Mark.
Date. Probably written about A. D. 60, and before Matthew.
The Author. He was not an apostle and was variously designated as
follows; (1) John, whose surname was Mark, Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37; (2)
John only, Acts 13:5. 13; (3) Mark only, Acts 15:39; (4) always Mark
after this, Col. 4:10, Philemon 24, 2 Tim. 4:11, 1 Pet. 5:13. He was a
son of Mary, a woman of Jerusalem (Acts 12:12). Her home was the
gathering place of the disciples, whither Peter went after he was
delivered from prison. On this or some other visit Mark may have been
converted through the preaching of Peter, and this may have been the
cause of Peter calling him "his son" (1 Pet. 5:13), which doubtless
means son in the ministry. He returns with Paul and Barnabas from
Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 12:25), and accompanies them, as minister
(Acts 13:5) on the first great missionary journey as far as Perga
(Acts 13:13). There he left them and returned home. On the second
missionary tour Paul declined to take him and separated from Barnabas,
Mark's cousin (Col. 4:10), who chose Mark for his companion (Acts
15:37-39). Ten years later he seems to be with Paul in his
imprisonment at Rome and was certainly counted a fellow worker by Paul
(Col. 4:10, Philemon 24). Paul found him useful and asked Timothy to
bring him to him in his last imprisonment (2 Tim. 4:11). He was with
Peter when he wrote his first epistle (1 Peter 5:13).
What he knew of the work of Jesus directly we do not know, probably
not much. The early Christian writers universally say that he was the
interpreter of Peter and that he based his gospel upon information
gained from him.
Characteristics and Purpose.
1. It Is a Gospel of Vividness and Details. He shows the effect of awe
and wonder produced upon those present by the works and teaching of
Jesus. He tells the details of the actions of Jesus and his disciples
and the multitudes. Jesus "looks around," "sat down," "went before".
He is grieved, hungry, angry, indignant, wonders, sleeps, rests and is
moved with pity. The cock crows twice: "it is the hour", "a great
while before day," or "eventide," "there are two thousand swine", the
disciples and Jesus are on the sea, on Olivet, or in the court yard or
in the porch. Everything is portrayed in detail.
2. It Is a Gospel of Activity and Energy. There is no story of his
infancy, but he starts with "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus
Christ". He portrays the active career of Jesus on earth. He,
however, lays emphasis upon the works rather than the words of Jesus.
Few discourses of any length and only four of the fifteen parables of
Matthew are given and those in the briefest form, while eighteen of
the miracles are given in rapid review. The rapid succession is
indicated by one Greek word, translated by the seven words
"immediately", "anon", "forthwith", "by and by", "as soon as",
"shortly", and "straightway", which occur forty-one times in this
gospel. The last meaning, straightway, is truest to the Greek idea and
may be called Mark's characteristic word. It indicates how with the
speed of a racer he rushed along and thereby furnishes us a breathless
narrative which Farrar says makes us "feel like the apostles who,
among the press of the people coming and going, were twice made to say
they 'had no leisure so much as to eat'." It moves as the scenes of a
moving picture show.
3. It Is a Gospel of Power Over Devils. Here as in no other gospel the
devils are made subject to Jesus. They recognize him as the "Son of
God" and acknowledge their subordination to him by pleading with him
as to what shall be done with them (5:7, 12).
4. It Is a Gospel of Wonder. Everywhere Jesus is a man of wonder that
strikes awe and terror and causes to wonder those who see and hear
him. Some of these may be studied, especially in the Greek, in 1:27;
2:13; 4:41; 5:28 6:50; 51; 7:37. As Archbishop Thompson puts it, "The
wonder-working Son of God sweeps over his Kingdom swiftly and meteor-
like" and thus strikes awe into the hearts of the on-lookers. He is "a
man heroic and mysterious, who inspires not only a passionate devotion
but also amazement and adoration".
5. It Is a Gospel for the Romans. The Romans were men of great power,
mighty workers who left behind them great accomplishments for the
blessing of humanity. So that Mark would especially appeal to them by
recording of Jesus his mighty deeds. He lets them see one who has
power to still the storm, to control disease and death, and even power
to control the unseen world of spirits. The Roman, who found deity in
a Caesar as head of a mighty Kingdom, would bow to one who had shown
himself King in every realm and whose kingdom was both omnipotent and
everlasting, both visible and unseen, both temporal and spiritual.
Then, too, the Roman cared nothing for Jewish Scripture or prophecy
and so he omits all reference to the Jewish law, the word law not
being found in the entire book. He only once or twice refers in any
way to the Jewish scriptures. He omits the genealogy of Jesus which
could have no value to a Roman. Then, too, he explains all doubtful
Jewish words, such as "Boanerges" (3:17), "Tabitha cumi" (5:41),
"corban" (7:11), "alba" (15:36). He reduced Jewish money to Roman
currency (12:42). He explains Jewish customs as not being understood
by them. (See 7:3; 13:3; 14:12; 15:42).
And once more by the use of terms familiar to him such as centurion,
contend, etc. "Mark showed the Roman a man who was a man indeed". He
showed them manhood crowned with glory and power; Jesus of Nazareth,
the Son of God; a man but a Man Divine and sinless, among sinful and
suffering men. Him, the God-man, no humiliation could degrade, no
death defeat. Not even on the cross could he seem less than the King,
the Hero, the only Son. And as he gazed on such a picture how could
any Roman refrain from exclaiming with the awe-struck Centurion,
"Truly this was the Son of God".
Subject. Jesus the Almighty King.
Analysis.
I. The Almighty King is Exhibited as the Son of God, 1:1-13.
1. In the baptism and teaching of John, 1-8.
2. In the baptism of Jesus, 9-11.
3. In the temptation, 12-13.
II. The Almighty King at Work in Galilee, 1:14-9 end.
1. Begins his work, 1:14 end.
2. Reveals his Kingdom, Chs. 2-5.
3. Meets opposition, 6:1-8:26.
4. Prepares his disciples for the end, 8:27-9 end.
III. The Almighty King Prepares for Death 10:1-14:31.
1. He goes to Jerusalem, 10:1-11:11.
2. In Jerusalem and vicinity, 11:12-14:31.
IV. The Almighty King Suffers at the Hands of His Enemies. 14:32-
15:46.
1. Agony of Gethsemane, 14:32-42.
2. Arrest, 14:43-52.
3. Jewish trial and denial of Peter, 14:53 end.
4. Trial before Pilate. 15:1-15.
5. The Crucifixion. 15:16-41.
6. The Burial, 15:42 end.
V. The Almighty King Triumphs Over His Enemies, Ch.16.
1. The resurrection, 1-8.
2. The appearances, 9-18.
3. The ascension, 19-20.
For Study and Discussion. (1) Sections peculiar to Mark, (a) Growth of
the seed, 4:26-29. (b) Jesus' compassion on the multitudes, 7:32-37.
(c) The blind men healed gradually, 8;22-26. (d) Details about the
ass, etc., 11:1-14. (e) Concerning watching, 13:33-37. (f) Details
concerning Christ's appearances. 16:6-11. (2) The spiritual condition
of those affected by Jesus' miracles. Keeping in mind their condition
before and after the miracle: (a) Were they saved as well as well as
healed? (b) Did they or their friends exercise faith, or did Jesus act
voluntarily without any expression of faith? (3) What did Jesus do in
performing the miracle? (a) Did he use the touch? (b) Was he touched?
(c) Did he simply give command, etc? (4) From the following
scriptures 2:35; 1:45; 3:7-12; 6:6; 6:21-32; 6:46; 7:34-25; 8:27; 9:2;
11:11; 11:19; 14:1-12, make a list of the different places to which
Jesus retired and in connection with each indicate (in writing): (a)
Was it before or after a victory or conflict? (b) Was it in
preparation for or rest after the performance of a great work? (c)
Indicate in each case whether he went alone or was accompanied and, if
accompanied, by whom? (e) In each case also tell what Jesus did during
the period of retirement. Did he pray, teach, perform miracles or
what? (5) List the phrases "Son of man" and "Kingdom of God" and point
out the appropriateness and meaning of each. (6) List all references
to demons and to demon possessed people and study their nature, the
nature of their work, their power, wisdom, etc. (7) The facts
concerning the death of Jesus. 14:1-15:14. List them.
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