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Mark: The Preparation

Mark 1:1-15

Chapter 1

  1. Mark 1:1.

  2. Two prophets are cited here as proof concerning the forerunner and his mission (1:2-3).

    1. In “earlier” mss, it says that they are quoting from Isaiah, not simply the “Prophets.”

      1. In fact, these are quotes, first from Malachi 3:1, then Isaiah 40:3.

      2. Some attack this and say Mark made a mistake here—is there a problem?

    2. In compiling the critical Greek text, the scholars have some rules.

      1. Go with the earliest mss.

      2. Go with the readings that are the most problematic.

      3. The reason is because one could see a scribe “correcting” something later that seemed problematic, rather than a scribe altering the text to make it more problematic.

      4. This is how some of the variations among the mss are explained, scribal “corrections.”

      5. We have enough mss, however, to compare and be certain about 99.9% of what’s in our N.T., that it was original.

      6. The remaining 0.1% are very minor variations such as this.

    3. Regardless, it was a practice, when quoting more than one prophet, to cite the greater—in this case Isaiah over Malachi.

    4. Recall, these are the only quotations from the O.T. in the narrative of Mark.

    5. The mission of the forerunner was to prepare the way of the Lord.

      1. This is further proof that Jesus is the Son of God.

      2. The one preparing His way was also foretold, not just 400 years before, but also about 700 years before.

    6. Isaiah shows the location of where this forerunner would operate—the wilderness.

    7. Again, he is to prepare the way of the Lord.

      1. This preparation was for the path that YHWH would take!

      2. This proves at the very beginning of this gospel that YHWH was expected.

      3. Some think that, if Mark is the first written gospel and since he never calls Jesus YHWH, then this shows evidence of a legend building up around this Jesus of Nazareth that wasn’t fully realized until Gospel of John.

      4. But here, it is plain that Mark is attributing Isaiah 40:3 to John the Baptist, who was to prepare the way of YHWH, who is Jesus.

      5. Isaiah 40:3 says: “Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

      6. So, he equates YHWH with God, and Mark equates both with Jesus.

    8. Why have a forerunner? Why does Jesus need His way to be prepared before Him?

      1. To have more prophecies to be fulfilled, proving who He is.

      2. Jesus is a king, and all kings have someone before them proclaiming their arrival; this is a sign of His royalty.

      3. John laid the groundwork for His arrival, already amassing disciples, some of whom followed Jesus when He came—including Andrew, Peter’s brother (John 1:35-42).

      4. He increased the righteousness of the nation (Mal. 4:6).

      5. He pointed people to Christ.

      6. Many viewed him as a prophet, one to be believed, and when he bore witness of the Christ, that helped to prove it (John 1:29-34; 5:33).