THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL

Mark 1

DIMENSION ONE: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Answer these questions by reading Mark 1

1. What is the task of the messenger as the prophet describes it? (1:2-3)

The task is to prepare the way for the Lord and make his paths straight.

2. What is the main message of John the Baptist? (1:4, 7)

John's main message is repentance for the forgiveness of sins and the immediate coming of a great one who is more powerful than John.

3. What clothing does John the Baptist wear? (1:6)

He wears a garment made out of camel's hair with a leather belt.

4. What food does he eat? (1:6)

He eats locusts and wild honey.

5. What is the first event in the life of Jesus that Mark records? (1:9)

The baptism of Jesus in the Jordan is the first event.

6. How does the Spirit appear on this occasion? (1:10)

The Spirit appears on him "like a dove."

7. What does the voice from heaven say? (1:11)

"You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

8. Where does Jesus go after this event? (1:12-13)

Jesus goes into the surrounding wilderness area.

9. What is the first message of Jesus according to Mark? (1:14-15)

"The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"

10. To whom does Jesus extend his invitation by the Sea of Galilee? (1:16, 19)

His invitation is extended to Simon and Andrew, James and John.

11. What is the first invitation Jesus extends? (1:17)

"Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people."

12. What is their response? (1:18)

At once they leave their nets and follow him.

13. What does Jesus do in the synagogue? (1:21)

He begins teaching.

14. What is the reaction of the people? (1:22, 27)

They are amazed because he teaches them as one who has authority, not as the teachers of the law. He teaches something new.

15. What disturbance takes place in the synagogue? (1:23-26)

A man with an impure spirit interrupts Jesus' teaching by shouting questions while recognizing Jesus as the "Holy One of God."

16. What happens next at the house of Simon and Andrew? (1:29-30)

Jesus ministers to Simon's mother-in-law, who is ill with fever. He helps her up and the fever leaves her.

17. What two forms of ministry does Jesus pursue as he goes "throughout Galilee"? (1:39)

Jesus preaches in the synagogues and drives out demons.

18. What type of person does Mark now mention as coming to Jesus? (1:40)

Mark mentions a man who has leprosy.

19. How does Jesus help this man? (1:41)

Jesus touches him and cleanses him.

20. Then what does Jesus charge this man? (1:43-44)

Jesus warns the healed man not to discuss what has taken place with anyone except the priest. The man is to offer the traditional sacrifices of thanksgiving prescribed in the Jewish law, dating back to the days of Moses.

21. Instead, what does this man do? (1:45a)

He goes out and begins to talk freely about his healing and spreads the news.

22. What is the result for Jesus? (1:45b)

Jesus can no longer openly enter a town but travels in the country ("in lonely places"), and people come to him from everywhere.

DIMENSION TWO: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN?

Introducing the Gospel of Mark

This study brings us to a unique account of Jesus' life by an author with some convictions about the life of Jesus. A purpose of the teaching process should be to unveil those convictions that Mark held about the nature of Jesus and to discover how they are expressed and supported in the narrative events the author records.

A common assumption made about the author of this second Gospel account is that he was the companion of Christian emissaries mentioned in Acts (12:12 and 13:5; see also Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 24; 1 Peter 5:13) by the name of John Mark. (John was his Jewish name, and Mark was his Roman name.) Of course, nowhere in the account itself is Mark identified as its author. In honesty we must admit that often the names of prominent persons were attached to ancient writings to assure that they would be read. However, that the strength and endurance of the tradition that Mark was the author or editor has not been seriously challenged by research lends support to the presumption that the Gospel has come to us from his influence, if not from his hand. One interesting idea that has some support from Scripture (1 Peter 5:13) and the writings of early church fathers (for example, Papias and Eusebius) is that Mark had a close relationship with Peter. Mark became Peter's secretary, recording what Peter preached concerning Jesus' words and deeds. If this is true, then Mark may well have learned some of the contents of his account from Peter.

Dr. Ernest F. Scott, a distinguished New Testament scholar, described the Gospel of Mark in a lecture as "the most important book ever written." Ask participants to guess why he would make such a bold statement. The reasons they give now may be few. When this study of Mark is completed, the question could be asked again to see if more reasons have become apparent.

The Gospel of Mark stands out as unique among the Gospels for several reasons. First, Mark is the shortest and most concise of the four accounts. Second, Mark is regarded by most scholars as the first Gospel written, probably around AD 65–70. One strong evidence for this early dating is that most of Mark's material is included in Matthew and Luke, often word for word. Third, Mark writes against the backdrop of strong skepticism by Jews and non-Jews about Jesus and the Christian gospel and the impending threat of persecution against the Christian community. Many persons were wavering on the brink of belief versus nonbelief. This author, more out of a sense of urgency than literary polish, wanted to affirm widely and reliably the good news that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He accomplished his purpose through using the collected evidence of one or more eyewitnesses.

Mark 1:1-11. Note that the gospel is the "good news about Jesus the Messiah." Point out to participants that, technically speaking, we have only one gospel — the gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news is of him. The biographical accounts we have in the New Testament are gospels of Jesus Christ "according to" Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. A spiritual truth underlies this use of words: the good news is of Jesus' coming, not of our doings or of our ideas about his doings. Although by habit we may...