MARK

What do you see in this book that tells you about the original readers?
The book of Mark is mainly written to gentile Christians in Rome who were living under trying conditions.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

This book is written by Mark, but it is supposed that Peter has dictated a lot of the message. Mark is also known as John Mark (John is his Jewish name and Mark/Marcus his Roman name). Mark was not one of the 12 diciples of Jesus, but a relative to Barnabas (Col 4:10) and a friend of Peter (Acts 12:12.13).

It is assumed that the book is written between AD 50 and 70.

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the “Main Idea”.

For Mark it is important to present Jesus as the Son of God – able to forgive sins (2:5-12), the Son of Man (compassion for people – both spiritually and bodily) and and the Messiah – his suffering, rejection and death were essential to God’s way of salvation. It was also important for him to show Jesus as a model of suffering (8:34-38).

I think a one sentence summary of the “Main Idea” in Mark is that Jesus wants to be perceived as a obedient servant, and the scripture in 10:45 is a key verse: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many”.

                                                     

What is the primary reason this book was written?

I think a very important message in this book is what we see in the life of Jesus: Service and sacrifice (10:43).

Mark is pointing to Jesus as the servant, always ready to action according to his Father’s willing. Jesus is showing us his compassion and mercy to all, including the poor, the expelled in the society and ordinary people in different need. (Examples in 1:40-42, 7:24-30 and 8:1-8).

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

In Mark I can mention these:

-       God has given Jesus authority to forgive sins “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (2:10)

-       As in Matthew we see Jesus/God as a healer: “And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed”. (6:56).

What does this book show about God’s redemptive plan for mankind?

The redemptive plan can be seen fulfilled in Jesus death on the cross and ultimately in his resurrection (16:9).

Jesus knew what was waiting for him, so even before he died on the cross he could forgive sins (2:5).

Personal Application:

When reading Mark 1:40-42 about the man with leprosy begging Jesus to be healed, I was reminded about how praying for sick in my earlier days was a big issue and very important to me. In many ways this passion have shrunken – especially after my first wife died in cancer. But I think I have to allow God to use me again to show his love and compassion for others by bringing healing and wholeness to those around me.

During this DBS-course I have heard about/talked with 4 men who have lost their wives in cancer – included my readinggroup-leader, but even so - today they are serving the Lord with great passion and faithfulness. This is very encouraging!

Point of passion:

My point of passion during my DBS is the Shan-people in Thailand:

By reading Mark I heard about all the healing miracles Jesus did and that he sent his twelve disciples out two by two. They told everyone they met to repent their sins and turn to God, and casted out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with oil. (Mark 6:12-13).

With this background I pray that the Lord will make the 6 Shan students on the DTS in Chiang Mai - as I wrote about under Matthew - able to spread out Gods healing power in a way like we are reading about in Mark 6:56: “And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed”.

There are so much suffering and diseases among the Shan-people, so when they see God’s love for people demonstrated through His healing, I believe that this will make a big impact, and the Kingdom of God will prosper.