The gospel of Mark

This week for my discussion in New Testament Orientation I NBST 525 I was to write a blog post about the gospel of Mark. Mark was chosen for my by the first letter in my last name. So I thought I would post the discussion I posted here on the family blog. Enjoy!

Mark’s gospel is one that gets to the point. The opening of this gospel states plainly that this is a gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1). This would be known as high Christology (Lea & Black, 2003, 143). This fact is supported by later verses that the Father recognizes Jesus (Mark 1:11; 9:7), by demons (Mark 3:11; 5:7), by himself (Mark 13:32; 14:61-62), and by the centurion during the crucifixion (Mark 15:39) (Lea & Black, 2003, 143). This is one of the primary focus’ all throughout Marks gospel to present the person of Jesus Christ.

Mark goes right into ministry, starting with John the Baptist’s ministry, flowing right into Jesus’ ministry. Reading this gospel I sense the urgency that Mark might have had to get the gospel message of Jesus out to the public. Showing again another focus of Mark’s gospel to show the work of Jesus. Mark records more miracles than sermons in his gospel (Life Application Bible: KJV, 1996, 1639). Through all the miracles that Mark writes about he shows yet again that Jesus is the Son of God.

Mark gives special attention to preparing and training the disciples. In Mark 3:14-15, he gives the reason for the calling of the twelve disciples (Lea & Black, 143). Jesus is preparing them so they can go out and preach and teach. Mark’s gospel was written to show the teachings of Jesus. Mark makes sure that he shows how Jesus dedicated his life to training and teaching people how they should follow God.

According to Dr. R. Wayne Stacy Mark cannot wait for the reader of his gospel to get to the message of the cross (Stacy, 2014, 0.27). In chapter 8 Mark is already giving Jesus preparation for his upcoming suffering and death. Mark shows the importance of Jesus being crucified and resurrected that he wastes no time in getting to this detail. Even many of the manuscripts archaeologist have found stop right after the crucifixion. Therefore it may show the importance of this event in the ministry of Jesus.

In some of the manuscripts of Mark there is emphasis on the great commission at the end of the gospel. The great commission is a great way to conclude a book on the gospel of Jesus Christ. I personally admire the way that Mark presents the great commission he puts it to the point as only Mark could do, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).

Bibliography

Life Application Study Bible: King James Version. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996.

Lea, Thomas D. and David A. Black. The New Testament: Its Background and Message. 2nd ed. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003

Stacy, R. Wayne. “Week 6” (video of lecture Liberty University, 2014), accessed October 1, 2015, https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_250052_1&content_id=_8710768_1.