Gospel According to Mark

Who is John Mark and what is his account of Jesus about?

Mark is a part of the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. They all have some of the same stories. Synoptic meaning similar.

John Mark appears in Acts 12:12

Acts 12:12 CSB

12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.

His mom was Mary who hosted gatherings in their house. He was so inspired by the works of Jesus, and God was stirring in him a passion to go on missions with Paul and Barnabas, two apostles.

Something happened though on the mission trip though that Mark abandoned the company and went back to Jerusalem. It caused a riff later that Paul and Barnabas separated. Acts 15:36-41

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37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.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.

It makes me wonder how Mark felt, feeling like he failure. Abandoning his friends. It sounds like him and Peter had a lot in common.

Peter bailed on Jesus at his arrest. Mark bailed on Paul & Barnabas on the mission field.

Peter rejected Jesus to a little girl. Mark was rejected by Paul to come to another trip.

Peter was reaffirmed/forgiven by Jesus. Mark was later accepted by Paul. 2 Timothy 4:11 “11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.”

When He left in Acts 13 he was probably greeted by Peter. Seeing of what happened they may have had a moment where the two talked about what happened to Peter to Jesus. They bonded together so much that in 1 Peter 5:13 “13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.”

Early christians link Mark to be the interpreter for Peter in this account. Meaning it could have well been the Gospel according to Peter.

So thats some key information about the authorship, who wrote the Gospel according to Mark.

Why did he write it? To share it to the Romans. He focuses a lot on the deeds of Jesus. He uses the word immediately A LOT. 40 times, making the reader feel the tension of what Jesus was doing.

“To the hard-working and accomplishment-oriented Romans, Mark wrote a gospel that emphasized Jesus as God’s Servant. Because no one cares about the pedigree of a servant, the Gospel of Mark has no genealogy of Jesus.” - David Guzik.

How do we read the gospel accounts?

They are historical accounts, that actually happened.

What we hear and read in the four gospels, actually happened and were actually said.

2. They were written inspired by the Holy Spirit, its all true.

They may have some variances in story, because they were written by 4 different people. But that doesn’t make one wrong and the other right.

3. Read one at a time.

Though it may help to get another look from a different perspective, the author of each gospel has the same but different take on the account of Jesus.

For instance, camp. I have a different perspective about camp than Alex or you who went. Doesn’t make mine wrong and yours right, or vice versa.

The purpose of Mark is to show the people the Servant-Messiah.

The works and wonders of Jesus Christ. Thats why we will see the word immediately a lot. We don’t read a lot of teachings by Jesus in this account but that doesn’t mean they are not there.

Mark 1:1–13 CSB

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. 3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight! 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.” 12 Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.

This is the GOOD NEWS OF JESUS!

Jesus the historical figure.

Christ the Messiah, Gods anointed one and Servant.

Son of God, the unique God the Son.