Mark Among The Gospels

Mark Among the Gospels

1. Topher and Fire and Flood. The youth group is amazing. All of you who help stand. Who participate.

2. One goal of our youth ministry is to develop the faith and service of our youth. It’s about Jesus.

3. If you read the four gospels in order, you will probably notice a lot of repetition. You will also notice some differences. It is important to remember that the Gospel accounts are not like modern biographies, but are SUMMARIES. Each writer includes or excludes different details or summarizes more or less broadly. Thus Matthew summarizes the healing of the centurion’s servant by telling ask that the centurion asked Jesus to heal him (Matthew 8:5-13), while Luke, giving us more detail, tells us the centurion asked Jesus through the agency of those he sent (not directly face to face) in Luke 7:1-10. Was Matthew in error? No. He was summarizing more broadly than Luke and did not want to go into as much detail.

4. The Holy Spirit inspired the authors of the Gospels, but how were they composed?

5. Mark is the briefest and most succinct of the Gospels, but it helps to see where his Gospel falls in comparison to the others. Matthew, Mark, and Luke lots of overlap (synoptic).

Main Thought: The 4 Gospels were written by 4 different men with 4 different slants. Each of the 4 emphasize an aspect of Jesus personality, the well-rounded God-man, the Savior of all mankind.

I. Matthew: Jesus the THINKER: He Taught Like the Messiah and Fulfilled Messianic Prophecy

A. The most ORDERLY Gospel

1. Christ is presented as having a well thought-out plan

(1) Matt. 20:28—Why He came

(2) Matt. 10:5-6—Initial offer of Kingdom to Israel only

(3) Matt. 16:18—I will build my Church

2. Engineers and detail-type persons usually prefer Matthew

3. May have originally been written in Hebrew and translated into Greek

B. Unique Material: 30%

• The Magi

• The longest version of the Sermon on the Mount

• The Olivet Discourse

C. Written by Matthew (Levi) for a JEWISH audience

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.”

Application: Matthew appeals to mankind’s logical side. Some people respond better to logic than others. Those driven by logic are generally puzzled by mankind because they cannot accept that logic is only one driver. But it is an important one. It is important to logically present Jesus.

II. Mark: Jesus the Man of ACTION; His Works Prove He is the Messiah

A. The BRIEFEST Gospel

1. No account of his birth

2. Many think Mark is earliest, maybe? (Matthew/Mark in the 50’s)

3. It appeals to people who like to get to the point (achievers)

4. More about what Jesus did, less what he said

5. The word sometimes translated, “immediately” is used 42 times

B. About 8% unique

C. John MARK: not an Apostle by a young disciple

Mark 14:51-52, “And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.”

• Ancient quotation of one of the church fathers suggests Mark got info from Peter

D. Thought to be directed to the ROMANS

Application: Some people do not want to plan or discuss things, they just want to get to it. They want the bottom line, and will turn you off if you offer TMI. That’s why it is good to be able to present Jesus to others succinctly. Think of a newspaper article.

III. Luke: Jesus, One-on-One Messiah Who RELATED to People

A. The LONGEST Gospel (not in chapters, but verses)

1. We are introduced to more people: Elizabeth, Zecharaiah, Anna, Simeon

2. Lots of unique parables: Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan, Rich Man and Lazarus

B. About 50% unique

C. Paul, Mark, and Luke Probably CONVERGED to write this Gospel

2 Timothy 4:11-13, “Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry…bring the cloak that I left … also the books, and above all the parchments.”

D. Luke is probably the most WESTERN in his approach

1. Luke, probably a gentile (or a gentile convert to Judaism)-- (Col.4:14)

2. A physician by trade (a disciple, but not an Apostle); friend to Paul

3. He was the modern equivalent of a journalist (Luke 1:1-4)

E. Gospel directed toward the GREEKS

• Jesus did not minister in a corner, but he was involved with people

• Relational people are often drawn to Luke

Application: All people are interested in people, but some are fascinated by people. They are people watchers, and know which cars belong to whom in the parking lot. We need to be able to present Jesus as one who accepts and works with people, like us.