Mark 1

"Mark" is a brief story of Jesus Christ. Because it is brief, for me, a beginner, it is a good primary textbook.

Chapter 1 is about that Jesus is omnipotent. He healed many and drove out evil spirits. He has great influence, because it seems that he can call disciples before he showed his power.

But there are two questions:

Jesus was baptized by another preacher, John. Why there is a John before Jesus? Is John a teacher of Jesus? It seems that he is not one of Jesus' disciples. Is he involved in Jesus' activities following?

Answer: John is said to be the one who prepared the way for Jesus. He is not a teacher of Jesus. He is not a disciple of Jesus. Yes, he is in the following activities, see Luke.

In 1:35-39, Jesus left his disciples and prayed in a solitary place early in the morning? Why he did that? When his disciples found him, why he decided to go somewhere else?

Answer: Early morning and praying alone is good to plan for the whole day. After thinking, Jesus decided to build up ministries.

In chapter 2 Jesus was challenged four times.

The first one is when Jesus healed a paralytic. At first he said "your sins are forgiven." Some teachers of law thought that Jesus is blaspheming in their mind. Jesus answered them by healing this paralytic to show that he is the lord and there is no blasphemy. It is a quiet fight between Jesus and his enemies.

The second one is when Jesus was invited to dinner with tax collectors and sinners. Someone asked his disciples why Jesus is banded with these guys. Jesus told them he is a doctor and he comes to sinners but not the righteous. This is an indirect fight.

The third time is about fasting. Jesus' disciples did not fast. Someone asked Jesus why. Jesus answered by two metaphors. He is the lord, the lord need not fast, and so do his disciples when they are together with the lord. He is new, different from other preachers. So it is never a good idea to attach old things to something new. This is a direct fight, but Jesus used metaphors.

The forth one is about his disciples did something forbidden on the Sabbath. Someone questioned Jesus why they did unlawful things. Jesus gave them an example that David did something forbidden before. Because of his dignity, it is not a problem at all. This is a totally direct fight, no metaphors.

These four stories tell me that Jesus is audacious and righteous. Because he and his disciples did many things which are strange for common people, he is audacious. Because he always answered question, regardless of direct or indirect questions, directly to the people who questioned him, he is righteous.