What does Mark 1:6 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This description of John would have identified him as a typical "holy man" of the ancient East who lived in the desert. His clothing was woven camel"s hair held in place with a leather belt (cf. 2 Kings 1:8; cf. Malachi 4:5-6). This is how prophets typically dressed (cf. Zechariah 13:4). His diet consisted of dried locusts and the honey of wild bees. This was clean food for the Jews (cf. Leviticus 11:21-22). John may have been a lifelong Nazirite, or he may simply have lived an ascetic life out of devotion to God ( Luke 1:15). His personal appearance and behavior encouraged the Jews who came to him to abandon self-indulgent living in preparation for Messiah"s appearing. [source][source]

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"A careful comparison of the Qumran Covenanters with John the Baptist ... reveals differences so extensive as to make the possibility of contact unimportant." ^[1] [source]

"At last that solemn silence was broken by an appearance, a proclamation, a rite, and a ministry as startling as that of Elijah had been. In many respects, indeed, the two messengers and their times bore singular likeness. It was to a society secure, prosperous, and luxurious, yet in imminent danger of perishing from hidden, festering disease; and to a religious community which presented the appearance of hopeless perversion, and yet contained the germs of a possible regeneration, that both Elijah and John the Baptist came. Both suddenly appeared to threaten terrible judgment, but also to open unthought-of possibilities of good. And, as if to deepen still more the impression of this contrast, both appeared in a manner unexpected, and even antithetic to the habits of their contemporaries. John came suddenly out of the wilderness of Jueaea ^[2], as Elijah from the wilds of Gilead; John bore the same strange ascetic appearance as his predecessor; the message of John was the counterpart of that of Elijah; his baptism that of Elijah"s novel rite on Mount Carmel. And, as if to make complete the parallelism, with all of memory and hope which it awakened, even the more minute details surrounding the life of Elijah found their counterpart in that of John." ^[3] [source]

Context Summary

The ministry of John the Baptist, Mark 1:1-8. Always the message of John precedes that of Jesus Christ; first the changed attitude of the will, then faith. The greatness of the Baptist revealed itself in his humility. He saw what we must see, that a negative religion, symbolized by water, is not enough: we need to be set on fire.

The opening pages of Christ's public life, Mark 1:9-20. Jesus was recognized by the Baptist, who beheld the opened heavens and the descending Spirit. If the Lord was thus anointed ere He commenced His life-work, how much more must we be! Hast thou become united with Him in His death, made one with Him in His resurrection, and anointed by that same Spirit? Then be sure that thou, too, must be tempted. Sons of men must go the way of the Son of man, now under the opened heavens, then tempted of the devil; on one side the wild beasts, on the other the angels; now driven to loneliness, and then to the crowded street of the cities, there to gather disciples by the energy and beauty of a victorious life. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 1

¹  The office of John the Baptist
⁹  Jesus is baptized;
¹²  tempted;
¹⁴  he preaches;
¹⁶  calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John;
²³  heals one that had a demon;
²⁹  Peter's mother in law;
³²  many diseased persons;
⁴⁰  and cleanses the leper