Bible Commentaries

1. This is the good news about Jesus Christ. The whole history of Jesus is a disclosure of God's Good News for the human family! JESUS is his personal name (given by the angel, Matthew 1:21). CHRIST [Messiah] is his title. It means: "the Lord's Anointed One." The kings and priests of Israel were anointed with oil; Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit.

It began as the prophet Isaiah had written. Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1. See notes on Matthew 3:3; Matthew 11:10.

So John appeared in the desert. Of Judea. See note on Matthew 3:1. Turn away from your sins and be baptized. He both preached and baptized. Note that his baptism was water only, for those who were already God's people (see notes on Acts 19:1-7). And God will forgive your sins. This is similar, but not the same as Acts 2:38. John called God's people Israel to renewal; Peter called people to be born of water and the Spirit. (See note on Acts 2:38).

Everybody . . . went out to hear John. See notes on Matthew 3:5-6.

John wore clothes made of camel's hair. See note on Matthew 3:4.

The man who will come after me. See note on Matthew 3:11. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. See note on Matthew 3:11.

Not long afterward. John had been preaching and baptizing about six months. See Matthew 3:13-17 (and notes there) on the baptism of Jesus.

As soon as Jesus came up out of the water. "Out of' means "out from inside." Scholars agree that Jesus himself was immersed.

Being tempted by Satan. See Matthew 4:1-11 and notes.

After John had been put in prison. Mark goes directly to Jesus' work in Galilee. [John records the events between Jesus' baptism and the ministry in Galilee (John chapters 2-4).] See Matthew 4:12-25 and notes.

He saw two fisherman. See Matthew 4:18-22 for the call of the four apostles.

They came to the town of Capernaum. Capernaum: see Matthew 4:13. Went into the synagogue. Synagogue: see note on Matthew 4:23.

Were amazed at the way he taught. See note on Matthew 7:28. Teachers of the Law. See note on Matthew 3:7.

A man with an evil spirit. See note on Matthew 4:24. Demon possession is clearly taught in the Scriptures [However, some think this ended at the time Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A. D.]

What do you want with us? They knew Jesus had come to destroy the Devil's works (1 John 3:8). You are God's holy messenger! The demon made a better statement of belief than the Jewish leaders.

And came out of him. At Christ's command. This was not "make believe," but showed Jesus' authority.

The people were all so amazed. This happened in the synagogue.

And so the news about Jesus spread quickly. For the fame of Jesus, see note on Matthew 4:25. For the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, see note on Matthew 8:14-15. Mark 1:34. See note on Matthew 8:17.

Very early the next morning. Jesus made it a habit to take time from his busy schedule to pray.

But Simon. Simon Peter, also called Cephas.

We must go on. Jesus was making a tour, and could not stay too long in any one place.

So he traveled all over Galilee. Josephus, the Jewish Historian, says that at that time Galilee had 240 towns and villages, and was densely populated.

A leper came to Jesus. See notes on Matthew 8:2-4. This miracle took place after the Sermon on the Mount. Leprosy still exists in our own United States.

But go straight to the priest. At Jerusalem, the religious center. Then offer the sacrifice that Moses ordered. See note on Matthew 8:4.

And people came to him from everywhere. Both to hear his teaching, and to be healed.