Preach
Questions
Mark is spoken of fondly by Peter [1 Peter 5:13] and knew Paul [Colossians 4:10]. He was probably younger than Peter [[1 Peter 5:13] so one of the next generation of believers like Timothy. He may have written his gospel around 60-65AD. Many of the NT letters are earlier? Why did he write his gospel?
Mark quotes Isaiah 40:3, which is repeated in Malachi 3:1. Mark is hyperlinking to Isaiah 40. Read Isaiah 40:1-5. Galilee is the hill country of Palestine. Upper Galilee was almost inaccessible. What is the gospel imagery of Isaiah 40:3-4?
What did wilderness connotate for Mark’s original hearers who knew the Old Testament? Where else do we meet wilderness in the story of salvation? John baptised in the wilderness [v4]. Why?
What was John’s message [v4]? Who did John point people at vv7-8]? What do we need to do to draw near to Jesus?
What will Jesus do that John could not [v8]? See also Isaiah 44:3, Ezekiel 11:19, 36:24–28, 39:29. John understood that Jesus as the Christ, THE anointed one, would inaugurate this future kingdom of Spirit-filled believers. What does this means for us?
At Jesus’ baptism “he saw the heavens being split open and the Spirit descending like a dove on him” [v10]. A glimpse into the heavenly realm is called an apocalypse. In ancient and modern Greek it refers to something hidden suddenly being seen like when a statue is unveiled. This event is really marked out as significant: the glimpse of the heavens and the voice of God speaking! What is the significance of Jesus receiving the Holy Spirit? What does does Christ or Messiah mean?
Jesus is led into the wilderness, by the Spirit, for 40 days. He is amongst wild animals. What did all of this mean for Mark’s hearers who knew their Hebrew bible [or Old Testament as we call it]? What was 40 a reference to? Will Jesus die in the wilderness or enter the promised land? Jesus is the same name as Joshua. Do you see the parallels?