Q. This year in the church, we will be hearing a lot from the Gospel according to Mark. What should we know about this Gospel account?
This is how Mark begins: This is the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Good News/ Euangelion: what does this mean in Jesus’ world?
-usually used to refer to political news, a message from the Emperor that a significant battle has been won, or that an uprising has been subdued.
-the fact that Christians used this word to describe the message of Jesus, a peasantwho died as a criminal of the state, is significant.
Key Facts about Mark:
-Probably the earliest of the Gospels
-Most scholars believe that Mark was a source for Matthew and Luke’s writings.
-Shortest and most basic of the 4 Gospels
-Written in order to create an argument: to convince people that Jesus was Christ, Son of God. Not a biography, but rather a means of leading people to faith.
-Scholars disagree about when and by whom the Gospel was written. It was anonymous, and apparently the author didn’t think that this specific information was necessary for understanding the writing.
Who is Mark?
By the 2nd century, this Gospel was associated with John Mark, relative of Barnabas
(one of the twelve apostles). It was thought that he wrote it in Rome and based it on
Peter’s teachings.
The Gospel’s Context:
Written for use by the early church. Material about Jesus was circulated through the oral tradition in order to form and build-up the early church. We can see this oral tradition represented in Mark’s Gospel.
-written for Greek-speaking non-Jews, living outside of Palestine. Therefore, the Gospel reflects the transition of Christianity from a Jewish sect to a more widespread phenomenon.
-Jerusalem was attacked and captured by Rome between 67-70AD. Was Mark written before or after this revolt? Some indications in the text suggest before, some after. Therefore, it could have been written any time between 50-75 AD.
Themes:
-No birth narrative, relatively no information given about Jesus’ background.
-Messianic secret: Mark’s Gospel is shrouded in secrecy. Jesus tells almost everyone who has a miraculous encounter with him, ‘not to say anything.’ Most of Jesus’ closest followers are shown as being incredibly stupefied by Jesus.
-For Mark, Jesus can only be understood in light of his whole ministry, including his crucifixion.
Style:
-Typically described as action-packed, fast-paced, and concise
-least sophisticated writing of the 4 Gospels, but it is not careless. Mark very carefully wove stories together in order to tell us who Jesus is and what following Jesus looks like.