the Third Week of Advent
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Bible Commentaries
Grant's Commentary on the Bible Grant's Commentary
John the Baptist; Jesus' Baptism and Temptation.Chapter 2
Healing of Paralytic; Call of Matthew. Questions about Fasting and SabbathChapter 3
Healing on Sabbath; Choosing the Twelve.Chapter 4
Parables of the Sower; Calming the Storm.
- Mark
by L.M. Grant
This Gospel has a beauty peculiar to itself, though it compares with Matthew in much of its content, and with both Matthew and Luke in its being synoptic of the Lord's activities , in contrast to John's more extensive record of His words. But it is the briefest of all the Gospels, for it emphasizes the service of the Lord Jesus. The circumstances of His birth are therefore omitted. These were needed in Matthew to establish His right to the throne of Israel (as King) and in Luke to show the reality of His Manhood; not in John however, for His birth has nothing to do with His eternal Godhead. Yet Mark makes it clear from the beginning that this perfect Servant of God is no less than the Son of God Himself. The history is concise and rapid, the words "straightway," "forthwith," "immediately" and "anon" being characteristic of His diligent labors continuing consistently. Fittingly, it is Mark, the servant who had once sadly failed in service (Acts 13:13) yet later restored (2 Timothy 4:14) whom God chooses to write the record of the perfect Servant.
