The Gospel Series

INTRODUCTION

- Today, we move to the next series in our Core 52 study, "A Beginners Guide to Greatness."

- Mark was the youngest biographer of Jesus, and he had a string of failures in his ministry resume.

- But he never quit, and by the end of his life, both Peter and Paul considered him a spiritual son.

- That's why his Gospel is such a valuable guide as a "Beginner's Guide to Greatness."

- He embedded Jesus' best advice on how to achieve success in life.

- First, to give some more context to the date of the writing of the Gospels, we see that Matthew wrote his Gospel in Aramaic between 45 and 50 AD.

- Matthew translated his Gospel into Greek sometime between 50 and before 70 AD.

- The Gospel of Luke was written in 60 AD.

- The Gospel of Mark was written shortly before Peter's death and finished just after Peter's death.

- Peter died in Nero's 14th year (about 68 AD), so Mark's Gospel was written in that year.

- John batted clean up and wrote the final Gospel between 85 and 90 AD.

- Matthew was written to a Jewish audience, Mark to a Roman audience, Luke was written to a Greek audience, and John wrote the Christians in Asia Minor.

- Understanding these facts will help one to know why the Gospels are unique.

- Now, let's get back to Mark.

- Mark's Gospel was primarily written for a Gentile audience, particularly the Romans.

- This is why you see so many explanations of Jewish customs and Aramaic terms, indicating that the intended readers were unfamiliar with Jewish traditions.

- The Gospel of Mark was written to present the person, work, and teachings of Jesus Christ.

- Mark's Gospel emphasizes Jesus as the suffering servant and the Son of God, portraying His actions and miracles to demonstrate His divine authority.

- Each Gospel has a different starting point, and understanding the intended audience helps one understand why this is the case.

- Matthew Begins with the genealogy and then the birth of Jesus.

- Luke: Begins with the birth of John the Baptist, the Messiah's forerunner.

- John Begins his Gospel from eternity, where the Lord was found coexistent with God.

- Mark begins with the ministry of John the Baptist, which was the launching point for Jesus's public ministry.

- According to tradition, particularly from Papias, Mark's Gospel reflects Peter's teachings and memories.

- Mark is described as Peter's interpreter, recording Peter's accounts accurately.

- Mark, also known as John Mark, was a well-connected figure in the early Christian community.

- Although he was not an apostle or an eyewitness to most events in Jesus' life, his close association with Peter and other apostles, combined with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes Mark a reliable author of the Gospel that bears his name.

- Let's turn to Mark 1:1 as we look at the Gospel!

Mark 1:1 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

SERMON

I. The beginning of the Gospel.

- The term "beginning" in Mark 1:1 signifies the start of the narrative that will unveil the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

- This starting point is crucial as it marks the initiation of the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

- Beginnings are essential, and the Gospel marks a new beginning for humanity.

- Have you ever reflected on your spiritual beginnings and the continuous need for renewal through the Gospel?

- John the Baptist prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus, and that is where Mark takes us on the journey through his Gospel account.

- John the Baptist is described as the messenger sent to prepare the way for Jesus.

- John's mission involved preaching repentance, baptism, and the coming of the kingdom of God.

- This preparation is likened to the practice in oriental countries where messengers are sent ahead to prepare the way for a king's journey.

- Since Mark's audience is not Jewish, he does not start with the genealogy as Matthew does.

- For Mark's audience, this would cause their eyes to glaze over.

- Therefore, Mark immediately declares Jesus as the Son of God without delving into genealogical details important to Jews.

- The word "Gospel" is an interesting word.

- Today, when we hear that word, we usually associate it with the first four books of the New Testament.

- The word in Greek means "good tidings" or "good news."

- The word is also the word we use, called evangelism.

- However, before the New Testament usage, the word GOSPEL was more of a political word.

- The word was used whenever a King sent a messenger to the people with good news.