Camel Hair and Locusts

Introduction

Background on Mark

Date

Written around 60AD, and widely considered to be the first of the Synoptic Gospels to be written.

Author

Like the others, Mark’s Gospel is anonymous.

Longstanding tradition identifies this Mark as John Mark of the New Testament whose mother hosted meetings of early believers in her Jerusalem home during the early days of Christianity.

This put Mark within the sphere of apostles and eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life.

In fact, Mark accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey.

Traveling with Paul would have provided Mark with an excellent chance to learn the content of Paul’s preaching about Christ.

Mark also enjoyed the benefit of learning under the personal tutelage of Simon Peter.

So familiar was Peter with Mark that he goes so far as to call him “my son” (1 Pet. 5:13).

Arguably Peter had greater influence on Mark than Paul did.

Early tradition even held that Mark’s Gospel was written as a reflection of Peter’s preaching.

Themes

The cost of disciple-ship

Jesus’ voluntary suffering and death.

Style