intro to book jan 6 2013

The Essential Jesus as

Revealed in the Gospel of Mark

James 4:14What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Hebrews 12:1. . . let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Hebrews 12:2

. . . fixing our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Sharpening Our Focus on Christ!

Five passages each week to help us “fix our eyes upon Jesus!”

The Essential Jesus as

Revealed in the Gospel of Mark

Gospel of Mark: Background

▪ The author - The earliest of church tradition identifies “John Mark” (mentioned 8 times in the NT) as the author of the gospel and no evidence to contradict this has ever surfaced.

Gospel of Mark: author

▪ a cousin of Barnabas▪ accompanied Barnabas and the Apostle Paul on Paul’s first Missionary Journey, but Mark quit part way through and returned home▪ in a close relationship with the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:13 – “my son”)

Gospel of Mark: author

▪ was eventually reconciled to the Apostle Paul (In 2 Timothy 4:11 Paul asked Timothy to bring Mark with him for Mark was “useful to me for ministry.”)

Gospel of Mark: Background

▪ The recipients – The vast majority of scholars identify Gentiles in general, and Romans specifically as the Mark’s target audience for his gospel.

Gospel of Mark: recipients

▪ Mark translates Aramaic words.▪ He often used Latin words instead of their Greek equivalents.▪ He reckoned time according to the Roman system.

Gospel of Mark: recipients

▪ In referring to Jewish customs and traditions Mark often did so with explanatory notes. ▪ Finally, his gospel contains the fewest references to the Old Testament of any of the gospels.

Romans

Gospel of Mark: Background

▪ “Signature” word: Mark uses a certain word 42 times in his gospel (a word used only 7 times in Matthew and once in Luke)

- “eutheos” = immediately, straightway

Gospel of Mark: Signature Word

Mark 1:10And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Gospel of Mark: Signature Word

Mark 1:12The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

Mark 1:18And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Gospel of Mark: Signature Word

Mark 1:21And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.

Gospel of Mark: Signature Word

Mark’s emphasis in his gospel account is not so much on what Jesus taught as it is on what Jesus did!

The Gospel of Mark contains :- Only 18 of the 70 parables of Jesus- Over half of the 35 miracles of Jesus

Gospel of Mark: Signature Word

The Gospel of Mark is a fast-flowing narrative. Among the gospels it is the

Gospel of Action!

Gospel of Mark: Gospel of Action

In the first 12 verses of the Gospel of Mark:

- Introduced to the gospel- Introduced to John the Baptist- Read Mark’s account of both the

baptism and the temptation of Jesus

Gospel of Mark: Gospel of Action

In the gospels of Matthew and Luke –we do not even get to the temptation account until chapter four!

The temptation account in Matthew and Luke are 11 and 13 verses respectively!

Gospel of Mark: Gospel of Action

Mark 1:12-13 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Gospel of Mark: Gospel of Action

Why did Mark choose to present his gospel

account in such a fast-flowing, action-packed

narrative??

Gospel of Mark: Gospel of Action

Who was his target audience?

Romans!

Gospel of Mark: Gospel of Action

Julius Ceasar

In Roman Emperor Julius Caesar’s account of the Gallic (Celtic) Wars the word “swiftly” occurs over and over again!

Gospel of Mark: Signature Word

The Gospel of Mark is a fast-flowing narrative. Among the gospels it is the

Gospel of Action!

The Gospel of Mark is also theGospel of Passion!

Michael Card

Gospel of Mark: The Emotional Side of Jesus

References to the emotions of Jesus:

Matthew – 6 referencesLuke – 7 references John – 4 references

Mark – 16 references to Jesus’ emotions!

Gospel of Mark: The Emotional Side of Jesus

Mark 1:41And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”

Gospel of Mark: The Emotional Side of Jesus

Mark 3:5And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Gospel of Mark: The Emotional Side of Jesus

Mark 8:11-12The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeplyin his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

Gospel of Mark: The Emotional Side of Jesus

If there is any doubt that this Jesus portrayed in the gospel record is one

of us, one look at the passions of Jesus that Mark describes for us

should drive that doubt far from our hearts and minds!

Gospel of Mark: Signature Word

The Gospel of Mark is the Gospel of Action and the Gospel of Passion!

Gospel of Mark: Theme Verse and Structure

Mark 10:45“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark1:15-10:52

Mark 11:1-15:47

Mark 16:1-20

Mark 1:1-14

An informative PROLOGUE

The Servant’s

revelationto the world

ACT 1“Even the

Son of Man did not

come to be served, but

to serve. . .

ACT 2

and to give His life a

ransom for many.” (10:45)

The Servant’s serving

The Servant’s sacrifice

An incredible PHINISH

The Servant’s

resurrection from the tomb

Act 1: The Servant’s serving covers 3 ½ years.

Act 2: The Servant’s sacrifice covers 8 days!

Gospel of Mark Timeline

1. The Gospel of Mark, as the gospel of action and passion, is very relevant to where we are culturally. Americans tend to be pragmatic. We are a country of doers. And, our passions can run deep.

Today’s Takeaways

2. This Jesus, portrayed by Mark as the God who became a servant, paid the ultimate price of serving others, as he gave up his life as a ransom for many (you and me included!). Therefore, this Jesus deserves “our utmost for his highest!”

Today’s Takeaways

It is so easy, in the busyness of life, to

forget the magnitude of his

sacrifice, yes? Yes!

Today’s Takeaways