Intro: Mark’s gospel was intended for a Gentile audience, especially a Roman one (see Introduction to Mark: Background and Setting). Mark is the gospel of action; the frequent use of “immediately” and “then” keeps his narrative moving rapidly along. Jesus appears in Mark as the Servant (Mark 10:45) who bursts on the scene to suffer for the sins of many. Mark’s fast-paced approach would especially appeal to the practical, action-oriented Romans.
John MacArthur, Mark: The Humanity of Christ, MacArthur Bible Studies (Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group, 2000), 7.
