“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” – Mark 1:14-15 ESV
Dear Friends,
Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels in the New Testament. It was probably the earliest of the Gospels, written between 50-70 AD. While we do not know for certain who the author is, it is traditionally accepted that it was written by John Mark. John is his Jewish name while Mark is his Roman name. John Mark had traveled some with his cousin, Barnabas, and the Apostle Paul. The Gospel of Mark is thought to be based on Peter’s eyewitness accounts, since John Mark was also a ministry companion of Peter.
Peter was the first to acknowledge that Jesus was Christ the Messiah (Mark 8:27-38). If Peter’s accounts and testimony really are the basis for the Gospel of Mark, then it makes sense that the identity of Jesus is a major theme in the book. Jesus as teacher, as the Son of God, and as Messiah are all central to the message of the Gospel of Mark. Right off the bat, Mark 1:1 establishes this theme:
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1 ESV)
The death of Jesus as well as discipleship are also main themes.
The Gospel of Mark is one of the 3 Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), which means they follow a similar, rather chronological, narrative of the life of Jesus. However, Mark does differ from Matthew and Luke in how it begins. Matthew and Luke begin with the birth of Christ while Mark jumps right to his adulthood and beginning of his ministry. In fact, the entirety of Mark is all about the ministry of Jesus, beginning with John the Baptist’s proclamation and the calling of the first disciples and ending with the ascension of Jesus.*
There is a sense of urgency and momentum in this action-packed gospel. There are nine vignettes in chapter one alone. Each one factually and concisely stated. As one account flows rather quickly into another, we can see the overarching biographical sketch of Jesus and His ministry.
After our next service on April 22, 2018, we invite you to stay for Sunday school where we will begin to take a more in-depth look at the Gospel of Mark. As we explore the earliest Gospel of Jesus together, may the Gospel be evermore engraved upon our hearts. The more that we know the Gospel, then the more naturally it will be to share it with others. As we begin our ministry as a new congregation, it is only logical that we start by studying the beginning of Jesus’s ministry.
Until next we meet,
Pastor Jessi
*Some of the earlier manuscripts end Mark with the resurrection of Jesus.
Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels in the New Testament. It was probably the earliest of the Gospels, written between 50-70 AD. While we do not know for certain who the author is, it is traditionally accepted that it was written by John Mark. John is his Jewish name while Mark is his Roman name. John Mark had traveled some with his cousin, Barnabas, and the Apostle Paul. The Gospel of Mark is thought to be based on Peter’s eyewitness accounts, since John Mark was also a ministry companion of Peter.
Peter was the first to acknowledge that Jesus was Christ the Messiah (Mark 8:27-38). If Peter’s accounts and testimony really are the basis for the Gospel of Mark, then it makes sense that the identity of Jesus is a major theme in the book. Jesus as teacher, as the Son of God, and as Messiah are all central to the message of the Gospel of Mark. Right off the bat, Mark 1:1 establishes this theme:
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1 ESV)
The death of Jesus as well as discipleship are also main themes.
The Gospel of Mark is one of the 3 Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), which means they follow a similar, rather chronological, narrative of the life of Jesus. However, Mark does differ from Matthew and Luke in how it begins. Matthew and Luke begin with the birth of Christ while Mark jumps right to his adulthood and beginning of his ministry. In fact, the entirety of Mark is all about the ministry of Jesus, beginning with John the Baptist’s proclamation and the calling of the first disciples and ending with the ascension of Jesus.*
There is a sense of urgency and momentum in this action-packed gospel. There are nine vignettes in chapter one alone. Each one factually and concisely stated. As one account flows rather quickly into another, we can see the overarching biographical sketch of Jesus and His ministry.
After our next service on April 22, 2018, we invite you to stay for Sunday school where we will begin to take a more in-depth look at the Gospel of Mark. As we explore the earliest Gospel of Jesus together, may the Gospel be evermore engraved upon our hearts. The more that we know the Gospel, then the more naturally it will be to share it with others. As we begin our ministry as a new congregation, it is only logical that we start by studying the beginning of Jesus’s ministry.
Until next we meet,
Pastor Jessi
*Some of the earlier manuscripts end Mark with the resurrection of Jesus.
RSS Feed
