Mark 1:1-18

2-3 Compare Mal_3:1; Isa_40:3; Mat_3:3; Luk_3:4-6; Joh_1:15-23.

4-8 Compare Mat_3:1-12; Luk_3:1-18.

4 John the baptist was the son of a priest, so that he was entitled to exercise the priestly office and enjoy all its privileges, which assured him a life of ease and comfort. Yet, under the urge of the holy Spirit, which filled him even before he was born, he gave up all this for the lowly and austere life of a Nazarite (Num_6:2-7). He was not permitted to eat anything which came of the vine, the symbol of that which cheers the heart of God and man (Jud_9:13). Like Samson, he let his hair grow long, a symbol of weakness and dishonor (1Co_11:14). Instead of the linen ephod he wore coarse camel's hair. Instead of living of the altar and eating the best of the sacrifices, he subsisted on locusts and wild honey. John the baptist was a continual contrast with the Lord. Christ was not a Nazarite. He drank wine, dressed as others did, never wore long hair, and dwelt with His parents until the time for His ministry arrived. John came in the spirit of Elijah, but when the Lord's disciples wished to call down fire from heaven and consume the Samaritans for offending them, as Elijah had done to the men who were sent against him (2Ki_1:10-12), He rebuked them. Christ did not come in the spirit of Elijah at that time. Elijah was an austere proclaimer of righteousness. Christ's message mingled grace with truth. He came, not to condemn sinners, but to save them. In Him conviction was coupled with compassion.

6 See Lev_11:22.

7 Compare Joh_1:15; Joh_1:26-27.

9-11 Compare Mat_3:13-17; Luk_3:21-22; Joh_1:32-34.

10 The dove is a symbol of peace, of judgment past (Gen_8:12) and of sacrifice. (Wherever we read "pigeon" in the versions of Leviticus it should read "dove" as in all the other occurrences.) This is an index of the ministry to which it was the introduction. In contrast to John's fierce denunciations of judgment, He went about a meek, harmless, unresisting victim, until He is finally offered up to God. It was in this that God could delight. He was His Son, not merely by birth, but in His likeness to His Father.

12-13 Compare Mat_4:1-11; Luk_4:1-13.

12 The wilderness trial was especially intended to test His loyalty to God in connection with His royal claims to David's throne and as the obedient Man. Hence Matthew and Luke enlarge upon it. As it is not a record of service for others, Mark mentions it most briefly.

14-15 Compare Mat_4:12-17.

14 Before this our Lord had performed miracles, such as that at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, and had gathered a following of disciples, but He waited until John's ministry was ended by his imprisonment before beginning His first evangelistic tour.

15 The era of the nations' rule over Israel was nearing its end, as foretold by Daniel the prophet. Nearly four hundred and eighty years had run their course since Daniel had predicted that four hundred and ninety years should be "cut out" before the fulfillment of his vision

(Dan_9:24). Normally, not much more than ten years would bring them into the Kingdom, but this depended on the attitude of the nation.

It is true that Daniel cut the era into periods, and that there is very evidently some delay after the sixty-ninth heptad, in which Messiah was to be cut off. But no intimation is given that this would be any considerable length of time. So that we may consider that our Lord's ministry as a whole was, from the prophetic viewpoint, within something over seven years of the kingdom. This is the force of the oft-repeated expression which was the burden of His proclamation, "The kingdom of God has drawn near." The sixty-ninth heptad of Daniel ended with His triumphal entry (Mar_11:8). Only seven more prophetic years remained, which begin with the confirmation of the covenant with the coming prince (Dan_9:27). That it did not come does not in the least disprove the fact that it was near. Epaphroditus draws near unto death (Php_2:30) but he did not die at that time. This word is very carefully chosen. The Lord did not predict positively that the kingdom was "at hand" so that it must come in a short time, but relatively, that it needed little time to make it a reality.

16-20 Compare Mat_4:18-22; Luk_5:1-11.