The Gospel

Writers
The Gospel
of
Mark
 Mark
Mark’s symbol is the winged lion. The Gospel
begins quoting Isaiah, “I send my messenger
before you to prepare your way.” That
messenger’s voice is “of one crying in the
wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of our Lord’”, and
the messenger is John the Baptist. That voice
in the desert reminded Irenaeus of a lion’s
roar. As the Lion of Judah, Jesus’ victory over
death roars in the ear of sin and Satan. Hence
Mark is the Gospel of Resurrection.
 Who wrote Mark?

•Mark is only name ever

attached, and the common title
appearing in ancient Greek
manuscripts Euangelion kata
Markon (Gospel according to
Mark).
•Mark, having become the
interpreter of Peter, wrote
down accurately, though
not in order, whatsoever he
remembered of the things
said or done by Christ.’”
 Who was Mark?
• John Mark: the son of a wealthy family in Jerusalem
(Acts 12:12-14), a cousin of Barnabas (Col.4:10), a
traveler with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:5), and called
son by Peter (1 Peter 5:13).
• Mark is also known for leaving Paul on his first
missionary journey but later being requested by Paul
during his final imprisonment (2 Timothy 4:11).
• Mark was a man who failed but got back up again,
maturing in his faith.
 Who was it written for?
• It was written for a Gentile / Roman audience that
was more interested in action and power than
discourse and dialogue.
• This would account for the rapid action, vivid detail,
and picturesque description in the book.
• Mark15:21 adds a touch of human interest for
Roman readers. Same Rufus Paul mentions in
Romans 16:13.
• Gregory Nazianzen says, “Mark wrote his Gospel for
the Italians.”
 What about Mark?
• Matthew has 28 chapters. Luke has 24, and they are
both like historical novels of Jesus’ life.
• Mark has only 16 chapters and is more like a long
short story with some of the most concise, vivid,
exciting depictions of all the gospels.
• Mark is a Gospel of action, written in a lively fashion.
• It doesn’t contain the genealogy, birth, and
childhood of Christ as found in the other Gospels.
 What about Mark?
• Mark’s focus is the service and sacrifice of Christ.
• Key word in Mark is “immediately,” appearing some 40
times, giving the impression of rapid development and
activity.
• Mark is more concerned with works than words.
(Servants have less to say than kings.)
• Mark writes, “Jesus taught” without giving what He said
numerous times (2:13; 4:23; 6:2, 6, 34; 10:1; 12:35).
 What about Mark?
• Mark shows Christ as the servant who came living and
working among men in the fullness of His energy, the
Servant who stooped to conquer.
• Matthew = 20 parables, Luke = 25, but Mark = only 7.
• Yet, Mark contains the highest proportion of miracles in
the Gospels.
• Yet, Mark gives more detail to events than that of
Matthew or Luke (e.g. 5:2-6; 6:30-34; 7:3-37; 8:22-26;
9:14-29)
 What about Mark?

• Miracles (works) of Christ fill Mark’s Gospel.

• Consider the following: power over nature (4:35-41),
power over demons (5:1-20), power over death (5:21-
24, 35-43), power over disease (5:25-34), power
restricted (6:1-6a), power delegated (6:6b-13), power
recognized (6:14-29), power at rest (6:30-32), power
over substance (6:33-44), power over elements (6:45-
52), power over sickness (6:53-56)
 What about Mark?

• Key verse = 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many.”
• Key chapter/ turning point = chapter 8, containing
Peter’s confession to Christ’s question, “Who do you say
I am?” followed by warning to tell no one, the
revelation of His death, call to discipleship, and
transfiguration.
 What about Mark?
• The death and resurrection of Christ has a significant
part in Mark’s Gospel.

• 10 chapters on some 30 years of Jesus’ life and the last 6

chapters on the last week of His life.

• Jesus announces His death and resurrection in 8:31-32

and repeats it 9:9-12, 30-31, 10:32-34.

• He says at the Last Supper, “For the Son of Man is to go

just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by
whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been
good for that man if he had not been born” (14:21).
 What about Mark?

• Also, the angels said, “Do not be amazed; you are

looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified.
He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place
where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter,
‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see
Him, just as He told you’” (16:6-7).
• A full 37 percent of this Gospel is devoted to the events
of His last and most important week.
 What about Mark?

• 16:9-20 is believed to be later additions by a scribe

wanting to provide a suitable conclusion.
• The addition doesn’t concern biblical inspiration (110%,
not 90% of God’s Word).
• The addition doesn’t affect any major doctrine.
 Outline
I. Introduction 1:1-13

A. The Beginning of the Gospel (1:1)

B. John the Baptist Preaching (1:2-8)
C. Jesus’ Baptism (1:9-11)
D.Jesus’ Temptation (1:12-13)
II. Works & words of Jesus around Galilee (1:14-9:50)
A. Initial Ministry in Galilee (1:14-45)
B. Initial Opposition to Jesus (2:1-3:35)
C. Parables of Jesus (4:1-34)
D. Miracles Asserting Jesus’ Power (4:35-5:43)
E. Growing Opposition to Jesus (6:1-8:26)
F. Instruction to the Disciples 8:27-9:50
III. Journey to Jerusalem (10:1-52)
A. Instruction to Inquirers (10:1-31)
B. Prediction of Passion (10:32-34)
C. Warning to the Faithless (10:35-52)

IV. Works & Words of Jesus in Jerusalem (11:1-16:8)

A. The Presentation of the Messiah (11:1-26)
B. The Final Development of Opposition (11:27-12:44)
C. Instruction for the Present and the Future (13:1-37)
D. The Suffering of the Savior (14:1-15:47)
E. The Resurrection of the Savior (16:1-8)
the 12 disciples:
• Peter
• James
• John
• Andrew
• Bartholomew
• James,
• Judas
• Jude or Thaddeus
• Matthew or Levi
• Philip
• Simon