MARK---THE SAVIOR’S SERVICE AND SACRIFICE

INTRODUCTION

          1.The biography of Mark

A.The son of the Mary who lived in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12), and whose home

                     was one of the meeting places of the early church.

B.John was his Jewish name and Mark was his Roman name, indicating that his

mother was Jewish while his father may have been a Roman. (cf. Acts 12:25)

C.When Paul and Barnabus set out on their first missionary journey, John Mark went along to minister to them in the capacity of a servant. (Acts 13:5)

1)At Perga, for reasons unknown, he turned back to Jerusalem. (13:13)

                                2)He was rebuked and rejected by Paul. (Acts 15:37-38)

3)He was later commended by Paul after he had re-entered the Lord’s service. (Col. 4:10; Philemon 24)

                     D.Mark was saved through the ministry of Peter. (I Peter 5:13)

          2.Peter’s influence in the gospel of Mark

A.It has often been pointed out that the ground covered by Mark is really an expansion of Peter’s sermon. (Acts 10:34-43)

1)Both begin with the ministry of John the Baptist and end with the ascension of the Lord.

2)Peter was, in all probability, Mark’s chief source for his material.

B.If then, we were asked which of the leading Apostles this Gospel reflects, what would be our reply? Would it be John, or James, or Andrew? No. Would it be Peter? Yes. Have we not sensed already how this second Gospel somehow suggests Peter’s way of saying and doing things? There is the same forthright, intense, impulsive, sympathetic, energetic activity in Mark’s

                     narrative as there is in Peter’s nature.”--J. S. Baxter

THE EMPHASIS OF MARK

1.Mark gives us no new material other than that which is recorded in Matthew.

2.Mark presents Christ as the servant while Matthew showed Him as king. (10:44)

A.In Matthew - because it was written to the Jews, it was important that the King’s rights be established by a correct genealogy.

B.In Mark - written to Romans, a genealogy does not matter in regard to a servant.

          3.The key word of Mark emphasizes his theme of Christ, the Servant.

A.Straightway means “then, next, immediately, anon, forthwith, by and by, as soon as, shortly”.

B.Occurs 41 times in this gospel; an average of nearly three times a chapter

C.Straightway in Greek is used to indicate the speed of a racer as he rushes along.

D.This word and the emphasis on action are pictured as twice this book records that the disciples did not have leisure time to eat. (3:20; 6:31)

E.Mark is concerned with the works rather than the words of the Lord Jesus. He portrays the active career of Christ on the earth.

WHY THE EMPHASIS ON ACTION?

1.The Romans, for whom the book is designed, were men of power, mighty workers who left behind them great accomplishments for the blessing of humanity. So that Mark would especially appeal to them by recording of Jesus His mighty deeds. He lets them see One Who has the power to still the storm, to control disease and death, and even power to control the unseen world of spirits. The Romans, who found deity in a Caesar as head of a mighty kingdom, would bow to one who had shown

Himself King in every realm and whose Kingdom was both omnipotent and everlasting, both visible and unseen, both temporal and spiritual.”--Tidwell

          2.Mark showed the Romans a Man who was a man indeed.

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

          I.THE SERVANT LABORING (1:1-9:29) - His Service

                     A.Presentation of the Servant (1:1-11)

                     B.Perfection of the Servant (1:12, 13)

                     C.Performance of the Servant (1:14-9:29)

                                1.Choosing the disciples (1:14-20) cf. 3:13-21

                                2.Casting out demons (1:21-28) cf. 5:1-20

3.Curing the diseased (1:29-3:12) cf. 4:21-43; 6:53-56; 7:31- 37; 8:22-26

                                4.Conversing with doubters (3:22-4:20) cf. 7:1-23

                                5.Commissioning the disciples

                                           a.Sent forth (6:7-13)

                                           b.Set aside (6:30-31)

                                           c.Settling convictions (8:27-30)

                                           d.Sternly rebuking (8:31-33)

                                           e.Startling sights (9:1-13)

                                           f.Strengthening faith (9:14-29)

          II.THE SERVANT’S LEADING (9:30-13:37) - His Teaching

                     A.On discrimination (9:33-37) cf. 10:35-45

                     B.On denominationalism (9:38-41)

                     C.On destruction (9:42-50)

                     D.On divorce (10:1-12)

                     E.On discipleship (10:17-31)

                     F.On death (10:32-34)

                     G.On deceivers (12:1-40)

                                1.Religious leaders (vs. 1-12)

                                2.Romanist leaders (vs. 13-17)

                                3.Rationalistic leaders (vs. 18-27)

                                4.Ritualistic leaders (vs. 28-40)

                     H.On dispensations (13:1-37)

          III.THE SERVANT’S LANGUISHING (14:1-15:47) - His Death

                     A.The plot (14:1-2; 10-11)

                     B.The preparation (14:3-9)

                     C.The Passover (14:12-25)

                     D.The prediction (14:26-31 and 66-72)

                     E.The prayer (14:32-52)

                     F.The propitiation (14:43-15:47)

                                1.Betrayed (14:43-52)

                                2.Bandied (14:53-15:5)

                                3.Bartered (15:6-15)

                                4.Belittled (15:16-23)

                                5.Broken (15:24-41)

                                6.Buried (15:42-47)

          IV.THE SERVANT LIVING (16:1-20) - His Resurrection

                     A.Risen (vs. 1-8)

                     B.Reappearing (vs. 9-14)

                     C.Re-commissioning (vs. 15-18)

                     D.Received (vs. 19-20)