Marks Gospel – An introduction
Reading: Mark chapter 1 verse 1:
Ill:
• Sometimes newspaper editors state the obvious:
• ‘If strike isn’t settled quickly it may last a while’.
• ‘War dims hope for peace’
• ‘Cold wave linked to temperatures’
• ‘Child’s death ruins couple’s holiday’
• ‘Blind woman gets new kidney from dad she hasn’t seen in years’
• ‘Man is fatally slain’
• ‘Something went wrong in jet crash, experts say’
• Grammar often botches other headlines:
• ‘Miners refuse to work after death’
• ‘Milk drinkers are turning to powder’
• ‘Quarter of a million Chinese live on water’
• ‘Stiff opposition expected to casket-less funeral plan’
• ‘Iraqi head seeks arms’
Ill:
If you were top compare Mark’s gospel to a UK newspaper:
• I would suggest it would be the Daily Mirror.
• Because it contains bold headlines, brief articles, simple language,
• If you want The Daily Telegraph with a conservative slant;
• Then turn to Matthew’s gospel.
• If you prefer The Guardian with its concern for the poor and underprivileged;
• Then Luke is the gospel is for you.
• If you want the reflection and analysis of The Times;
• Then John’s gospel is where to look.
• But if you want the basic story;
• Simply and convincingly told, then Mark is your gospel.
In this gospel Mark emphasizes the deeds of Jesus:
• He presents Jesus as a man and servant of action.
• ‘Jesus spoke and it was done’.
• Forty-two times Mark used a Greek adverb (‘euthus’);
• Which In English is often translated as ‘immediately’, ‘at once’, and ‘straightway’.
• Mark wrote his gospel for readers who were impressed with;
• Power, action and simplicity.
AS YOU READ MARK’S GOSPEL YOU MIGHT NOTICE CERTAIN THINGS:
(a).
• Mark rarely quotes from the Old Testament;
• In fact he only does it once in chapter 1 verses 2-3.
• This indicates Mark did not write his gospel for Jewish Christians;
• Who were familiar with the Old Testament, i.e. as Matthew did.
• Rather, he wrote his gospel for Gentile readers;
• Who were not familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures.
(b).
• Mark explained Jewish customs for his readers,
• Which they otherwise would not have understood,
• e.g. Such as Jewish ceremonial washing (Mark chapter 7 verses 3-4)
• e.g. What was the preparation day (Mark chapter 15 verse 42).
• This, too, indicates Mark wrote his gospel for Gentile readers.
(c).
• Throughout his gospel Mark translated Jewish Aramaic terms for his readers;
• (cf. Mark 3:17; 5:41; 7:11 & 34; 14:36; 15:22).
• This is more evidence that Mark wrote for Gentile readers.
• Mark also employed Latinisms in his gospel,
• That is, he used Latin words his readers;
• Instead of their Greek equivalents.
• This indicates Mark wrote his gospel for Christians in Rome and Italy.
• Mark's gospel is the simplest and shortest account of all the gospels.
• It is a straightforward account that would have suited the Roman mind.
I want to use 4 sub-headings for our thoughts this morning:
(1). Mark’s gospel?
• The word ‘gospel’ comes from Anglo-Saxon.
• It is a translation of a Greek word which means ‘good news’.
• The gospels are the nearest thing we have to a biography of Jesus;
• Covering his life, death and resurrection.
• Some people get confused by the fact we have four gospels;
• Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
• They say’ ‘Wouldn’t it have been easier just to have had one?’
• In answer - there is actually only one gospel;
• And this gospel has been recorded to us from four different perspectives.
Ill:
• Imagine four witness describing the outside of this building;
• To get a complete picture, you would need four witnesses.
• One to describe the front, one to describe the back, two to describe the two sides;
• Jesus is the most character who ever lived; No one writer could ever capture him.
• So to help us understand God chose four writers to record the life of his son.
Ill:
Car accident.
• Four witness are better than one.
• They will notice different things.
• Colour of car, another the speed it was going, someone else the whether conditions.
• The more witnesses the more complete picture you get of what happened.
Ill:
Think of how our media records a sporting event:
• There are three main ways.
• Television. Radio. Newspapers.
• All three medias report the same event;
• But they all do it in a unique way because they are conciseness of their audiences.
• The different audiences have different needs.
• e.g. T.V:
• You have very little commentary;
• Because viewers can see for themselves what is happening.
• e.g. Radio:
• Is far more descriptive in its commentary.
• With far more details and expressions need.
• e.g. Newspapers:
• Report by looking back with hindsight to an event that has already happened.
• It has limited space for its report;
• And what you get are the edited highlights.
• Notice: All three medias should give a reliable reports;
• But they all report their information differently;
• Because they report with a specific audience in mind.
Each writer of a gospel tells us about Jesus with a specific audience in mind.
• They then choose the information relevant to that audience:
• e.g. Matthew wrote primarily to a Jewish audience and this is evident in his gospel.
• e.g. lots of Old Testament quotations – readers were familiar with their O.T.’s
With the help and inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
• Each writer of a gospel tells us about Jesus with a specific audience in mind.
• They are each selective in the information they record.
Ill:
• Sorting out photographs.
• Sort them out chronologically.
• You could sort them out by subject matter i.e. holidays, friends, school.
• By important events.
The gospel writers recorded the life of Jesus with a certain consideration in mind:
• Mark wrote the first and shortest gospel;
• He portrays Jesus as the Servant of God
• His message: “Follow him”.
• Luke wrote the second gospel;
• And saw Jesus as the perfect man.
• His message: “Emulate (copy) him”.
• Matthew wrote his gospel;
• Depicts Jesus as the Messiah, the King.
• His message: “Worship him”.
• John wrote the fourth gospel;
• Showing Jesus to be God incarnate – the Son of God.
• His message: “Believe in him”.
So Mark portrays Jesus as the Servant of God
• His message: “Follow him”.
• He shows us in his gospel that:
• Jesus proved he is Christ, the Son of God,
• Through his ministry of service (his active obedience)
• And through his suffering and death (his passive obedience) and his resurrection.
• His theme: Christ, the Son of God, is the Messianic Servant.
(2). Mark’s source:
• Mark wrote his gospel about AD 64.
• About thirty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.
• It was the first gospel written;
• Therefore Mark is our most important source for the life of Jesus.
• Mark wrote his gospel in Rome;
• At the time the Roman Emperor Nero was persecuting & killing Christians.
• Included among Nero’s victims was The apostle Peter.
• I mention in our quiz that Mark’s gospel is nicknamed the gospel of Peter;
• That is because Mark got his information from Peter.
• When Peter wrote his first letter in Rome between A.D. 62 and the spring of A.D. 64,
• It includes a greeting from Mark (chapter 5 verse 13).
Question:
• How do we know that Mark wrote this gospel?
• Because Mark, like the other three gospel writers,
• Did not mention himself by name as the author of this gospel.
Answer: May well be given to us from extra biblical sources – 3 examples:
(a).
• One of the early church fathers was a man called Papias (circa A.D. 60-130);
• He stated that Mark wrote his account of Jesus' life based on Peter's sermons.
• In other words as Mark travelled with Peter and heard him preach;
• He wrote down the sermons of Peter.
(b).
• ill: Another of the early church fathers Justin Martyr (circa A.D. 100-165);
• Even referred to Mark's gospel as the "Memoirs of Peter."
(c).
• Eusebius in his Church History mentions a statement made by Clement of Alexandria;
• Toward the end of the second century.
• Clement reported that those who heard Peter preach;
• Were so impressed with his oral discourses on the gospel of Jesus,
• That they pleaded for Peter's companion to put his discourses into writing,
• So they could always recall them.
• This may have prompted Mark to write his gospel.
• What we have in this gospel of Mark and Peter,
• Is an intimate, eyewitness description of the inner life of Jesus.
Quote: William Barclay observes,
• No one tells us so much about the emotions of Jesus as Mark does.
• i.e. Jesus sighed deeply in his spirit (7:34; 8:12).
• i.e. He was moved with compassion (6:34).
• i.e. He marvelled at their unbelief (6:6).
• i.e. He was moved with righteous anger (3:5; 8:33; 10:14).
• i.e. Only Mark tells us that when Jesus looked at the rich young ruler he loved him (10:21).
• i.e. Jesus could feel the pangs of hunger (11:12).
• i.e. He could be tired and want to rest (6:31).6
• Imagine how little we would know about our Lord;
• If it weren't for Mark and his determination to tell Christ's story.
• And yet, surprisingly,
• This gospel writer wasn't always so willing to proclaim the Gospel message.
(3). Mark’s background.
• With only ten verses in the New Testament making mention of John Mark,
• It is surprising that there is still enough information;
• For us to create a sufficient biographical sketch of him
(a).
• We know he was the cousin of Barnabas;
• (Colossians chapter 4 verse 10);
(b).
• We know he was the son of the Mary;
• Who provided a meeting place for early Christians (Acts chapter 12 verse 12).
(c).
• We also know that Mark was not one of the original twelve disciples.
• Nor was he an apostle.
• He is first introduced to us in Acts 12.
• John-Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey,
• Unfortunately they experienced sever opposition.
• When the going got tough, sadly Mark got going.
• He left them in Pamphylia to return to Jerusalem (Acts chapter 13 verse 13).
• He abandoned the expedition midway through.
• And became the first missionary failure, a returnee!
• A few years later when Paul and Barnabas decided to make their 2nd missionary journey;
• Barnabas desired to take Mark along.
• But Paul strongly protested.
• The apostle Paul did not want to give the young man a second chance.
• But Barnabas did.
• So sharp was the missionaries' disagreement that they parted ways:
• Paul took Silas one direction,
• While Barnabas and Mark went another (Acts chapter 15 verses 36-41).
(d). Mark the fellow worker.
• Mark disappears from the pages of Acts.
• Then, out of the blue, he emerges in Rome,
• Rome was the hotbed of Christian persecution,
• In Rome we find Mark standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Paul, who is in prison.
• In his New Testament letters,
• Paul names Mark as one of his few faithful encouragers and "fellow workers"
• (Colossians chapter 4 verses 10-11; Philemon verse 24).
• And later, at death's door, Paul told Timothy (2 Tim. 4:11). :
• "Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service".
Ill:
• The ancient church historian Eusebius stated that Mark went to Egypt,
• Where he founded the congregations of Alexandria and became their first bishop.
• It has been said that he died a martyr's death there.
(4). Mark’s themes:
Mark develops at least three major themes in his gospel.
THEME 1: DISCIPLESHIP
Ill:
• A friend often told me about the problems he had getting his son to clean his room.
• The son would always agree to tidy up, but then wouldn’t follow through.
• After he left school the young man joined the Army.
• When he came home for leave after basic training,
• His father asked him what he had learned in the service.
• “Dad,” he said. “I learned what ‘now’ means.”
Note:
• The word ‘Christian’ only appears three times in the Bible.
• It is a name and can be a passive name – it makes no demands!
• The word ‘Disciple’ is derived from a Greek word which means ‘learner, or student’.
• I guess today we would use the term ‘apprentice’.
• It is an active word, a doing word!
• We know form the TV show if you are not a listener and a doer; then ‘you are fired!’
Ill:
• You’ve heard the old saying, “Actions speak louder than words
• So when Jesus issued the challenge of discipleship, "Follow Me," - it caused a reaction!
• Peter and Andrew "left their nets" (1:16-18),
• James and John "left their father" (vv. 19-20),
• And Matthew, the tax, collector, ‘left his booth’ (2:14).
• Their responses modelled the sort of don't-look, back faith that Jesus was asking for.
Ill:
• Shortly after joining the Navy,
• The new recruit asked his officer for a pass so he could attend a wedding.
• The officer gave him the pass,
• But informed the young man he would have to be back by 7 p.m. Sunday.
• “You don’t understand, sir,” said the recruit. “I’m in the wedding.”
• “No, you don’t understand,” the officer shot back. “You’re in the Navy!”
Most Bible scholars say that the turning point in the Gospel of Mark:
• Occurs in the middle of the Gospel when Jesus puts this question to his disciples,
• “But who do you say that I am?”
• Out of the twelve disciples it is Peter who replies, “You are the Messiah.”
• After months of not understanding what Jesus was talking about,
• Peter finally catches on that Jesus is the Messiah, the promised saviour.
• Then surprise! Surprise:
• Jesus throws a wrench into things.
• Immediately after Peter’s confession, Jesus predicts his own suffering and death.
• He adds (8:34).
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”
• Peter and the other disciples now have a choice to make.
• Will they continue to follow Jesus,
• Even though it will carry a heavy price?
• Jesus was asking them for a commitment, a change of lifestyle and priorities;
• Today he asks no less!
• Question: Will you ‘deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him’?
Ill:
David Livingstone went to darkest Africa as a lone missionary.
• After some time his missions committee wrote to him saying,
• "Some people would like to join you. What’s the easiest road to get where you are?"
• He replied, "If they’re looking for the easiest road, tell them to stay in England.
• I want people who will come, even if there’s no road at all!"
THEME 2: THE CONTRAST BETWEEN BELIEF & UNBELIEF
• Jesus often split people into two camps regarding himself;
• There were and still are today those who believe and those who reject.
• If you scan through Mark’s gospel you will see that again and again and again.
(a). Belief:
• e.g. In chapter 1 verse 27: They are amazed at his teaching.
• "What is this? A new teaching with authority!"
• e.g. In chapter 2 verse 12: They are amazed at his miracles.
• Their mouths dropped open when they saw His miracles,
• They said: "We have never seen anything like this"
• e.g. In chapter 9 verse 15: They could not get enough of him;
• They ran out to greet Him whenever He approached.
(b).
• Unbelief:
• However, while the people clamoured for Jesus, the religious leaders fumed over Him.
• They criticised and found fault with him because:
• e.g. He eat with "sinners" (2:15-17),
• e.g. He didn't require His disciples to fast (vv. 18-22),
• e.g. He broke established Sabbath customs (2:23-3:6),
• e.g. He ignored the leaders' pet traditions (7:1-8),
• e.g. He unmasked their hypocrisy (7:9 -13 ),
• e.g. He upset their moneymaking schemes (11: 15 -18),
• e.g. He confounded their attempts to discredit Him (11:27 -33; 12:13-27),
• e.g. He said they deserved "greater condemnation" for their sins (12:38-40).
Ill:
• The same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay.
• Rather than repent & believe;
• These jealous religious leaders demonstrated their hostile unbelief,
• Their plan was to kill Him and snuff out the Light that was exposing their wickedness.
This leads to the third crucial theme.
Theme 3: The Crucifixion and Resurrection
Quote:
“The gospel of Mark is a passion narrative with an extended introduction”.
• In other words –
• Mark's Gospel really is a book about the trial and crucifixion of Jesus,
• With a long introduction.
• Almost 40 percent of this Gospel;
• Is devoted to a detailed account of the last eight days of Jesus' life.
• The author of this Gospel focuses very much on the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.
• It’s as if everything that happens before hand;
• Is given to us in order to explain the context and reason for the crucifixion.
Key verse: chapter 10 verse 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."
• The teaching and the miracles and everything else;
• Is secondary to his death upon the cross.
Ill:
• Think of the human race aboard a hijacked jet-liner flying through time.
• God himself directed its takeoff from the divine control-tower.
• The initiator of all evil, whom we call the Devil, Managed to get a boarding pass.
• When the plane reached its cruising altitude,
• The Devil produced his weapons, threatened the pilot,
• And took control of the aircraft and all its passengers.
• Thus the plane hopped on fearfully through history;
• From airport to airport.
• Until it was caught on the tarmac at Jerusalem,
• An outpost of the Roman empire, in the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
• Where the Son of God offered himself as sole hostage;
• In exchange for the passengers and crew.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many."
• The first half of Mark highlights Jesus' service to others;
• The last half focuses on His sacrifice for others.
