The Writings of Mark

Imagine spending years traveling with Paul, listening to every word he speaks about his encounter with Jesus. You sit in on every meeting Paul has, especially those with Gentiles, listening to how he explains the gospel and presents Jesus to them. You would gain such a great understanding of who Jesus is, apart from knowing Jesus as a Jew. You would discover Jesus is for all the nations.

Then after being with Paul, imagine spending even more years traveling with Peter. Peter was a disciple of Christ. Think of all the firsthand stories you would hear. Think of all the miracles and teachings of Jesus that Peter would tell you. After years of being with Paul and then Peter you would gain so much insight into the person of Jesus, in the most practical way he lived.

Finally, imagine a new church. This church is made up of Christians living in Rome who are not Jewish and have never met Jesus but have committed their lives to Him in faith. Because they are Christian they face great persecution. They face the same persecution that Jesus’ faced. You would know that the story of Jesus would be a great help to these Christians in Rome.

So you sit down to write a biography of Jesus to help suffering Christians know who Jesus is and how he also suffered. This is what Mark did when he wrote the Gospel of Mark. His story of Jesus has very little Jewish words or Old Testament references like Matthew. Instead it is full of stories of miracles and hardship. 

Mark wants Christians to know that Jesus experienced what they are now experiencing. He wants to show how Jesus’ life sets the direction for a Christian’s life in following Him. Mark remembers all Peter told him and writes short stories about Jesus. He wants to show Jesus as the Authority over disease, nature, human power and especially evil and death. 

Christians in Rome were being killed for their faith. They were being falsely accused. Their children were being tormented. They could not get jobs. They were poor and outcast. Mark writes a story of Someone else who was being false accused, tormented, poor and outcast. In the Gospel of Mark you find Jesus, more human and more like you, than any other Gospel. Mark’s goal was that suffering Christians would know they were not alone. Jesus did not just rescue them, He became like them and experienced all they were experiencing. Knowing how Christians are suffering, Mark shows Jesus as the suffering servant and yet that Jesus is good news. In Jesus you find a Savior who understands you by firsthand personal experience.