciples act quickly, leaving everything behind to follow him. This is what the Christian vocation is about: following Jesus and living as he did.
He Teaches and Exorcises in Capernaum.
Jesus teaches and acts with authority rooted in God’s liberating power. In the language and mindset of the time, the evangelist depicts his struggle against the forces that oppress humanity. The exorcism he performs on the “possessed” man is also an invitation to his disciples to fight against all forms of “possession” that subjugate and demean humanity as they proclaim the Gospel. People begin to admire him because his preaching and teaching are united; they are one and the same, showing consistency. This admiration immediately sparks curiosity about his true identity: “What does this mean?” (27).
Heals and Exorcises Around the House – Jesus’ Prayer and Mission.
The reference to the house (1:29, 33; 2:1f.15; 3:20; 7:17; 9:28, 33; 10:10) likely alludes to the community’s gathering place, where Jesus continues to act and many people gather. The prostration of Peter’s mother-in-law symbolizes the exclusion faced by elderly and sick women. Jesus goes to her, touches her, and lifts her up (31). Jesus’ healing power reaches everyone who approaches him. Through his example, he demonstrates the importance of prayer at the beginning of the missionary journey.
Heals a Leper.
A leper had to live in isolation, away from others, to prevent them from becoming infected. Far from life, they were like “the living dead.” But Jesus can even overcome this. The leper’s faith and the Master’s mercy bring about the liberating power of God’s kingdom. Despite Jesus’ prohibition, the leper spreads the word about his freeing actions. This prohibition is known as the “messianic secret,” which, from the evangelist’s perspective, means that Jesus’ mission can only be fully understood after his death and resurrection.