Part One.

John Mark was the writer of the first of the four Gospels. The others borrowed heavily from his work and made additions to it. This Gospel was written within 40 years of the crucifixion, well within human memory. It brings you face to face with the real Yeshua, the Messiah, the Son of the Most High God.

However, the early church fathers, following the Pauline heresy, interfered with this account as well. Where this happens, I shall mark out these sections.

As the Gospels progress, Mathew, Luke and John, the Baptist’s role is reduced and they become increasingly anti-Semitic, obvious influence of Saul there. This of course led to the persecutions, and the most barbaric crime in human history. The Holocaust.

The Gospel of Mark begins with the arrival of John the Baptist. Hebrew tradition and the prophets, including Isaiah, had led to expectations that Elijah would usher in the Messianic Age. The Baptist was Elijah under a different name, which most of the people realised at the time.

Arriving in the desert without warning, his God given message was clear. “Turn away from sin and be baptised. God will forgive your sins. He who comes after me is far greater. I baptise with water. He shall baptise with the Holy Spirit.”

Of course, Man could not forgive sin, that was his point. His reference to the Holy Spirit is just his way of saying that the Messiah would be a healer and worker of miracles. The spirit of God would work within him.

Sometime after his arrival, Yeshua, the true name of Jesus, is baptised by John in the river Jordan. This inaugurates Yeshua as God’s chosen. An interesting historic footnote may be of interest. Earlier Kings of Israel were crowned by having water ritually poured over their heads.

The reference to the dove of peace is genuine. Doves were common. Reference to the voice of God is a later addition. These words, “You are my son and I am pleased with you,” would have been spoken by the Baptist.

After being anointed, Yeshua spent 40 days in the desert. This is accurate. Many prophets of old did the same. The Baptist among them. They did this for solitude and prayer. It allowed them to tune into the will of God. Later monks and nuns followed this process in their Abbeys.

The reference to Satan and angels is a later addition. I have spoken about this elsewhere. The account of the wild animals is accurate.
They roamed the region.

When Yeshua heard that John had been imprisoned, he left the area and entered Galilee to start his mission. “The right time has come. The Kingdom of God is near.”

His meaning was clear. The Messiah had arrived and heaven is all around them. Which it is.

At Lake Galilee, he recruits four fishermen as recorded. This was deliberate of course. He wanted ordinary, hard working people as his disciples. This would prevent accusations of the rich talking down to the poor. A lesson forgot by the church.

From there they went to Capernaum. At the synagogue, the people were amazed at the way he spoke. He spoke at their own level of understanding. Unlike their rabbis.

The reference to the evil spirit is a later addition. The victim suffered epileptic seizures, which Yeshua cured on the spot. The spirit of God flowed through him, into the victim, and back to God.
A healing circuit.

From here, they visit the home of Simon and Andrew. There they found Simon’s mother-in-law in bed with a fever. This was probably flu. Again, Yeshua heals her. After this event, the sick were brought for healing which he carried out without prejudice. Again, the reference to demons is a later addition. These were victims of mental instability and epilepsy, which he cured.

After this, he preaches throughout Galilee, healing as well.
Reference to demons is a later addition. While there, he cures a man with a skin disease. This was not leprosy. In those days, like today, lepers who deserve our prayers and sympathy were hidden from society. After the cure, he warns him to keep it to himself but to let the priest examine him. Then follow the Mosaic sacrifice law. This is a firm indication of Yeshua’s Jewish upbringing. He was devout, like those around him.

Of course, the man is so thrilled that he spreads the news and Yeshua is mobbed. A little later, he returns to Capernaum where he is mobbed again. News of the healing had travelled fast. As it would today. Here he heals a paralysed man.

Upon doing this however, the local priest protests at his term, “Your sins are forgiven.” Yeshua knew that illness was not caused by sin. However, the priests and people believed it was. He simply said this to bolster the victim’s faith. Healing needs two things. Faith in God from the afflicted, and the spirit of God from the healer.

The priests accused him of blasphemy of course. Realising how sticky the situation had become, Yeshua resorts to a non-offensive term. “Pick up your stick and walk.” The victim does so.

The reaction of the crowd was obvious.

“Well I never.”

Returning to the shores of Lake Galilee, he recruits Levi, a well-known and loathed tax collector. Not much changes then.

This series shalt continue...

Isn't this the one that the Church removed a section on the Lazarus story and when asked about it, coined the famous line- "A lie to a Pagan is not a lie"?