Mark
Summary[i]
Writer: The Writer of the second Gospel,
Mark, called also John, was the son of one the New Testament "Marys",
and nephew of Barnabas. He was an associate of the apostles, and is mentioned
in the writings of Paul and of Luke Act_12:12;
Act_12:25; Act_15:37;
Act_15:39; Col_4:10;
2Ti_4:11; Phm_1:24.
Date: The date of Mark has been
variously placed between A.D. 57 and 63.
Theme: The scope and purpose of the
book are evident from its contents. In it Jesus is seen as the mighty Worker,
rather than as the unique Teacher. It is the Gospel of Jehovah's "Servant
the Branch" Zec_3:8 as Matthew is
the Gospel of the "Branch. . .unto David" Jer_33:15.
Everywhere the servant character
of the incarnate Son is manifest. The key verse is Mar_10:45.
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister." The characteristic word is "straightway," a servant's
word. There is no genealogy, for who gives the genealogy of a servant? The
distinctive character of Christ in Mark is that set forth in Phi_2:6-8.
But this lowly Servant, who
emptied Himself of the "form of God," "and was found in fashion
as a man," was, nevertheless, "the mighty God" Isa_9:6 as Mark distinctly declares (Mar_1:1) and therefore mighty works accompanied
and authenticated His ministry. As befits a Servant-Gospel, Mark is
characteristically a Gospel of deeds, rather than on words.
The best preparation of the heart
for the study of Mark is the prayerful reading of Isa_42:1-21;
Isa_50:4-11; Isa_52:13-15; Isa_53:1-12;
Zec_3:8; Phi_2:5-8.
Mark is in five principal
divisions:
1. The manifestation of the Servant-Son (Mark
1:1-11).
2. The Servant-Son tested as to His fidelity
(Mark 1:12-13).
3. The Servant-Son at work (Mark 1:14 - 13:37).
4. The Servant-Son "obedient unto death,"
(Mark 14:1 - 15:47).
5. The ministry of the risen Servant-Son, now
exalted to all authority (Mark 16:1-20).
The events recorded in this book cover a period of 7 years.