John Mark is the author of this Gospel. It is believed that he was the attendant and writer for the Apostle Peter. This is the same John Mark who traveled as a helper with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13). John Mark is not one of the 12 disciples. It is generally agreed that the Mark who is associated with Peter in the early non-Biblical tradition is also the John Mark of the NT. The first mention of him is in connection with his mother, Mary, who had a house in Jerusalem that served as a meeting place for believers (Ac 12:12). When Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch from Jerusalem after the famine visit, Mark accompanied them (Ac 12:25). Mark next appears as a “helper” to Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Ac 13:5), but he deserted them at Perga in Pamphylia (see map, p. 2273) to return to Jerusalem (Ac 13:13). Paul must have been deeply disappointed with Mark’s actions on this occasion, because when Barnabas proposed taking Mark on the second journey, Paul flatly refused, a refusal that broke up their working relationship (Ac 15:36–39). Barnabas took Mark, who was his cousin (Col 4:10), and departed for Cyprus. No further mention is made of either of them in the book of Acts. Mark reappears in Paul’s letter to the Colossians written from Rome. Paul sends a greeting from Mark and adds: “You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him” (Col 4:10; see Phm 24, written about the same time). At this point Mark was apparently beginning to win his way back into Paul’s confidence. By the end of Paul’s life, Mark had fully regained Paul’s favor (see 2Ti 4:11 and note).
Circa 55-65 A.D. This was probably the first Gospel to be written since all but 31 verses of Mark are found in the other three Gospels.
John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark in Rome. Settings in the book include Jerusalem, Bethany, the Mount of Olives, Golgotha, Jericho, Nazareth, Capernaum and Caesarea Philippi.
Since Mark’s Gospel is traditionally associated with Rome, it may have been occasioned by the persecutions of the Roman church in the period c. a.d. 64–67. The famous fire of Rome in 64—probably set by Nero himself but blamed on Christians—resulted in widespread persecution. Even martyrdom was not unknown among Roman believers. Mark may be writing to prepare his readers for such suffering by placing before them the life of our Lord. There are many references, both explicit and veiled, to suffering and discipleship throughout his Gospel (see 1:12–13; 3:22,30; 8:34–38; 10:30,33–34,45; 13:8–13).
Mark records more miracles of Christ than any of the other Gospels. Jesus proves his divinity in Mark by the demonstration of miracles. There are more miracles than messages in this Gospel. Jesus shows that he means what he says and he is who he says.
In Mark we see Jesus, the Messiah, coming as a servant. He reveals who he is through what he does. He explains his mission and message through his actions. John Mark captures Jesus on the move. He skips the birth of Jesus and dives quickly into presenting his public ministry.
The overriding theme of the Gospel of Mark is to show that Jesus came to serve. He gave his life in service to mankind. He lived out his message through service, therefore, we can follow his actions and learn by his example. The ultimate purpose of the book is to reveal Jesus' call to personal fellowship with him through daily discipleship.
The Gospel of Mark was written to prove that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. In a dramatic and action-packed sequence of events, Mark paints a striking image of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Mark illustrates who Jesus is as a person. The ministry of Jesus is revealed with vivid detail and the messages of his teaching are presented more through what he did than what he said. The Gospel of Mark reveals Jesus the Servant.
The cross. Both the human cause (12:12; 14:1–2; 15:10) and the divine necessity (8:31; 9:31; 10:33–34) of the cross are emphasized by Mark.
Discipleship. Special attention should be paid to the passages on discipleship that arise from Jesus’ predictions of his passion (8:34—9:1; 9:35—10:31; 10:42–45).
The teachings of Jesus. Although Mark records far fewer actual teachings of Jesus than the other Gospel writers, there is a remarkable emphasis on Jesus as teacher. The words “teacher,” “teach” or “teaching,” and “Rabbi” are applied to Jesus in Mark 39 times.
The Messianic secret. On several occasions Jesus warns his disciples or others to keep silent about who he is or what he has done (see 1:34,44 and notes; 3:12; 5:43; 7:36; 8:30; 9:9).
Son of God. Although Mark empasizes the humanity of Jesus (see 3:5; 6:6,31,34; 7:34; 8:12; 10:14; 11:12), he does not neglect his deity (see 1:1,11; 3:11; 5:7; 9:7; 12:1–11; 13:32; 15:39).
The Beginnings of Jesus’ Ministry (1:1–13)
His Forerunner (1:1–8)
His Baptism (1:9–11)
His Temptation (1:12–13)
Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee (1:14—6:29)
Early Galilean Ministry (1:14—3:12)
Call of the first disciples (1:14–20)
Miracles in Capernaum (1:21–34)
Preaching and healing in Galilee (1:35–45)
Ministry in Capernaum (2:1–22)
Sabbath controversy (2:23—3:12)
Later Galilean Ministry (3:13—6:29)
Choosing the 12 apostles (3:13–19)
Teachings in Capernaum (3:20–35)
Parables of the kingdom (4:1–34)
Calming the Sea of Galilee (4:35–41)
Healing a demon-possessed man (5:1–20)
More Galilean miracles (5:21–43)
Unbelief in Jesus’ hometown (6:1–6)
Six apostolic teams preach and heal in Galilee (6:7–13)
King Herod’s reaction to Jesus’ ministry (6:14–29)
Strategic Withdrawals from Galilee (6:30—9:29)
To the Eastern Shore of the Sea of Galilee (6:30–52)
To the Western Shore of the Sea (6:53—7:23)
To Syrian Phoenicia (7:24–30)
To the Region of the Decapolis (7:31—8:10)
To the Vicinity of Caesarea Philippi (8:11–30)
To the Mount of Transfiguration (8:31—9:29)
Final Ministry in Galilee (9:30–50)
Jesus’ Ministry in Judea and Perea (ch. 10)
Teaching concerning Divorce (10:1–12)
Teaching concerning Children (10:13–16)
The Rich Young Man (10:17–31)
A Request of Two Brothers (10:32–45)
Restoration of Bartimaeus’s Sight (10:46–52)
The Passion of Jesus (chs. 11–15)
The Triumphal Entry (11:1–11)
The Clearing of the Temple (11:12–19)
Concluding Controversies with Jewish Leaders (11:20—12:44)
Signs of the End of the Age (ch. 13)
The Anointing of Jesus (14:1–11)
The Lord’s Supper (14:12–26)
The Arrest, Trial and Death of Jesus (14:27—15:47)
The Resurrection of Jesus (ch. 16)
