GOSPEL MEDITATION #1
Introduction to Mark’s Gospel
- Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
- Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
- Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
- Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
- Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
- Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
- Mark, called John Mark. John his Jewish name, Mark his Greek name.
- John, son of Mary whose home it is thought was where the Last Supper took place.
(see Mark 14:51-52) It is thought Mark followed Jesus and the disciples to Gethsemane and witnessed the betrayal. He also was apprehended.
- The author of Mark is not so named, but sold tradition has it that it was John Mark.
- This is likely the first gospel written, and written from Rome while Mark was with Peter. The date may be as early as A D 49. Other reliable scholars say about 52. Mark was close to Peter, and Mark’s Gospel is often referred to as Peter’s Gospel.
- It is likely that Matthew’s Gospel followed Luke’s and both dependent upon Mark’s or both were at least familiar with it. About 91% of Mark is found in the two other synoptic (with the same view) gospels, Matthew and Luke.
- Mark was on the first missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas. (see Acts 13:5) But mid trip, Mark returned home for some unknown reason. (see Acts 13:13)
- Barnabas and Mark were cousins, not uncle and nephew, as seen in Colossians 4:10.
- Paul and Barnabas had a falling out when Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them on a second missionary trip, but Paul refused. (see Acts 15:36-41)
- There was a reconciliation between Paul and Mark as can be seen in Colossians 4:10 and 2 Timothy 4:11.
- Mark, not a leader necessarily, but a trusted and faithful follower and of both Paul and Peter — and more so a faithful follower of Jesus.
- Mark never gave up despite personal conflicts and his Gospel, the first, is written to gentiles and shows his missionary mindset.