THE GOSPEL OF MARK

Lesson 1
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF MARK
I. The Inspired AUTHOR
A. After the first century, early writers testified to MARK as the author of this gospel
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Papias, who wrote about 140 A. D.

The Anti-Marcionite Prologue about 160-180 A. D.
Irenaeus about 175 A. D.
Also, the Muratorian Canon about 170-190 A. D.
Eusebius, the historian from Caesarea about 325 A. D.

B. The New Testament Tells Us Much About MARK

1. His name is John and his surname is MARK (Acts 12:12; 12:25; 15:37)
John is a HEBREW NAME, and Mark is a ROMAN NAME
2. The MOTHER of Mark is named Mary

(Acts 12:12)

3. At one time, the disciples were meeting in Marys house to pray for PETER
(Acts 12:12)
a. The family must have had some money, for the house could hold
many people assembled (Acts 12:12)
b. They must have had more money, for they also had a servant girl
named RHODA (Acts 12:13)
4. The Bible tells us that John Mark was the COUSIN of Barnabas
(Colossians 4:10)
5. This family relationship may suggest that Mark was, like Barnabas, from the
tribe of LEVI (See Acts 4:36)
6. Is it possible that PETER converted Mark, for he calls Mark, MY SON
(I Peter 5:13)
7. Mark was the companion of SAUL and BARNABAS on the first mission
journey
(Acts 13:5)
a. The word attendant here means a helper, or an assistant such as a
doctors assistant. See this word used also in John 18:36 and
Acts 26:16.
b. Mark turned back from the journey in Pamphylia and returned to
Jerusalem (Acts 13:13)
8. As the second journey was planned, Paul did not want to take Mark, and so there
was a disagreement between PAUL and BARNABAS. Paul took Silas with

him, and Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus

(Acts 15:37-41)

9. However, about 12 years later, MARK was with Paul, who was a prisoner, in
Rome (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24)
10. When Paul was preparing to DIE, he wanted Timothy to bring MARK with him
(II Timothy 4:11). Note the wonderful relationship between Paul and Mark.

II. The People Who First Received The Book Of Mark

A. We strongly believe that the first people who received the book were GENTILES,
possibly people in ITALY.
B. Why is this a strong possibility?
1. Mark will translate JEWISH words so that the people reading can understand
a.
b.
c.
d.

He translated the word Boanerges (Mark 3:17)

He translated the phrase Talitha cumi (Mark 5:41)
He translated the word Ephphatha
(Mark 7:34)
He explained the word Corban
(Mark 7:11)

2. He changed Jewish MONEY into ROMAN money as he wrote

(Mark 12:42)

3. Mark explained JEWISH CUSTOMS to the readers

a. He explained that Jews would not eat before WASHING (Mark 7:3)
b. He explained that the first day of unleavened bread was when they
killed the Passover lamb
(Mark 14:12) etc..

III. The DATE Of Writing Of The Book Of Mark Is Probably Either Around 50-60 A. D.
or AFTER 60 A. D.. The exact date is not certain.
IV. Some Beautiful Characteristics Of The Book Of Mark
A. The book of Mark is very EVANGELISTIC
1. The book is NOT a BIOGRAPHY of the Life of Jesus. It does not even discuss
His EARLY LIFE. Also, Mark is not giving a MONTH by MONTH
history of Jesus life.
2. Mark is showing his readers the IDENTITY of JESUS. Perhaps, the question
of the people is very important, WHO THEN IS THIS....? (Mark 4:41)
3. We notice TWO CONFESSIONS about Jesus that are very IMPORTANT:
a. Jesus great POWER is seen in Mark 1-8 BEFORE the confession of
Peter that Jesus is The Christ (Mark 8:27-30)
b. But, even at the CRUCIFIXION, a Gentile CENTURION confessed
that truly this was A Son of God (Mark 15:39)
B. The Book of Mark gives us VERY CLEAR DETAILS about events in Jesus life

1. Clear DETAILS about how the ROOF of a house was taken apart

(Mark 2:4)

2. Clear DETAILS about Jesus sleeping with his head on a PILLOW during a
great storm (Mark 4:37, 38) Etc..
C. The Book of Mark discusses much MORE about the WORKS of Jesus and less about
His WORDS
1. There are MANY MIRACLES showing Jesus POWER, especially in the first
eight chapters BEFORE the confession of Peter (Mark 8:27-30)
2. After the confession of Peter, Mark emphasizes the SUFFERING of Jesus that
will come (See Mark 8:31; 9:9-11; 10:32-34, etc.). There are only about
three great miracles in the last part of the book following Peters confession.
3. One great chapter of teaching is Mark 4, and Mark does have a number of Jesus
PARABLES. Also, Mark talked about Jesus as a great Teacher (Mark
1:14; 1:22; 1:27 etc.)
D. Mark is, therefore, emphasizing the CHRIST-HOOD of Jesus., His Messiah-ship
(Mark 1:1; 1:11; 1:24; 2:7; 3:11; 5:7, 8:27-30, etc.)
E. Mark strongly emphasizes Jesus POWER over EVIL SPIRITS
5:1-20; 7:24-30; 9:14-29, etc.)

(Mark 1:21-28;

F. Mark is a gospel of AMAZEMENT or WONDER (Mark 1:27; 2:12; 4:41; 5:33;

6:50, 51; 7:37; 9:15; 10:24, 32; 11:18; 16:5, 6)
G. Mark, which is the SHORTEST of the four gospels, places an emphasis on the
MINISTRY of Jesus in GALILEE (Mark 1-9), and then the LAST WEEK of
Jesus ministry leading to the CRUCIFIXION (Mark 11-16)

V. Please REMEMBER the TWO GREAT DIVISIONS of the gospel of MARK:

A. The GREAT POWER of Jesus shown in many MIRACLES in Mark 1-8
B. The great emphasis on the SUFFERING of Jesus following the CONFESSION
of Peter
(Mark 8:31- to the Crucifixion)
Jesus is the POWERFUL Messiah, the Christ, who will SUFFER for all men