Introduction

This book “is written not only to confirm our belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, but also to remind us of things we have read in the previous Gospel," so that we may pay more careful attention to them.  It is right that these things should be written down again “because we are so disinclined to understand them and so inclined to forget them."

Mark 1:1-20

v1-8: In the gospel, Christ promises that all who repent and have their sins forgiven will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.  They will be “purified by his graces, and refreshed by his assurance and encouragements.”

v9-13: "Christ himself was tempted, not only to teach us that it is not a sin to be tempted but also to direct us to where we should go for help when we are tempted, to the One who suffered when he was tempted, so that he could sympathise with us in our experience of temptation."

v14-15: Jesus began His ministry after John was put in prison.  John may have been silenced, but the gospel would not be silenced.  "If some people are taken away, others will be raised up... to carry on the same work."

v16-20: Christ does not need human help.  Yet He chooses use people, including you, in His work of fishing for lost souls.