The Time is Fulfilled

Review

Hey everyone! We have been spending a lot of time asking tough questions about our faith.

What are some of the conversations that have stuck with you from YG this summer?

Transition

Last time we met we talked about the truthfulness of Scripture. At the end of of our lesson I asked you guys to read Mark 1.

For those of you who read Mark chapter 1 this week, what were some of your observations you made?

Lesson

I want to take some time and talk about why we’re studying this book.

When

Mark is considered the oldest of the four gospels. It was written in 65-67 A.D. There was a great fire in Rome that led to a great persecution of Christians under Nero during this time and parts of Mark seem written to directly address persecution of this time. Both the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Luke pull all but a few verses from Mark’s gospel.

Who

If you look carefully, you will see that Mark doesn’t sign his name in the gospel with his name. However, there is a strong tradition that Mark, from the book of Acts who traveled with Paul and Barnabas, was the writer.

The oldest church historian named Eusebius who references Mark as the original writer of the gospel. He also speaks of Mark being Peter’s interpreter which meant that he traveled with the apostle Peter and likely got most of his information about Jesus from him.

Place and Context

It was likely written in Italy or Rome near the end of his life. It was also likely written for Gentiles since he goes to great length to explain Aramaic words, and. explain Jewish customs.

He also spends more time on suffering and persecution, which is probably what is occuring in Roman culture at that time.

What is a gospel?

It is also the first time a book is called “a gospel” (Mark 1:1)

Mark 1:1 ESV

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

A gospel is different than just a biography of Jesus. Mark doesn’t have a genealogy like Matthew and Luke, and doesn’t even have the birth of Jesus in it does it?

There’s really nothing of Jesus in this gospel until He shows up as a full grown man.

Lexham Theological Wordbook Gospel

A gospel is an announcement of good news. In particular, the gospel is the announcement that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have brought about salvation for Israel and the world.

Mark calls his writing a gospel because it contains the preached gospel. Mark creates this term to describe that his writing isn’t just history, but that it is “preaching materials, designed to tell the story of God’s saying action in the life, ministry death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.” This doesn’t mean that it’s not historical, since without an accurate history the gospel can’t be true. The gospel is found in these historical events.

Mark isn’t writing this as a disinterested historian, but is a preacher wanting the gospel, the good news of Christ to be preached.

Chapter 1

There’s a lot happening in this chapter isn’t there? I want to show you guys some highlights for this week and then we’ll jump into our group discussions and walk through some of this. There are about 9 or so stories that I can count in two main sections:

1 Jesus’ preparation for ministry

John the Baptist in the Wilderness

Jesus’ Baptism

Temptation of Jesus

Begins His ministry

There’s a verse in between these sections that helps clarify that Jesus is prepared for his ministry, and what He was proclaiming:

Mark 1:14–15 ESV

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

This is the beginning of Jesus ministry.

2 His initial ministry in Galilee.

Calling the First Disciples

Healing a man with an unclean spirit

Healing many more

Preaching in Galilee

Cleansing a Leper

Immediately

All of these things are presented with a sense of urgency. If you read closely, you’ll see that the word “immediately” is used 9 times in this chapter. That’s a lot! Mark is doing this on purpose. he is trying to stress the quickness and urgency of what is happening in Jesus’ ministry. We’ll pick up on this again because Mark uses this word 42 times in his gospel. That’s a lot!

Break into Groups

Let’s break into our groups. Tonight I want to focus on who Jesus is based on this chapter. Then we’ll turn our attention to baptism.

Let’s Pray