The Beginning of the Gospel

Why “Who Am I”?

Two parts to this question.

First, it is the question that Jesus will ask His disciples about Himself. After they have seen Him perform miracles, speak like no one they had before (“one who had authority”), they had decided to follow Him because they recognized that He was different than anyone else they had heard. But there are many people who believe Jesus was a “Great teacher” and may have even performed miracles but do not know WHO Jesus is.

The second part is, we ask ourselves the question, who am I? There are many ways we can “identity” ourselves in our world today, many ways to find meaning. So how do we work through all that confusion? In light of who Jesus shows Himself to be we have a different answer to that question.

Introduction

What is a Gospel?

The word itself means “good news”. Originally it was used to proclaim the “good news” of victory in battle. But it came to be associated with worship to the emperor. The birth of an heir, the emperor coming of age, or accession to the throne. It was associated with one reigning over a people.

This will help us later to understand why the disciples will be confused when the “good news” that Jesus brings is not of Him coming to establish an earthly throne and kingdom but a heavenly one.

Mark describes the book as the Gospel of “Jesus Christ”. All the Gospels are Gospels of Jesus Christ. They are the good news about the kingdom of God through Jesus the Messiah (meaning Savior).

The good news of the Gospel is defined by 4 important truths.

It’s origins are in God who created all things

The good news can’t be separated from the life and and words of Jesus

The peace and benefits that Jesus brings don’t come from a military reign but from the death of Jesus on the cross.

The benefits of the Gospel are for everyone. The outcast, the sinner, the poor, Jews and Gentiles...Good news for the entire world.

Good summary in Acts 2:22–24 ““Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know. Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him. God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death.”

Who wrote Mark?

No where in the book of Mark does it state that Mark is the author. So why do we believe him to be the author and who is Mark?

Mark, also known as John Mark, was a Jewish Christian who had a relationship with both Peter and Paul. He became a believer very early.

-Originally from the island of Cyprus, with his cousin Barnabas.

-We first meet him in Acts 12:12 “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.”

The tradition of the church is that Mark wrote the book but he was doing so through the testimony of Peter. This means somewhere in the 60 AD’s during the time that Peter is alive.

What is the purpose of Mark?

Mark is the shortest Gospel and most likely the earliest. It used to be believed that it was later than Matthew and Luke and then Mark took from what they wrote. But now it is more believed that Mark writes earlier than the others and Matthew and Luke use Mark as a springboard for their own writing.

Mark writes for both Jew and Gentiles. Gentiles are those who are not Jewish. Gentile readers for the purpose of portraying “the person and mission of Jesus Christ for Roman Christians” Jewish readers for the purpose of convincing them Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.

Both groups are going through persecution, Mark is a reminder to these groups of how to deal with the persecution under Nero many were dealing with.

It reminds them of the kingdom they wait for as they deal with the persecution and who the true king is.

To prove to non-believers that Jesus is the Son of God to take away the sins of the world.

To show them what it looks like to be a Christian.

Important themes

The Promised Messiah - Jesus (Christology) - Mark 1:2-8

Suffering Servant-King

The Example of the Messiah - Discipleship - Mark 1:9-11

“Follow me”

Jesus sets the first example for us in Baptism, one that He will call us to follow as well.

The Jordan was the separating point for the Promised Land God gave HIs people.

-God made the water under the ground of the Israelites dry in order to bring them into the promised land. This was the beginning of their “new life”. Here Jesus shows us how to begin in new life.

“Jesus “called his hearers to a change of heart and purpose, which would result in a forgiveness of their sins by God; and it is clear from the common gospel tradition that John also demanded a changed life as proof of this truly changed heart.” - Cole

The Kingdom of the Messiah - The Kingdom of God - Mark 1:12-13

God’s eternal rule over creation

Jesus shows us in His temptation that His Kingdom is not of this world. He was tempted in every way we could consider in the wilderness and yet He was without sin. Satan promised Jesus food, power, and a great name for Himself...but Jesus knew what was to come in the future.

Where do you think of in the Bible when you think of the “wilderness?”. The Israelites leaving Egypt. The wilderness is God’s place to test His people to bring them to the kingdom. It is a place of hope that God would bring them into blessing through the wilderness.

Jesus calls us to believer His promises, follow His example, and live for His kingdom in our world; even as we experience challenges and suffering through life.