Mark 1:1-3
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Mark deliberately starts with "the beginning of the gospel," not just of Jesus' life, but of the "gospel" itself as a new era. This isn't just a title, but signifies that the entire good news story, and the way God relates to humanity, kicks off with John the Baptist's ministry preparing the way.
Mark kicks off his Gospel with a bold declaration, immediately identifying Jesus as the Son of God and the start of something new. The narrative that follows details John the Baptist's ministry in the wilderness, preparing the way for Jesus and preaching a baptism of repentance, setting the stage for Jesus' public appearance and ministry. This entire sequence, from John's prophetic call to Jesus' own ministry, forms the foundational "beginning" of the good news being proclaimed.
Ever feel like you're starting something new? This verse calls the whole message of Jesus a 'beginning.' What does that tell us about the Gospel itself?
Mark's opening isn't just a title; it's a declaration! He calls this entire account 'the beginning of the gospel.' This isn't merely the start of a book, but the inauguration of a whole new reality – God's reign breaking into the world.
Mark immediately tells us who this gospel is about. Why start with such a profound title, and what does it signal for the rest of the story?
Right after calling it the 'beginning of the gospel,' Mark declares Jesus is 'the Son of God.' This isn't just another title; it's foundational to understanding everything that follows.
Understand the original words
euangelion · Greek Noun
The good news or glad tidings regarding the person and work of Jesus Christ, specifically His death, burial, and resurrection for the salvation of humanity. It is the central message of the New Testament.
huios tou Theou · Greek Noun
A title signifying Jesus' unique, divine, and eternal nature as the second person of the Trinity. It emphasizes His relationship with the Father and His authority as the Messiah.
angelos · Greek Noun
A generic term for one sent with a commission or message from a superior. In a theological sense, it often refers to a precursor or herald of the Messiah.
kyrios · Greek Noun
The absolute sovereign and creator of the universe, often used in the New Testament to refer to Jesus, affirming His deity and authority over all creation.
c. 750 BC
Prophecy of Isaiah
The prophet Isaiah foretells a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord, a prophecy later applied to John the Baptist and Jesus.
c. 400 BC
Malachi's Prophecy
The prophet Malachi foretells the coming of a messenger who will prepare the way before the Lord, further setting the stage for John the Baptist.
c. 6 BC
Birth of John the Baptist
John the Baptist, the prophesied forerunner, is born to Zechariah and Elizabeth, marking the start of the events leading to Jesus' ministry.
c. 6 BC - AD 4 BC
Birth and Early Years of Jesus
Jesus is born in Bethlehem, and his early years are spent in obscurity in Nazareth, with brief periods in Egypt.
c. AD 28
Tiberius's Reign Begins
The fifteenth year of Emperor Tiberius's reign is a key chronological marker for the start of John the Baptist's ministry.
This verse is a direct prophecy quoted by Mark in the following verses, identifying John the Baptist as the 'voice crying in the wilderness' who prepares the way for the Lord, thus establishing the 'beginning of the gospel.'
Malachi 3:1This Old Testament passage, also alluded to by Mark, speaks of God sending a messenger to prepare the way before Him, directly paralleling John the Baptist's role as the forerunner of Jesus Christ and the start of the Gospel era.
John 1:14This verse from John's Gospel declares 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,' underscoring the incarnational aspect of Jesus Christ that Mark's 'beginning of the gospel' introduces, emphasizing His divine nature ('Son of God') and human reality.
Matthew 3:1-2This passage from Matthew's Gospel recounts John the Baptist's preaching of repentance and the coming kingdom of heaven, which serves as the foundational 'beginning' of the Gospel message, mirroring Mark's introduction.
Acts 1:22The selection of Matthias as an apostle in Acts highlights the ongoing narrative of Jesus' ministry, stating the new apostle must have been 'with us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to the time when he was taken up.' This directly frames the start of Jesus' public ministry, as introduced in Mark 1:1, as the pivotal point of His mission.
vincentMark 1:1: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;"
Beginning (ἀρχὴ)without the article, showing that the expression is a kind of title. It is 'the beginning, not of his book, but of the facts of the Gospel. He shows from the prophets that the Gospel was to begin by the sending forth of a forerunner.
calvinMark 1:1-6: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;"
- Now in those days John the Baptist comes, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2. And saying, Repent: [243] for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, 3. For this is he, of whom it has been spoken by Isaiah the prophet, who says, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and h…
Mark deliberately starts with "the beginning of the gospel," not just of Jesus' life, but of the "gospel" itself as a new era. This isn't just a title, but signifies that the entire good news story, and the way God relates to humanity, kicks off with John the Baptist's ministry preparing the way.
Mark kicks off his Gospel with a bold declaration, immediately identifying Jesus as the Son of God and the start of something new. The narrative that follows details John the Baptist's ministry in the wilderness, preparing the way for Jesus and preaching a baptism of repentance, setting the stage for Jesus' public appearance and ministry. This entire sequence, from John's prophetic call to Jesus' own ministry, forms the foundational "beginning" of the good news being proclaimed.
Mark kicks off his Gospel with a bold declaration, immediately identifying Jesus as the Son of God and the start of something new. The narrative that follows details John the Baptist's ministry in the wilderness, preparing the way for Jesus and preaching a baptism of repentance, setting the stage for Jesus' public appearance and ministry. This entire sequence, from John's prophetic call to Jesus' own ministry, forms the foundational "beginning" of the good news being proclaimed.
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c. AD 28
Pontius Pilate Governs Judea
Pontius Pilate serves as the Roman governor of Judea during the period when John the Baptist and Jesus begin their ministries.
c. AD 28— this verse
John the Baptist Preaches
John the Baptist begins his public ministry in the wilderness of Judea, preaching repentance and baptizing people, announcing the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God and the Messiah.
"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness:…" — Mark deliberately starts with "the beginning of the gospel," not just of Jesus' life, but of the "gospel" itself as a new era. This isn't just a title, but signifies that the entire good news story,…