Mark: An Introduction
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As we introduced last Sunday, our theme for 2020 is “Complete in Christ.”
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
If we are complete in Christ, it would seem appropriate then that we take the opportunity to learn about Him - about Christ.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
This morning, as introduction, we are going to consider the subject, the author, and the audience of the Gospel of Mark.
The Subject of Mark
The Subject of Mark
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
The central character of the Gospel of Mark is Christ. Jesus Christ is the Gospel; He is the Good News!
Each of the Gospels portray Christ in a slightly different way.
Matthew portrays Christ as King and the Promised Messiah.
Matthew portrays Christ as King and the Promised Messiah.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Luke portrays Christ as the Son of man.
Luke portrays Christ as the Son of man.
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
John portrays Christ as the Son of God.
John portrays Christ as the Son of God.
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Mark portrays Christ as the Servant of God.
Mark portrays Christ as the Servant of God.
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Of all of the portraits of Christ, that are painted by the Gospel writers, the portrait that is painted by Mark is perhaps that portrait that we can - or should - most relate to.
This is a Time magazine cover from 2013. The title story is, “Millennials: The Me, Me, Me Generation.”
What millennials are most famous for besides narcissism is its effect: entitlement.
Millennials grew up watching reality-TV shows, most of which are basically documentaries about narcissists. Now they have trained themselves to be reality-TV-ready.
https://time.com/247/millennials-the-me-me-me-generation/
Probably the epitome of this “me, me, me” is Ethan Couch who, at the age of 16, killed four individuals while driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Ethan’s defense? “Affluenza.” Ethan was the product of "profoundly dysfunctional" parents who gave him too much and never taught him the consequences of his actions.
In a world of selfies, self-promotion, narcissists, and egomaniacs, God has called us to the life of a servant. Jesus Christ, the Son God, serves as our example of a true servant of others!
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
This was demonstrated by Christ when, in Mark 14:36, the night of His betrayal and the night before His crucifixion, He said...
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
While we may be able to say, “I’m nothing like Ethan Couch,” can we, on the other hand, say, “I am like Jesus Christ?”
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
The Author of Mark
The Author of Mark
God is the Author of the Gospel of Mark.
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
God is the divine author of all Scripture. Mark is the human instrument that God used to pen the Gospel of Mark.
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
The Bible teaches, this preacher preaches, and this church believes that God inspired His Word in the original languages and that He has preserved His Word for English speaking individuals in the King James version of the Bible.
Because of that, the Word of God is our final authority for faith - what we believe - and practice - how we live!
Now, aside from that, let’s take a moment to learn some about the human author of the Gospel of Mark.
He was a Christian.
He was a Christian.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Are you a Christian?
He wasn’t an apostle.
He wasn’t an apostle.
He wasn’t “special.”
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
I heard a Christian man complain one time, “Well, since I can’t be a deacon, what else can I do?”
Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m bored?” (I’ve heard plenty of teenagers and young people say that!?!?) Do you know what they are really saying? “There’s plenty to do; there’s just nothing to do that I want to do!”
For a short time, in high school, I worked at Hardees. The managers had a saying, “If there’s time to lean there’s time to clean!”
Within the local church there are always ways in which you can serve! I’m sorry. I’m not trying to upset anyone or offend anyone but, could it be that your attitude is simply, “There’s nothing to do that I want to do?”
Or could there be an even bigger obstacle that is keeping you from serving?
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Jesus Christ was very clear in this verse. No ambiguity whatsoever. Easy to understand. “No man can serve two masters.”
If you are having difficulty serving maybe it is because you are trying to serve two masters? Or, you’re serving the wrong master!
He grew up in church.
He grew up in church.
His mother’s home was one of the meeting places for the early church.
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.
Statistics tell us that young people, who grew up in the church, are leaving the church. Now, I’m not going to argue over the “reasons” why young people are leaving church, etc. What I will say, though, is, if you grew up in church and going to church praise the Lord! I praise the Lord that I had the opportunity to grow up in a Bible-believing Baptist church! I praise the Lord that I had the opportunity to attend a Christian school! Time will not allow me to share the Bible truths that I do not struggle with today simply because I was taught them from a young age!
He had a spiritual heritage.
He had a spiritual heritage.
Aside from having a godly mother, his uncle was Barnabas.
Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
Turn to and read Acts 12:5-17.
Just imagine all that Mark, as a young man, growing up in a godly home, with a godly heritage, in the first century church, heard and experienced!
Mark had spiritual opportunities that others could only dream about.
“It is well to keep in mind that Mark had the facts of his Gospel from Peter and the explanation of his Gospel from Paul.” - J. Vernon McGee
Not only did he have the opportunity to listen to and learn from great men of God, he had the opportunity to go with Paul and his uncle Barnabas on the first missionary journey!
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
I praise the Lord for my spiritual heritage! Both of my parents, while not perfect, were saved, and tried their best to instill in me Biblical truth!
I praise the Lord for the great men and women of God who invested in my life!
I praise the Lord for the ministries of great men of God - preachers, and evangelists, and missionaries, that I, through the years, have had the opportunity to experience and learn from!
And, if you have grown up and church and if you have a spiritual heritage, then you have plenty of reasons to rejoice and praise the Lord!
That’s the good. The next characteristic isn’t so good.
He was a quitter.
He was a quitter.
And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
Have you ever quit? Have you ever failed? Probably, most of us in this room this morning, have failed on multiple occassions; have quite multiple times.
I like this quote that I found:
Failure doesn't define you. It's what you do after you fail that determines whether you are a leader or a waste of perfectly good air.
Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. once said:
The test of your character is what it takes to stop you!
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: But the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Did you quit in 2019? Did you fail in 2019? What are you going to do about it? Are you going to let it define who you are or will you heed the testimony of Scripture and get back up again and keep going?!
He was profitable.
He was profitable.
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
Mark went from being an individual that Paul did not care to take with him on a journey to being an individual that was profitable! He went from being un-useful to being useful!
We should all keep in mind that God used Mark to write his Gospel after he had failed! After he had quit!
Again, remember...
Failure doesn't define you. It's what you do after you fail that determines whether you are a leader or a waste of perfectly good air.
Mark is not simply an example of someone who “tried harder” or “became a better person.” Mark is an example of the grace of God in the life of a believer! Mark is an example of the maturing, perfecting work of God in the life of a believer.
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Although, we do not know how God made the change in Mark’s heart, Mark is an example of on individual who yielded himself to the work of God in his life!
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
In 2020, it’s not going to be a matter of anyone of us simply determining to be a better person. In 2020 we need to daily yield ourselves to the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit, using the Word of God, to do the work of God in our lives!
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The Audience of Mark
The Audience of Mark
J. Vernon McGee wrote:
Mark wrote this Gospel in Rome, evidently for Romans. They were a busy people and believed in power and action. This Gospel was brief enough for a busy man to read and would appeal to the Roman mind...Mark was written by a busy man for busy people about a busy Person.
The Gospel of Mark is a fast-paced Gospel.
It is the shortest Gospel having only 16 chapters.
The words, straightway and immediately (which both come from the same Greek word), are used 34x in the 16 chapters of the Gospel of Mark. By comparison, the Gospel of Matthew only uses those words 13x in its 28 chapters.
Anyone here busy? Then the Gospel of Mark was written for you!
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Over these next weeks, as we journey with Jesus through the pages of Mark’s Gospel, I trust that we will allow ourselves to slow down enough so that God can speak to us through His Word!