The Book of Mark – Chapter 1
Introduction
Message: Dr. James Dobson went to be with the LORD at the age of 89 on 8/22/25.
Reminder: Bible Study & Youth Group on Wednesday night.
Suggestion: Keep a record during your days of fasting.
Prayer
My Grandchildren’s grandfather, Justin’s father, went to be with the LORD yesterday. Praying for peace for the whole family and my grandkids.
Introduction to Mark
The book by Mark is written at a fast pace. Some commentators describe it as a screenplay; others describe it as a firsthand account of events, akin to a news reporter’s account. It has more of Jesus’s actions or deeds than His words. The word immediately is used 40 times in Mark. It is truly the Gospel for today’s generation, with action-packed events.
Mark, also known as John Mark, was a Jew born in the tribe of Levi. Despite seeing Jesus, he was not one of the twelve apostles. Still, some believe he was among the seventy disciples whom Jesus sent out two by two (Luke 10:1). Born in a small village in Libya, North Africa, Mark came from a wealthy family and received a good education, making him versed in different languages, which facilitated his role as an Evangelist. His family later moved to Jerusalem due to the Barbarian attacks in Libya.
Background and Family
Mark’s mother, Mary, owned a house in Jerusalem that served as a meeting place for early Christians (Acts 12:12). This likely exposed Mark to Jesus’ teachings from an early age. Various traditions suggest Mark witnessed key events in Jesus’ life, such as the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-12), the Last Supper (Mark 14:12-16), and the events following Jesus’ arrest (Mark 14:51-52).
According to tradition, Jesus and the disciples used to meet at the house of Mark when they visited Jerusalem. Some believe that the Last Supper of Jesus was at Mark’s house because Mark’s mother, Mary, was a follower of Jesus and hospitable to Him and His disciples.
[Mark 14:51-52 NKJV] 51 Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around [his] naked [body]. And the young men laid hold of him, 52 and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
The early Christians assembled in Mark’s house at Jerusalem, and they received the Holy Spirit in the upper room of the house:
[Acts 2:1-4 NKJV] 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and [one] sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
When the Angel of the Lord released Peter from prison, he went to this house:
[Acts 12:12-17 NKJV] 12 So, when he had considered [this], he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying… 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
Mark does not name himself in his Gospel to keep the focus on Jesus. Early church tradition affirms that John Mark authored the Gospel based on Peter’s teachings. John was his Hebrew name, meaning “God is gracious,” while Mark, a Roman name meaning “hammer,” symbolizes his impactful narrative style.
Mark in the New Testament
John-Mark is mentioned approximately ten times in the New Testament:
[Acts 12:25 NKJV] 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled [their] ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
[Acts 13:13 NKJV] 13 Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.
[Acts 15:36-41 NKJV] … Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed…
[2 Timothy 4:11 NKJV] 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
[1 Peter 5:13 NKJV] 13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with [you], greets you; and [so does] Mark my son.
Purpose and Audience of Mark
As Peter’s life was in danger and he grew older, the early Christian community in Rome likely asked Mark to document Peter’s preaching about Jesus. The Gospel of Mark was written between AD 64 and AD 70, likely before the destruction of the Temple in AD 70. Mark emphasized Jesus as the suffering Son of Man, encouraging believers to stay faithful through persecution.
Mark’s Gospel reflects Peter’s dynamic preaching style, presenting Jesus’s activities in rapid succession and highlighting the weaknesses of the apostles—Peter’s rebuke (Mark 8:31-33) and denial (Mark 14:27-31)—which Peter himself likely confessed while preaching.
[Mark 8:31-33 NKJV] … He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
[Mark 14:27-31 NKJV] … “Assuredly, I say to you that today, [even] this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
The Four Gospels and the Four Living Creatures
[Revelation 4:7-8 NKJV] 7 The first living creature [was] like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature [was] like a flying eagle…
- Matthew – The Lion: Shows Jesus as the Messiah and King of the Jews, fulfilling prophecy (Matthew 1:5-6).
- Mark – The Ox: Shows Jesus as the suffering servant, tirelessly working for God’s purposes.
- Luke – The Man: Emphasizes Jesus’s humanity, tracing His genealogy to Adam (Luke 3).
- John – The Eagle: Reveals Jesus as eternal God (John 1:1-5).
Opening of Mark
[Mark 1:1 NKJV] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark opens with Jesus’s ministry, proclaiming Him as the Son of God!
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