PONDERING... Mark His Words (Mark 1:1)

Mark His Words

GIST: We need to see Jesus.

SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:1

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Tonight, I will be brief. God willing, this will be the first sermon in a series that will probably last for some time as we travel together through the Gospel of Mark. When we first get into a book, I think setting some context is good, so I’ll try to give some. However, it is also easy to get lost in the context and miss the content. I’ve had a few of those moments this week, and want to try to avoid that tonight if at all possible.

As I prayed about what book of the Bible to preach on first, there were several thoughts that came to mind. This is going to be the first book we study together as a church. Sure, it will probably set a tone for all the studies to follow (unless you want me out before that point :D), but it will also be the food we’re eating for at least several months. Mark immediately came to mind. I know I sound so redundant, but the truth that keeps coming back to my mind, and the truth that has driven my life and ministry for the past 10 years, and I pray drives me for the rest of my life is this: We need Jesus. We’ll see Him here, so let’s spend time looking at Him.

1. WHO?

Though not explicitly named, church tradition agrees that the author is John Mark. We only get snippets of his biography from Scripture. He was the son of the Mary whose house the disciples met in when they were praying for Peter when he was arrested. He was the cousin of Barnabas, Paul’s traveling companion, and went on the first missionary journey with them...but deserted them, and then caused a division between the two when Barnabas wanted to take him on the next missionary journey. The only other picture in Scripture we get of his early life is that he might have been the “youth” described in Mark 14:52 as running away from the garden naked when Jesus was arrested...which always makes me chuckle a bit.

Later, however, he is called “a son” by Peter, and a helpful companion by Paul, so there is clearly a drastic change in his life. Church tradition further emphasizes this relationship with Peter, and it is believed that much of the text is actual taken from sermons Peter preached.  

However, the main emphasis I’d make here is that the book was inspired by the Holy Spirit, so He is the true author. That He used two men who had, in their early lives, had been unfaithful and, frankly, messed up to be the source of one of the earliest Gospels.

(REFERENCES: (Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37, 39; Col. 4:10, Acts 12:25; 13:5, Acts 13:13, Acts 15:38–40, Philem. 24, 2 Tim. 4:11, 1 Pet. 5:13)

2. WHEN?

Probably mid to late 50’s A.D., so we’re within the generation of Christ. That’s key. This was written when there were still plenty of people who knew these accounts personally. If it were a lie, there would have been widespread uproar. Instead, it was accepted by even those who had been closest to Jesus as true.

3. WHAT?

Actually, Mark tells us exactly what this is in the opening verse we just read: “1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” I know this might seem like a given, but this is actually key.

This is not a biography or strictly a history. A lot of criticisms against the gospels come from misunderstanding this point. If we try and fit this into our 21st century conception of what a historical biography should be, we’ll see all kinds of problems. But it wasn’t written as a 21st century biography. Though the gospel account is biographical and historically accurate, it is not an extensive, chronological recounting of the life of Jesus. In fact, it focuses on only three years of His life, and zeroes in very intentionally on select portions at that. More than giving a record, he is giving a witness.

This is the good news (the gospel). It’s what the apostles had been sharing since Jesus left. It is the story of Jesus who is the Christ, the Messiah, the one the entire Old Testament promised would come to save the world. AND, He is the Son of God, which does not mean He is somehow the offspring of God the Father, but rather the one, true God on earth.

What is this good news? “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). That is the focus of the entire book: Who Jesus is and why/how we should serve Him. In fact, much of the book follows groups of people misunderstanding who Jesus is and, therefore, completely missing the point. This book is 100% relevant to us today.

4. WHY?

To Spread the Good News. That’s the main reason. This account had been circulating, but there was a need for it to continue. The apostles were dying, and there were fewer and fewer people who knew the account first hand. In order for it not to be lost, it needed to be formally recorded. This gospel also seems to have been specifically targeting a gentile audience, which is great for this gentile congregation to hear.

TAKEAWAYS

1. We need to see Jesus.
2. This book emphasizes Jesus.
3. Start reading through the book of Mark on your own.
4. And, let’s pray that as we move through this study together, we are changed...as we see Jesus!