"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

Introduction

INTRODUCTION
  1. "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God"...
    1. So begins the Gospel according to Mark - Mk 1:1
    2. The shortest of the four gospels, likely the first one written
    3. Often overlooked because of the gospels of Matthew and Luke
  2. Yet the Believer's Bible Commentary notes that because of its brevity...
    1. Mark's gospel is an ideal introduction to the Christian faith
    2. In mission fields it is often the first book translated into a new language

[Who was Mark? What makes his gospel unique? Let's start with...]

  1. AUTHOR AND DATE OF THE GOSPEL
    1. JOHN MARK...
      1. Who apparently came from a wealthy family
        1. His mother was Mary, who had a large house in Jerusalem - Ac 12:12
          1. Some speculate the Last Supper took place in her home (RWP)
          2. Also that Mark may have been the young man who fled naked - Mk 14:51-52
        2. His cousin was Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus - Ac 4:36-37; Col 4:10
      2. Who traveled with Paul and Barnabas
        1. Starting out on their first missionary journey, but turned back - Ac 13:5,13
        2. Which caused trouble between Paul and Barnabas - Ac 15:36-41
        3. He later became a fellow laborer and comfort to Paul - Phe 1:24; Col 4:10-11
        4. In Paul's final words, Mark proved "useful to me for ministry" - 2Ti 4:11
      3. Who also accompanied Peter
        1. Who called him "his son" (his convert?) - 1Pe 5:13
        2. Who was in "Babylon" (possibly Rome) at the time
      4. Traditions outside the Bible state:
        1. Mark was an interpreter for Peter - Papias, 130 A.D.
        2. Mark composed his gospel mostly from Peter's memoirs - Justin Martyr, 150 A.D.
        3. Mark went to Alexandria in Egypt where he died in 64 A.D.
        -- The early and unanimous opinion is that John Mark wrote this gospel
    2. BEFORE 64 A.D....
      1. Certainly so, if written by one who died in 64 A.D.
      2. Barnes suggests between 56 and 63 A.D.
      3. Some scholars date the book in the early 50's
      -- A plausible date would 57-59 A.D. (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

    [Now for some information about Mark's gospel in particular...]

  2. THEME AND OUTLINE OF THE GOSPEL
    1. ITS THEME OR PURPOSE...
      1. Written to Gentiles, perhaps Christians in Rome (BKC); note the following:
        1. Jewish customs are explained - e.g., Mk 7:3-4
        2. Aramaic expresses are translated into Greek - e.g., Mk 3:17; 5:41; 7:11
        3. Roman reckoning of time is used - e.g., Mk 6:48; 13:35
        4. Only Mark identifies Simon of Cyrene as the father of Rufus - cf. Mk 15:21; Ro 16:13
        5. Few OT quotations are used
      2. The focus appears to be on Jesus as the Perfect Servant (BBC)
        1. Mark emphasizes the deeds of the Lord more than His words
        2. He records nineteen miracles, but only four parables
        3. The deeds of one who "did not come to be served, but to serve" - Mk 10:45
        -- Thus one could say that the theme is: "Jesus, Servant of Man"
    2. A SIMPLE OUTLINE...
      1. The preparation for Jesus' ministry - Mk 1:2-13
      2. His ministry in Galilee - Mk 1:14-9:50
      3. His journey to Jerusalem - Mk 10:1-52
      4. His ministry in Jerusalem - Mk 11:1-13:37
      5. His suffering and death in Jerusalem - Mk 14:1-15:47
      6. His resurrection and appearances - Mk 16:1-13
      7. His great commission and continued work from heaven - Mk 16:14-20
      -- Jesus came from heaven to serve, and returned to heaven to serve!

    [Perhaps of further interest are some...]

  3. SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GOSPEL
    1. AN EARLY GOSPEL...
      1. Probably the first one written
      2. All but 31 verses are quoted in the other gospels
      3. Leading many to conclude that Matthew and Luke based their gospels on Mark
    2. A CONCISE GOSPEL...
      1. The shortest of the four gospels
      2. Luke has 1151 verses, Matthew 1071, John 879, Mark 661
      3. Mark's entire gospel can be read aloud in 1.5 hours
    3. A FAST-PACED GOSPEL...
      1. Over 40 times he uses a word translated "straightway" or "immediately"
      2. Two-thirds of the verses begin with "and"
      3. The present tense is used frequently (e.g., they come...He says...He sends...)
    4. A VIVID GOSPEL...
      1. Mark presents "lively little touches" not found in the other gospels - Hendriksen
      2. "...he wrote with all the graphic distinctiveness and vividness of an eyewitness - Erdman
      3. It may have been Peter's reminiscences, or perhaps his own, that account for such details
    5. AN EVANGELISTIC GOSPEL...
      1. It opens with "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ..." - Mk 1:1
      2. It closes with "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" - Mk 16:15
CONCLUSION
  1. What Mark accomplished with his gospel in the first century was significant...
    1. He left a record of the gospel preached by Peter
    2. Which emphasized the things that Jesus did - cf. Ac 10:36-39
    3. That stressed the servitude of Jesus as the Son of Man - cf. Mk 10:45
  2. It can serve an important purpose for us today, reminding us...
    1. That Jesus came to serve, and continues to serve - cf. He 7:25
    2. That Christian discipleship likewise involves service - cf. Ga 5:13
  3. Mark's own life was one of early failure, redeemed by later devotion (Erdman)...
    1. He got off to a rocky start in his service for the gospel of Christ
    2. But he persevered and proved to Paul that he was "useful...for ministry"

May his gospel of Jesus Christ, who came to serve, inspire us to become servants who are also:

"useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" - 2Ti 2:21