A Study of the Gospel of Mark
Introduction
What an exciting opportunity – to read the very Word of God. In a moment I will present what scholars think about who wrote this Gospel and when it was written, but for right now pause and reflect that you are about to read God’s Word to you! Pray before you read; nothing fancy, but pray that God will speak to you as you read because “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Heb 4:12 (NIV).
One way to study the Gospel is to first sit down and read it through in one sitting and then begin to study it passage by passage. Because we have heard so many of the events and teachings it is challenging to “hear them” clearly, without being affected by our prior experience.
In this study I want to encourage you to read it through once if you can and jot down any notes or parts you either have questions about or were especially struck by. Then when you come back to that section during our study you can delve into it.
Some notes: Mark’s Gospel is generally viewed as the earliest and is compact in nature – somewhat 50% shorter than Matthew’s Gospel. If you were to compare the Gospel to a book you might pick up in the library, Mark’s Gospel would look like one or two chapters.
Scholars generally agree that Mark’s Gospel provides the “rough framework” for Matthew and Luke. Further the lack of some historical references that appear in other gospels (e.g. the destruction of the
So think about this for a moment – Mark is the first writer to write down that Jesus proclaims “Good News” – he is the first person to connect Jesus words with Jesus deeds – he is the first person that shows Jesus life is a life that leads to the Cross.
When his readers first heard it did it confirm who they understood Jesus to be, or correct some of what they knew about Jesus, or completely challenge them?
As you read it will it confirm, correct, or challenge you?
The above notes were a combination of my own thoughts and thoughts from Raymond Brown in his Introduction to the New Testament and Luke T. Johnson in his The Writings of the New Testament.
I’ve divided this study into the sections the correspond to how we are reading it on Sunday.. People divide the Gospel differently. I’m using Donald English’s commentary The Message of Mark from the Bible Speaks Today series so for the sections that we are not reading week by week, I've posted some questions for you. Finally, the most recent week is posted below this Introduction to save you from having to scroll down.
I pray you will find this to be enjoyable.
