Mark 1: Overview, Outline, and Commentary
Overview of Mark 1
The Gospel of Mark begins with urgency and action - no birth narrative or echoes of the prophets. From the get-go, Mark announces that this is “the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
Rather than focusing on Jesus’ early years, Mark plunges straight into the ministry of John the Baptist and then moves rapidly into Jesus’ baptism, temptation, and the launch of his public ministry.
The pace is fast, the tone is bold, and the message is strikingly clear: something world-changing has begun!
Notable is the fact that Mark 1 introduces several defining and recurring themes of the Gospel:
the authority of Jesus
the nearness of the Kingdom of God
the Call to Follow
Jesus teaches with power, commands unclean spirits, heals the sick, and withdraws for prayer - showing both divine strength and human discipline. The chapter ends with the healing of a leper, which is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ compassion, power, and love for the marginalized.
Explore Mark 1 by Passage
Below you’ll find each major section (pericope) of Mark 1, with links to in-depth commentary and verse-by-verse breakdowns. These passages trace the beginning of Jesus’ ministry — from John the Baptist’s bold proclamation to Jesus’ healing power and divine authority.
Click a passage to read more:
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
(Mark 1:1–8) – Read Commentary »
The Baptism of Jesus
(Mark 1:9–11) – Read Commentary »
The Temptation of Jesus
(Mark 1:12–13) – Read Commentary
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
(Mark 1:14–15) – Read Commentary »
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
(Mark 1:16–20) – Read Commentary »
Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit
(Mark 1:21–28) – Read Commentary »
Jesus Heals Many at Simon’s House
(Mark 1:29–34) – Read Commentary »
A Preaching Tour in Galilee
(Mark 1:35–39) – Read Commentary »
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
(Mark 1:40–45) – Read Commentary »
