Mark 1:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,

NIV: After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

NASB: Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,

CSB: After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God:

NLT: Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News.

KJV: Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

NKJV: Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Following a cursory mention of Jesus' baptism (Mark 1:10–11) and temptation (Mark 1:12–13), the second of seven sections in Mark introduces Jesus' ministry and the call of the disciples (Mark 1:14–20). God interacts with people in different ways depending on the era. In the time of Israel in the Old Testament, He communicated through prophets, and John the Baptist was the finale. John was arrested for challenging Herod the tetrarch's marriage to his own sister-in-law. Though Herod was afraid of John because he was so popular, Herod's wife demanded John be arrested, and arranged for his execution (Matthew 14:1–12). As John the Baptist's arrest takes him out of the picture, Jesus starts His public ministry (Matthew 4:12–17). This is not out of any callousness, but because it is time for God to communicate with His people directly through His Son.

Galilee is a region on northern Israel, west of the Sea of Galilee, in the area once claimed by the tribes Zebulun and Naphtali of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Isaiah 9:1). Nazareth, where Jesus grew up (Matthew 2:22; 3:13), sits very near the center, while Capernaum is about forty miles northeast on the northwest coast of the Sea. Jesus starts His ministry of teaching the gospel of God near His home, not in the social/religious center of Jerusalem. "Gospel," from the Greek euaggelion, means "glad tidings," specifically about the salvation that Jesus offers. While John's message reminded the people that they needed forgiveness, Jesus' message shows them how to receive that forgiveness.

Mark 1:14–20 describes Jesus' call of the first disciples. First, Jesus approaches Simon—later named Peter—and Andrew, and then speaks to James and John. Both pairs of men choose to leave their fishing businesses behind, in order to follow Jesus. As the following passage shows, this means abandoning everything, as Jesus' ministry will take Him away from this region. Other Gospels give additional details on these encounters (Matthew 4:18–22; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42).

John the Baptist is introduced as a figure preparing the world for the arrival of the Messiah. John's baptism teaches people about their need for repentance. When Jesus arrives, and is baptized, it signals the coming of God's fulfillment and the need of people to recognize their Savior. Mark briefly notes Jesus' baptism, desert temptation, and the calling of the first four disciples. After this, Jesus begins teaching in the synagogue and performs miraculous healings which spread His fame around the region.

The first chapter of the Gospel of Mark sets the tone for the rest of the story. Mark's writing is concise, action-packed, and short on details. Within a few verses, Mark establishes the transition from the wilderness ministry of John the Baptist to the healing and preaching of Jesus Christ. This first chapter includes the calling of Jesus' earliest disciples, His early miracles, and His early teaching. This establishes the pattern shown throughout the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus mingles His teaching with miraculous signs.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.