The Gospel of Mark

Composition

The Gospel of Mark was likely the first of the four New Testament gospels to be written. Most scholars believe it was written around the year 70, but some think it may have been written a decade earlier. Its author is believed to be an early Christian named John Mark, who was not one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus but later served as a companion to the Apostle Peter. In the First Epistle of Peter, Peter refers to John Mark as his “son.” He also may have been a cousin of Barnabas, a prominent early Christian leader.

John Mark is first mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as “John, also called Mark.” He was the son of a wealthy widower named Mary. According to Acts, Peter escaped from prison and sought refuge in Mary and John Mark’s home. John Mark later accompanied the Apostle Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journeys. However, on one journey, John Mark left halfway and returned home, causing tension between him and Paul. The two later reconciled, with Paul asking for John Mark’s help in his ministry.

According to Christian tradition, John Mark later traveled to Egypt where he became the first bishop of Alexandria. The region’s Coptic Christians credit him with establishing Christianity in Northern Africa. He was said to have been martyred in the year 68 when he was tied to a chariot and dragged through the streets.

As is the case with all four gospels, the Gospel of Mark does not name its author. However, its authorship has been attributed to John Mark since the early days of Christianity. Many early church leaders wrote that the gospel was composed by John Mark. The early-second century bishop Papias claimed that the Apostle John told him that John Mark had written the gospel. Papias states that John Mark used the memories of Peter as his source material. The Gospel of Mark contains numerous references that suggest its author was familiar with Peter.

Summary

The Gospel of Mark opens with a prophecy from the Old Testament book of Isaiah about a messenger who would be sent to prepare the way for the Messiah. The book then introduces John the Baptist who is revealed to be this messenger. John is baptizing people in the Jordan River when Jesus visits him to be baptized. As Jesus rises from the river, the Holy Spirit descends upon him in the form of a dove and God’s voice calls out from Heaven, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Events in the book move at a fast pace, with Jesus beginning his ministry in Galilee and calling the twelve Apostles to join him. As Jesus begins healing people and driving out impure spirits, word of his miraculous abilities begins to spread. Jesus attempts to keep his identity and purpose a secret, but he is soon drawing large crowds.

Many people, including his own Apostles, are curious as to his identity and wonder how he can perform such miracles. His abilities and perceived flaunting of the Jewish sabbath also anger some devout Jews and Jewish leaders. As Jesus continues his ministry, he often uses simple stories, or parables, to explain his message to the crowds. One of the best-known is the parable of the sower, in which Jesus compares his message to a man sowing seeds. Some will fall on fertile ground and produce crops, while some will fall on rocky ground to wither and die.

As Jesus and his Apostles travel through the region, his followers remain curious as to his identity. He asks them “Who do you say I am?” The Apostle Peter answers, “You are the Messiah.” Jesus then tells his followers that he was sent to Earth to suffer and face rejection from Jewish leaders. He tells them that he will be killed and rise from the dead after three days. He also tells them that if they follow his teachings, they will also face suffering and rejection.

One day, Jesus takes Peter and the Apostles James and John to a high mountain where Jesus is suddenly transformed into a figure of glory. The Old Testament prophets of Elijah and Moses appear and begin talking with Jesus. A cloud descends and covers the figures. From the cloud comes God’s voice saying “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” When the vision fades, Jesus tells his disciples to keep what they have seen a secret.

Jesus and his followers make their way to Jerusalem. Along the way, Jesus continues to preach and heal the sick. He reminds his disciples several times that he is going to be killed and rise again. When they come to Jerusalem, Jesus enters the city to great fanfare and an enthusiastic welcome from the people. Jesus visits the temple courts where his authority is questioned by the Jewish priests and lawgivers. They began to plot to have Jesus killed.

On the night of Passover, Jesus and his followers gather for a traditional meal. Jesus tells his Apostles that his time has come and that one of them will betray him. Jesus then takes Peter, John, and James to a place called Gethsemane where Jesus prayed. The Apostle Judas arrives with a group of Jewish priests and elders. Jesus is arrested and brought before an assembly of Jewish elders for trial. He is asked if he is the Messiah, to which he answers “I am.” The elders see this as an admission of blasphemy and sentence Jesus to death. They hand him over to the Roman governor Pilate who gives in to their wishes and sends Jesus to be crucified.

Jesus is taken to a place called Golgotha where he is nailed to a wooden cross. He hangs on the cross until darkness begins to cover the land at noon. Three hours later, Jesus dies. His body is taken from the cross and buried in a tomb with a large stone placed over the entrance. On Sunday morning, a group of women visit Jesus’s tomb and find the stone rolled away. Inside, they see a young man dressed in white who tells them that Jesus has risen from the dead. The young man tells the women to spread the word about Jesus, but the women are terrified and keep the news to themselves.

Themes

The Gospel of Mark is a very fast-paced story that moves quickly from one narrative to another. Scholars believe that it was the first of the gospels to be written and the authors of Matthew and Luke used Mark as a template for their works. Both Matthew and Luke include details of Jesus’ birth and his actions after his resurrection—elements that are not found in the Gospel of Mark. Scholars believe that Matthew and Luke copied from Mark and simply added details of these events. If Mark had copied from Matthew or Luke, he would probably have included these stories in his gospel.

The underlying theme of Mark has to do with the divinity of Jesus and his role as the Messiah. The book is thematically divided into three parts, each dealing with some aspect of Jesus’s divinity. Mark begins his gospel with the statement that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He then goes on to offer numerous examples of Jesus’s teachings, his healing of the sick, and his ability to drive out demons.

This first section of the gospel occurs mostly near the Sea of Galilee and concerns Jesus’s growing popularity. People are drawn to Jesus but are unsure of whom he really is. Mark gives many signs that Jesus is the Messiah but also explains that Jesus tells those who witness his miraculous acts to keep the news to themselves. In this section, Jesus also meets Jewish religious leaders who question his actions, such as forgiving sins and preaching on the Sabbath. He deflects their accusations by reminding them that the laws were made by God, and as the Son of God, he has the authority to perform such actions.

The second section concerns the questions that Jesus’s own disciples have about his identity. The Apostles, especially Peter, believe that the promised Messiah will overthrow Roman rule and restore a Jewish kingdom. When Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter’s response that he is the Messiah is meant to convey his wish that Jesus will fulfil this destiny. However, Jesus tells his Apostles that his role as the Messiah is to suffer and die for the sins of humanity. Peter is unable to accept this and says that he will not let Jesus be killed. However, an angry Jesus confronts Peter, calling him Satan and telling him that he is only worried about human concerns, while Jesus must have God’s will in mind. Jesus must take on the role of “suffering servant,” a term used in the book of Isiah to refer to the promised Messiah.

The third section of Mark takes place in Jerusalem and concerns Jesus’s fulfillment of his divine mission as the Messiah. He again confronts the Jewish religious leaders who question his authority as the Son of God. This sets in motion the events that will lead to his eventual arrest and death on the cross. The abrupt ending of the gospel is viewed by Biblical scholars as an intentional choice by Mark, who may have wanted readers to arrive at their own conclusions about Jesus’s resurrection and identity as the Son of God.

Bibliography

Chilton, Brian. “Who Wrote the Gospel of Mark?” Cross Examined, 18 June 2017, crossexamined.org/wrote-gospel-mark/. Accessed 9 Apr. 2022.

Ferguson, Cameron Evan. A New Perspective on the Use of Paul in the Gospel of Mark. Routledge, 2021.

“Mark 1.” Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=NIV. Accessed 9 Apr. 2022.

“Mark.” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2022, bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/0. Accessed 9 Apr. 2022.

Nelson, Ryan. “Who Was John Mark? The Beginner’s Guide” OverviewBible, 17 Apr. 2017, overviewbible.com/john-mark/. Accessed 9 Apr. 2022.

Strauss, Mark L. “Mark: The Gospel of the Servant-Messiah.” BibleProject, 2017, bibleproject.com/blog/mark-gospel-servant-messiah/. Accessed 9 Apr. 2022.

“What Are the Synoptic Gospels, and Where Do They Come From?” Zondervan Academic, 18 Sept. 2017, zondervanacademic.com/blog/synoptic-gospels. Accessed 9 Apr. 2022.

Zavada, Jack. “John Mark—Author of the Gospel of Mark.” Learn Religions, 9 Apr. 2019, www.learnreligions.com/john-mark-author-of-the-gospel-of-mark-701085. Accessed 9 Apr. 2022.