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| What Mark might have looked like |
It is the shortest of the gospels with 16 chapters. This book of Mark was written to Gentiles in Rome and Greece.
Acts 12:12 tells us Mark was somewhat affluent by the reference to his mother’s as a “big” house, because “many people had gathered”, and a servant is mentioned.
In Col 4:10 we learn that Barnabas, Paul’s frequent companion, was a cousin of John Mark.
In his account, Mark sees Jesus as the servant, symbolized by the ox (Rev 4:6&7), because of his tireless ministry in pure motive, represented by the color white. He presents Jesus to the reader as a tireless worker; always doing and serving others (like a minister, our high priest). Thus, setting example for His followers.
Mark had failed in his service at one point: Acts 13:13. The “John” listed here is Mark (called John Mark). He returned to Jerusalem due to some difficulty. Acts 13:2 & 4 tells us the Holy Ghost called 2 but 3 went. Mark was not yet called. He was eager but not yet called by the Holy Spirit. New believers are often very enthusiastic but may not yet be made ready. Mark was experienced as a failed servant writing about the servant of man, Jesus, the ultimate servant.
Col 4:10 and II Tim 4:11 shows us Mark restored. He went on to be quite successful as an apostle.
Mark’s gospel opens with Jesus busy: baptized, calling disciples, driving out demons, healing, tempted and preaching.
Closes with Jesus working - with the apostles, 16:20.
In Mark, Chapt. 1, Jesus came into our darkness. (In Mark 16, He left us with His light.) I want to note that Jesus was baptized at the lowest point in the country and crucified at the highest point. A good subject to ponder.
Chapter 3 tells us Jesus started with 70 apostles and chose 12. In Hebrew (Jesus was a Hebrew), the number 12 represents authority/government: 12 tribes, 12 stones in first foundation of New Jerusalem, 12 stones on priests breastplate and more I will not explore at this time.
Like Matthew, he records many of Jesus parables and healing. He also accounts for Jesus’ brothers and sisters in Chapt 6. Indeed, Jesus is very busy in this account by Mark. He does one thing after another and Mark makes this clear with words like: immediately, and, then Jesus, at once, when Jesus and repeatedly following Jesus name with a verb. All emphasis is on the perfect example of Jesus the servant. Another point is the absence of the word “and”. In original Greek text the conjunction “and” was used more frequently to show He was busy: and He healed, and He walked, and He went, and He saw, and He appoints. Right away, Mark establishes Jesus as the servant.
Further along in Chapt. 6, He feeds the 5,000. If we include what must have been the presence of women and children, He fed even more than this; possibly around 15,000. Mark tells us they were fed and satisfied; Jesus gave them the bread of life and they were content, just as we are fed with His word and find rest. It is noted there were 12 full baskets left over. He gives us all we need - and more. I find it interesting to note there were also 12 apostles.
In 10:14, rather than the NIV word indignant or angry, original Greek states “severely displeased”. I am a great advocate of how much Jesus was especially gracious to children and widows; what His brother James called “pure religion”.
In Chapt. 11, Mark records the crowd crying “Hosanna!” as Jesus came into Jerusalem on a colt. “Hosanna” translated from Hebrew, means “Save us, please.” This is especially interesting in v.10. He notes that they were to find a colt that had never been ridden - you could say a “virgin” colt. Jesus was born of a virgin woman, rode a virgin colt and was buried in a virgin tomb (one that had never been used).
Mark also relates to us the last supper, Peter’s denial, Gethsemane, His arrest, trial, death, crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
All gospels mention either flogging or punishment of Jesus at the hand of Pilot. Maybe Pilot was hoping the Jewish priests would have pity when they saw Him beaten within an inch of His life. It didn’t work. Surely, it is significant that every one of the gospels accounts for the flogging. It was common in Roman law to use a cat of nine tails that had pieces of bone and pottery tied to the end of the nine leather tails to latch on to and tear flesh. It was also likely that he received 38 to 40 lashes (x 9 tails) by Hebrew Old Testament law. Pilot was dealing with Hebrew priests who were insisting on death. The Psalmist recorded how His bones “stare back at me”. The importance of shredding His body of flesh (as fulfilled in prophesy) was to take our ills and pains upon Himself so we might be whole, Isa. 53:4, I Pet.2:24
Moving on to the crucifixion, Mark mentions the time Jesus was crucified in 15:25 Nine in the morning was the time of the morning sacrifice at the temple.
Verse 16:15 reads “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” The Greek translates this “Go to all creatures and preach and publish openly.” The Greek is so much more explicit.
It was a Gentile, a Centurian, that first stated, “This man was the Son of God!”. His own people, through the priests, had turned against Him (the very people He came to save) so the apostles were sent out to Gentiles, who were quicker to believe. The Gentiles did not have 5,000 years of law and tradition to over come.
Mark also mentions the women who were in service to Jesus during His ministry and were present at the cross. This would have been unusual in those days. A crucifixion was no place for a woman; it was very brutal. Most likely, they stood off a few yards. However, we are to believe that His mother was in hearing range when told to behold her new son, John.
One last note: These first four books of the New Testament are called “Synoptic Gospels”. This translates “Good News In Agreement”.
Amen
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