The Gospel of Mark: An Introduction to the Gospel of Mark

Text: Acts 12:11-12

Text:

Theme: An introduction to the Gospel of Mark.

Theme: An introduction to the Gospel of Mark.

The Gospel of Mark is one of the four eye-witness narratives about the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Scholars and bible students have often referred to this Gospel as a long short story. Compared to Matthew (28 chapters), Luke (24 chapters), and John (21 chapters) a long short story is an apt description of Mark’s Gospel at only sixteen chapters. It’s the most concise, vivid, and in some ways exciting of the Gospels. Mark portrays Jesus as a intrepid man of action, an exorcist, a healer, and a miracle worker, but most importantly as the Son of God.

The Gospel of Mark is one of the four eye-witness narratives about the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Scholars and bible students have often referred to this Gospel as a long short story. Compared to Matthew (28 chapters), Luke (24 chapters), and John (21 chapters) a long short story is an apt description of Mark’s Gospel at only sixteen chapters. It’s the most concise, vivid, and in some ways exciting of the Gospels. Mark portrays Jesus as a intrepid man of action, an exorcist, a healer, and a miracle worker, but most importantly as the Son of God.

Mark has also been the most neglected of the four gospels throughout the history of the church. This is due in part to the traditional view that Matthew was the first gospel written and Luke the second, and finally Mark which is a condensed version — the “Readers Digest” version — of the two longer gospels. I’m still convinced that the traditional order of is correct even though the vast majority of New Testament scholars now believe that Mark was actually the first of the gospels to be written.

“Mark” is the only name that has ever been attached to this shortest of the gospels. All of the early church fathers agree that the author of the Gospel of Mark is the John Mark mentioned in the gospels, but more prominently in the Book of Acts. The gospel may have been written as early as A.D. 45, but no later than A.D. 64, and was probably written while Mark was with the Apostle Peter in Rome.

I. MARK: A YOUNG MAN WHO CAME TO CHRIST BY THE INFLUENCE OF FAITHFUL

CHRISTIANS

1. Mark was the product of a Christian home

a. from several references in the Book of Acts, it would appear that Mark lived with his

mother Mary in Jerusalem

1) Mark is his Romanized name

2) John is his Jewish name

b. the indication seems to be that she was a woman of means who had a sizeable

home, big enough to accommodate a large group of people

1) we know from that before the Day of Pentecost swelled their numbers,

that the early church in Jerusalem numbered about 120 people

2) tells us that on the Day of Pentecost that they entire church was

gathered in one home

3) Mary’s home must have been large and we see the early church regularly

gathering there

c. Mary is wholeheartedly devoted to Christ and his church and makes her home

available whenever it was needed by the Christian community

1) it was in her house that the disciples met to pray for the release of Peter from

prison

“Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.” 12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.” (, NIV84)

2) some Bible scholars assume that the Upper Room where Jesus observed the

Passover meal with his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion was also in the house of Mary

c. we also know John Mark was related to Barnabas

“My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)” (, NIV84)

d. blessed are children who grow up in a Christian home where Christ is honored and

worshiped

2. Mark was the product of a vibrant church

• “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (, NIV84)

• “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” (, NIV84)

a. after the resurrection, the disciples became bold witnesses — Mark saw that

1) we find Peter and John and the other Apostles preaching the gospel and the

church is growing by leaps and bounds

“So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” (, NIV84)

b. by the time we get to , the church has been expanding for perhaps a decade

1) Saul has been converted and become Paul

2) Peter has taken the gospel to the Gentiles and churches are springing up in

other communities — and Mark is a witness of this phenomenal growth

c. in , Herod Agrippa has arrested James and put him to death and arrests

Peter in order to do they same

“It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” (, NIV84)

d. when Peter is arrested and imprisoned, we find the early church gathered at what

must have been a pretty intense prayer meeting

1) Peter is miraculously delivered — and Mark is there when Peter begins banging

on the door

e. Mark was undoubtedly a witness to the ministry and fellowship and teaching of

Apostles

f. blessed are children who grow up in a gospel-preaching, Christ-honoring, church

3. Mark was the product of influential Christians

a. we don’t know what kind of relationship the young Mark may have had with Jesus

1) there is one tantalizing piece of information in Mark’s Gospel that as a young

teenager Mark was a follower of Christ

“Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled. 51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him,” (, NIV84)

2) Mark is the only gospel that gives us this little tidbit of information, and a lot of

people think that John Mark is inserting himself into the story

3) so it seems possible that John Mark may have known and been a follower of

Jesus

4) I can’t help but wonder if Jesus ever bounced John Mark on his knees or mussed

the hair on his head

b. what we know for sure is that Mark was well acquainted with men like Barnabas,

Paul, and Peter and the other disciples

1) in , the apostle Peter refers to Mark as his son which may be an

indication that the Apostle was responsible for leading the young man to faith in Christ

2) if nothing else, it implies that Peter took a young Mark under his wing and helped

him grow and mature in his faith

c. then there were his travels with men like Barnabas, Paul, Silas, Luke and others

d. blessed are the children who grow up with faithful examples of the authentic

Christian life

II. MARK: A CHRISTIAN WHO FAILED, BUT GOT A SECOND CHANCE

1. in , we find John Mark in the company of his cousin Barnabas and Paul

a. they are in the church in Antioch

b. during a time of fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit impresses upon the congregation

to commission Barnabas and Paul as missionaries and they embark on Paul’s first missionary journey

2. in we’re told that they take Mark along as a helper

“When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish

synagogues. John was with them as their helper.” (, NIV84)

a. the first several weeks or months go well, but when they make the decision to go to

Asia Minor – modern day Turkey – something unexpected happens

1) when they come to Perga in Pamphilia, Mark left them and returned to

Jerusalem

“From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.” (, NIV84)

3. just why Mark leaves the group is not explained, but it becomes clear later in the Book

of Acts that Paul considers Mark a deserter and one whose heart inexcusably quailed because of the work which confronted him

a. when Barnabas insists on giving Mark a second chance on a second journey, the

Apostle Paul adamantly refuses to allow Mark on the trip

“Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.” (, NIV84)

4. for the next ten to fifteen years, the Bible is silent as to John Mark – we simply do not

know where he was or what he was doing

a. we can assume he completed the second missionary trip with his cousin Barnabas

b. we’re fairly sure he spends time with Peter

c. whatever he is doing, he proves his worth as a valuable aid and companion to the

work of the Lord

5. in about A.D. 61 the Apostle Paul is under house arrest in Rome and he writes the

epistles known as Colossians and Philemon

a. at that time one of his companions is none other than John Mark

“My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)” (, NIV84)

b. he has fully re-established himself in Paul’s confidence

1) he is a comfort to Paul, a valuable, highly esteemed, and warmly loved co-worker

III. MARK: A FAITH EXPOSITOR OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST

1. no where in what we call the Gospel of Mark, does the author identify himself

2. but pretty reliable tradition and testimony from some of the early church fathers attest

that Mark was indeed the author

a. Papias, who was a disciple of the Apostle John, testifies that the Apostle told him

that Mark was the author of the Gospel that bears his name and that it reflects the preaching and teaching of the Apostle Peter

1) in a modern court, we’d call that hearsay, but I think that it’s pretty good hearsay!

3. Mark is the shortest of the four gospels and is a rapid succession of vivid pictures of

our Lord at work

a. the primary theme of the book is, Jesus came ... preaching the gospel of the

kingdom ()

b. he probably wrote his Gospel in Rome, and for Roman readers

4. he begins the book simply:"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of

God." (, NASB95)

a. that’s what it’s all about folks

1) it’s not about us

2) it’s not about our church or our programs or our ministries

3) it’s about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God