Reading: Mark 1-3
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 (Mark 1:9-11).
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1). At 16 chapters, the Gospel of Mark is far and away the shortest of the four books that together form the Gospel of Christ. Unlike Matthew or Luke, it offers us no glimpses of Christ’s life on earth before the onset of His three-year ministry. It does not contain any record of the genealogy of Christ, nor does it delve into the miraculous nature of His birth. Mark does not dwell on the evil machinations of a Rome-appointed king or the faithful actions of a poor carpenter and his betrothed bride, and he makes no mention of wise men or shepherds. We are told nothing of Jesus’ childhood or how He came to stand before John the Baptist on the banks of the River Jordan. To Mark, the whens, wheres, and hows of Jesus’ appearance on earth were secondary in importance to the establishment of one incontrovertible fact. Namely, that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God (Mark 1:1; 3:11; 5:7; 14:61; 15:39), had come to earth as a faithful servant of His heavenly Father, and that His every word and deed was undertaken with Godly authority and approval. And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
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 (1:33-34). As we read through the Gospel of Mark, our attention is drawn time and time again to the tireless manner in which Christ served those whom He had been sent to save. From words of love and compassion to exorcisms and miraculous healings, Christ was unwilling to turn anyone in need away. The constant action wasn’t Mark’s sole focus, however. He also made certain to record the ‘secret’of Christ’s tremendous power and strength – His unbreakable connection to His Father. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed (1:35).
Every action Christ took was undertaken by the authority of the One who had sent Him, and the time He spent in prayer allowed Him to rest and refocus His energies on the task that lay before Him. As we take up the charge of Christ today, let us endeavor to live by His example. It is not enough that we put ourselves out into the world to work for Him to the best of our ability; we MUST remain in constant contact with Him to ensure that we work in full accordance with His will.
For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak(John 12:49-50).
Thought For Today:When we place our hand in His, we will find His hold secure.
Cross Reference: For Mark 1:2: See Mal. 3:1. Mark 1:3: See Is. 40:3. Mark 1:11: See Ps. 2:7.
Word Studies:1:7 latchet = leather strap similar to a shoelace; 1:26 torn him = thrown him into convulsions; 1:43 straitly charged = sternly warned; 1:45 blaze abroad = make known everywhere; every quarter = everywhere; 2:1 it was noised = the news spread.
Pray For Staff:Ryan McCrary • Government Officials: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (NY), Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA) • Country: Djibouti (810,179) Eastern Africa • Major Languages: French, Arabic • Restricted Religious Freedom • 94% Muslim; 6% Christian • Prayer Suggestion: Ask for understanding of the Word of God so you can share it with others (Ps. 119:27).