The Essential Jesus as

Revealed in the Gospel of Mark

Gettysburg

The Essential Jesus as

Revealed in the Gospel of Mark

Today through June 30th

Mark: A Quick Recap

▪ The author - “John Mark” - Mentioned 8 times in the NT - Was Roman (Marcus) - Close associate of Apostle Peter

Mark: A Quick Recap

▪ The recipients – From evidence from within the book, it appears that Mark was writing his gospel primarily for a Roman audience.

Mark: A Quick Recap

▪ “Signature” word: Mark uses a certain word 42 times in his gospel (a word used only 7 times in Matthew, twice in John and once in Luke) - “eutheos” = immediately, straightway

Mark: A Quick Recap

Mark’s emphasis in his gospel account is not so much on what Jesus taught as it is on what Jesus did! The Gospel of Mark contains : - Only 18 of the 70 parables of Jesus - Over half of the 35 miracles of Jesus

Mark: A Quick Recap

The Gospel of Mark is a fast-flowing narrative. Among the gospels it is the

Gospel of Action!

Gospel of Mark: Gospel of Action

Who was his target audience?

Romans!

Gospel of Mark: Signature Word

The Gospel of Mark is a fast-flowing narrative. Among the gospels it is the

Gospel of Action!

The Gospel of Mark is also the Gospel of Passion!

Gospel of Mark: The Emotional Side of Jesus

References to the emotions of Jesus:

Matthew – 6 references Luke – 7 references John – 4 references

Mark – 16 references to Jesus’ emotions!

Gospel of Mark: Background

The Gospel of Mark is the Gospel of Action and the Gospel of Passion!

Very relevant to us in 21st century

America as we tend to be both pragmatic and passionate!

Gospel of Mark: Theme Verse and Structure

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 1:15-10:52

Mark 11:1-15:47

Mark 16:1-20

Mark 1:1-14

An informative PROLOGUE

The Servant’s

revelation to the world

ACT 1 “Even the

Son of Man did not

come to be served, but

to serve. . .

ACT 2

and to give His life a

ransom for many.” (10:45)

The Servant’s serving

The Servant’s sacrifice

An incredible

CONCLUSION

The Servant’s

resurrection from the tomb (3 ½ years) (8 months)

Yr of Obscurity (Early Judean)

Yr of Popularity (Early and

Middle Galilean)

Yr of Opposition (Later Galilean, Later Judean,

Perean)

The HEARTBEAT of Jesus’ ministry . . . the GOSPEL!

Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The HEARTBEAT of Jesus’ ministry . . . the GOSPEL!

Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The FOCUS of Jesus’ ministry . . . PEOPLE!

“near” “far”

- The disciples (apostles) - The Crowd

Chapters 2-5: We see Jesus . . .

- performing miracles - casting out demons - healing the sick - stilling a storm - even raising a girl from the dead

- choosing the Twelve

- teaching in parables

Chapter 6

- vv. 1-6 – Jesus rejected by his home town - vv. 7-12 – Jesus sending out of the Twelve

Mark 6:14-29

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner (a.k.a. “Set Up Man”)

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:14a King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known.

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:14b-15 Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:17-18 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.”

The Herod Family NT Tree

The Herod Family NT Tree

The Herod Family NT Tree

The Herod Family Tree

Talk about one VERY twisted

family tree!

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.”

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:19-20 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:22-23 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:24-25 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:26a And the king was exceedingly sorry . . .

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:26-28 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

The Murder of Messiah’s Forerunner

Mark 6:29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Today’s Takeaways

WHY did Mark, who for the most part is so economical with his words, spend 15 verses in developing a story that had so

little to do with Jesus?

Today’s Takeaways

“It is well worth the time (for Mark) to tell the story

of someone who sacrificed his life because of his faithfulness. Many of Mark’s readers would

be called to do the same.” (Michael Card)

Today’s Takeaways

1. As John the Baptist lived and spoke God’s truth to his generation - so we must do the same, no matter what the cost might be!

Today’s Takeaways

2. Since the pressure to compromise our faith is relentless, we must pray for the courage to say and to do what is right before God!

Herod could have said . . .

- “I promised you a gift … I did not promise to commit a crime . . . ”

- “I promised to favor YOU, not your mother . . . ”

-“I was wrong to make such a vow to murder a prophet of God let alone anyone for that matter . . . ”

“. . . so ask me for something else!”

Today’s Takeaways

2. Since the pressure to compromise our faith is relentless, we must pray for the courage to say and to do what is right before God!