Revision as of 16:24, 31 December 2014

Marks tools

Mark makes it plain that he intends to convince us that Jesus is the Son of God.

Mr 1:1 ¶ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

'Gospel' just means 'good news', and Mark considers it good news that God's Son walked among us.

Remember that Mark reads the Bible like Jesus did, and Jesus thought he was the Son of God.

Direct reference to prophecy

Mark's first tool is to reference prophecy that people would be familiar with. The lack of a direct citation is evidence he expected people to be familiar with it without having to look it up.

Mr 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mr 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

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Mal 3:1 ¶ Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:

Isa 40:3 ¶ The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Allusion to prophecy

Without saying he was citing prophecy, he cites something that will bring prophecy to mind, such as this reference to the costume that John wore:

Mr 1:6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

Which reminded them of Elijah:

2Ki 1:8 And they answered him, [He was] an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It [is] Elijah the Tishbite.

Clarifies prophecy

Mark understands that Elijah and Elisha together are one image of the Messiah and that as John is the ante-type or fulfillment of the Elijah type, then Jesus would be the fulfillment of the Elisha type. Elisha was greater than Elijah:

2Ki 2:9 ¶ And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

Prophecy fulfilled

For each reference to prophecy, whether it was direct or subtle, Mark cites examples from John and Jesus to show that it was fulfilled.

Simple fulfillment

The prophecy said there would be a forerunner, and John came before Jesus.

Interpreted fulfillment

Mark suggests that preaching repentance fulfills the prophecy to 'prepare the way'.

Hidden fulfillment

There are details in the fulfillment text that are not immediately obvious to be part of the prophecy.

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