Who Was Mark?
Who, what, where, when and why of Mark’s gospel. Who was it written to? What was their life like at that time? Why write a gospel at all, as far as we can tell, no one wrote a gospel for at least 20 years after the resurrection. What is the Big Idea of this book?
The earliest gospel in the New Testament is called the Gospel according to Mark.
As far as we know, that title didn’t exist in the original manuscripts, but then - we don’t have any of the first manuscripts of any book in the Bible. However, our earliest copies don’t have Mark as the title, but the tradition of the early church Fathers says that Mark wrote it.
Tradition isn’t always right, but it isn’t always wrong either. 1700 years ago, Eusebius said that Mark was the author, and he was relying on information from of a bishop from Hierapolis named Papias who lived 60-120 AD, here’s what Papias wrote:
“Mark, having become Peter’s interpreter, wrote down accurately whatever he remembered of what was said or done by the Lord, however, not in order”
Unpack “Not in Order”
Writers in those ancient times rarely claimed authorship like we do today, and often disguised themselves in the story. For example, John’s gospel has a “disciple whom Jesus loved” figuring prominently. There is one intriguing verse at the end of Mark’s gospel that many scholars believe was about events Mark was an eyewitness to.
Mark 14:50-52 Then all the disciples left him and fled. 51 A young man was following him, wearing only a linen cloth. They tried to arrest him, 52 but he ran off naked, leaving his linen cloth behind.
So if it was Mark streaking away, it is understandable that he didn’t add his name to it.
Most scholars agree that Mark was used by both Luke and Matthew as a primary source for their gospel writing. A huge part of Mark is found word for word in both Matthew’s and Luke’s gospel. Don’t think of this as plagiarism!
Many believe that Mark is written in response to a historical event. That event caused great persecution to break out against the church. Mark was written in part to give hope and comfort to the Christians who were experiencing this persecution.
What was that event? It was the Great Fire of Rome – Circus Maximus
Video Intro to Mark’s gospel by Michael Card Christian Persecution in Rome
It was in the heat of summer, July 18th in the year 64 AD. It took 6 days to be brought under control. Rumors abounded about the origin of the fire. Maybe you have heard some of them
• Nero sent men out to set fire to the city while he sang and played his lyre (fiddle)
• Nero wanted to build the world’s greatest amphitheatre, and the land he wanted to use was already occupied, he started the fire.
• Nero himself claimed that the Christians started the fire.
So Mark’s book could be as early as 64 AD, just a few decades after Jesus was raised from the dead. And this is very important. Think of events that took place in 1980’s.
• Mt. St. Helens erupted
• Assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan
• ET released – along with Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Back to the future
• The Berlin wall comes down, Chernobyl, Exxon Valdez and Space Shuttle disasters,
• Olivia Newton John sang Physical, Survivor Eye of the Tiger, Police Every Breath you take
• The WWW invented (thank you Al Gore)
So Mark records events that some living eyewitnesses can confirm. The crucifixion of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus. When Mark and others declare that there is a dead man walking, that someone burst forth from the grave, there were people living at the time who could very easily refute those statements, - unless they were true. The spine tingling truth of this is simply the absence of eyewitnesses declaring that there was a body more than 3 days after the resurrection. The truth is that there were many witnesses of Jesus’ life AFTER life!
What is the Big Idea of this book? Mark’s purpose is stated at the start.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God
Declares Jesus to be Messiah and Divine – ushering in God’s Kingdom.
And one of the greatest proofs of the resurrection of Jesus is that no one refutes the resurrection while there are still eyewitnesses alive!
We don’t have the original copies of Mark or any of the gospels. We at best have copies of copies of copies. But the oldest copies we do have list the title as “According to Mark”
So, who was Mark? – We are not entirely certain, but tradition and scripture give us some clues. He no doubt was younger than Jesus – but so were all of the 12
He was likely a Jew – but familiar with customs of both Jews and Gentiles
Structure is unlike any work we read today. Not fiction, or non-fiction. Not Biography. A gospel is the telling of good news. The events that make it into the story support this telling of the good news. The order is not necessarily chronological, and lots of gaps in time are evident. 1/3 of the gospel describes the final week of Jesus’ life. No stories about the birth or early life of Jesus are told. It is the shortest gospel in the Bible, the earliest – very action oriented (immediately) and not preachy.
Mark reveals early on the Messianic secret - Jesus Christ (Messiah) the Son of God
Mark speaks about a struggling Messiah – one who has very real human passions and emotions, who experiences anger, frustration, compassion, one who dreads the trial of the cross.
Like Old Testament prophets Isaiah Amos and Micah, Mark offers critique of the Jewish people. Not a biography but a kind of history pointing to the Messiah. Mark is written with urgency and with Irony. Did Mark refuse to finish his book? The Jesus who is rejected like the prophets, the Pharisees scribes his own family is own town.
Mark in other scriptures:
Acts 12:12 & 25; background – Peter in Jail, James executed – Herod had him run through with a sword, Peter is next on the chopping block. An angel leads Peter out of prison. Peter goes to first to a safe place – Acts 12:12 says it was the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. By the end of the chapter, Barnabas and Saul (Paul) are mapping out a mission trip, and plan to bring with them John Mark.
Mission trips are a far cry today from what they used to be – in the good old days of Paul. Today, we get stoked about this trip, who wouldn’t want to visit Honduras (esp. in Feb.) or travel to Africa! We get passports, shots, airline tickets, raise funds, paint a house or rebuild a church, hold a VBS and come home after 7 days. Not so with Paul.
2 Cor. 11:24-27 Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea.26 I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers, 27 in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing
That mission trip went through treacherous territory. They were in danger from bandits. Part way through the trip, the going gets too tough for young Mark, so he leaves. Barnabas and Paul have very different opinions about this.
Barnabas, the “son of Encouragement” is willing to give him a second chance. Paul is not too gracious.
Acts 15:36-41; After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord to see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too, 38 but Paul insisted that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. 39 They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters. 41 He passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches passed.
Col. 4:10; Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him)
What do we learn about Mark here – 1, Mark is back in good graces with Paul, and 2, Mark is Barnabas’ cousin (now you get why Barny gave him slack?)
My favorite: 2 Tim. 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is a great help to me in ministry
This is possibly the last letter Paul ever wrote. He is in prison. Many of his most loyal followers have deserted him. Only Luke is left. But Paul wants one more companion. Of all he could pick from, who does he choose?
I Pet. 5:13 - The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you, and so does Mark, my son.
Next Step - Dare me to be like Jesus
Read the Gospel of Mark – about an hour. Commit to read more deeply as we journey with him this year. Read it with pen and paper. Jot your notes, questions, and any impressions God gives you as He speaks to you from this book. Take to heart the immediacy of his record, the call to action, decision. If God asks you to act, Just do it!
Going deeper
1. Nero – scary, yes, crazy? Absolutely – but God – Absolutely NOT! Jesus is God! Who is like Nero in our world? What would Mark tell you about them?
2. Mark uses urgent words in his gospel. What are you going to do about it?
3. Take time to consider Jesus’ call on your life with urgency!
