This action-packed gospel, written first of all the gospels, is like a modern day, fast- paced movie. Using the word ‘immediately’ forty-two times, Mark pulls the reader through the life and actions of Christ in such a way that you will feel exhausted by all Jesus accomplished in his three years of ministry. Showing Christ as the suffering servant that came to seek and save the lost, you will fall in love with Jesus afresh as you go through this book.
Have you ever asked yourself why there are four gospels? If Jesus knew we’d want the details of His life later on, why didn’t He just get someone to write everything down as He went? Or, better yet, why didn’t Jesus write it Himself? I mean, what happens if the disciples didn’t say the right thing, or if they wrote it the wrong way?
German-born theologian Martin Kähler famously described Mark’s gospel as a ‘passion narrative with an extended introduction’*. After further analysis of John-Mark’s literary style, this statement proves true, particularly through the frequent usage of the word ‘eutheos’, variously rendered as ‘immediately’ or ‘straightaway’. As you read this gospel account, you’ll see this word no less than forty times!
I am amazed at how much the authors of the scriptures share about themselves, even funny stories that are quite revealing – literally! In the gospel of John, John shares his heart, cheekily calling himself ‘the beloved disciple’. He is only able to get away with that because it is the last book to be written, everyone else is dead so there is no-one alive to refute his claim!
The Gospel of Mark’s being the shortest of the four gospel accounts in no way restricts what Mark gets up to with his narrative arrangement. Mark’s audience play a key role in understanding and unlocking the treasures within his strategic agenda – the Gentiles, predominantly in the city of Rome, had certain expectations of divine figures.
The final thing I want to show you in the Gospel of Mark is a behind-the-scenes character who is actually quite a demanding, overbearing, annoying distraction throughout the book. But before I reveal the behind the scene character, let me ask you a question: who sets your identity?
If you’ve been following along with TYB over the past couple of years, or have personally read through the other gospels on your own, then you’ll surely think when going through the Book of Mark that you’ve read it all before. This is because Mark, along with the books of Matthew and Luke, make up the synoptic gospels.
THAT’S A GREAT BEGINNING