The Gospel of Mark Part 1
The Gospel of Mark • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction:
The gospel of Mark is paramount to understanding Jesus, His ministry, His Mission and His identity!
A Bible without Mark is incomplete - do not underestimate this short but powerful text!
Mark is a book of decisive action, so we will attempt to study it in that exact manner. We will cross reference at times, but I want us to stay within the immediate context as much as possible.
Each of the four gospels gives us a unique portrait of Jesus, so we will be focused on Mark’s canvas in this study.
The goal is to get through one chapter per week - so we will spend 16 weeks (17 including the introduction today) studying this amazing book.
While we will not dive to the extreme depths of each and every verse, the result will, Lord-willing, be a good, solid overview of Mark, with the intention to have a firm grasp on the main narrative, themes, and theology that Mark describes.
With all of that in mind, today’s introduction will include:
Date
Authorship
Content
Themes & Audience
1. Date
1. Date
The NT does not explicitly state when Mark wrote this gospel account, but it was likely before the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70, because Jesus’ prediction of the temple’s destruction did not include any comments that would have likely been included had the destruction already taken place before Mark’s writing.
There is some external evidence, based on the writings of the early church leaders that Mark wrote this work around A.D. 57-59, during the early part of Emperor Nero’s reign. This is a commonly held date by scholars today.
2. Authorship
2. Authorship
Mark’s gospel is technically “anonymous”, just like the other three gospel accounts because it never names an author directly
The title “according to Mark” (Kata Markon) was added later, but before A.D. 125. However, there is also sufficient evidence (both external and internal) to identify John Mark as the human author.
The external evidence would be the early church leadership and their eyewitness accounts of John Mark....AND accounts in Scripture outside of Mark’s gospel.
The internal evidence would be from the Gospel itself.
Most Bible interpreters believe that this is the same man described in Scripture as,
“John (Hebrew name), also called Mark” (Latin name)
First some external evidence from Scripture other than Mark’s gospel:
Acts 12:12 (NKJV)
12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.
This verse is the first historical reference to John Mark
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.
13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.
37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.
Mark also shows up in three of Paul’s epistles:
Colossians 4:10 (NKJV)
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),
This is the verse that gives us Mark’s relationship to Barnabas
2 Timothy 4:11 (NKJV)
11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
Philemon 24 (NKJV)
24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.
Finally, the apostle Peter describes Mark as his “son”, indicating that Peter might well have been the one to lead Mark to Christ:
1 Peter 5:13 (NKJV)
13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.
This verse also points to the strong possibility that Mark’s Gospel was, in fact, an account from the perspective of the Apostle Peter.
There is no evidence of a different Mark in the NT, so the most logical conclusion is that these references all refer to the same man: John Mark
The verse we just looked at are all “external” evidence - evidence that exists OUTSIDE of the book of Mark. Now let’s look at some “internal” evidence within Mark’s gospel as to its author:
Date: A.D. 64-65
Author: John Mark
External Evidence
Internal Evidence:
Israeli Geographical Knowledge
Mark was familiar with the geography of Israel, especially of Jerusalem:
1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.
10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples;
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
Date: A.D. 64-65
Author: John Mark
External Evidence
Internal Evidence:
Israeli Geographical Knowledge
Aramaic Knowledge
41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God),
34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”
36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
Date: A.D. 64-65
Author: John Mark
External Evidence
Internal Evidence:
Israeli Geographical Knowledge
Aramaic Knowledge
Jewish Institutions and Customs
21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.
14 As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”
18 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
2 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.
Date: A.D. 64-65
Author: John Mark
External Evidence
Internal Evidence:
Israeli Geographical Knowledge
Aramaic Knowledge
Jewish Institutions and Customs
Mark’s connection with Peter
Inner Circle Eyewitness Accounts
16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.
29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.
Mark’s connection with Peter
Inner Circle Eyewitness Accounts
Use of Peter’s Own Words and Actions
5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
71 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!” 72 A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.
Mark’s connection with Peter
Inner Circle Eyewitness Accounts
Use of Peter’s Own Words and Actions
Use of “and Peter” in Mark 16:7
Mark 16:7 (NKJV)
7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”
Mark’s connection with Peter
Inner Circle Eyewitness Accounts
Use of Peter’s Own Words and Actions
Use of “and Peter” in Mark 16:7 “7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.””
Mark’s Personal Facts:
Same “John/Mark” named in Acts and the Epistles
Authored The Gospel of Mark
Jewish believer
Lived in Jerusalem with his mother Mary during the early church days
Nothing known about Mark’s father
Mark’s Personal Facts (con’t.):
Mark’s home was an early meeting place of the church (Acts 12:12), and possible location of Jesus’ Last Supper.
Mark was likely the young man who fled the scene of Jesus’ arrest (Mark 14:51-52)
Likely became a Christian because of Peter’s ministry influence, and was his protege in the faith, similar to Paul’s protege Timothy. (1 Pet. 5:13)
Cousin of Barnabas (Col. 4:10)
Accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but left them partway through. (Acts 12:25; 13:13)
Served with Barnabas on Cyprus. (Acts 15:36-39)
Mark’s Personal Facts (con’t.):
Paul’s co-worker during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment. (Col. 4:10; Phile. 23-24)
Spent time at Ephesus (2 Tim. 4:11)
Requested by Paul to come back to Rome during Paul’s second Roman imprisonment.
3. Content
3. Content
Mark’s Gospel Facts:
Chapters: 16
Verses:678
Words: 14949
Approximate reading time: 45 minutes
Theme: Action, Service, Suffering
Audience: Gentiles - specifically Romans
Portrait of Christ: The Suffering Servant
Key Words: Immediately, Authority, Kingdom of God, Holy Spirit
Key Verse: Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
This verse forms a kind of “hinge”, or mid-way point, on which the two halves of the gospel swing.
4. Themes and Audience
4. Themes and Audience
First of all, we have the prominent word, “immediately” used over and over by Mark throughout this gospel.
This word is used 80 times in the NT, and 40 of those times are in Mark.
The first time is in chapter one, verse 10 -
Mark 1:10 (NKJV)
10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.
This is a word of action, movement, and purpose.
Mark was written for the typical Roman mindset - a mindset of action.
Rome was a nation of ACTION…always moving, conquering, driving forward and expanding.
And at the center of all this immediacy and action was Caesar - the man-god of the Roman Empire.
Caesar was a man of action, a man on a mission, an IMMEDIATE man…and that’s what the world was looking for.
The iron fist of Rome conquered and brought peace, law and order, and protection - but this came at a cost.
Rome’s iron heel dug deep into the backs of its people - safety and peace, but it was forced and required at the cost of one’s life.
Caesar was a despot and a bloodthirsty dictator.
Rome had given the world its peace that it is always looking for…and is still looking for today.
In his commentary on Mark, J. Vernon McGee quotes Dr. D.S. Gregory:
“The grandest Roman, the ideal man of the race, was therefore the mightest worker, conquerer, organizer, and ruler, - the man who as Caesar could sway the scepter of the universal empire. Caesar and Caesarism were the inevitable result of Roman development.” - Dr. D.S. Gregory
Gregory continues:
When [the Roman] had been made to feel most deeply that natural justice in the hands of a human despot is a dreadful thing for sinful man, - the Holy Ghost proposes to commend to his acceptance Jesus of Nazareth as his Sovereign and Saviour, the expected deliverer of the world.” - Dr. D.S. Gregory
Rome had their man of action - Caesar the man-god, that took action by conquering and provided salvation for his people through shedding other men’s blood.
the Gospel of Mark commends a new Man of action - Jesus Christ of Nazareth the God-Man that would take immediate action by serving, and would provide salvation for His people by shedding His own blood.
Today, the world is waiting for its New Caesar - a man of action who will provide security and world peace…and they will have him, but at such a cost.
Once again, the fist and the heel of iron will dig into the backs of the people as a new despot dictator assumes control of the empires of earth and rules over all for the designated time God allows him to.
He will be demonically empowered and will rule the earth with absolute authority in every aspect.
The world is always searching for its man of action.
And so Mark’s gospel once again calls out to a world desperate for such a man - and offers the greatest Man of Action - Jesus of Nazareth.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Although Jesus has ALL power - He is omnipotent - He chose to become a servant on a mission of mercy
The Romans wanted power, but their power (and that of the iron kingdom to come) will leave the world longing for mercy.
The power of Christ in the gospel is a power that can extend mercy to a world that is desperate for mercy!
Mark believed in this power, for his life had been transformed by it, and so he boldly begins with this statement:
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
What difference is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, making in your life?