Mark Lesson #01

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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
THE GOSPEL OF MARK
LESSON #01
INTRODUCTION

• MARK, ONE OF THE FOUR GOSPELS:
• THE TERM “GOSPEL”:
• THE WORD LITERALLY MEANS = GOOD NEWS.
• ORIGINALLY THE WORD WAS USED TO DESCRIBE AN EPOCH-MAKING EVENT…AN EVENT THAT WOULD CHANGE HISTORY.
• NOW THE WORD IS USED TO REPRESENT THE GOOD NEWS OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS, HIS TEACHINGS, HIS CRUCIFIXION AS PAYMENT FOR MAN’S SIN, AND HIS RESURRECTION.
• THEREFORE, THE WORD GOSPEL IS NOT JUST THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS BUT REPRESENTS EVERYTHING ABOUT JESUS, WHO HE IS AND WHY HE CAME. AND OF COURSE, HIS COMING CHANGED HISTORY.
• THE TERM “SYNOPTIC GOSPELS”:
• THE WORD, SYNOPTIC, MEANS = HAVING A COMMON OVERALL VIEW.
• THE GOSPELS OF MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE ARE CALLED THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS.
• WHY WERE THERE FOUR ACCOUNTS OF THE BIRTH, LIFE, AND EARTHLY MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST?
• EACH OF THE FOUR GOSPELS GIVES US A DIFFERENT VIEW OF WHO JESUS IS AND WHAT HE CAME TO DO.
• MATTHEW PRESENTS JESUS AS THE KING OF KINGS.
• MARK PRESENTS JESUS AS THE BEARER OF MAN’S BURDENS…A SERVANT UNTO DEATH
• LUKE PRESENTS JESUS AS THE PERFECT AND SINLESS MAN…THE SON OF MAN.
• JOHN PRESENTS JESUS IN HIS DEITY AS THE PERFECT SON OF GOD.
• EACH OF THE FOUR GOSPELS WAS WRITTEN TO A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE:
• MATTHEW WAS WRITTEN TO THE JEWS AND DIRECTED TO THE RELIGIOUS PERSON.
• MARK WAS WRITTEN TO THE ROMANS AND DIRECTED TO THE STRONG PEOPLE.
• LUKE WAS WRITTEN TO THE GREEKS AND DIRECTED TO THE INTELLECTUAL PERSON.
• JOHN WAS WRITTEN TO ALL MEN EVERYWHERE, AND DIRECTED TO THE NEEDY PERSONS.
• THE FOUR GOSPELS CORRESPOND TO THE FOUR COLORS OF THE TABERNACLE CURTAINS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:
• MATTHEW REPRESENTS THE COLOR PURPLE OF THE TABERNACLE CURTAINS IN THAT PURPLE IS A ROYAL COLOR. (KING OF KINGS)
• MARK REPRESENTS THE COLOR RED OF THE TABERNACLE CURTAINS IN THAT RED IS THE COLOR OF BLOOD (SERVANT UNTO DEATH)
• LUKE REPRESENTS THE COLOR WHITE OF THE TABERNACLE CURTAINS IN THAT WHITE IS THE COLOR OF PERFECTION WITHOUT SIN. (THE PERFECT SON OF MAN)
• JOHN REPRESENTS THE COLOR BLUE OF THE TABERNACLE CURTAINS IN THAT BLUE IS THE COLOR OF THE HEAVENS. (THE SON OF GOD COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN).
• THE FOUR GOSPELS CORRESPOND TO THE FOUR FACES OF THE BANNERS OF THE FOUR LEADING TRIBES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AS WELL AS THE FOUR FACES OF THE CHERUBIM ANGELS IN THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. (EZE 1:5-10)
• MATTHEW CORRESPONDS TO “THE LION” THAT REPRESENTED THE TRIBE OF JUDAH.
• JESUS CHRIST CAME THROUGH THE BLOOD LINE OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH.
• THE LION IS CONSIDERED THE KING OF THE BEASTS.
• MARK CORRESPONDS TO “THE OX” THAT REPRESENTED THE TRIBE OF EPHRAIM.
• THE OX IS USED AS A BURDEN BEARER.
• LUKE CORRESPONDS TO “THE MAN” THAT REPRESENTED THE TRIBE OF REUBEN.
• REMEMBER THAT LUKE PRESENTS JESUS AS THE PERFECT MAN.
• JOHN CORRESPONDS TO “THE EAGLE” THAT REPRESENTED THE TRIBE OF DAN.
• THE EAGLE FLIES HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER BIRD, AND THEREFORE IS CLOSEST TO HEAVEN.

• WHAT MAKES THE BOOK OF MARK UNIQUE FROM THE OTHER 3 GOSPELS?
• MARK IS THE SHORTEST GOSPEL.
• IT IS NOT A BIOGRAPHY OF JESUS.
• IT IS NOT WRITTEN AS AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT.
• THERE ARE NO GENEALOGIES IN MARK.
• THERE ARE ONLY A FEW PARABLES IN MARK.
• THOSE PARABLES THAT DO OCCUR IN MARK ARE ALSO IN THE OTHER GOSPELS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 2 PARABLES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO MARK.
• THERE ARE NO LONG SERMONS OF TEACHING.
• MUCH OF THE DETAILS AFTER THE RESURRECTION IS OMITTED FROM MARK’S ACCOUNT.
• WHO WROTE THE BOOK OF MARK?
• IT WAS WRITTEN BY JOHN MARK.
• JOHN WAS HIS JEWISH NAME. MARK WAS HIS LATIN NAME.
• MARK WAS NOT AN APOSTLE OR A DISCIPLE. HE WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO CAME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST THROUGH PETER. (1PET 5:13)
• MARK’S FAMILY:
• MARK WAS A NEPHEW OF THE EVANGELIST, BARNABAS, IN THE BOOK OF ACTS. (COL 4:10)
• READ ACTS 12:12-14
• MARK’S MOTHER WAS A WEALTHY AND PROMINENT CHRISTIAN IN THE JERUSALEM CHURCH.
• THE CHURCH MET IN HER HOME.
• MARK’S CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE:
• READ ACT 12:25 MARK ACCOMPANIES PAUL AND BARNABAS ON PAUL’S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY.
• READ ACTS 13:13 MARK LEAVES PAUL AND BARNABAS TO RETURN HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JOURNEY.
• READ ACTS 15:37-39 BARNABAS AND PAUL PART WAYS OVER A FAILURE TO INCLUDE MARK ON PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY.
• READ 2TIM 4:11 PAUL CHANGES HIS MIND ABOUT MARK’S VALUE IN THE MINISTRY.
• TO WHOM WAS THE BOOK OF MARK WRITTEN AND WHY?
• MARK WAS WRITTEN TO THE ROMANS.
• MARK EXPLAINS SOME OF THE JEWISH TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS.
• THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY IF HIS AUDIENCE WAS JEWISH.
• THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS VERY STRONG DURING THIS TIME. THEY RULED BY FORCE WITH AN IRON FIST. THE ROMAN SOLDIERS WERE THE EPITOME OF STRENGTH AND POWER. THEY WERE THE EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEN WAS CONSIDERED “THE MACHO MAN”.
• THE ROMANS BELIEVED THAT HUMAN POWER IN THE FORM OF LAW AND JUSTICE COULD PERFECT HUMANITY BY SUBJUGATING THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE STATE.
• MARK’S GOSPEL EXPLAINS THE NATURE OF THE SUPREME EXAMPLE OF A MAN IS THAT HE BE A SERVANT LIKE JESUS CHRIST.
• THE ONLY WAY THE PERFECTION OF MAN COMES IS BY HIS INDIVIDUAL SUBJECTION TO JESUS CHRIST.
• THE DATE AND LOCATION OF THE BOOK OF MARK:
• THE BOOK OF MARK IS PROBABLY THE FIRST GOSPEL TO BE WRITTEN.
• MARK WROTE THE BOOK FROM THE CITY OF ROME SHORTLY BEFORE THE TIME OF THE MARTYRDOM OF PETER. (1PET 5:13)
• PETER WAS MARTYRED DURING THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR, NERO (54-68 AD)
• THE APPROXIMATE DATE FOR THE BOOK IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50 AND 68 AD.
• THE BOOK IS DEFINITELY WRITTEN BEFORE 70 AD WHEN THE ROMANS DESTROYED JERUSALEM AND THE JEWISH TEMPLE.
• THE HUMAN SOURCE OF THE BOOK OF MARK:
• BECAUSE MARK WAS NOT AN APOSTLE OR ONE OF THE TWELVE DISCIPLES, THE QUESTION USUALLY ARISES ABOUT THE SOURCE OF HIS MATERIAL.
• THE SOURCE OF MARK’S MATERIAL COMES PRIMARILY FROM PETER. MARK AND PETER WERE VERY CLOSE.
• THE GOSPELS OF MATTHEW AND LUKE BORROW SOME OF MARK’S MATERIAL.
• MATTHEW BORROWS ABOUT 90% OF MARK’S GOSPEL.
• LUKE BORROWS ABOUT 50% OF MARK’S GOSPEL.
• ONE THIRD OF THE BOOK OF MARK IS UNIQUE UNTO ITSELF.
• THE PURPOSE FOR THE WRITING OF THE BOOK OF MARK:
• MARK WROTE THE BOOK TO PRESERVE THE DETAILS OF THE DISCIPLES’ EXPERIENCES WITH JESUS.
• BECAUSE OF ROMAN PERSECUTION, MANY OF THE VERY EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE BEING MARTYRED. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE WHAT THEY REMEMBERED ABOUT JESUS’ EARTHLY MINISTRY.
• MARK WANTED TO PRESENT THE CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE OLD TESTAMENT AGE AND THE NEW AGE USHERED IN BY JESUS CHRIST.
• HE BEGINS WITH THE PRESENTATION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, A PROPHET OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT STYLE.
• MARK WANTED TO ENCOURAGE CHRISTIANS TO PERSEVERE IN THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH DESPITE PERSECUTION.
• MARK WANTED TO ENCOURAGE CHRISTIANS TO WITNESS TO NON-BELIEVERS ABOUT JESUS.
• THE THEME FOR THE BOOK OF MARK:
• AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, MARK’S THEME IS, JESUS CHRIST, THE SERVANT UNTO DEATH.
• THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS IS PRESENT OVER THE MINISTRY OF JESUS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
• THIS THEME FULFILLS ISAIAH’S PROPHECIES.
• READ ISA 42:1-4 (ISA 53)
• A SECONDARY THEME IN THE BOOK OF MARK:
• IF JESUS CHRIST IS TRULY THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, HOW SHOULD MEN RESPOND TO HIM?
• LITERARY STYLE OF THE BOOK OF MARK:
• THE BOOK APPEARS TO BE AN ARBITRARY COLLECTION OF STORIES ABOUT JESUS.
• THE STORIES ARE NOT NECESSARILY TOLD CHRONOLOGICALLY IN TIME.
• THE BOOK DOES HAVE A SOPHISTICATED ARRANGEMENT BASED ON THE REVELATION OF TRUTH.
• THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD REVOLVES AROUND THE SECRET IDENTITY OF THE MESSIAH.
• THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD INVOLVES THE GRADUAL REVELATION OF CHRIST’S IDENTITY THAT PRODUCES A PROGRESSIVE GROWTH OF FAITH IN THE DISCIPLES.
• MARK BORROWS MANY TERMS FROM LATIN AND WRITES THE BOOK IN GREEK.
• OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF MARK:
• THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SERVANT TO PUBLIC MINISTRY (1:1-8)
• GOD, THE FATHER, IDENTIFIES THE SERVANT (1:9-11)
• THE TEMPTATION LAUNCHES THE SERVANT’S MINISTRY (1:12-13)
• THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY THE SERVANT (1:14-13:37)
• MIRACLES:
• PHYSICAL HEALINGS
• OVER NATURE
• SPIRITUAL HEALINGS (OVER DEMONS)
• PARABLES
• TEACHING
• INCIDENTS
• THE SERVANT’S OBEDIENCE UNTO DEATH (14-15)
• THE CRUCIFIXION
• THE RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF THE VICTORIOUS SERVANT (16)
• SOURCES FOR OUR STUDY:
• THE GOSPELS: MARK

BY J. VERNON MC GEE.

• THE MESSAGE OF MARK

BY DONALD ENGLISH.

• SHEPHERD’S NOTES: MARK

PUBLISHED BY BROADMAN & HOLMAN PUBLISHERS.

• ALL THE PARABLES OF THE BIBLE

BY HERBERT LOCKYER.

• THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARY

BY WALVOORD AND ZUCK.

• MISC. NOTES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.

HOMEWORK
MARK 1:1-13
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER.

• PREPARATION FOR MAR 1
• READ MAR 1:1-13
• WHAT WAS TO BE THE ROLE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST?
• WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT JESUS’ BAPTISM WHEN HE HAD NO SIN FOR WHICH TO REPENT?
• WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR JESUS TO EXPERIENCE THE WILDERNESS TEMPTATION?

• MEMORY VERSE: MARK 1:11