When I was first hearing the call to ministry, a dear friend and mentor shared Mark 10:45 with me. That was a very long time ago, but the words of our Lord have stuck in my mind and have helped guide me through my years of ministry.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Mark 10:45
This verse, along with Philippians 2:5-11, taught me that to follow Christ, especially in ministry, I must try to be like Christ. Therefore, I have often said that I am the dumbest guy in the room, but I have a brilliant Master.
On Sunday, Dr. Daryl Donovan shared a message focusing on our brilliant Master and the way He cast demons out of a man (Mark 5:1-10). Dr. Donovan also encouraged us to understand the full picture of the Gospel of Mark.
It’s Short
Mark's Gospel is the shortest of the four in the New Testament - only 16 chapters! - but it is powerful in its presentation of the actions of Jesus. Unlike Matthew or John, Mark was not an Apostle. Like Luke, he was closely associated with the Apostle Paul and Mark also had a tight relationship with Peter. Like Luke, Mark gathered stories and accounts of events from first-hand sources. He was with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary trip.
As Dr. Donovan said, scholars have long held that the Gospel of Mark was the first one written, most likely in the 50 AD to 60 AD range. Mark, a Roman, may have known Jesus. There is a good case for him being the young man who fled naked into the woods after Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:51).
It’s Journalistic
Mark’s writing is journalistic, in that he wastes no time in getting to the point. The book is action-packed and tightly written. The pacing is rapid, as Mark talks of a succession of events, using the word immediately more than 40 times. One-third of the book deals with the final week of Jesus' life on earth.
His attention to the “Messianic secret” is also interesting. Jesus would heal people but tell them not to say anything about it. For example, in Mark 3:11-12, Jesus issues specific instructions “not to tell anyone about Him.”
In Mark 8:27-30, Jesus asks His disciples “Who do people say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Jesus then warned them not to tell anyone.
When he took Peter, James and John atop a mountain, the three saw him meeting with Elijah and Moses. They were frightened and not knowing what to say, they offered to build structures for the three of them. Jesus told His three disciples to say nothing until “the Son of man had risen from the dead.” The three wondered what that meant.
It’s Significant
Mark most likely wrote this Gospel while in Rome and he writes primarily for Roman Gentiles, unlike Matthew who write to Jews. His writing focuses on the humanity of Jesus, which is effective because it welcomes people to have a personal relationship with Jesus the person, as well as Jesus the Messiah.
The book is a quick read, but unpacking the significance of the accounts is by no means quick.
What catches your eye or heart about the Gospel of Mark? Comment below.