About the Author of the Gospel of Mark
The actual author of the Gospel of Mark, the whole Gospel from the beginning until the end, has only one author: the Holy Spirit; the words to put down in the Gospel itself came through the mercy of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has chosen Mark only because of his heart, not because of his intelligence; his heart has been searching for the Lord from childhood, and he has followed that call within his heart. Even though some people thought that his name was not worthy of writing the Gospel, but what he received was all from the Lord and is reputed to be put down in the Bible. Many people disagreed in the beginning when they included the Gospel of Mark in the Bible. There have been many suggestions that Mark did not receive the Gospel from the Lord, but his words are from the Lord, as we see the proof in that his Gospel is part of our Bible. Who is Mark?
Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark, is also called John, the son of Mary. In their house, early believers gathered for prayer (see Acts 12:12). There has been much disagreement about whether Mark wrote the Gospel himself, but also remember that he had been following the Lord Jesus for some time. Mark has been a witness to what the Lord has done, and his heart has been opened to receive the Holy Spirit for writing down the Gospel. Mark did not copy from anyone, and he did not write down the Gospel from learning or experience; the Holy Spirit gave him what to write and how to connect each thing. We can notice how Mark describes the events: short but connecting, with no mixing up or misplacement; it is a clear Gospel from the Holy Spirit. He followed the Lord Jesus with his own will, which is why he was chosen to write down the Gospel. Mark did meet the Lord Jesus as a young person, following the Lord behind; he did things around, helping; his name may not be mentioned, but he has been chosen because of his heart. How did Mark reach to the point of writing the Gospel?
After Mark had seen the Lord Jesus crucified, the Lord spoke to him, produced the fruit in his heart, and he followed that path; that is why he spent time doing this work. We can say that he had a personal calling from the Lord. He was always curious about what the Lord Jesus could do and who the Lord is to him, and this led him to write down what the Holy Spirit was leading him to write. Purpose of the Gospel
The Lord has a particular purpose for this Gospel. The group of people who have been cut off (outlawed, outcasts, not important people), the Gospel of Mark has been helping those people know what the Lord has done and gives them the requirements of what the Lord expects from them. If you read carefully, you will notice that the emphasis is geared towards a specific group of people. When we read the short form used in this Gospel, we should be able to link it; it is short, but it has a broader meaning. For people with knowledge, the Gospel of Mark presents many missing links, helping people who believe they have an education of this world (not spiritual wisdom) to use this Gospel to understand.
GOSPEL SUMMARY
The Holy Spirit has given all the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. All the Gospels link and support each other. In the Gospel of Mark, the Lord wants to give further proof for people around to see and link it to what the Lord has said and done. Chapter 1: The introduction of the Lord Jesus by John the Baptist, the messenger, as the Son of God, and the start of the Lord Jesus’ ministry on earth. Chapter 2: The Lord Jesus continues His ministry, teaching in the synagogues, healing on the Sabbath, and showing His authority as God and His equality with God by forgiving sins. So the Pharisees and the Scribes begin accusing Him of blasphemy. Chapter 3: The Lord Jesus continues to teach and heal on the Sabbath, showing that we must do good on the Sabbath. He demonstrates His authority over the unseen world by casting out demons and giving His disciples the authority to do the same. The unseen world testifies of Him as the Son of God, but the Pharisees and the Scribes start to accuse Him of casting out demons not by the power of God. Finally, the Lord Jesus says that whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have this sin forgiven. Chapter 4: The Lord Jesus teaches people in parables about the kingdom of God; those who come with a sincere heart to seek the Lord will get understanding from the Lord and will not be confused by men’s teachings. The Lord Jesus uses His Word to command the sea, saying, “Peace, be still.” This demonstrates to His disciples that He has authority over nature, prompting them to reflect on the Lord Jesus’ true identity. Chapter 5: The Lord Jesus is the God of life, possessing authority and power over both the unseen and the seen worlds. He can grant faith and strength. He strengthens Jairus’ faith, as well as that of the woman with the flow of blood, through His Word. When the unclean touches the pure, the unclean becomes clean, for in Him, the Law is fulfilled. Chapter 6: The Lord Jesus has become known, yet He faced rejection in His hometown. The Lord Jesus has authority over life on earth and nature: He multiplies bread and fish to feed large multitudes, and He walks on water and calms the storm. He teaches His disciples how to carry their own crosses and go out into the world to spread the good news of the kingdom of heaven. He teaches them to be humble, even in poverty, while being rich in the Word and humble in heart. He emphasizes the importance of serving others with a willing heart, without complaining about the work, and accepting one’s own duty. Chapter 7: The Lord Jesus teaches about the difference between the traditions of men and the commandments of God. He points out that people tend to use traditions above the commandments of God. The Lord Jesus came to call first His people, the Jews, to come back to Him, but He shows mercy to all who ask. He heals the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter from a distance by His word. He heals a man in a unique way, showing that from within the Lord there is the cure for all diseases; from within, the Lord Jesus can make the imperfect to become perfect. Chapter 8: The Lord Jesus travels, proclaims the gospel, shows mercy, and teaches. After Peter confesses that the Lord Jesus is the Christ, He begins to prepare His disciples for what will happen to Him. The Lord Jesus teaches the multitudes about what it means to be His follower. He warns us to be aware of false teachings, which will spread false ways of thinking and false principles that will grow like weeds in the soul. Chapter 9: The Lord Jesus again predicts His resurrection after suffering, and He tells us to have hope: He has conquered all, even death. As a follower of the Lord, conquer your own fears as well; remember that the death of the flesh means being reborn into eternity, reborn with the Lord. After the transfiguration on the mountain, the Lord Jesus descends, heals a boy with an unclean spirit, and then teaches the disciples to pray. Answering questions from the disciples, the Lord teaches them about the kingdom of God: who is the greatest, the one who is not against us if for us, and to eliminate unworthy actions from our lives. Chapter 10: As the time of the Lord Jesus’ departure approaches, He continues to travel and teach, even though He knows His time is coming. Each day, the Lord works, meets people, heals, and teaches them. As He travels, He teaches about divorce and Moses’ law, the Kingdom of God, the love of riches on earth and the kingdom of God, His suffering, and what it means to be servants of the Lord. He Himself came down on earth to serve all humans and “give His life as a ransom for many.” While leaving Jericho, He showed mercy to a blind beggar named Bartimaeus and healed him. Chapter 11: The Lord Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a colt to fulfill the prophecy regarding His entrance into the city. The Holy Spirit moves the hearts of the people to welcome Him as their King and shout, “Hosanna in the highest!” Upon arriving at the temple, the Lord Jesus begins cleansing it by driving out those who were there for reasons other than worship. As He and His disciples move back and forth between Jerusalem and Bethpage, He curses a fig tree, which withers immediately, and uses this moment to teach His disciples a lesson about faith. When they return to the temple again, the chief priests, scribes, and elders confront Jesus, challenging His authority. Chapter 12: This chapter mainly concentrates on who Christ truly is and His will to save all, even those who will crucify Him. The power of this world is nothing, but all humans’ eyes look for power on this earth. The Lord Jesus came to point the way to the other world, but they do not hear or understand. The Lord Jesus interacts with the leaders of the people and teaches about: the parable of the tenants, so they can think who Jesus really is, but they seek to arrest Him; the human duty towards God and government; the resurrection; who Christ truly is; corrupt leaders; and the offerings to the Lord. Chapter 13: As the Lord Jesus was sitting with His disciples on the Mount of Olives, He answered their questions about the temple buildings, the signs of His coming, and the end of the age. There are a few significant signs and warnings the Lord gives us: the destruction of the current temple of the Lord (the Bible), and the coming of the fake bible; the building of a new temple according to the new fake bible that will not bring praising to God but will bring praising to men; the abomination will start by replacing the true Bible and lifting up the new fake bible as the true one. Chapter 14. This chapter discusses the initial stages of the suffering endured by Lord Jesus. Before the crucifixion, He stayed at various places: in Bethany, at the house of Simon the leper, where a woman anointed Him; in a house in the city, where Jesus shared His last Passover meal with His disciples and instituted the Lord’s Supper as a symbol of the new covenant in His blood; at a location on the Mount of Olives, where He told His disciples that they would all fall away, as written in Scripture; at a place called Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, He prayed earnestly to the Father; nearby, He was captured and betrayed on the same mountain; at the high priest’s palace, where He was condemned to death and subjected to mockery and abuse. Chapter 15. The King of kings was born on earth, yet He was treated worse than criminals. The Lord Jesus has been mocked, spat on, slapped back and forth, but He took all that abuse just because of His true love for humans. The leaders of the people delivered the Lord Jesus to Pilate, the governor; they stirred up the crowd to demand that He be crucified; they took Him to a place called Golgotha, and at the third hour they crucified Him between two criminals; at the ninth hour the Lord Jesus cried with a loud voice “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” and breathed His last; Joseph of Arimathea buried Him in a new tomb cut out of the rock. Chapter 16. In the final chapter of the Gospel of Mark, three key events are highlighted, each with a specific purpose: 1) The resurrection of the Lord Jesus: His resurrection is the foundation of our faith. 2) The appearance of the Lord Jesus to His selected followers: The purpose of His appearances after the resurrection is to strengthen their belief. 3) The Lord Jesus gives the commission to the disciples: “Go you into all the world, and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” This commission extends to all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. The purpose of this commission is to give the duty to all believers to spread the message.
The actual author of the Gospel of Mark, the whole Gospel from the beginning until the end, has only one author: the Holy Spirit; the words to put down in the Gospel itself came through the mercy of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has chosen Mark only because of his heart, not because of his intelligence; his heart has been searching for the Lord from childhood, and he has followed that call within his heart. Even though some people thought that his name was not worthy of writing the Gospel, but what he received was all from the Lord and is reputed to be put down in the Bible. Many people disagreed in the beginning when they included the Gospel of Mark in the Bible. There have been many suggestions that Mark did not receive the Gospel from the Lord, but his words are from the Lord, as we see the proof in that his Gospel is part of our Bible.
Who is Mark?
Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark, is also called John, the son of Mary. In their house, early believers gathered for prayer (see Acts 12:12). There has been much disagreement about whether Mark wrote the Gospel himself, but also remember that he had been following the Lord Jesus for some time. Mark has been a witness to what the Lord has done, and his heart has been opened to receive the Holy Spirit for writing down the Gospel. Mark did not copy from anyone, and he did not write down the Gospel from learning or experience; the Holy Spirit gave him what to write and how to connect each thing. We can notice how Mark describes the events: short but connecting, with no mixing up or misplacement; it is a clear Gospel from the Holy Spirit. He followed the Lord Jesus with his own will, which is why he was chosen to write down the Gospel. Mark did meet the Lord Jesus as a young person, following the Lord behind; he did things around, helping; his name may not be mentioned, but he has been chosen because of his heart.
How did Mark reach to the point of writing the Gospel?
After Mark had seen the Lord Jesus crucified, the Lord spoke to him, produced the fruit in his heart, and he followed that path; that is why he spent time doing this work. We can say that he had a personal calling from the Lord. He was always curious about what the Lord Jesus could do and who the Lord is to him, and this led him to write down what the Holy Spirit was leading him to write.
Purpose of the Gospel
The Lord has a particular purpose for this Gospel. The group of people who have been cut off (outlawed, outcasts, not important people), the Gospel of Mark has been helping those people know what the Lord has done and gives them the requirements of what the Lord expects from them. If you read carefully, you will notice that the emphasis is geared towards a specific group of people. When we read the short form used in this Gospel, we should be able to link it; it is short, but it has a broader meaning. For people with knowledge, the Gospel of Mark presents many missing links, helping people who believe they have an education of this world (not spiritual wisdom) to use this Gospel to understand.
GOSPEL SUMMARY
The Holy Spirit has given all the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. All the Gospels link and support each other. In the Gospel of Mark, the Lord wants to give further proof for people around to see and link it to what the Lord has said and done.
Chapter 1: The introduction of the Lord Jesus by John the Baptist, the messenger, as the Son of God, and the start of the Lord Jesus’ ministry on earth.
Chapter 2: The Lord Jesus continues His ministry, teaching in the synagogues, healing on the Sabbath, and showing His authority as God and His equality with God by forgiving sins. So the Pharisees and the Scribes begin accusing Him of blasphemy.
Chapter 3: The Lord Jesus continues to teach and heal on the Sabbath, showing that we must do good on the Sabbath. He demonstrates His authority over the unseen world by casting out demons and giving His disciples the authority to do the same. The unseen world testifies of Him as the Son of God, but the Pharisees and the Scribes start to accuse Him of casting out demons not by the power of God. Finally, the Lord Jesus says that whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have this sin forgiven.
Chapter 4: The Lord Jesus teaches people in parables about the kingdom of God; those who come with a sincere heart to seek the Lord will get understanding from the Lord and will not be confused by men’s teachings. The Lord Jesus uses His Word to command the sea, saying, “Peace, be still.” This demonstrates to His disciples that He has authority over nature, prompting them to reflect on the Lord Jesus’ true identity.
Chapter 5: The Lord Jesus is the God of life, possessing authority and power over both the unseen and the seen worlds. He can grant faith and strength. He strengthens Jairus’ faith, as well as that of the woman with the flow of blood, through His Word. When the unclean touches the pure, the unclean becomes clean, for in Him, the Law is fulfilled.
Chapter 6: The Lord Jesus has become known, yet He faced rejection in His hometown. The Lord Jesus has authority over life on earth and nature: He multiplies bread and fish to feed large multitudes, and He walks on water and calms the storm. He teaches His disciples how to carry their own crosses and go out into the world to spread the good news of the kingdom of heaven. He teaches them to be humble, even in poverty, while being rich in the Word and humble in heart. He emphasizes the importance of serving others with a willing heart, without complaining about the work, and accepting one’s own duty.
Chapter 7: The Lord Jesus teaches about the difference between the traditions of men and the commandments of God. He points out that people tend to use traditions above the commandments of God. The Lord Jesus came to call first His people, the Jews, to come back to Him, but He shows mercy to all who ask. He heals the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter from a distance by His word. He heals a man in a unique way, showing that from within the Lord there is the cure for all diseases; from within, the Lord Jesus can make the imperfect to become perfect.
Chapter 8: The Lord Jesus travels, proclaims the gospel, shows mercy, and teaches. After Peter confesses that the Lord Jesus is the Christ, He begins to prepare His disciples for what will happen to Him. The Lord Jesus teaches the multitudes about what it means to be His follower. He warns us to be aware of false teachings, which will spread false ways of thinking and false principles that will grow like weeds in the soul.
Chapter 9: The Lord Jesus again predicts His resurrection after suffering, and He tells us to have hope: He has conquered all, even death. As a follower of the Lord, conquer your own fears as well; remember that the death of the flesh means being reborn into eternity, reborn with the Lord. After the transfiguration on the mountain, the Lord Jesus descends, heals a boy with an unclean spirit, and then teaches the disciples to pray. Answering questions from the disciples, the Lord teaches them about the kingdom of God: who is the greatest, the one who is not against us if for us, and to eliminate unworthy actions from our lives.
Chapter 10: As the time of the Lord Jesus’ departure approaches, He continues to travel and teach, even though He knows His time is coming. Each day, the Lord works, meets people, heals, and teaches them. As He travels, He teaches about divorce and Moses’ law, the Kingdom of God, the love of riches on earth and the kingdom of God, His suffering, and what it means to be servants of the Lord. He Himself came down on earth to serve all humans and “give His life as a ransom for many.” While leaving Jericho, He showed mercy to a blind beggar named Bartimaeus and healed him.
Chapter 11: The Lord Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a colt to fulfill the prophecy regarding His entrance into the city. The Holy Spirit moves the hearts of the people to welcome Him as their King and shout, “Hosanna in the highest!” Upon arriving at the temple, the Lord Jesus begins cleansing it by driving out those who were there for reasons other than worship. As He and His disciples move back and forth between Jerusalem and Bethpage, He curses a fig tree, which withers immediately, and uses this moment to teach His disciples a lesson about faith. When they return to the temple again, the chief priests, scribes, and elders confront Jesus, challenging His authority.
Chapter 12: This chapter mainly concentrates on who Christ truly is and His will to save all, even those who will crucify Him. The power of this world is nothing, but all humans’ eyes look for power on this earth. The Lord Jesus came to point the way to the other world, but they do not hear or understand. The Lord Jesus interacts with the leaders of the people and teaches about: the parable of the tenants, so they can think who Jesus really is, but they seek to arrest Him; the human duty towards God and government; the resurrection; who Christ truly is; corrupt leaders; and the offerings to the Lord.
Chapter 13: As the Lord Jesus was sitting with His disciples on the Mount of Olives, He answered their questions about the temple buildings, the signs of His coming, and the end of the age. There are a few significant signs and warnings the Lord gives us: the destruction of the current temple of the Lord (the Bible), and the coming of the fake bible; the building of a new temple according to the new fake bible that will not bring praising to God but will bring praising to men; the abomination will start by replacing the true Bible and lifting up the new fake bible as the true one.
Chapter 14. This chapter discusses the initial stages of the suffering endured by Lord Jesus. Before the crucifixion, He stayed at various places: in Bethany, at the house of Simon the leper, where a woman anointed Him; in a house in the city, where Jesus shared His last Passover meal with His disciples and instituted the Lord’s Supper as a symbol of the new covenant in His blood; at a location on the Mount of Olives, where He told His disciples that they would all fall away, as written in Scripture; at a place called Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, He prayed earnestly to the Father; nearby, He was captured and betrayed on the same mountain; at the high priest’s palace, where He was condemned to death and subjected to mockery and abuse.
Chapter 15. The King of kings was born on earth, yet He was treated worse than criminals. The Lord Jesus has been mocked, spat on, slapped back and forth, but He took all that abuse just because of His true love for humans. The leaders of the people delivered the Lord Jesus to Pilate, the governor; they stirred up the crowd to demand that He be crucified; they took Him to a place called Golgotha, and at the third hour they crucified Him between two criminals; at the ninth hour the Lord Jesus cried with a loud voice “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” and breathed His last; Joseph of Arimathea buried Him in a new tomb cut out of the rock.
Chapter 16. In the final chapter of the Gospel of Mark, three key events are highlighted, each with a specific purpose: 1) The resurrection of the Lord Jesus: His resurrection is the foundation of our faith. 2) The appearance of the Lord Jesus to His selected followers: The purpose of His appearances after the resurrection is to strengthen their belief. 3) The Lord Jesus gives the commission to the disciples: “Go you into all the world, and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” This commission extends to all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus. The purpose of this commission is to give the duty to all believers to spread the message.