The Gospel According to Mark, Part 1 - Preparing the Way

A Brief Introduction to the Gospel of Mark

Who is the “Mark” who wrote this gospel?

We believe it was John Mark who was the cousin of Barnabas, who was travelling companion to Paul (and others) for a while, who had a falling out with Paul (but later reconciled) and who accompanied Peter in Rome.

When was this book written?

There’s a lot of speculation about this, but many scholars seem to believe that the “Gospel According to Mark” was written sometime between A.D. 60 and 75 — between 30 and 45 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Who was the Gospel of Mark written for, originally?

It seems that Mark originally wrote his gospel as a record of Peter’s recollections of the life of Jesus—perhaps he wrote it shortly after Peter was martyred in Rome. As such it is, in some ways a “collection” of stories that had been passed down by believers over the 30 or 40 years since Jesus’ death and resurrection. He probably wrote it first for the Roman Christians so that they would have a record of the stories and happenings of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

What are some of the key characteristics of this gospel?

The stories are short and action-packed. Mark wasn’t necessarily all that worried about getting the stories in exact chronological order. We can almost think of Mark as a collection of vignettes from Jesus’ life and ministry.

The book is divided into two main sections:

Part 1 is Jesus’ ministry in and around Galilee (Chapters 1-8)

Part 2 is about Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem: the Triumphal Entry and all the events leading up to his arrest, execution, burial and resurrection (Chapters 9-16).

Mark emphasizes that Jesus came to humbly serve humanity and show them God’s love. As such Mark uses the idea of the “Messianic secret” often — Jesus warns his disciples not to tell anyone that he is the Messiah. Only when Jesus is on trial at the end of the book does he himself reveal that he is the son of God. Jesus doesn’t want people to be distracted from the “good news” by any claims that he or his disciples might make as to his messiaship.

Mark also emphasizes the role of women in the gospel narrative. Time and time again in Mark’s gospel women play a key role, and are certainly portrayed as the spiritual equals of men (at least!).

Lastly, scholars believe that, though Mark’s gospel was originally written in Greek, Greek was not Mark’s first language. Mark’s first language was probably Aramaic (just as Jesus’ was), and so the grammar and language of Mark’s gospel is rough and awkward sometimes. That is probably why we read so many “simple” transitions in this gospel. Often we read the word “immediately”—Mark is probably not really meaning that this episode actually happened “immediately” after that one—rather, as a person writing in his second language, he is using a simple, familiar transition to go from one story to the next.

Episode 1: John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Mark 1:1–8 NIV

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” 4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Pool at Yardenit — a popular baptism site even now

Episode 2: Jesus’ Baptism and Temptation

Mark 1:9–13 NIV

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

What’s the Point of These Two Episodes?

For Mark and his original readers this is the establishment of Jesus’ credentials and his ministry:

The prophets declare John to be the one who prepares the way for the Messiah

John, appointed by God, points the way to Jesus, whose sandals he is “not worthy to stoop down and untie.” and who will “baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

God himself testifies that Jesus is His son during the baptism, and the Spirit affirms this in the presence of the dove.

Jesus further proves that he is worthy through his endurance of temptation and privation in the wilderness.

Finally, the angels affirm Jesus’ proper place by ministering to him.

Mark says, in effect: Jesus is the Messiah—the Son of God—and here’s the start of the proof of that.

What Does it Mean for Us?

Really it means the same for us...

Jesus is unquestionably the Messiah, if we believe the testimony of Mark.

Therefore, we’d better pay attention to the rest of what Jesus says and does in this gospel!