Who Was John Mark
When it comes to the details of John Marks life, the Bible doesnt give us much to go on. For millennia, scholars have picked apart the passages that mention him, straining them for clues about this obscure, yet important biblical figure. Beyond a smattering of facts we can glean from Scripture and some conflicting accounts from the early church, were left to speculate who he was and what he did.
Heres what we know.
When Did Mark The Evangelist Live
Because of the reference to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE , most scholars believe that Mark was written some time during the war between Rome and the Jews . Most early dates fall around 65 CE and most late dates fall around 75 CE. This means that Mark the author likely would have been younger than Jesus and his companions. Legend has it that he died a martyr and was buried in Venice.
The Gospel According To Mark
This shortest of all New Testament gospels is likely the first to have been written, yet it often tells of Jesus ministry in more detail than either Matthew or Luke . It recounts what Jesus did in a vivid style, where one incident follows directly upon another. In this almost breathless narrative, Mark stresses Jesus message about the kingdom of God now breaking into human life as good news and Jesus himself as the gospel of God . Jesus is the Son whom God has sent to rescue humanity by serving and by sacrificing his life .
The opening verse about good news in Mark serves as a title for the entire book. The action begins with the appearance of John the Baptist, a messenger of God attested by scripture. But John points to a mightier one, Jesus, at whose baptism God speaks from heaven, declaring Jesus his Son. The Spirit descends upon Jesus, who eventually, it is promised, will baptize with the holy Spirit. This presentation of who Jesus really is is rounded out with a brief reference to the temptation of Jesus and how Satans attack fails. Jesus as Son of God will be victorious, a point to be remembered as one reads of Jesus death and the enigmatic ending to Marks Gospel.
The principal divisions of the Gospel according to Mark are the following:
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The Calming Of The Storm
35 On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was and other boats were with Him. 37 And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. 38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
What Can We Learn From The Life Of Mark
While Mark likely never traveled with Jesus, he clearly was familiar with him. Jesus likely visited his home while in Jerusalem. And it is certain that the early church used his home as a meeting place. In addition to his early involvement with the church in Jerusalem, Mark was able to experience the early days of the church in Antioch and spend time with Paul, Barnabas, and Peter. That was a privilege that few could claim even in the early church.
But Marks life had a dark chapter. His abandonment of Paul and Barnabas on their first trip, whatever the reason was, led to a falling out between Paul and Barnabas. And it expressed a lack of maturity in his own life. But he did not let that experience define him. He later traveled with Barnabas and was reconciled to Paul. And he went on to perhaps write the first gospel account that we have a record of.
Eusebius, in his Church History, places Mark as the founder of the church in Alexandria. Tradition says that Mark was martyred in Alexandria in A.D. 68. Many modern scholars dispute much of the early tradition surrounding Mark as well as the witness of the early Fathers. But even based on what little we know in Scripture, we find a man who did not let his failures define him. Mark shook off those early failures and found himself used greatly by God in the early church.
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The Cleansing Of The Temple
15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple.17 And he taught, and said to them, “Is it not written, `My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” 18 The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. 19 When evening came, they would go out of the city. 20 As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. 21 Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.”22 And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God.23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
24 “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”
Roman Origins Of Mark
Even if Mark did not rely on Peter as a source for his material, there are reasons to argue that Mark wrote while in Rome. For example, Clement, who died in 212, and Irenaeus, who died in 202, are two early church leaders who both supported a Roman origin for Mark. Mark calculates time by a Roman method , and finally, he has a faulty knowledge of Palestinian geography .
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Jesus Chooses Twelve Apostles
13 And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to cast out the demons. 16 And He appointed the twelve: Simon , 17 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James 18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. 20 And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21 When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”
Peter Escapes To The House Of Marks Mother
Once Peter had come to himself, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying . Mark was sometimes called by his Jewish name, John, and sometimes by his Roman name, Mark.
There is no mention of Marks father. Perhaps he was no longer living at this point. Later, Peter affectionately refers to Mark as my son . It appears that Mark grew up in the faith.
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The Identity Of Jesus: Mighty Messiah & Son Of God
The first line of the Gospel introduces Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God and the narrative that follows is clearly meant to confirm this identity. Unlike Matthew and Luke, Mark tells us nothing about Jesus birth or childhood. Unlike John, we learn nothing about his pre-existence or incarnation . Instead, Mark plunges right into the public ministry of Jesus. In a few short paragraphs, we hear about Jesus preparation for ministry: the role of John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Messiah, the baptism of Jesus by John, and Jesus temptation in the wilderness by Satan . Before we can catch our breath, Jesus launches into his ministry, announcing the kingdom of God, calling disciples to follow him, and beginning a campaign of preaching, healing, and casting out demons. Mark is fond of the Greek word euthus, often translated immediately, which appears 41 times. Though the word does not always mean just then, it serves to propel the narrative forward with speed and urgency. This is a Gospel on steroids!
Who Are Matthew Mark Luke And John
Church Magazines
A doctor, a fisherman, a tax collector, and another who was just a teenager when he heard the Savior speak, they wrote some of the most famous books in existence.
We recognize their names immediately. Their names are attached to the first four books of the New Testament. And most important of all, their writings are almost all we have describing the mortal life of Jesus Christ and the things He said.
The first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels. Itâs easy to imagine why these books were written and why they have always been so important. Can you imagine how exciting it would have been for people who were just learning about the Savior to have someone read to them the things He said and did? These books have always been precious.
Matthew and John were two of the original Twelve Apostles. They were with the Savior often as He taught. But who were Mark and Luke, and how did they come to write about the Saviorâs life and ministry?
Here are a few things scholars know about the four men who wrote their testimonies of the Savior.1
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John Baptizes Jesus In The Jordan River
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him11 and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”
12 Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.
The Messiah Enters Jerusalem
1 As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, 2 and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat untie it and bring it here. 3 “If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ you say, ‘The Lord has need of it’ and immediately he will send it back here.” 4 They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street and they untied it. 5 Some of the bystanders were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They spoke to them just as Jesus had told them, and they gave them permission. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it and He sat on it.8 And many spread their coats in the road, and others spread leafy branches which they had cut from the fields.9 Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and came into the temple and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.
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The Blind Man Of Jericho
46 Then they came to Jericho And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you.” 50 Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus. 51 And answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And the blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.
A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand
22 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”23 And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?24 “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25 “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.26 “If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished!27 “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
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The Greatest In The Kingdom
33 They came to Capernaum and when He was in the house, He began to question them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,37 “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. 40 “For he who is not against us is for us. 41 “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
Jesus Goes To A Lonely Place To Pray
35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon and his companions searched for Him 37 they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also for that is what I came for.” 39 And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.
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The Feeding Of The Five Thousand
33 The people saw them going, and many recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the cities, and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd and He began to teach them many things. 35 When it was already quite late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and it is already quite late 36 send them away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But He answered them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” 38 And He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go look!” And when they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass. 40 They sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. 41 And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them and He divided up the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and they picked up twelve full baskets of the broken pieces, and also of the fish. 44 There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.