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Feb
12
2012
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Posted 96 days ago ago by Julie Brenneman
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How to Read Mark
Introduction
Mark is shorter and contains less teaching than the other Gospels. It is fast paced (repeated use of “immediately”) and shows Jesus as a person of power and action. It is likely the earliest of the four Gospels and it is possible that Luke and/or Matthew had access to Mark when they composed their accounts.
Traditionally, Mark is attributed to John Mark, a one time traveling companion with Paul and later Peter. Mark is written to the believers in Rome.
Quick Glance
Tells the Jesus story from birth to resurrection; about two-thirds of it is situated in Galilee, one-third on the final events in Jerusalem.
Where in History?[1]
Mark is believed to have been written around AD 65; approximately 30 years after the events.
Important Themes and Threads[2]
· As in the other synoptic Gospels, the kingdom of God is the primary theme (Mark 1:14-15). It is Jesus self-declared mission (Luke 4:43) and His ministry is the expression of that kingdom being present in the world. Watch for how it is revealed in Jesus’ words and actions (Acts 1:1).
· The storyline is straight-forward and many of the themes of the other gospels are present: Jesus & His kingdom, training His disciples, Jesus the fulfiller of the OT promise, religious opposition, etc.
· However, it is important in reading the Gospels to understand that they work at two levels.[3] There is the storyline of Jesus. But also there is the message of the author directed toward his own particular audience.[4] In the case of Mark, those who receive and read his gospel are in Rome. They face a difficult time, coming under the persecutions of Nero. Look for the following themes, directed at the situation of the believers in Rome:[5]
o Jesus, the Messiah King. How is He presented?
o Jesus as the suffering servant. Also related is the “mystery” of the kingdom – why does Jesus want to keep it quiet?
o The cost of discipleship; if the Messiah-king must suffer, then what is true of His followers?
Copyright January 2012 by Mike Huckins
[1] The date of the events of any Biblical book and the date when that book was authored or edited into its present form are not the same; and there can be a considerable difference in time. This concept is obvious to us when we think about any book written today addressing events in our past, e.g., a history of the American Civil War written in 2012. Why does this matter? Because, as with any “look back” at past events, the author has some purpose in mind in re-telling those past events – some point of view he wants his readers to understand. Of all the many things the author could tell us, he selects those things that best fit his purpose. As we believe that God is the ultimate Author of the Bible, we can see how this is important. “Where in History?” then, is the time period of the events themselves covered in this particular Biblical book.
[2] This section will identify some of the threads or themes that run through the Book and how these connect us to the rest of the Bible. In other words, how does this Biblical book fit into the overarching storyline. Highly recommended is Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart’s book How to Read the Bible Book by Book (Zondervan, 2002). The authors give background information for each book and then an outline/summary of the main points and themes. It is easy to read and understand and you can use it to follow along with your OYB readings.
[3] For a good overview of how to understand the Gospels, see Fee and Stuart, How To Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Zondervan, 3rd edition, 2003) – a companion to Book by Book.
[4] Every author is writing to someone for some purpose. Of all of the many details of Jesus life and ministry (John 21:24-25), the author selects those which he believes will most help those to whom he is writing. He retells the story with His audience in view.
[5] For more detail on these themes, see Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart’s book How to Read the Bible Book by Book (Zondervan, 2002), 277-232.