mark 1:1 - introduction

Making decisions without a full understanding of what we are committing to ...

1. Many decisions in life. We don’t normally understand what we are committing to …
2. Not so serious … Skydiving with Shelley
3. Much more serious … Career, Marriage, Children
4. Main Idea: There is no way to fully understand what we are embarking upon.

Transition:The disciples are in the same position when they choose to follow Christ.

The external evidence and church tradition connect Peter's preaching with the gospel by Mark.

Papias is quoted by the church historian Eusebius:

Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately whatsoever he remembered. It was not, however, in exact order that he related the sayings or deeds of Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwards, as I said, he accompanied Peter, who accommodated his instructions to the necessities [of his hearers], but with no intention of giving a regular narrative of the Lord's sayings. Wherefore Mark made no mistake in thus writing some things as he remembered them. For of one thing he took especial care, not to omit anything he had heard, and not to put anything fictitious into the statements. Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language, and each one interpreted them as best he could.

3 points of information obtained by Papias:

1. (John) Mark wrote the gospel associated with his name.
2. He is not an eyewitness, but he obtained his info from Peter.
3. Mark lacks order (based on Peter's preaching).

The internal evidence tells us more about (John) Mark, and does not contradict the church tradition.

References in the New Testament about the author, (John) Mark:

1. Jerusalem church met in his mom's house (Acts 12:12)
2. With Paul on First missionary trip (Acts 13:5); Problems with Paul before Second Missionary Trip (Acts 15:37)
3. Paul and Mark are reconciled (2 Tim. 4:11)
4. Peter reveals his close relationship to him, and the possible location of Mark when he writes; Rome. (1 Peter 5:13)

It is difficult to nail down a specific date. Somewhere between late 50s A.D. and early 60s A.D. makes sense.

1. early tradition of writing after Peter's death.
2. persecution theme in mark (possibly during time of Neronian persecution around mid-60s A.D.)
3. scholars who date mark much later try to avoid prediction in Mark 13 concerning Jerusalem (70 A.D.)

Mark is the creator of gospel, in its literary form (CMM, p. 192)
The history that he writes down about Jesus of Nazareth grounds the church in the humanity of the Christ whom she worships.
The structure parallels Acts 10 (Peter preaching); with Mark's outline.

2 Major themes in the book

1. Who is Jesus of Nazareth? (Christology)

2. What does it mean to follow Him? (Discipleship)

A gospel in 3 acts

1. Galilee (1:1 - 8:26)

2. On the road, again (8:27 - 10:52)

3. Jerusalem (11:1 - 16:8)

Transition: Let's look @ each of these themes a bit closer ...

Galilee (1:1 - 8:26)

1. Begining of public ministry; summary of ministry (1:14 - 15)

2. Disputes with Jewish leaders lead to the plot to kill Jesus (3:6)

3. Jesus' popularity (3:9-10)

4. 3 Highlights of this section: feats of power, criticism of certain Jewish customs, and growing opposition to Him.

On the road, again (8:27 - 10:52)

1. Watershed event: Peter's recognition of Christ (8:27 - 30)

2. Shifts from miralces and crowds -> disciples and the cross.

3. 3X pattern in this section (8:31-38; 9:30-37; 10:32-45)

1. Jesus predicts His Death

2. Disciples misunderstand

3. Cost of discipleship

Jerusalem (11:1 - 16:8)

1. Entry into Jerusalem

2. Trials (Religious, and civil)

3. Death, Burial, Resurrection

Many have doubted that the Gospels are actual historical accounts of the life of Christ:

The contemporary religious controversy turns on whether the worldview reflected in the bible can be carried forward into this scientific age and retained as an article of faith ... the Christ of creed and dogma ... can no longer command the assent of those who have seen the heavens through Galileo's telescope. -- Jesus Seminar

- 2 main reasons – theological bias of writer, and mircales.

- address the two questions (use plato’s apology of socrates as still historical; presuppositions)

- maybe bring up david hume’s arguments and recent bart erhmen about miracles (mention craig)

Compare them with archeology, external sources, intent of the gospel writers, and the importance in xtianty.

What was the intent of the gospel writers? – read Luke 1:1-4

What does Paul say about history of the resurrection? – read 1 Cor. 15

Transition: As we go through Mark, we will look at his intent and themes, but we will also look at the overall historical setting of different events in the life of Christ, for we want to ground our study in the actual history of His life.

The disciples did not fully understand who Jesus was or what it meant to follow Him.

- After Peter’s confession, review events of his life (up and down) denial, fear, ethnocentrism

- Although Peter confesses his faith in Jesus as Messiah, still doesn’t fully understand.

- Just as Peter doesn’t understand after confessing his faith in Jesus, so with us.

- Paul writes concerning the process or journey of following (Phil. 3:7-13)

- We are all progressively learning who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him.

Application: Jesus’ patience with his disciples and with us as we learn who He is and how to follow Him.

1. Jesus is extremely patient with his disciples, as they progressively learn.

2. Emphasize God’s patience with us, as we progressively understand who Jesus is, and how to follow. (Read 2 Peter 3:8-9)

3. Challenge to model God’s patience towards ourselves and towards others, as we learn who He is and how to follow him. Give examples … as Paul writes (2 Thes. 5:12-18)