Mark Introduction - KJV (King James Version)
Synopsis:
The Gospel of Mark emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus announced the Kingdom of God, healed the sick, and died as a ransom for sinners. In addition to Jesus, Mark features three main groups of people: the disciples, the crowds, and the religious leaders, none of whom understood Jesus. When the time came for Jesus to go to the cross, the religious leaders arrested him, the disciples abandoned him, and the crowds jeered him. Only when he died alone on the cross did a Roman centurion recognize that he was the Son of God. Though the book is anonymous, tradition identifies John Mark (Acts 12:12) as the author. He may have based his Gospel on Peter's preaching, writing sometime in the 50s or 60s a.d.
Authorship: John Mark via the Apostle Peter
- Companion of Paul & Barnabas during their 1st Mission (Acts 12:25; 13:13)
- Prominent family in the Jerusalem Church (Acts 12:12)
- Paul refused to take Mark during his 2nd Mission (Acts 15:37;38)
- Reconciled to Paul later (Col 4:10)
- Associated with Peter (1 Pet 5:13)
Main Theme: Jesus the Servant-Leader
Date of Composition: 55-68 AD (prior to 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem)
- Critics will try to date it after 70 AD because of Jesus' prediction of the Temple being destroyed (Mk 13:2).
Simple Outline:
1. The Servant-Leader (Mk 1-16)
A. Presentation (Ch 1)
B. Opposition (Ch 2-8)
C. Instructions (Ch 8-10)
D. Rejection (Ch 11-15)
E. Resurrection (Ch 16)
Jesus' Power & Authority:
- As Teacher (Mk 1:22)
- Over Satan (Mk 1:27)
- Over unclean spirits (Mk 3:19-30)
- Sin (Mk 2:1-12)
- The Sabbath (Mk 2:27,28; 3:1-6)
- Nature (Mk 4:35-41; 6:45-52)
- Disease (Mk 5:21-34)
- Death (Mk 5:35-43)
- Legalistic Tradition (Mk 7:1-13, 14-20)
- The Temple (Mk 11:15-18)
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