THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK
Mark 1:1
THE TITLE OF THE BOOK
The title in most Greek texts is Kata Markon, “According to Mark.” While the book itself makes no mention of its author, the overwhelming testimony of the church fathers was that Mark wrote this account. However, the first verse of the book could easily serve as a title to the entire book.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1).
This is a book about the Gospel. The gospel is not merely a series of facts. The gospel is centered around a PERSON.
THE PLACE OF MARK IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The Bibles has four separate books which detail the life and ministry of Jesus. We customarily refer to these as the “Four Gospels.”
Mark is one of the four gospels. It is the shortest of the four. It is also a part of the Synoptic Gospels.
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Matthew |
Mark |
Luke |
John |
|
Eye-witness |
Associated with Peter and Paul |
Associated with Paul |
Eye-witness |
|
Written to Jews |
Written to Gentiles |
Dedicated to a Greek official |
Written to the World |
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Jesus is King |
Jesus is Servant |
Jesus is Perfect Man |
Jesus is Son of God |
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Sermons |
Miracles |
Parables |
Doctrines |
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Synoptic Gospels |
4th Gospel |
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Mark seems to have been the earliest of the Gospels to be written. Both Matthew and Luke take information from Mark and expand upon it. There are very few incidents which are recorded in Mark which are not also found in either Matthew or Luke.
THE SCOPE OF THE BOOK
The Gospel of Mark contains none of the birth narratives. It is concerned only with the ministry of Jesus. It pictures Jesus as the servant of God. You don’t spend much time talking about how or where a servant was born. You don’t record the genealogy of a servant. That isn’t important. The important thing about a servant is what he DOES.
1. Mark presents the most human picture of Jesus. His focus is often upon the emotions of Jesus. For example, it is only in Mark that we learn that Jesus loved the rich young ruler.
2. Mark gives attention to short, vivid details. At the feeding of the 5000, Mark tells us that the people sat down in groups of 100's and 50's.
3. Mark tells his story with an earthy simplicity. He adds very little commentary.
4. Mark is notable for his use of the term “immediately.” We feel as though we are rushing through the ministry of Jesus at breakneck speed. He is particularly fond of using the historic present (noted in the NAS by the use of an asterix). He joins his sentences with the word “and.”
5. Mark often gives us the Aramaic words which were spoken by Jesus (Mark 5:41; 7:11; 7:34; 14:36; 15:34). However, when he does so, he always includes a translation.
6. We have very few of the long discourses of Jesus. There are really only two primary sermons given in Mark.
a. The parables of the kingdom (Mark 4:3-32).
b. The Olivet Discourse (Mark 13).
The primary stress of Mark is not so much on the teachings of Jesus as it is upon what He DID.
7. Mark does not presuppose that his readers are familiar with the Old Testament. Indeed, he only quotes from the Old Testament once, though he often indicates that Jesus quoted from it regularly.
When Mark describes the instructions given to the twelve as they are sent out, he makes no mention of the prohibition against preaching to the Samaritans or to the Gentiles.
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1:1 |
1:14 |
7:24 |
8:27 |
8:31 |
11:1 |
14:1 |
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Prologue |
Public Ministry |
“Who do men say that I am?” |
Private Ministry |
Public Ministry |
Death & Resurrection |
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Baptism & Temptation |
Galilee |
Gentile Regions |
Road to Jerusalem |
Jerusalem |
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Service of the Servant |
Suffering of the Servant |
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AUTHOR
Aside from the title, there is nothing in the book to allude to Mark as the author. However, early church tradition is universal in ascribing the authorship to Mark.
Mark, who was Peter’s interpreter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, all that he recollected of what Christ had said or done. For he was not a hearer of the Lord or a follower of his. He followed Peter, as I have said, at a later date, and Peter adapted his instruction to practical needs, without any attempt to give the Lord’s words systematically.” (Papias, bishop of Hierapolis, as quoted in Eusebius).
Marcus is a Latin name. Acts 12:12 tells us that he also had a Hebrew name - John. Mark was the nephew of Barnabas Mark had begun his career in ministry accompanying Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. But Mark had abandoned the team upon facing hardship. This led to Paul’s rejecting him for a second missionary trip. But Mark ultimately redeemed himself, for Paul speaks highly of him in later years (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11).
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