Mark 101
“But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” (Mark 8:29)
This Sunday we’re kicking off our new study in the Gospel According to Mark. We’ll spend about a year walking slowly through this rich and robust account of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ! Just like in the 1st century, our 21st century world has many Counterfeit Christs, Mythological Messiahs, and Substitute Saviors. But we need to know the Jesus who’s really there, the One who can really save us. Which is why I’m titling this series “The Real Jesus”. Mark is helping us answer the question that Jesus asks of each of us: “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29)
The Basics
Dane Ortlund helps us get acquainted with Mark’s Gospel:
The Gospel of Mark plays a unique and strategic role in the Christian Bible. In this account of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, we see him fulfilling in himself the Old Testament hopes for a coming king, the Messiah, yet we also see the stark ways in which Jesus confounds public expectations of what this king will do: he will suffer. Mark’s Gospel also gives us a vivid portrayal of what authentic discipleship looks like for those who follow a rejected king.
Of the four Gospels, Mark was probably the first one written. It is the shortest and also the fastest-paced Gospel account. For example, Mark repeatedly transitions to a new section of his narrative with the word “immediately.” While Matthew and Luke share quite a bit of material with Mark, Matthew and Luke contain large blocks of behavioral teaching by Jesus that Mark does not include. This absence gives Mark a feel of heightened intensity as events rapidly hurtle toward the final week of Jesus’ earthly life.
Mark’s Gospel is concerned with presenting Jesus as the Messiah, the king, the Son of David, who is rejected by the religious authorities and calls his followers to radical discipleship in the kingdom of God.
The ESV Study Bible gives a helpful overview of the book:
The ultimate purpose and theme of Mark is to present and defend Jesus’ universal call to discipleship. Mark returns often to this theme, and as the narrative unfolds he categorizes his main audience as either followers or opponents of Jesus. The outline demonstrates that Mark’s central effort in presenting and supporting this call is to narrate the identity and teaching of Jesus. This fact implies that discipleship for Mark is essentially a relationship with Jesus, not merely following a certain code of conduct. Fellowship with Jesus marks the heart of the disciple’s life, and this fellowship includes trusting him, confessing him, taking note of his conduct, following his teaching, and being shaped by a relationship to him. Discipleship also means being prepared to face the kind of rejection that Jesus faced.
Here’s a short video overview of Mark from Paul Tripp:
And here’s two helpful videos from the Bible Project:
And if you were thinking to yourself “I sure wish I could get Johnny Cash to read me the book of Mark in the King James Version”, then do I have good news for you! Check it out HERE.
Resources
The only resource we ever endorse 100% is the Bible. These resources will help you dig deeper and, like everything, should be used with discernment.
Online Study Helps
Knowing the Bible: Mark (Online Course through TGC by Dane Ortlund)
Mark - Online Commentary (Mark L. Strauss)
3 Reasons You Should Preach Through Mark (Justin Harris)
Introduction to Mark (ESV Study Bible)
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Mark (J.C. Ryle)
Podcasts/Sermons
Help Me Teach the Bible - Mark (Nancy Guthrie & Derek Thomas)
Jesus, the Son of Man - The Message of Mark (Sermon by Mark Dever)
Books/Commentaries
ESV Scripture Journal: Mark (The church will be providing these for everyone at Clover Hill!)
Mark For You (Jason Meyer)
Expository Reflections on the Gospels, Volume 3: Mark (Douglas O’Donnell)
Mark for Teenagers: How Jesus Changes Everything (John Perritt)
Church, let’s get to know the real Jesus better than ever over this next year in Mark’s Gospel!
“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)
P.S.
If you’re curious how we’re going to end the series (with the notorious “long ending” of Mark), here’s a helpful video from Wes Huff.