Markus 1:4

1:4 In the wilderness ¹  John the baptizer ²  began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ³ 

Markus 2:9

2:9 Which is easier, ⁴  to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk’?

Markus 4:21

The Parable of the Lamp

4:21 He also said to them, “A lamp ⁵  isn’t brought to be put under a basket ⁶  or under a bed, is it? Isn’t it to be placed on a lampstand?

Markus 4:31

4:31 It is like a mustard seed ⁷  that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground –

Markus 11:3

11:3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it ⁸  and will send it back here soon.’”

[1:4]  ¹ tn Or “desert.”

[1:4]  ² tn While Matthew and Luke consistently use the noun βαπτίστης (baptisths, “[the] Baptist”) to refer to John, as a kind of a title, Mark prefers the substantival participle ὁ βαπτίζων (Jo baptizwn, “the one who baptizes, the baptizer”) to describe him (only twice does he use the noun [Mark 6:25; 8:28]).

[1:4]  ³ sn A baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins was a call for preparation for the arrival of the Lord’s salvation. To participate in this baptism was a recognition of the need for God’s forgiveness with a sense that one needed to live differently as a response to it.

[2:9]  ⁴ sn Which is easier is a reflective kind of question. On the one hand to declare sins are forgiven is easier, since one does not need to see it, unlike telling a paralyzed person to walk. On the other hand, it is harder, because for it to be true one must possess the authority to forgive the sin.

[4:21]  ⁵ sn The lamp is probably an ancient oil burning lamp or perhaps a candlestick. Jesus is comparing revelation to light, particularly the revelation of his ministry.

[4:21]  ⁶ tn Or “a bowl”; this refers to any container for dry material of about eight liters (two gallons) capacity. It could be translated “basket, box, bowl” (L&N 6.151).

[4:31]  ⁷ sn Mustard seeds are known for their tiny size.

[11:3]  ⁸ sn The custom called angaria allowed the impressment of animals for service to a significant figure.