Introduction to the Book of Mark

The gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four gospels. It doesn’t contain much commentary on the events being depicted. Instead, the narrative tells the story in a fast-paced fashion. For example, the word “immediately” appears 36 times in this small book. It is Mark’s account that mentions that Jesus was so busy that he and the disciples did not have time to eat. This is a book focused on the deeds of Jesus. Mark skips over most of Jesus’ early years to get to the beginning of his ministry when his great deeds were done.

Author and Dating

The book's original title was “According to Mark.” All early Christian writers state that Mark is the author of this gospel.
“Again, in the same books [the Hypotyposeis], Clement gives the tradition of the earliest presbyters, as to the order of the Gospels, in the following manner: "The Gospels containing the genealogies, he says, were written first. The Gospel according to Mark had this occasion. As Peter had preached the Word publicly at Rome, and declared the Gospel by the Spirit, many who were present requested that Mark, who had followed him for a long time and remembered his sayings, should write them out. And having composed the Gospel he gave it to those who had requested it. When Peter learned of this, he neither directly forbade nor encouraged it. But, last of all, John, perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the Gospel, being urged by his friends, and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual Gospel." This is the account of Clement.” [Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 6.14.5-7].
Papias, writing around 140 A.D., stated:
“This also the Elder [John] used to say. Mark, having become Peter’s interpreter, wrote accurately all that he remembered, though he did not [record] in order that which was either said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed Him; but subsequently, as I said, [attached himself to] Peter, who used to frame his teaching to meet the [immediate] wants [of his hearers], and not as making a connected narrative of the Lord’s discourses. So Mark committed no error as he wrote down some particulars just as he recalled them to mind. For he took heed to one thing – to omit none of the facts that he heard and to set nothing falsely in [his narrative of] them.”
Peter was believed to have been killed in A.D. 64, so Mark was probably written in the late 50s or very early 60s.
Given that the Gospel writers tended to avoid naming themselves in their own books, it is suspected that Mark was the young man in Mark 14:51- 52, a detail that is mentioned in no other gospel.
Like many people during this time, Mark had two names. John was his Hebrew name, and Marcus was his Latin name (Acts 12:12). Mark’s mother was one of the Marys mentioned in the Bible, and Peter went to Mary’s house when he was released from prison (Acts 12:13-16). Notice that the maid recognized Peter’s voice, so he must have come by at least several times before. Peter likely is the one who converted him since he refers to Mark as his son (I Peter 5:13).
Mark’s cousin was Barnabas (Colossians 4:10).  Saul (later known as Paul) and Barnabas had taken Mark with them on their journey from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 12:25). When they later went on their first journey, Mark went with them (Acts 13:5). However, Mark didn’t finish the journey (Acts 13:13). When it came time for the second journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark, but Paul as firmly against it (Acts 15:36-41).
It isn’t that the rift was permanent. Mark was with Paul during his imprisonment in Rome (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24). At the end of Paul’s life, he sent for Mark (II Timothy 4:11).

Audience

We first note what is not in Mark: no genealogy, few mentions of fulfilled prophecies, and no references to the Law to prove a point. These are things of interest to a Jewish audience but not to a Gentile audience.
However, Aramaic words are translated (Mark 3:17; 5:41; 7:34; 15:22), telling us the intended audience was unfamiliar with the language most Jews used daily. Jewish customs are explained (Mark 7:3-4; 14:12; 15:42). When time is mentioned, the Roman style of marking time is used. The Jews used three night watches, while the Romans used four night watches (Mark 6:48; 13:35).
“In language, Mark shows a distinct preference for Latin technical terms, particularly terms connected with the army (e.g. legion, Ch. 5:9; praetorium, Ch. 15:16; centurion, Ch. 15:39), the courts (e.g. speculator, Ch. 6:27; flagellare, Ch. 15:15) and commerce (e.g. denarius, Ch. 12:15; quadrans, Ch. 12:42). Although such terms were in use throughout the empire, it is particularly significant that twice common Greek expressions in the Gospel are explained by Latin ones (Ch. 12:42, ‘two copper coins [lepta], which make a quadrans’; Ch. 15:16, ‘the palace, that is the praetorium’). The first of these examples is particularly instructive, for the quadrans was not in circulation in the east. The presence of latinisms and of technical terminology confined to the west is harmonious with the tradition that Mark was written in Rome.” [William L. Lane, The Gospel According To Mark, pp. 24–25].
One small fact is that Mark is the only Gospel account to mention that Simon of Cyrene was Rufus’ father (Mark 15:21; Romans 16:13).
Thus, it is concluded that Mark aimed to reach Gentiles and Romans in particular.

Purpose

The Book of Mark is written as a topical narrative focusing on the deeds of Jesus. This particular style of writing was popular among the Romans. Mark shows Jesus as a man of action, power, and authority. Compared to the other accounts, more of Jesus’ miracles are recorded in Mark and less of Jesus’ discourses. Nineteen miracles of Jesus are recorded, showing the breath of his power and compassion. An emphasis is placed on Jesus’ service to mankind (Mark 10:45).

Outline

  1. Introduction to the Servant - Mark 1:1-2:12
    1. A Man Named John - Mark 1:1-8
    2. Jesus’ Anointing and temptations - Mark 1:9-13
    3. The first disciples - Mark 1:14-20
    4. Early miracles - Mark 1:21-2:12
  2. His relationships - Mark 2:13-3:35
    1. His friendships - Mark 2:13-22
    2. Sabbath working - Mark 2:23-3:5
    3. The decision to kill Jesus - Mark 3:6-12
    4. The apostles selected - Mark 3:13-19
    5. Called insane - Mark 3:20-30
    6. Independence from his family - Mark 3:31-35
  3. Parables - Mark 4:1-34
    1. The Sower - Mark 4:1-20
    2. The Lamp - Mark 4:21-25
    3. The Seed - Mark 4:26-29
    4. The Mustard Seed - Mark 4:30-34
  4. Miracles - Mark 4:35-5:43
    1. Calming the Sea - Mark 4:35-41
    2. Demons cast out - Mark 5:1-20
    3. Raising of Jarius’ daughter - Mark 5:21-24, 35-43
    4. Healing the woman with an issue of blood - Mark 5:25-34
  5. Evidence - Mark 6:1-9:29
    1. Rejection at Nazareth - Mark 6:1-6
    2. Twelve sent and John is killed - Mark 6:7-31
    3. Feeding of the five thousand - Mark 6:32-44
    4. Jesus walks on water - Mark 6:45-52
    5. Casting out demons - Mark 6:53-56
    6. Syro-Phoenician woman’s daughter healed - Mark 7:24-30
    7. Deaf-mute man healed - Mark 7:31-37
    8. Feeding of the four thousand - Mark 8:1-9
    9. Beware the Pharisees - Mark 8:10-21
    10. Blind man healed - Mark 8:22-26
    11. Peter’s confession - Mark 8:27-33
    12. Cost of discipleship - Mark 8:34-38
    13. Transfiguration - Mark 9:1-13
    14. Demon possessed son healed - Mark 9:14-29
  6. Instruction - Mark 9:30-10:52
    1. Foretells death - Mark 9:30-32
    2. Attitudes - Mark 9:33-41
    3. Warnings on Hell - Mark 9:42-50
    4. Marriage and Divorce - Mark 10:1-12
    5. The Kingdom - Mark 10:13-16
    6. Wealth - Mark 10:17-31
    7. Coming crucifixion - Mark 10:32-34
    8. Servanthood - Mark 10:35-45
    9. Bartimaeus healed - Mark 10:46-52
  7. Final week - Mark 11:1-15:47
    1. Triumphal Entry - Mark 11:1-11
    2. Fig tree cursed - Mark 11:12-14
    3. Cleansing of the temple - Mark 11:15-19
    4. Instruction on Prayer - Mark 11:20-26
    5. Opposition by the Leaders - Mark 11:27-12:44
    6. Future events - Mark 13
    7. The Death of Jesus - Mark 14-15
  8. The Resurrection of Jesus - Mark 16
Mark
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