Returning to Mark

Re-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 Text

Mark 6:1–6 ESV

1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

Context of this part of the Letter

This was written right after the miracles that Jesus performed. Some commentators Reformer John Calvin, Church father John Chrysostom, mention this book was written primarily to gentiles and to give them comfort and explain why sometimes the gospel doesn’t spring easily in their families. This was written at the advent of the Christian religion Gentiles were still learning the gospel and still being transformed and informed by it.

It also explained to them the reason why some Jewish people reject the faith, even till today. He is the messiah that they have been waiting for and he is rejected by his own

Psalm 118:22 (ESV) The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Will cover this again in Mark 12:1-11 but the son of the vineyard owner in the parable the tenants kill. Jesus is referring to himself and the Jewish people.

Comfort from the Context

God is still able to work in the hard grounds of disbelief See verse 5. You maybe dealing with hard hearts when sharing the gospel, remember God is still able to save and does.

Big idea:

You may experience miracles, healings, sit under great teachings, but unless you are born again Christianity, Jesus means nothing to you.

The questions of the people

Theses questions are not friendly questions, They are born out of offense (v3) and astonishment (v2)

Jesus starts teaching on a regular Sabbath and as he’s teaching it reads like all the jaws in the room hit the floor! People are blown away at what he is sharing, his insight, his ability to parse God’s word, utterly stupefied but what Jesus is saying! And what do they do? They go on the attack.

“Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him?

- This is them asking a question that attacks the very nature of Jesus. Jesus is the revealed son of man, the 2nd person of the trinity, God the son, God incarnate. They asked were these teachings are coming from. By implications of what is not said in the text it isn’t to hard to entertain what the scribes where saying in Mark 3:22

Mark 3:22 ESV

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.”

I’m speculating a bit there, but the text is replete with the works of Christ being from his father

How are such mighty works done by his hands?

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?”

This is an attack on Jesus’s character, heritage, and credentials.

This is a slap in the face truly. By saying that he was a carptner they were saying he isn’t truly qualified to speak God’s word and really didn;t know what he was talking about

by refering to him as the son of Mary John Mac says this

The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 6

Only here is Jesus called this. The normal Jewish practice was to identify a son by his father’s (Joseph’s) name. Perhaps that was not done here because Joseph was already dead, or because Christ’s audience were recalling the rumors concerning Jesus’ illegitimate birth (cf. John 8:41; 9:29)—a man was called the son of his mother if his father was unknown—and were purposely insulting Him with this title as a reference to illegitimacy

The reality here is that Jesus was truly born of Mary, he is truly the heir of David and is thee messiah. This line of attack is still done by some today who will discount the birth and conception narratives given in the NT and prophesied in the OT. It is his birth by a virgin that was predicted. Mary who is the most blessed among women according to the scriptures was God’s chosen to birth the Lord in flesh. She was like many women in the line of Jesus prior to her, subject to scorn and rumor this connects Jesus also to the line of David showing that he comes from that line.

How Jesus Responds

English Standard Version Chapter 6

4 And Jesus said to them, j“A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And khe could do no mighty work there, except that lhe laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And mhe marveled because of their unbelief.

nAnd he went about among the villages teaching.

1. He partly excused it, as a common thing, and what might be expected, though not reasonably or justly (v. 4); A prophet is not despised any where but in his own country. Some exceptions there may be to this rule; doubtless many have got over this prejudice, but ordinarily it holds good, that ministers are seldom so acceptable and successful in their own country as among strangers; familiarity in the younger years breeds a contempt, the advancement of one that was an inferior begets envy, and men will hardly set those among the guides of their souls whose fathers they were ready to set with the dogs of their flock; in such a case therefore it must not be thought hard, it is common treatment, it was Christ’s, and wisdom is profitable to direct to other soil.

2. He did some good among them, notwithstanding the slights they put upon him, for he is kind even to the evil and unthankful; He laid his hands upon a few sick folks, and healed them. Note, It is generous, and becoming the followers of Christ, to content themselves with the pleasure and satisfaction of doing good, though they be unjustly denied the praise of it.

3. Yet he could there do no such mighty works, at least not so many, as in other places, because of the unbelief that prevailed among the people, by reason of the prejudices which their leaders instilled into them against Christ, v. 5. It is a strange expression, as if unbelief tied the hands of omnipotence itself; he would have done as many miracles there as he had done elsewhere, but he could not, because people would not make application to him, nor sue for his favours; he could have wrought them, but they forfeited the honour of having them wrought for them. Note, By unbelief and contempt of Christ men stop the current of his favours to them, and put a bar in their own door.

4. He marvelled because of their unbelief, v. 6. We never find Christ wondering but at the faith of the Gentiles that were strangers, as the centurion (Mt. 8:10), and the woman of Samaria, and at the unbelief of Jews that were his own countrymen. Note, The unbelief of those that enjoy the means of grace, is a most amazing thing.

5. He went round about the village, teaching. If we cannot do good where we would, we must do it where we can, and be glad if we may have any opportunity, though but in the villages, of serving Christ and souls. Sometimes the gospel of Christ finds better entertainment in the country villages, where there is less wealth, and pomp, and mirth, and subtlety, than in the populous cities.

Application:

You must not suppress the grace of God because you’re familiar with it.

Do you still love this old truth? Do you still value your lord? Or has your faith become cold because it’s a well worn path in your life?

Jesus was rejected by those who know him best. Those of us who have experienced God’s grace should never grow to cold or lax about the great works he has done.

The book of Deuteronomy records this:

Deuteronomy 8:17–18 ESV

17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

The wealth of salvation has been secured not by your hands but by Christ’s

In Revelation when John writes to the Laodicean church he records this:

English Standard Version Chapter 3

15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. sWould that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 tFor you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, ublind, and naked. 18 I counsel you vto buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and wwhite garments so that you may clothe yourself and xthe shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, uso that you may see. 19 yThose whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and zknock. aIf anyone hears my voice and opens the door, bI will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Return to your Lord lest you be spit out if your faith has become nothing.

You must not submit to the culture around you but to Christ

The news of who the Pharisees and scribes obviously got around to the people of Nazareth. The people of this town are described in the Greek as his kinsmen, people in some way related to Jesus. His family is mentioned what he had done is mentioned and still they all gave into the pre-dominate understanding of Jesus. Being a Christian is not easy we have a hard road. what we believe is no longer openly embraced it is now mocked and in some places in the west is considered illegal just this last week on socail media “Jesus Christ is Lord” was hit with “this statement is anti-Semitic” We Christians call this basic doctrine Jesus is Lord even if you don’t believe in him.

A couple of early 20’s from Cape Coral went to a “family friendly” drag queen event in Wisconsin and from a speaker system where reading scripture through the devise from a public sidewalk. The police snatched aggressively the device from the hands on one of these kids while about 4 others very aggressively arrested this young man.

They were arrested because they were committing blasphemy against the current gods and the police did this while being video taped. I’m praying those men lose their jobs and the city is sued for partaking in great evil.

This faith of ours is going to start costing us dearly again for a while to come.

But remember the promise of our Lord Luke 18:28-30

Luke 18:28–30 ESV

28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Remain faithful it is wort it.

Go to your family as Jesus did, he knew he would be rejected and went any way

It’s not easy to bring the gospel to your loved ones, but they need to know what is going on, they need to know the truth. We know later that James the half brother of Jesus believes. He would go on to write the book of James and be the pastor of the church in Jerusalem. Jesus marvelled at the unblief of his kinsmen, but he Marvels at the belief of the gentiles. When you share your faith with your family know that kind of faith born in those you care about is the kind that made Jesus marvel when the centurion believed.

Repent and be born again

Look at verse Mark 6:3

Mark 6:3 ESV

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

The word for offense there is were we get our word Scandal from. Originally the word Scandal had to deal with tripping over a stone or a rock. What Jesus was saying and doing caused this scandal to break out. Jesus as we shared is the corner stone the people rejected. His literal kinsmen where tripping over his statements and getting offended at what he was saying.

If you are a no believer today I want you to know you are in your sin (give gospel)