Mark 1:1-8

The Beginning Facts Of The Gospel Mark One

Mark moves quickly to set before his readers many of the beginning facts of the good news of Jesus Christ, God's Son. (Mark 1:1) The good news or gospel of Jesus Christ is the New Testament message. The words of the gospel are "true and faithful" (Revelation 22:6) Jesus was the promised and expected Messiah and Mark writes Jesus' gospel.

The fact of John preparing the way Mark 1:1-8: Malchi had prophesied of John who would introduce the New Covenant and Jesus Christ. "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming, says the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 3:1) Isaiah also wrote of one who would be a voice crying in the wilderness. His message would be, "...prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." (Isaiah 40:3)

The law and the prophets were till John. From John onward the kingdom of God is preached. (Luke 16:16) John was a powerful preacher. He preached, (1) Baptism (Mark 1:4), (2) Repentance (Mark 1:4), (3) Remission of sins (Mark 1:4), (4) The greatness of Jesus, and (5) The power of God's Son. (Mark 1:8) Jesus later said, "...Among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (Luke 7:28)