Mark 1:1-13

               The book of Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels with only sixteen chapters. If one were to sit down and read this book, it would only take them forty-five minutes to read it. Now, if you are like me, it will take you a lot longer than that. However, that does not take away its impact of what we find in this Gospel.

               In the first verse of this book, it says, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (ESV). The author John Mark a disciple of Jesus Christ started writing this Gospel making this profound announcement. The word Gospel means, “good news.” This is more than the good news that we think of. When one makes the announcement that they are getting married is good news, or when someone says that they got a new job. Even when someone is pregnant is good news. However, this good news that Mark is writing about is far more different than the good news we are used to. This is the good news of Jesus Christ!

               Later, in verse seven, when John the Baptist is talking, it says, “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’” (ESV). During the first century, if someone was wealthy enough, they would have servants. The lowest servant would be the person who would tie and untie their master’s sandals. So, John the Baptist is saying that He is not worthy to untie the sandals of Jesus. Right away, we are informed the kind of person Mark is writing about. Jesus is more than just a person; He is the Son of God.