# Mark Chapter 1
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## Summary

John appears proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins as was foretold in the Prophets. All of Judea and Jerusalem are coming out to him confessing sins. John foretells about the promised Messiah and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The ministry of John ends with the arrival of Jesus and his arrest. We then observe Jesus calling Disciples and performing a series of miracles. Specifically the healing of a man from an unclean spirit, Simon's mother-in-law, and *all* who were sick or oppressed by demons.

## Thoughts

There is a recurrent theme of 'blessing' and 'pestilence' throughout this chapter. These seem to be symbolically linked to the diet of John the Baptist who consumes both honey and locust. The image of honey evokes the image of the fruitfullness that emerges from a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Deut 31:20) and which later becomes “a desert land... a howling wilderness waste” (Deut 32:10). The locust suggestive of the numberless mouths that “consume the years” (Joel 2:25; Deut 28:38). There is also the theme of the 'wilderness' which symbolically represents a trial to be overcome. John himself takes on the hair of the Camel an embodiment of the survivor in the desert place. Jesus withdraws to the desolate place.

Interesting then that John embodies the consumption of both the blessing and pestilence. Perhaps suggesting that his baptism of repentance will be typified by such a diet. The consumption of both the blessing and that which consumes. John is also girded with a leather belt. We read that wood, along with cloth, leather and sackcloth, is rendered unclean by contact with a corpse (Lev 11:32) and must be purified (Num 31:20). Perhaps representing the need for Israels purification from sin.

These themes are recurrent and we observe Jesus receive blessing at his baptism in the form of the Holy Spirit which empowers his ministry and also the subsequent wilderness of temptation. There is also a moving into the 'desolate places' for prayer and ultimately given he could no longer enter the cities.

Jesus evidently seeks to conceal his identity at this point commanding the unclean spirit to be silent, charging the leaper not to reveal what had happened.