Within the New Testament, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John work together to give accounts of the life of Jesus; Mark, though, uniquely focuses on Jesus as God. Each of these gospels give an insight into the life of Christ from their perspective. Each of the authors was moved by the Holy Spirit to write their thoughts down onto paper. Each one of these authors had the, “primary purpose…to present the gospel message and call people to faith” (Elwell & Yarbrough, 2013, p. 57). They wanted so desperately to present the gospel message to all who would have an ear to hear and to believe. Even though each of the gospels contains the gospel of Jesus, they do not contain each work of Jesus. John acknowledges this in his gospel but he reminds
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Though not a disciple of Jesus, Mark learned personally and heard personally the words of Peter, a disciple of Jesus. Mark absorbed these teachings from Peter and compiled the book of Mark roughly abound, “the 40s-60s” (Elwell & Yarbrough, 2013, p. 75). Within the city of Rome, Mark wrote this book with, “a gentile audience in mind” (Elwell & Yarbrough, 2013, p. 76). He too desired to spread the gospel even further through the written gospel of Mark. Clearly, throughout the gospel of Mark, evidences of his strong knowledge of Jesus’ divinity shines forth. This characteristic of Jesus is critical for all new believers to grasp because only God is perfect and righteous. Mark wanted everyone to acknowledge this and believe this. Most people did, “recognize that Jesus is divine…except the religious leaders” (Elwell & Yarbrough, 2013, p. 78). These religious leaders, puffed up by their own self-righteousness, did not see their need for Jesus, but others who saw their desperate need for Jesus came to Jesus with tears. Jesus responds to these needy sinners by, “giv[ing] his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NLT). As a disciple, Mark, as well as the other gospel writers, knew well how they must, as disciples of Jesus, be willing to give themselves for those around them. Mark gave to those around him by sitting down and writing this gospel for non-believers and believers to read them and even up to the present. He desired earnestly for all who read his gospel to understand how Jesus is both God and man. By emphasizing Jesus’ divinity, he desired for all of his readers to put their faith in Jesus. In doing this, Mark, “invites readers to a suffering discipleship based on Jesus’s walk from baptism to the cross” (Elwell & Yarbrough, 2013, p. 81). Each believer is called by Jesus through the book of Mark to believe upon Jesus the Son of God and to become a disciple of Jesus by following in Jesus’
Though not a disciple of Jesus, Mark learned personally and heard personally the words of Peter, a disciple of Jesus. Mark absorbed these teachings from Peter and compiled the book of Mark roughly abound, “the 40s-60s” (Elwell & Yarbrough, 2013, p. 75). Within the city of Rome, Mark wrote this book with, “a gentile audience in mind” (Elwell & Yarbrough, 2013, p. 76). He too desired to spread the gospel even further through the written gospel of Mark. Clearly, throughout the gospel of Mark, evidences of his strong knowledge of Jesus’ divinity shines forth. This characteristic of Jesus is critical for all new believers to grasp because only God is perfect and righteous. Mark wanted everyone to acknowledge this and believe this. Most people did, “recognize that Jesus is divine…except the religious leaders” (Elwell & Yarbrough, 2013, p. 78). These religious leaders, puffed up by their own self-righteousness, did not see their need for Jesus, but others who saw their desperate need for Jesus came to Jesus with tears. Jesus responds to these needy sinners by, “giv[ing] his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NLT). As a disciple, Mark, as well as the other gospel writers, knew well how they must, as disciples of Jesus, be willing to give themselves for those around them. Mark gave to those around him by sitting down and writing this gospel for non-believers and believers to read them and even up to the present. He desired earnestly for all who read his gospel to understand how Jesus is both God and man. By emphasizing Jesus’ divinity, he desired for all of his readers to put their faith in Jesus. In doing this, Mark, “invites readers to a suffering discipleship based on Jesus’s walk from baptism to the cross” (Elwell & Yarbrough, 2013, p. 81). Each believer is called by Jesus through the book of Mark to believe upon Jesus the Son of God and to become a disciple of Jesus by following in Jesus’