Journey Through the Bible: Mark's Gospel

Bible Readings
Isaiah 40:1-11 Page 511
Mark 1:1- 28 Page 707
1
Saturday, 29 August 2015

• The shortest of the four gospels.
• Half of it focuses on the events
of the last week of Jesus' life.
• Mark wrote this account of Jesus’
life in Rome around 60 – 65 AD.
• Paul and Peter were in Rome at
this time and Nero was the
Roman emperor.
• Nero began a persecution of
Christians in Rome.
• Both Paul and Peter lost their
lives along with 100’s of others.
2
Mark’s Gospel

• “And immediately, coming up from the water,
He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit
descending upon Him like a dove.” (Mark
1:10, NKJV)
• “Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the
wilderness.” (Mark 1:12, NKJV)
• “They immediately left their nets and followed
Him.” (Mark 1:18, NKJV)
• “And immediately He called them, and they
left their father Zebedee in the boat with the
hired servants, and went after Him.” (Mark
1:20, NKJV)
3
Mark’s Gospel:The Action Gospel

• “Then they went into Capernaum, and
immediately on the Sabbath He
entered the synagogue and
taught.” (Mark 1:21, NKJV)
• “And immediately His fame spread
throughout all the region around
Galilee.” (Mark 1:28, NKJV)
• “So He came and took her by the
hand and lifted her up, and
immediately the fever left her.And she
served them.” (Mark 1:31, NKJV)
4
Mark’s Gospel:The Action Gospel

• This is the gospel of action.
• Mark shows us what Jesus did.
Jesus is the servant of God going
from town to town, healing
sickness and casting out demons
by the power of God.
• We see Him confronting the
Pharisees' traditions and
hypocrisy and, as early as chapter
three, they start plotting how
they can kill Jesus.
5
Mark’s Gospel

• “Then He said to them,“Is it lawful
on the Sabbath to do good or to
do evil, to save life or to kill?” But
they kept silent.And when He had
looked around at them with anger,
being grieved by the hardness of
their hearts, He said to the man,
“Stretch out your hand.” And he
stretched it out, and his hand was
restored as whole as the other.
Then the Pharisees went out and
immediately plotted with the
Herodians against Him, how they
might destroy Him.”
(Mark 3:4–6, NKJV)
6
Mark’s Gospel

• Mark records how Jesus felt about
people.
• “Then Jesus told them,“A prophet
is honoured everywhere except in
his own hometown and among his
relatives and his own family.”
And because of their unbelief, He
couldn’t do any miracles among
them except to place His hands on
a few sick people and heal them.
And He was amazed at their
unbelief.Then Jesus went from
village to village, teaching the
people.” (Mark 6:4–6, NLT)
7
Mark’s Gospel

• Mark records how the disciples
reacted to Jesus’ teaching.
• “Then Jesus looked around and said to
His disciples,“How hard it is for those
who have riches to enter the kingdom
of God!” And the disciples were
astonished at His words. But Jesus
answered again and said to them,
“Children, how hard it is for those
who trust in riches to enter the
kingdom of God! It is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a
needle than for a rich man to enter
the kingdom of God.” And they were
greatly astonished, saying among
themselves,“Who then can be
saved?”” (Mark 10:23–26, NKJV)
8
Mark’s Gospel

• Mark records how the crowds
reacted to Jesus’ teaching when He
confronted the religious
authorities.
• After Jesus had silenced the Temple
authorities and lawyers by His
answers to their trick questions,
Mark records, “ . . . .And the
common people heard Him gladly.”
(Mark 12:37, NKJV)
• The ordinary people were
delighted that Jesus had caused the
chief priests and Pharisees to lose
face in a big way.
9
Mark’s Gospel

• Mark records Pilate's reaction to
the news of Jesus' quick death on
the cross:
• “Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent
council member, who was himself
waiting for the kingdom of God,
coming and taking courage, went in
to Pilate and asked for the Body of
Jesus. Pilate marvelled that He was
already dead; and summoning the
centurion, he asked him if He had
been dead for some time. So when
he found out from the centurion,
he granted the Body to Joseph.”
(Mark 15:43–45, NKJV)
10
Mark’s Gospel

• Mark gives only a brief summary of
Jesus’ teaching.
• The longest teaching recorded is
about the tribulation and the
return of Jesus.
• This reflects the concerns of the
people for whom this gospel was
written who were suffering
persecution.
• Mark describes in detail the plot to
kill Jesus, His sudden arrest, secret
trial, the judgement of Pilate, the
flogging and public crucifixion.
11
Mark’s Gospel

• In the NIV version in Chapter 16:8 has a line and an
editorial note that says, "The most reliable early
manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not
have Mark Mark 16:9-20."
• The NIV translation is based on two Greek
manuscripts from the 4th century.These two
manuscripts don't have these last 11 verses.
• Most other manuscripts of Mark's gospel do have
these verses.
• Three famous early church scholars who wrote
commentaries on the New Testament between 150
AD – 180AD refer to these verses in Mark's gospel.
• This shows that these verses must have been part
of Mark's original gospel from very early on.
12
Mark’s Gospel - The Resurrection

• A number of documents from the early
church leaders state that John Mark was the
writer of the this gospel. Mark is mentioned
ten times in the New Testament.
• “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.” (Acts 12:12, NIV84)
• John was his Jewish name, Mark was his
Roman name.
• Mark lived in Jerusalem and came from a
wealthy family.
13
Who Wrote Mark’s Gospel?

• John Mark was a cousin of Barnabas, a
prominent member of the first church in
Jerusalem who'd sold and donated a field to
the apostles. (Colossians 4:10)
• Mark accompanied Barnabas to Antioch to
see what was happening in the new church
there and to meet up with the newly
converted Saul (who became known as Paul.)
Acts 12:25
• Mark went with Paul and Barnabas as a helper
on their first missionary journey. But half way
through this mission he left them and
returned home to Jerusalem.(Acts 13:5 & 13).
14
Who was John Mark?

• In Acts 15 Mark became the source of a strong
disagreement with Barnabas.
• “And after some days Paul said to Barnabas,“Let
us return and visit the brothers in every city
where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and
see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take
with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best
not to take with them one who had withdrawn
from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with
them to the work.And there arose a sharp
disagreement, so that they separated from each
other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed
away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed,
having been commended by the brothers to the
grace of the Lord.And he went through Syria and
Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”
(Acts 15:36–41, ESV)
15
Who was John Mark?

• The next time we hear of Mark is about 15 years
later in Paul's letter the Colossians which Paul
wrote as a prisoner in Rome. It is clear that Mark
was with Paul and was a valued companion:
• “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.) Jesus, who is called
Justus, also sends greetings.These are the only
Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom
of God, and they have proved a comfort to
me.” (Colossians 4:10–11, NIV84)
• In Paul's last letter he urges Timothy to bring
Mark back with him to Rome because he was
such a help to Paul. 2 Timothy 4:11
16
Who was John Mark?

• The last reference to mark in the New Testament is
in Peter’s Letter:“Your sister church here in
Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son
Mark.” (1 Peter 5:13, NLT)
• Mark was not literally Peter's son. It indicates a
close and loving relationship.
• Paul calls his young fellow evangelist Timothy "my
beloved and faithful son" in the same way.
• When Peter was miraculously released from prison
he ﬁrst went to John Mark's house in Jerusalem.
• The earliest traditions say that Mark's gospel
records the life of Jesus through Peter's eyes.
• This Gospel has the eyewitness account of one of
those closest to Jesus.
17
Who was John Mark?

• In Mark 14 when Jesus was arrested in
the Garden of Gethsemane, we read a
fascinating detail that only appears in
this gospel:
• “Then all His disciples deserted Him
and ran away. One young man following
behind was clothed only in a long linen
cloth.When the mob tried to grab
him, he slipped out of the cloth and ran
away naked.” (Mark 14:50–52, NLT)
• Who was this young man? Many think
it was Mark.
• It's a little hint that says, "I was there."
18
Did John Mark meet Jesus?

• “Now as He was going out on the road,
one came running, knelt before Him, and
asked Him,“Good Teacher, what shall I do
that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark
10:17, NKJV)
• Could this have been Mark's ﬁrst
encounter with Jesus? Only in Mark's
account is there the little detail about Jesus
response to the young man, "Then Jesus,
looking at him, loved him." (10:21)
• Mark came from a wealthy family.
• Mark is never recorded as one of the
disciples of Jesus and yet there was
relationship with Simon Peter and after
Jesus’ resurrection he became a devoted
disciple and missionary helper.
19
Did John Mark meet Jesus?

• Mark is never recorded as one of
the disciples of Jesus.
• He is never recorded as preaching
or leading.
• He always served in the background.
• He was a valued and faithful helper.
• A “Hidden jewel of the church”
• He wrote one of the most vivid and
direct accounts of Jesus’ life in the
New Testament.
20
Serving in the Background

Journey Through the Bible: Mark's Gospel

More Related Content

What's hot

Similar to Journey Through the Bible: Mark's Gospel

More from Resurrection Church

Recently uploaded

Journey Through the Bible: Mark's Gospel