The book of Mark was written by John Mark around 50 – 60 AD. John Mark was a missionary who worked and traveled with Peter and recorded his recollections of the life and work of Jesus. The principal theme of Mark is the story and ministry of Jesus Christ. Mark records Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, and the suffering servant who was sent to serve as liberation and restoration for God’s creation. Mark wrote a detailed description of who Jesus was, the miracles he did, the sermons and parables he told, the prophecies he fulfilled, and the positive impact he had on those who came in contact with him. Mark’s ultimate goal in writing his gospel was to share the gospel or the good news of Jesus Christ. So much so that he uses the word gospel
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Mark begins his recollection with the ministry of John the Baptist who came prior to Jesus. In this passage, John is preaching and proclaiming a baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sins in the wilderness. He also baptizes Jesus in the Jordan river. “Rather than emphasizing the events leading up to Jesus’ ministry in terms of genealogy and family roots, or theological foundation mark focuses on the actual beginning” (ESV Notes). For Mark the gospel is the beginning. “The gospel is the good news of the fulfillment of God’s promises. In the Old Testament good news is connected with the saving intervention of God to help his people, but in a secondary sense the good news is the report of Jesus” (ESV Notes). The gospel tells us that the kingdom of God is at hand, and that God’s rule over people’s hearts and lives is now being established in response people should repent and believe in the …show more content…
In verses 31 – 38 Jesus foretells his death and resurrection. Jesus had begun to teach to his disciples saying that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, be killed, die, and then rise in three days for the Gospel. In verses 8:34 – 9:1 Jesus gave the disciples a call to discipleship revealing to them the cost of following Christ. The cost of discipleship and living out the gospel for the followers of Christ is similar to the price Jesus had to pay, he was the ultimate example. In verse 35, Jesus reminds the disciples that whoever tries to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for His sake and for the gospel will save it. “Jesus’ paradoxical statement demands two different senses of the word life. Whoever lives a self – centered life focused on this present world will not find eternal life with God; whoever gives up his self – centered life of rebellion against God for the sake of Christ and the gospel will find everlasting communion with God” (ESV Notes). We must live our lives as a living sacrifice for the gospel daily. Denying the ways of the world (selfishness) and accepting the things of Christ
Mark begins his recollection with the ministry of John the Baptist who came prior to Jesus. In this passage, John is preaching and proclaiming a baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sins in the wilderness. He also baptizes Jesus in the Jordan river. “Rather than emphasizing the events leading up to Jesus’ ministry in terms of genealogy and family roots, or theological foundation mark focuses on the actual beginning” (ESV Notes). For Mark the gospel is the beginning. “The gospel is the good news of the fulfillment of God’s promises. In the Old Testament good news is connected with the saving intervention of God to help his people, but in a secondary sense the good news is the report of Jesus” (ESV Notes). The gospel tells us that the kingdom of God is at hand, and that God’s rule over people’s hearts and lives is now being established in response people should repent and believe in the …show more content…
In verses 31 – 38 Jesus foretells his death and resurrection. Jesus had begun to teach to his disciples saying that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, be killed, die, and then rise in three days for the Gospel. In verses 8:34 – 9:1 Jesus gave the disciples a call to discipleship revealing to them the cost of following Christ. The cost of discipleship and living out the gospel for the followers of Christ is similar to the price Jesus had to pay, he was the ultimate example. In verse 35, Jesus reminds the disciples that whoever tries to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for His sake and for the gospel will save it. “Jesus’ paradoxical statement demands two different senses of the word life. Whoever lives a self – centered life focused on this present world will not find eternal life with God; whoever gives up his self – centered life of rebellion against God for the sake of Christ and the gospel will find everlasting communion with God” (ESV Notes). We must live our lives as a living sacrifice for the gospel daily. Denying the ways of the world (selfishness) and accepting the things of Christ