Introduction to Mark's Gospel

MANOR ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

STARTING APRIL 11, 2010

INTRODUCTION TO MARK'S GOSPEL

Do you ever wonder what it would have been like to sit under the teaching of the leaders of the early church, such as Peter or Paul or some other great New Testament figure? John Mark was somebody who did exactly that. First an understudy of Paul, then Barnabas, Mark later ministered with Peter in Rome. While living in the Imperial City, Mark worked closely with Peter, faithfully recording the apostle's sermons and eyewitness accounts as a member of Jesus' inner circle of disciples. [See 15th century painter Fra Angelica's depiction shown here].

Eventually these notes formed the basis for the Gospel that bears his name. Mark's writing style conforms to Will Strunk's cardinal rule of composition: eliminate unnecessary words. Writing in simple, everyday Greek, Mark draws the reader into Jesus' world by means of dramatic, nonstop action sequences. Whereas the other Gospels largely show who Jesus is by what he says, Mark shows us who Jesus is by what he does. Jesus is a man of action. Although Mark's account always was included among the inspired New Testatment writings, it was generally considered inferior to the gospels according to Matthew, Luke, and John. Saint Augustine, for example, wrote, "Mark imitated Matthew as a lackey and is regarded as his abbreviator." Thanks to Augustine, later generations of Christians derived their views about Jesus largely from Matthew. Quotations from Mark were used only rarely in worship. More recently, however, scholarly opinion about Mark has shifted significantly. His gospel now is thought to be the prior one, with Matthew and Luke, at least, drawing on material from him. Mark is no longer viewed as a clumsy writer with little insight. James R. Edwards, who recently published a very helpful commentary on Mark, calls him "a skilled literary artist and theologian." Mark is an author worthy of our full attention.

In our Sunday school series, which begins April 11, we will study the setting and context of Mark's gospel and introduce his major themes. Of highest importance is what Mark teaches us about Jesus. Where does Jesus get such authority? Why must Jesus fulfill his mission by becoming a suffering Servant? In what sense is Jesus the Son of God? One of Mark's favorite expressions is, "Let the reader understand." Yet, as his telling of the story of Jesus unfolds, it is evident that no one "gets it". At the climax of the gospel, Jesus hangs on the cross as his closest friends flee, frightened and confused.

The sun is blotted out, and the temple curtain rips apart. In the darkness, only one person - someone we would never expect - discerns who Jesus truly is. Three days later some women come to Jesus' tomb. What follows is the most surprising and enigmatic ending of any book in the Bible: "Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid." Let the reader understand.