Mark‘s Intertextual Advent (Mark 1; Isa 40; Mal 3)

In this episode, we reflect upon the opening chapters of Mark's Gospel narrative. Because it does not include a birth/infancy narrative, the Gospel of Mark is sometimes neglected during advent season. One of the ways to see how Mark helps us reflect upon the incarnation is to connect Jesus's birth to his messianic ministry. Both the birth of Jesus and the later ministry of Jesus are informed by careful reflection on intertextual connections to the OT. Mark's opening also shows some illuminating biblical-theological connections between the beginning of Jesus's life on earth and the beginning of his ministry in Galilee. 

Biblical Texts: Mark 1; Isaiah 40; Malachi 3.