Introducing The Gospel According to Mark
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Our Bibles contain a division between what is called the Old Testament and the New Testament. The New Testament begins by describing the event of Jesus, the Son of God, coming to earth to be our Saviour. That story is told by four different authors.
The first three, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are said to be the authors of Synoptic gospels. The fourth writer, John, while telling the same story, differs substantially from the other three.
John does not differ in the sense of being contradictory, but only in the sense of not repeating some of the story that the others included, and by including some things that the others did not.
The shortest of the three is the gospel of Mark. Two of the gospels were written by Jesus’ disciples, i.e. Matthew and John, whereas Luke and Mark were not disciples of Jesus.
Mark’s first name is John, but, in order to avoid confusing his writing with that of the apostle John, we have chosen to use his last name.
John Mark had a rough start as a Christian. He was the nephew of Barnabas,Paul's missionary companion and partner. On that first missionary journey, Barnabas took the lead. He was the one who sought out Paul, who still was known as Saul, the persecutor. Barnabas was the only one who believed that Paul was truly converted and that God would eventually want to use Paul. So Barnabas went and found Saul and told him that his time had come and God was ready to use him.
As the first missionary journey began, Barnabas, not only partnered with Paul, but at the same time thought that it was the perfect opportunity to initiate John Mark into service. So John Mark was invited to join them.
He seemed to do well on the first leg of the journey, but after traversing the isle of Cyprus, he quit and went home. Years later, Barnabas and Paul are about to commence on a second mission trip, covering the same ground they did on the first trip, and then expanding their ministry into a much wider circle.
On that second trip Barnabas proceeds to include John Mark. Paul objects strongly and refuses to go anywhere with John Mark. He called him a quitter.
In today's vernacular Paul said something like, “OK. Take him if you want … but I'm not going with you.”
It must have been quite a fight. The end result was Barnabas and John Mark heading out on the same path as the first mission trip took, which incidentally was a clockwise circuit through the country..
Paul also went on a mission trip, taking with him another person and traveling through Asia in a counter-clockwise pattern.
So it is a bit surprising to discover that John Mark wrote one of the gospel accounts. What can we conclude from John’s early days of Christian experience? I think it is obvious that John grew up.
And I think it is noteworthy to mention the spiritual character of Barnabas to recognise and draw out potential in a new believer. The church in general benefits greatly from every Christian who possesses a Barnabas-like spirit.
So John Mark writes this gospel. He was not a first hand witness of the life of Christ, but obviously had heard the stories of Jesus. Perhaps he, like Luke, even decided to research the life of Jesus. But of much greater importance is the fact that God, through the Holy Spirit, chose to speak through him in the recording of this gospel.
Notice that Mark does not talk about Jesus’ birth. There is no mention of angels speaking to anyone in preparation for the coming of the messiah. Mark does not mention a ‘12 year old Jesus’ in front of the elders in the temple, confounding them with his questions and answers.
No, he starts with a 30 year old Jesus on the first day of His public ministry. While the other gospels spend time showing that Jesus was born of a virgin and is, in fact, the Son of God, Mark seems to leave that up to them and simply call Him, “the Son of God”.
It becomes apparent that Mark loves the gospel, as did the apostle Paul, who, quote, "Determined to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”
He introduces Jesus by quoting a prophecy of the Messiah’s forerunner, John the Baptist.
Mark 1:1-45
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
2 As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.”
3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ ”
Mark is actually quoting from two prophets. Malachi and Isaiah. And these are three hundred years apart from each other. The prophet Isaiah is implying that mankind tends to be very crooked and twisted. Making His paths straight is the same as saying .. Repent, change your ways.
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
John the baptist started preaching at the age of 30. He was actually Jesus’ cousin (on His mother’s side). Jesus also began to preach and teach at age 30. Being six months older than Jesus means that John preached for six months before Jesus showed up at his baptizing site.
John was preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
‘For the forgiveness of sins’ sounds like water baptism forgives sins. And most translations say it the same way. However, in the Biblical Greek the word ‘for’ is EIS which has multiple uses throughout scripture. It would be more accurate to say, ‘with reference to’ the forgiveness of sin. Water baptism does not wash away sin. It is a symbolic act picturing the washing away of sin that happens the moment we confess our sins to God.
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
John the Baptist has a Ministry. It is a unique ministry. “Jesus, God’s son is coming. Confess and repent of your sin or you will have no connection at all with Him, with God.” John is preparing a ready made congregation for Jesus .
Mark says that all of the country of Judea was coming to see John. I take this to be an expression rather than a literal term meaning 100 percent of the people of Judea. But we get the point, the crowds must have been huge.
6 John was clothed with camel's hair and [wore] a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
John lived and dressed very differently than the ordinary people of the time. He wore a garment that many of them would identify as what they heard the prophet Elijah dressed like. Eating locusts was actually allowed as ‘Kosher’ Jewish food.
‘These you may eat: the locust after its kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind. Leviticus 11:22
7 And he was preaching, saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals.
8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
I think it is obvious that John had some ‘inside’ knowledge that the Messiah would appear any day. For six months John carried on this ministry and the numbers of baptized followers was growing.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him;
11 and a voice came from the heavens: "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
There are those who believe that Jesus was only a man until this moment. This teaching is known as adoptionism. Also Apollinarianism taught a similar heresy. It is strange to me why anyone would take that position when the scripture so clearly points out that Jesus was divine from the moment of conception.
12 And immediately the Spirit brought Him out into the wilderness.
13 And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him.
What Mark states here is totally accurate but we can’t help but notice how he has skipped all of the details.
Forty days is a long time to go without food. The number forty appears often throughout scripture, but I believe what we are to understand is that Jesus would be in a very weakened condition, at least physically, which would make all of the temptations more difficult to resist. This helps us to appreciate what we read in Hebrews. Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Mark now leaves off speaking about John the Baptist and goes immediately into the ministry of Jesus. He does point out one thing that the other gospels don't emphasize and that is the timing of John’s incarceration relative to Jesus’ ministry.
14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the gospel."
‘The time is fulfilled’. For many years the prophets preached that the Messiah would appear. Zachariah recognized the fulfillment of the time when he held the baby Jesus in his hands. But most of the people were used to hearing that the Messiah would appear some day but they had gotten very used to hearing it and not paying it any real attention. We have heard from the beginning of our knowledge of the Bible that Christ will return one day. We, too, seem to have gotten used to hearing it and not really believing His return could happen in our lifetime.
For John to say, He will be here soon, and for Jesus to say, the time is fulfilled .. must have caused some to think, “Really?”
But when He returns the next time there will be no mistaking it. Believers will be caught up into the air. Jesus said, 25 “See, I have told you beforehand.
26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
27 “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
….
31 “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24)
….
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (I Thess 4)
Mark was excited to be able to quote Jesus’ words, "The time is at hand!" And as the scriptures admonish us to stay awake, watch and pray we will grow more and more excited about seeing our Lord. Jesus said, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28
The first three, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are said to be the authors of Synoptic gospels. The fourth writer, John, while telling the same story, differs substantially from the other three.
John does not differ in the sense of being contradictory, but only in the sense of not repeating some of the story that the others included, and by including some things that the others did not.
The shortest of the three is the gospel of Mark. Two of the gospels were written by Jesus’ disciples, i.e. Matthew and John, whereas Luke and Mark were not disciples of Jesus.
Mark’s first name is John, but, in order to avoid confusing his writing with that of the apostle John, we have chosen to use his last name.
John Mark had a rough start as a Christian. He was the nephew of Barnabas,Paul's missionary companion and partner. On that first missionary journey, Barnabas took the lead. He was the one who sought out Paul, who still was known as Saul, the persecutor. Barnabas was the only one who believed that Paul was truly converted and that God would eventually want to use Paul. So Barnabas went and found Saul and told him that his time had come and God was ready to use him.
As the first missionary journey began, Barnabas, not only partnered with Paul, but at the same time thought that it was the perfect opportunity to initiate John Mark into service. So John Mark was invited to join them.
He seemed to do well on the first leg of the journey, but after traversing the isle of Cyprus, he quit and went home. Years later, Barnabas and Paul are about to commence on a second mission trip, covering the same ground they did on the first trip, and then expanding their ministry into a much wider circle.
On that second trip Barnabas proceeds to include John Mark. Paul objects strongly and refuses to go anywhere with John Mark. He called him a quitter.
In today's vernacular Paul said something like, “OK. Take him if you want … but I'm not going with you.”
It must have been quite a fight. The end result was Barnabas and John Mark heading out on the same path as the first mission trip took, which incidentally was a clockwise circuit through the country..
Paul also went on a mission trip, taking with him another person and traveling through Asia in a counter-clockwise pattern.
So it is a bit surprising to discover that John Mark wrote one of the gospel accounts. What can we conclude from John’s early days of Christian experience? I think it is obvious that John grew up.
And I think it is noteworthy to mention the spiritual character of Barnabas to recognise and draw out potential in a new believer. The church in general benefits greatly from every Christian who possesses a Barnabas-like spirit.
So John Mark writes this gospel. He was not a first hand witness of the life of Christ, but obviously had heard the stories of Jesus. Perhaps he, like Luke, even decided to research the life of Jesus. But of much greater importance is the fact that God, through the Holy Spirit, chose to speak through him in the recording of this gospel.
Notice that Mark does not talk about Jesus’ birth. There is no mention of angels speaking to anyone in preparation for the coming of the messiah. Mark does not mention a ‘12 year old Jesus’ in front of the elders in the temple, confounding them with his questions and answers.
No, he starts with a 30 year old Jesus on the first day of His public ministry. While the other gospels spend time showing that Jesus was born of a virgin and is, in fact, the Son of God, Mark seems to leave that up to them and simply call Him, “the Son of God”.
It becomes apparent that Mark loves the gospel, as did the apostle Paul, who, quote, "Determined to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”
He introduces Jesus by quoting a prophecy of the Messiah’s forerunner, John the Baptist.
Mark 1:1-45
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
2 As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.”
3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’ ”
Mark is actually quoting from two prophets. Malachi and Isaiah. And these are three hundred years apart from each other. The prophet Isaiah is implying that mankind tends to be very crooked and twisted. Making His paths straight is the same as saying .. Repent, change your ways.
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
John the baptist started preaching at the age of 30. He was actually Jesus’ cousin (on His mother’s side). Jesus also began to preach and teach at age 30. Being six months older than Jesus means that John preached for six months before Jesus showed up at his baptizing site.
John was preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
‘For the forgiveness of sins’ sounds like water baptism forgives sins. And most translations say it the same way. However, in the Biblical Greek the word ‘for’ is EIS which has multiple uses throughout scripture. It would be more accurate to say, ‘with reference to’ the forgiveness of sin. Water baptism does not wash away sin. It is a symbolic act picturing the washing away of sin that happens the moment we confess our sins to God.
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
John the Baptist has a Ministry. It is a unique ministry. “Jesus, God’s son is coming. Confess and repent of your sin or you will have no connection at all with Him, with God.” John is preparing a ready made congregation for Jesus .
Mark says that all of the country of Judea was coming to see John. I take this to be an expression rather than a literal term meaning 100 percent of the people of Judea. But we get the point, the crowds must have been huge.
6 John was clothed with camel's hair and [wore] a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
John lived and dressed very differently than the ordinary people of the time. He wore a garment that many of them would identify as what they heard the prophet Elijah dressed like. Eating locusts was actually allowed as ‘Kosher’ Jewish food.
‘These you may eat: the locust after its kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind. Leviticus 11:22
7 And he was preaching, saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals.
8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
I think it is obvious that John had some ‘inside’ knowledge that the Messiah would appear any day. For six months John carried on this ministry and the numbers of baptized followers was growing.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him;
11 and a voice came from the heavens: "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
There are those who believe that Jesus was only a man until this moment. This teaching is known as adoptionism. Also Apollinarianism taught a similar heresy. It is strange to me why anyone would take that position when the scripture so clearly points out that Jesus was divine from the moment of conception.
12 And immediately the Spirit brought Him out into the wilderness.
13 And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him.
What Mark states here is totally accurate but we can’t help but notice how he has skipped all of the details.
Forty days is a long time to go without food. The number forty appears often throughout scripture, but I believe what we are to understand is that Jesus would be in a very weakened condition, at least physically, which would make all of the temptations more difficult to resist. This helps us to appreciate what we read in Hebrews. Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Mark now leaves off speaking about John the Baptist and goes immediately into the ministry of Jesus. He does point out one thing that the other gospels don't emphasize and that is the timing of John’s incarceration relative to Jesus’ ministry.
14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the gospel."
‘The time is fulfilled’. For many years the prophets preached that the Messiah would appear. Zachariah recognized the fulfillment of the time when he held the baby Jesus in his hands. But most of the people were used to hearing that the Messiah would appear some day but they had gotten very used to hearing it and not paying it any real attention. We have heard from the beginning of our knowledge of the Bible that Christ will return one day. We, too, seem to have gotten used to hearing it and not really believing His return could happen in our lifetime.
For John to say, He will be here soon, and for Jesus to say, the time is fulfilled .. must have caused some to think, “Really?”
But when He returns the next time there will be no mistaking it. Believers will be caught up into the air. Jesus said, 25 “See, I have told you beforehand.
26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
27 “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
….
31 “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24)
….
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (I Thess 4)
Mark was excited to be able to quote Jesus’ words, "The time is at hand!" And as the scriptures admonish us to stay awake, watch and pray we will grow more and more excited about seeing our Lord. Jesus said, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28