Introduction
The book itself does not identify its author. The church has long believed the author to be the John Mark mentioned in Acts and 1 Peter. It is believed that Papias wrote between 90 and 100 A.D. that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and wrote the stories Peter told him while they were in Rome together. Papias did not know any of the Twelve, but was a disciple of one of the Apostle John’s disciples.
Papias’ work, “Exegesis of the Lord’s Oracles”, has been lost. What we have is a reference to it by Eusebius in his book “The History of The Church” which was written in the 300s. Eusebius also wrote that Clement of Alexandria attributed the gospel to Mark and that Mark was a disciple of Peter. Clement died in 215, so his declaration was prior to that.
Irenaeus, writing in the middle 100s, also wrote that Mark was a disciple and interpreter of Peter and wrote down that which Peter preached.
So, who is this Mark, or John Mark, in the New Testament? He was born to a woman named Mary who was a believer in Jerusalem. The early church met in her house. (Acts 12:12) This is where Peter went after the angel released him from jail. (Acts 12) This house may also have been the place where Jesus and the disciples ate the Last Supper (Mark14:14) and where the disciples and others gathered after the Ascension of Jesus. (Acts 1:13-14)
Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey. (Acts 12:25) But, when they reached Perga in Pamphylia, Mark left and returned to Jerusalem. (Acts 13:13) The reason for his departure is not given.
However, Paul saw Mark’s leaving as a desertion. He would not allow Mark to come on the second missionary journey, causing Paul and Barnabas to split up. Barnabas and Mark returned to Cyprus, Barnabas’ home. Mark and Barnabas were relatives.
Mark later reconciled with Paul. About 10 years after the mission trip, Paul writes the letter to the Colossians from prison in Rome. He indicated that Mark was with him and might come to see them. (Colossians 4:10)
Paul referred to Mark as a fellow worker when he wrote Philemon from prison. (Philemon 24) He also asked Timothy to bring Mark to him, calling him very useful to him for ministry. (2 Timothy 4:11)
Lastly, we find him with Peter in Rome. Peter referred to Mark as his son. (1 Peter 5:13)
It is encouraging to see that Jesus did not give up or write off the one who failed the great Apostle Paul. Rather, he continued to work in him and through him and even commissioned him to write an account of the life of Jesus.
Early church tradition holds that Mark then went to Egypt to evangelize and plant churches. He became the first bishop of Alexandria, according to Eusebius.
We do not know the date on which Mark published his gospel. It was apparently written either toward the end of Peter’s life or soon after his death, sometime in the middle 60s. He may have been writing primarily to Christians in the Roman Empire, and especially in Rome itself, to reveal Jesus, his suffering and triumph, to them for encouragement.
However, Mark would have been widely known by the time he wrote his gospel. He would have been known in Jerusalem, Cyprus, Antioch, and Rome at a minimum. So, his gospel would have been well received across the Empire.
The Beginning
1:1
Mark tells us in the very first sentence what his subject is. It is the gospel, or good news, of Jesus. He refers to the beginning, making us think of the first verse of the Bible, when God began creation. That is appropriate since Jesus begins the new creation.
This good news is about Jesus. His name is a variant of Joshua, meaning God is salvation. Mark also calls him the Christ, or Messiah, that brings deliverance to God’s people.
Mark also calls him the Son of God. He is not just a prophet or good man, he is God in the flesh, come to bring God’s salvation.
Mark’s introduction is also a confession of faith in the person, work, and deity of Jesus.
The Prophecy Fulfilled
1:2-8
Mark does not discuss Jesus’ birth or his genealogy. Instead, Jesus bursts onto the scene as an adult. But he has a herald. And that herald was foretold by the prophets. Mark cites them.
The first cite, in verse 2, is from Malachi 3:1, announcing that a messenger will come before the coming of the Lord and will prepare the way for him. There is here also a reflection of Exodus 23:20, where God says he will send an angel to lead Israel to the promised land.
Verse 3 contains a quote of Isaiah 40:3. It is about one who is in the wilderness and cries out for the Israelites to prepare the way of the LORD.
Mark shows us in verse 4 shows us that John the Baptist (or Baptizer) is this messenger. He appeared in the wilderness as prophesied. He looked like a prophet, wearing a camel’s hair robe with a leather belt. (1 Kings 1:8; Zechariah 13:4) Mark portrays him in light of the prophet Elijah. He lived off the land, eating locusts and wild honey. The other synoptic gospels tell more about John’s birth and life. Mark focused on John’s role as the forerunner of Jesus.
John proclaimed a baptism for repentance and forgiveness to make the people ready for the appearance of Jesus the Son of God. He baptized those who repented. It is reminiscent of the requirement in Exodus 19 that the Israelites purify themselves and wash their clothes in anticipation of God appearing to them to initiate the covenant.
He was the subject of curiosity, since there had been no prophets for more than 300 years. People came out to see him. They were convicted by his message and were baptized. His ministry attracted people from all over Judea, including Jerusalem. (5)
Years later, the apostle Paul met disciples of John all the way over in Ephesus. (Acts 19:1-7) Even the preacher and evangelist from Alexandria, Apollos, was a disciple of John until Priscilla and Aquila explained to him that Christ was Jesus. (Acts 18:24-28)
As he preached about Jesus coming, he said he was not worthy even to untie Jesus’ sandal straps. This was the job of a servant. Even a disciple could not be compelled to do it. John exalted Jesus, showing that Jesus was greater than he.
Yet, Mark does not demean John. Three things show his importance. First, Mark’s use of the word “proclaiming” in verse 4 shows that John’s message was from God.
Second, by applying the Exodus text concerning the guiding angel, Mark reveals John as having a divinely ordained purpose.
Third, in the Malachi passage, the messenger is identified with Elijah. He was such a great servant of the Lord that he was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.
Although John baptized, he contrasted his baptism with Jesus’ baptism. (8) John baptized with water to demonstrate repentance. But Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. This again shows the divinity of Jesus, since the Old Testament always attributes the bestowing of the Spirit to God.
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