Mark jumps right into truth as he begins the Gospel of Mark.  In the first eight verses we are introduced to John the Baptist and Jesus Christ is exalted.

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,'" John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1:1-8 ESV)

The very first verse of Mark is short, but it speaks volumes – “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1 ESV)” Throughout the entire Gospel of Mark, we are told about Jesus.  It is good news to all who learn of Him, but this good news did have its beginning with Mark’s Gospel.  Jesus was proclaimed throughout the Old Testament and the Prophets and Mark is implying to this with a reference to Isaiah. 

Mark declares that Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ.  The name “Jesus” means “Yahweh is salvation”.  Matthew brings particular attention to this meaning – “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21 ESV)” 

Christ is a title and means “the anointed one”, or “the Messiah”.  So here at the start of the Gospel of Mark we have the declaration that Jesus is the son of God and the Messiah who saves us from our sin and delivers us out of its captivity and bondage.

I thank God that He sent Jesus into our world!

Know that you are loved,
gaj