John Mark traveled with Peter and Paul, and was the cousin of Barnabas. He was a man of good character, according to Peter, and a man of useful skills according to Paul.

The Gospel of Mark is not chronologically ordered, but split into 3 sections: Jesus in Galilee, Jesus on the way to Jerusalem, and Jesus in Jerusalem. Mark likes to write chiastically.

The audience of the Gospel of Mark is gentiles, people who have little frame of reference for Jewish customs, likely Romans in particular.

Mark records nothing of Jesus' origins, but begins his gospel at the beginning of Jesus' ministry. He shows how John the Baptist is simply preparing the way for Jesus.

The Assenes were Jewish, lived in the wilderness, and believed they were the ones through whom the Messiah would appear. Though they were mistaken, their understanding of the coming Messiah was closer to the real thing than the Pharisees' ideas. They disappeared abruptly as a people, possibly becoming part of the early Church.

John's version of Baptism (pre-Pentecost): immersion for the forgiveness of sins, for repentance.

Upon Jesus' baptism, the Holy Spirit IMMEDIATELY descends on him like a dove. The Spirit hovering over the waters harkens back to Genesis 1, the creation account; in a sense, a whole new world is about to be created at the start of Jesus' ministry. Parallels are seen with Noah's ark, as well.

Jesus' sonship didn't come from his baptism! He was always the Son of God. At his baptism, the Father makes his sonship known to the world.

Isaiah 42 - God is well pleased with the Son; gentiles will accept him, though many in Israel will not.

He was in the wilderness with Satan (the adversary) and wild animals, wandering like the Jews did)... but was ministered to by the Spirit and the angels. Jesus returned triumphant from the wilderness! As Christians, we are constantly tempted by Satan and by "wild animals," beastly people whose minds have been given over to depravity.

Jesus being brought through the baptismal waters and into the wilderness parallels the Exodus. He's tested, but where man has failed, he returns victorious. Through faith in him, his righteousness is imputed to us, and we too are victorious!