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ACCORDING TO MARK.

'THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO

ST. MARK'.

COMPILED AT AN UNCERTAIN

THAN 55 A.D.

DATE LATER

THIS gospel contains "the earliest and the simplest picture of the ministry of Jesus," but tells nothing of his birth or early life. It appears to be the work of the John Mark who is mentioned more than once in the New Testament, and to have been compiled from information gathered from the Apostle Peter (whose convert Mark is supposed to have been), as well as from other sources, both written and oral. Of these sources it is plain that the compilers of 'The Gospels according to St. Matthew and St. Luke' also availed themselves, as well as, in all probability, of a draft of this gospel. It is evident from the writer's habit of translating Aramaic words, and using Latin expressions, that his Life of Jesus was intended for readers of the Western World; a view confirmed by many interesting traditions of the Western Church. From the absence of much of the Teaching of Jesus given in 'The Gospels according to St. Matthew and St. Luke,' it has been inferred that this was not available in a connected form for the compiler of the present gospel.

ACCORDING TO MARK.

The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ.

The Baptist and his Message.

I.--THE PREPARATION.

It is said in the Prophet Isaiah

'Behold! I send my Messenger before thy face;
He shall prepare thy way."

'The voice of one crying aloud in the Wilderness :
"Make ready the way of the Lord,

Make his paths straight."

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And in fulfilment of this, John the Baptizer appeared in the 4 Wilderness, proclaiming a baptism upon repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. The whole of Judaea, as well as all the 5 inhabitants of Jerusalem, went out to him; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. John was clad in clothing of camels' hair, with a belt of leather 6 round his waist, and lived on locusts and wild honey; and he 7 proclaimed

"There is coming after me one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to stoop down and unfasten his sandals. I 8 have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The

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Now about that time Jesus came from Naza- 9 Baptism of reth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jesus. Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent apart, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him, and from the heavens came a voice

The

'Thou art my Son, the Beloved; in thee I delight." Immediately afterwards the Spirit drove Jesus Temptation out into the Wilderness; and he was there in the of Jesus. Wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and among the wild beasts, while the angels ministered to him. 2-3 Mal. 3. 1; Isa. 40. 3. 6 2 Kings 1. 8. 7 Ps. 118. 26. Isa. 42. I

IPs. 2. 2.

11 Ps. 2. 7

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Jesus begins

II. THE WORK IN GALILEE.

After John had been committed to prison, Jesus 14 his Work. went to Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of God-

"The time has come, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; 15 repent, and believe the Good News."

The first As Jesus was going along the shore of the
Disciples. Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother
Andrew casting a net in the Sea, for they were fishermen.
"Come and follow me," Jesus said, "and I will set you to
fish for men."

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Going 18,

They left their nets at once, and followed him.
on a little further, he saw James, Zebediah's son, and his
brother John, who also were in their boat mending the nets.
Jesus at once called them, and they left their father Zebediah
in the boat with the crew, and went after him.

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And they walked into Capernaum.

On

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a possessed the next Sabbath Jesus went into the Synagogue
Man. and began to teach. The people were amazed 22
at his teaching, for he taught them like one who had authority,
and not like the Teachers of the Law. Now there was in their 23
Synagogue at the time a man under the power of a foul
spirit, who called out :

"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

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But Jesus rebuked the spirit:

"Be silent! come out from him."

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The foul spirit threw the man into a fit, and with a loud 26 cry came out from him. And they were all so amazed that 27 they kept asking :

،، What is this? Strange teaching indeed! He gives his commands with authority even to the foul spirits, and they obey him!"

And the fame of Jesus spread at once in all directions, through 28 the whole neighbourhood of Galilee.

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and of many

As soon as they had come out from the Syna- 29 of Peter's gogue, they went, with James and John, into Mother-in-law the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon's 30 others. mother-in-law was lying ill with fever, and they at once told Jesus about her. Jesus went up to her and, 31 grasping her hand, raised her up; the fever left her, and she began to wait upon them.

In the evening, after sunset, the people brought to Jesus 3

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