Mark 1: 14-20

Mark’s gospel begins with John the Baptist in the desert announcing a baptism of repentance in order to prepare for the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Mark then tells of the baptism of Jesus. Immediately after the baptism, Mark states that the Spirit drove Jesus into the desert for forty days where he lived among the wild beasts, was tempted by Satan and where the angles ministered to him. All of this is recounted very briefly and then Mark takes up the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. The text that describes that beginning is above.

The focus of the text is the ministry of Jesus. It is not clear from the text why Mark mentions the arrest of John. The text suggests that anyone who engaged in activity that might be viewed as prophetic was subject to an element of danger. Jesus is portrayed as traveling among the towns and villages of Galilee rather than in the desert wilderness that was the backdrop of John’s ministry. The message of Jesus in verse 15 is very similar to that of John as described in other gospels. “In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea (and) saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 3:1-2) However in Mark’s gospel, the only message of John is “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." (Mark 1:3b) The “kingdom of God” is loaded with meaning for the people of the day. The earliest traditions would identify the people of Israel as the kingdom of God. God was understood as the true ruler of the people and the king as one whom God had entrusted to rule in God’s name. But the failure of this system led the people to look to the future when a faithful ruler would reestablish the kingdom of God. Jesus’ proclamation states simply that now is the time when their hope for the future establishment of the kingdom of God has arrived. Jesus’ proclamation here is a bold statement that would have attracted the attention of the people and the interest of those who would find such comments a threat to the existing power structures.

The announcement of the gospel is followed by Mark’s account of the call of the first disciples ­ the fishermen: Simon, Andrew, James and John. These disciples are called not just to be pupils of the teacher, which was the traditional role of disciples of the day. They are called to work with Jesus in gathering other disciples. They are to become fishers of men. These men are portrayed as having family responsibilities. Jesus’ call to discipleship included leaving those responsibilities. This would have been a significant break with the basic understanding of family responsibility upon which much of the society of the day was based. Jesus is initiating a new way of living in the world.

1. How do you think the beheading of John the Baptist might have affected Jesus?
2. How is the ministry of Jesus different from John’s ministry? What do you think Mark is trying to teach his readers about Jesus both in his preaching and in the way the first disciples respond to his invitation?
3. What kind of response do you think Jesus received from the people who were personally present? From those who only heard of it from others?
4. If you had been present when Jesus entered one of these villages of Galilee and had witnessed his preaching and the call of disciples ­ what would have been your impression? What questions would you have? What hopes and fears would such an experience elicit within you? Are any of those feelings present within you in your life today? What do you do with those feelings?
5. Why do you think Andrew, Peter, John and Mark would have made good disciples? What would have made them poor choices?
6. What is it that makes you a good choice to be a disciple? What makes you a poor choice?

(Comments to Paul at pauljg@mindspring.com.)

Paul Gallagher, OFM
Young Adult Ministry - Spiritual Direction
St. Peter Chruch
110 West Madison
Chicago, IL 60602
312-327-5111