Mark the Begining

Acknowledge the Veterans who served our country

Do Jesus is God’s plan for the world and we get to make him known. (Mark 1:1-11)

Section 1

Introduction to the book

Author

All four Gospels are thought to be anonymous, and together they provide the church an authorized, collective witness to Jesus’ person and work. Although the apostles were the primary witnesses, there is nothing inconsistent about their using fellow workers such as John Mark to put their collective and individual witness into writing. The Jerusalem church gathered for prayer in the home of John Mark’s mother (Acts 12:12). He assisted his cousin Barnabas, as well as Saul (Paul), in ministry (Acts 12:25; 13:5) but abandoned them in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13). Mark’s reasons for this abandonment are not specified, but Paul judged them unacceptable (Acts 15:37–39), although the apostle later expressed appreciation for Mark (Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11; Philem. 24).

Mark’s authorship is established by certain external considerations. In addition to the title attached to this document in ancient manuscripts and canonical lists, early church fathers such as Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Clement of Alexandria all affirmed in the second century that Mark wrote the second gospel. Papias refers to Mark as Peter’s “interpreter” or “translator.” Mark’s presence with Peter in Rome is implied in the greetings conveyed in 1 Pet. 5:13 from “Mark, my son” and from “she who is in Babylon” (probably the church in Rome, capital of the empire that oppressed the apostolic church, as Babylon did Judah). Another reason to accept the authenticity of Markan authorship is that in the second and third centuries of the church, books falsely claiming apostolic authorship usually claimed well-known apostles as their authors rather than a secondary, and not altogether exemplary, figure such as John Mark.

Within the text itself, a veiled indication of Mark’s connection with this gospel may be seen in an otherwise apparently irrelevant notice of a “young man” who fled, unclothed, when Jesus was arrested. Some interpreters have suggested that this embarrassing incident is Mark’s way of referring to his own presence on that occasion (14:51 note), while others see it as a reference to an anonymous eyewitness to the events in Gethsemane. Possible evidence that Mark recorded Peter’s recollection of Jesus’ words and actions is the simplified chronological order of events in Mark, which mirrors Peter’s rehearsal of those events in the book of Acts (Acts 3:13, 14; 10:36–43).

Sproul, R. C., ed. 2015. The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.

Date, time

If Mark was used by Matthew and Luke, it is the earliest of the Gospels and cannot be dated later than about A.D. 70. If Luke and Acts were finished around A.D. 62, when the narrative of Acts ends, Mark would be even earlier if he was the first evangelist to write. Likewise, Matthew was likely written before A.D. 70 (Introduction to Matthew: Date and Occasion); hence, if Matthew used Mark as a source, then that serves as another argument for Mark writing his gospel before the fall of Jerusalem. Beyond these considerations, an argument can be made that all the books of the New Testament were written within the lifetime of the apostolic generation.

Sproul, R. C., ed. 2015. The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.

Audience

Mark seems to have targeted Roman believers, particularly Gentiles.

MacArthur, John, Jr., ed. 1997. The MacArthur Study Bible. Electronic ed. Nashville, TN: Word Pub.

Purpose for writing

Mark presents Jesus as the suffering Servant of the Lord (10:45). His focus is on the deeds of Jesus more than His teaching, particularly emphasizing service and sacrifice. Mark omits the lengthy discourses found in the other gospels, often relating only brief excerpts to give the gist of Jesus’ teaching. Mark also omits any account of Jesus’ ancestry and birth, beginning where Jesus’ public ministry began, with His baptism by John in the wilderness.

Mark demonstrated the humanity of Christ more clearly than any of the other evangelists, emphasizing Christ’s human emotions (1:41; 3:5; 6:34; 8:12; 9:36;),

MacArthur, John, Jr., ed. 1997. The MacArthur Study Bible. Electronic ed. Nashville, TN: Word Pub.

What is a Gospel letter?

This is a biographical document that tells the good news of what Jesus has done for us. They demonstrate Jesus's life, his character, his mission, he love of mankind. The gospel teach us Jesus's divinity, they reveal to us the triune nature of God.

Each gospel is doing a different thing, so you will notice that some event in Jesus's life are not included in every gospel. You'll notice that the sermon on the mount isn't in every gospel you'll notice in mark that the birth narrative isn't here. That is because every gospel is doing something different.

Just as a quick note: differences in the gospels do not mean contradictions. When two or three people are giving an account of an event or a person they are going to give different perspectives. This happens throughout history and it happens today. You'll hear several different views on George Washington for example based on different people who knew him and how they knew him. Benedict Arnold, the soldier under Washington's leadership, John Adams, and the other founding fathers are all going to have a different views and opinion of George Washington. There may be some overlap there may be similar stories or events that one man experienced that another man did not but that does not make a contradiction. What it does is paint a full picture the same is true for Christ. John, Matthew, Mark, and Luke are all telling the true story about Jesus from different perspectives. That's not a contradiction.

It's noted how much the Gospels of Matthew and Luke overlap with Mark, but that is because of using Mark as a source to write their gospel accounts among others.

The Main Character, Jesus

Who he is

Jesus is the second member of the trinity and the perfect God man.

JESUS CHRIST (ca. 5/4 BC–AD 30/33). According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the incarnate Word of God, the Creator and Savior of the world, the founder of Christianity, and the sinless exemplar of its principles and practices. “Jesus”—His personal name—is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew “Jeshua” (or “Joshua”). In Matthew 1:21 the name was divinely appointed, “for He will save His people from their sins.” Since the name was common in His lifetime, He was usually referred to in a more specific way, such as “Jesus of Nazareth” (John 1:26; Schaeder, “Nazarēnos, Nazōraios,” 874–79). “Christ,” the anointed one, is a title that acknowledged that He was the expected Messiah of Israel. In the Gospels, Jesus is usually identified as “the Christ.” After Peter’s sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2:38, He was usually referred to as “Jesus Christ.” This composite name joins the historic figure with the messianic role that prophetic expectation and early Christianity knew that He possessed.

Burns, J. Lanier. 2016. “Jesus Christ.” In The Lexham Bible Dictionary, edited by John D. Barry, David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

What he is doing

Jesus is the Gospel.

Simply Simply stated, Jesus Christ is the gospel. Consider first his person and work. The blessed name Jesus means he shall save his people from their sins Matthew 1: 21. The title Christ demonstrates that he is the elect and anointed one Isaiah 42: 1, approved by God and set apart by the spirit of the for the work of redemption Matthew 3: 16-17. This simple outline expands further.

Concerning Concerning his person, Jesus was and is simultaneously God Romans 9: 5 and man John 19: 5, the Incarnate word John 14-1: 14, God manifest in the flesh first Timothy 3: 16. He is the only mediator between God and man first Timothy 2: five. Concerning his work, Jesus Christ is the final prophet Hebrews 1: you, the great high priest Hebrews 8: 1-2 and the reigning king revelations 1: five. Most precious is the title of savior, for he came to save even the chief of sinners first Timothy 1: 15. - Banner of Truth Magazine pg 26

How is Jesus is the gospel

What is the gospel? Jesus Christ, the divine Incarnate son, who lived, suffered, died, was buried, rose again, and is now proclaimed in all the world. Whoever believes in him will not perish but has eternal life John 3:16.

God's grace stands alongside a sober reality. Why did the eternal God freely go to such great lengths to secure an eternal redemption for his elect? Did he make a man in need of redemption? Far from it 'truly, this only I truly, this only I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes' Ecclesiastes 7: 29. Everything God made was good, but that good creation became spoiled, sullied, and subject to futility, decay, and death. This was the effect of Adam sin. His fall plunged humanity and creation into the darkness of alienation and sorrow genesis 3: 8-24 Romans 8: 20-22. Everything that was affected, mankind in particular Ephesians 2: 1-3. Yet, dear reader(Christian), this did not take God by surprise. He had a plan, the origin of which flows from maternity leave physicians 1: 10

How to share Jesus with others (v1-3)

is the beginning of Good news

He is the true glad tidings we have been waiting for. He is the true fulfillment of the Prophets. Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God

Application: this is the simple message we share, and it works.

Possible Jehovah’s Witness evangelism tool here, as well as Jewish tool and spiritual neighbor tool.

Section 2

Introduction to Mark the person

Mark was a coward and he gave up in the past but God still used him.

Scripture of him running away

Acts 13:13 (ESV)

13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,

Acts 15:36–41 (ESV)

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Scripture of him being restored to Paul

Colossians 4:10 (ESV)

10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),

2 Timothy 4:11 (ESV)

11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

Philemon 24 (ESV)

24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

Application: Are we much different?

John is like you and me (V6-7)

He was a bit strange. He was possibly formally aligned with a group of zealots who lived in the wilderness. He had taken a nazarite vow.

Application: We are very much the same kind of people but if John can do it, so can you. John’s ministry and ours’ (V4-8)

John’s baptism and call to repentance did not remove sin, but faith in God did. This baptism was unusual because Jews where doing it, being God’s people they had reserved this for Non-Jewish believers John’s ministry pointed to Jesus.

Application: A great method for those who are lost, tell them they are in sin, and that sin leads to death. All they need to do is believe that belief will lead to a repentance of their sin and then tell them to get baptized to obey God. Jesus was baptized because he came to identity with you and me. (Matt 3:13-17)

Baptism was a picture of his death and resurrection It Prefigured the importance of Christian Baptism Baptism marked his public identification with those whose sins he would bear. It was a public affirmation of his Messiahship (Matt 3:17, Mark 1:11)

Application: Jesus also showed his gospel in the small act that he did, when we do likewise in baptism and sharing the faith God will do big things.