Back to the Gospel


Since we have already examined the other 3 Gospels in this venue, it is appropriate to take on the Book of Mark and round out the study. Mark is unique in the Cannon and specifically as one of the Gospels for a few reasons. It is believed that his is the first written account of the life of Christ, dating somewhere in the late 50s to early 60s ad. Because of the many mentions of Peter and a somewhat critical view of the 12 Disciples it is also believed that Mark used the preaching of Peter as the impetus for his writing, as Mark was not one of the 12 Disciples. Mark’s version is told with detail, (greater than some of the other Gospels) and with a sense of urgency. Jesus seems to be in hurry through many of the stories.

Mark portrays Jesus rather uniquely as well. We will find an emphasis on His power and authority.

In the Gospel of Mark, there are at least six specific ways in which Jesus is portrayed:

  1. A man of authority: His personal authority is such that Peter, Andrew (1:16–18), James, and John (1:19–20) all follow him from fishing, at his simple command. (Note how the scene in 1:16–20 is stark and lacking in causal explanation.)
  2. A man of power: In Mark, more than in any other Synoptic, Jesus is extremely powerful. He has power over disease, He has power over nature, and perhaps especially, he has power over demonic spirits
  3. Someone to be feared: Jesus is a man to be feared, especially in the first half of the Gospel.
  4. Someone who is divine: Jesus is clearly portrayed as divine in Mark, though in some ways less so than in Matthew.
  5. Someone who is fully human: As in no other Gospel, Jesus is portrayed as thoroughly human in Mark. The very human picture of Jesus in Mark must always be recognized and ought never to be underplayed or erased.
  6. Someone who is odd: There is no doubt that, similar to the previous point, Mark portrays Jesus as quite a strange individual, someone who, at the very least, may be called idiosyncratic. But there is one other way in which Jesus is seen as odd, a way that may be said to characterize the Second Gospel. Jesus is seen to be spirit-possessed (3:22), if not crazy (3:21). 
Voelz, J. W. (2013). Concordia Commentary: Mark 1:1–8:26. (pp. 41–42). St. Louis, MO: CPH.


Mark begins with John the Baptist and his ministry as the forerunner of the Messiah. Just as John leaves off the birth story (which is included in Matthew and Luke), so does Mark. Instead, Mark begins with “the Gospel of Jesus Christ” which will be his focus throughout the book. His purpose with these words is introduce us to the main character of his writing. He knows exactly where he wants us to focus our attention from the first words. He wants you to think about the question “who is Jesus?”

Mark 1:1-8
1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John’s story begins “in the wilderness”. This is the place where the story of God’s people, the formation of them as a nation set apart unto God, begins. During the Exodus from Egypt, God sets about building The Children of Israel into His holy nation and Jesus is the fulfillment of their role in the world. It was from this wilderness that they entered The Promised Land.

And so Mark brings us yet again to the story of Jesus and His divine work of redemption on our behalf. I look forward to spending some time in these pages learning of Jesus from yet another source. May the Holy Spirit walk with us through this study.

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