Mark Study Guide

WHY FOCUS ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK?

The Gospel of Mark is considered to be the first of the four Gospels to be written. Mark is also the shortest of the four Gospels, and yet Mark does a masterful job reminding us of the point of the entire Bible, the point of all of the Old Testament and the point of Christ being sent to earth, for “the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). Although we constantly turn our backs on God, Mark shows us that God has a plan to restore us back to Himself. We can be encouraged as we study The Gospel of Mark because although we are inconsistent, messy, fickle, and broken, Jesus came not “to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). Mark invites us into the inner circle of Jesus to be His disciples. Mark lets us in on the 3 years of Jesus’ ministry and does so to prove to the Roman audience, as well as to the skeptics and the doubters of our day, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who suffered and died in our place, and who rose again as the high and humble King.

INTRODUCTION TO MARK

The author never names himself, but the unanimous testimony of the early church fathers was that the author was John Mark. Mark likely wrote this Gospel using information that was passed down to him by his friend, the Apostle Peter, who was one of the closest people to Jesus during his life on earth. Throughout Mark’s account we see a clear focus on the identity and the works of Jesus. Jesus is seen as a man of action. Throughout all of this the picture of Jesus that emerges is a man who is compelling, mysterious, and revolutionary. Ultimately, the Gospel of Mark is about who Jesus is, and how we should respond to him. We are forced to respond to the most important question we will ever answer when Jesus asks: “…who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29). The tomb is empty and Jesus is alive! The high and humble king is inviting you to follow and worship him, and to experience His transformational work through the Gospel.

Mark Reading Plan