Bite-size Manna. 
A Bible teaching commentary in six units on the book of Mark Part 1. For personal or group study, written by Fred Morris. 
Unit 2: Mark 1:21 to Mark 2:11.  
 
Next topic: JOHN BAPTISES JESUS. 
Jesus came from Galilee to the River Jordan and John baptised Him (1:9; Matthew 3:13; John 1:32-34). Jesus did not have to repent, for He had no sin (Hebrews 4:15). John baptised Jesus because it was the right thing to do (Matthew 3:15). It was the plan of God and it was right to show this to others. It was the plan of God for John and the beginning of the ministry of Jesus.
John came to prepare the way for the work of Jesus. When Jesus came up out of the water, John heard and saw three great miracles (Mark 1:10-11):
1.	Heaven opened up.
2.	The Holy Spirit came down gently to rest on Jesus.
3.	God spoke from Heaven. 
The voice of God said: “This is My Son, and I love Him. I am very pleased with Him” (Matthew 3:17). 
Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He was at the beginning of time with His Father God and will be at the end of time. Christians believe in one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is why our God is called the Holy Trinity. Trinity means three in one.
John knew and believed that Jesus was the Son of God. John baptised in water as a sign of repentance and the forgiveness of sins (1:4).  John said that Jesus “will baptise you with the Holy spirit (1:8).
When John baptised Jesus (1:9) there was no need for Jesus to confess His sins for:
Jesus was born without sin and had no sin (Hebrews 4:15)
•	Jesus was and is the Son of God (Mark 1:1)
•	Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit (1:10-11).
After the baptism of Jesus, He was sent away by the Holy Spirit to be tested by Satan for 40 days (1:13; Matthew 4:3–9.) His baptism and testing were the beginning of the ministry of Jesus on earth.

Next topic: THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS. 
John the Baptiser called the Jews to repent and believe in Jesus their Messiah. We repent when we are sorry for our sins and turn away from them. 
For hundreds of years, the Jewish people had looked for their Messiah. The people wanted a leader who would save them from the power of their enemies. God wanted the people to turn back to Him so He could save them from their sins. 
The Old Testament tells us that many messengers of God had been killed when they warned the Jews to repent. The Jewish prophets also told of God’s Anointed One or Messiah who would come and save them. This Saviour would come to save all peoples, the Jews and non-Jews. This Saviour was the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Saviour today.

Next topic: JESUS CALLS TWELVE MEN TO FOLLOW HIM.  
When John the Baptiser was put in prison, Jesus started to preach in Galilee (1:14). This is a region of Israel to the north of Jerusalem.  Jesus gave three reasons to preach the Good News from God. “The time has come,” He said. “The Kingdom of God is near. Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News” (1:15). 
Jesus saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew.  They were throwing a fish net into a lake called the Sea of Galilee (1:16). Jesus called to them, “Come and follow Me!” He wanted to teach them about the Kingdom of God. Note that Jesus called ordinary working men to follow him.
 At once the fishermen stopped fishing and followed Jesus. It is important to accept the call of Jesus immediately and to follow Him in faith. He gave these men a promise. “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (1:17). They would bring people to Jesus to save them from their sins. They would catch people, not fish, for the Kingdom of God.
     Andrew was one of the disciples of John the Baptiser. He left John and followed Jesus. Then Andrew went back to his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:40,41). 
     Simon believed Jesus was the Messiah, and became one of His closest disciples. Later on, Jesus said to Simon, “Your name will be Peter.”  It means a rock (John 1:42). 
     Jesus also called Philip to follow Him. Philip then asked Nathanael to meet Jesus. These men became disciples of Jesus (John 1:43-48). 
Nathanael said to Jesus, “You are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel” (John 1:49). Jesus then confirmed who He was by speaking about the angels of God (John 1:51). Only the Son of God could know the angels of God personally.
There were 12 disciples who gave up everything to follow Jesus.
Jesus was now ready to teach His disciples. He also taught others who wanted to listen to the Good News. He taught them about the Kingdom of God and about the plan of His heavenly Father to save sinners. 

Mark 1:21 to 28. 
Next topic: JESUS BEGINS TO TEACH AND TO HEAL. 
Jesus went into the Jewish synagogue at Capernaum and taught the people (1:21). The synagogue was a Jewish religious meeting place. Their leaders read the Law of Moses to the people every Sabbath day. ‘Then Jesus began to teach. The people were amazed at His teaching. He taught them as one who had authority’ (1:21-22). 
Satan could not destroy the Word of God but he made it difficult for Jesus to teach and to preach. The words of Jesus had so much power in them that they made a man cry out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God” (1:24). 
The man had an evil spirit in him, which made him speak in fear like this. Jesus knew that it was the evil spirit controlling him. Jesus told the spirit, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon spirit shook the man and came out of him with a scream. The people were amazed. They said, “He gives orders to evil spirits and they obey Him” (1:27). 
‘News about Jesus spread quickly all over Galilee’ (1:28). 

Mark 1:29 to 45. 
PETER INVITES JESUS HOME. 
Capernaum was a town on the north side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus stayed there, at the house of Simon Peter. The mother of Peter’s wife was sick. Jesus went to her, took her hand and helped her to get up. Her fever left her immediately and she began to serve them (1:31). Jesus had the power of God in Him to do miracles. He healed the sick. 
By the end of the day all the people in the city knew what had happened. They crowded around the door of the house of Peter (1:33). They brought sick people and those who had demon spirits to Jesus. Jesus healed them all. But He would not allow the demons to speak. He did not want demons to say who He was (1:34). 
The ministry of Jesus was so popular that sometimes it was difficult for Him to teach. Early next morning He got up and left the house. It was still dark. He went to a place where He could be alone to pray (1:35).
Peter called the others and they went out to look for Jesus. He often got up early to pray while it was still dark. He talked to His Father in Heaven. Prayer kept Him in the power and will of God. It is important for us all to set aside a time for prayer in a quiet place. It is important to receive the guidance of our Lord God Almighty.
Peter found Jesus and told Him, “Everyone is looking for You” (1:37). 
It was difficult for Jesus to teach the people. They wanted to see more miracles. Jesus replied, “Let us go to the nearby villages.” Jesus did not let His success in one place stop Him from preaching elsewhere. He did not feel guilty about moving away to preach the Good News from God somewhere else. He said, “That is why I have come” (1:38). 

Next topic: JESUS HEALS A MAN WHO HAD LEPROSY. 
So Jesus and His disciples walked through all the region of Galilee. ‘He preached in their synagogues. He also drove out demons’ (1:39). 
Jesus continued to heal sick people. A man who was sick with leprosy came to Him. It was a bad skin disease. He knelt down and begged Jesus to make his skin clean. People with leprosy had to live away from towns and villages. They were not allowed to touch anyone. 
The man said, “If you are willing to make me clean, you can do it” (1:40). 
Jesus was very sad for him. He put out His hand and touched him. He said, “I am willing. Be clean” (1:41). At once the man was healed. His skin was clean (1:42). 
Then Jesus told him not to tell anyone. “Go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded” (1:44). The man had to do this to show that he was healed. It was a teaching from the Old Testament (Leviticus 1:45). After that, he could go back to his family. He did not have to live alone any more. He no longer needed to shout out, “Unclean! Unclean!” when people came near.
The man told everyone he met how he was healed. Soon, it was difficult for Jesus to go from place to place because of the crowds (1:45). They even followed Him into the desert. 

Mark Chapter 2. 
Next topic: JESUS HEALS A MAN WHO COULD NOT WALK. 
Jesus went back to Capernaum in the Galilee region. Capernaum was a friendly town for Jesus at this time. Many people heard that He was there. They filled the house until there was no more room (2:2).
Jesus preached the truth from God to them because He Himself was the Word of God. He brought the truth from God to the world. He brought the Good News or Gospel of the love of God shown in Himself.
Houses in Israel were usually built with large stones. Some had flat roofs made of wood and dried mud or clay. You could walk on them. Some of the buildings had very simple roofs made of tree branches.
Four men carried their friend to the house where Jesus was teaching. He could not walk. They could not get inside, so they went up and removed part of the roof. Then they lowered their sick friend down on his mat to the feet of Jesus. 
Faith in God often leads people to do brave things. People who have faith do great things because they are trusting in a great God. Jesus saw the faith of these four men. So He said to the sick man, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (2:5). 
Some Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses heard what Jesus said. They complained, “Only God can forgive sins” (2:7). Two thousand years ago, the Jews stoned people to death if they spoke against God (Leviticus 24:16). They did not understand the truth about Jesus and that God had sent Him into the world. 
Jesus knew what they were thinking. So He said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’, or to say ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?” (2:9). He said this to show that He was Son of God as well as Son of Man. He had power and authority on earth to forgive sins (2:10). Today He is equal with the Lord God Almighty. God forgives sins in the name of His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This is the foundation of faith in Jesus.
Then Jesus healed the man. He said, “Get up. Take your mat and go home” (2:11). 
	
© 2000, 2021, by Fred Morris, Manna Publications (USA) Inc. 
Bible quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, New International Reader’s Version, © 1998 by International Bible Society, and are issued by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Limited. All rights reserved.