By Reid S. Monaghan

An Introduction to the New Testament Gospel Literature and the Gospel of Mark

Table of Contents

Introduction 2

Testaments–SomethingOld,

SomethingNew 2

TheBooksoftheNewTestament 5

EpistlesandLetters–

FromPaulandOthers 13

TheGospels–ReliableandBiased

TestimonytoanUnparalledLife 17

ItWasTheirIntentionto

TelltheTruth 21

TheyWereAbletoTelltheTruth 22

An Introduction to the New Testament Gospel Literature and the Gospel of Mark

TheirWordsWerePreserved

Accurately 23

TheyareValidatedbyOthers 24

TheGospelofMark 25

AuthorshipofMark 26

DatingofMark 30

ProvenanceofMark 32

ContextandPurposeofMark 33

SignpostsforOurJourney 36

Endnotes 42

IntroductionInanotherbookletwelookedcloselyattheOldTestament—inthisonewewillwalk

intotheNew.Thisworkhasafewambitiousgoals.First,wewanttointroducetheNew

TestamentanditsrelationshiptotherestoftheScriptures.Second,wewanttolookat

aparticulargenreofScripture,thatofgospelliterature.Finally,wewilllookspecifically

atwhatareknownasthesynoptic gospels,Matthew,MarkandLuke.Third,wewillrifle

ourviewtowardstheGospelofMarkitself,afast-pacedandsuccinctlookattheperson,

teachingandworksofJesusChrist.

Testaments – Something Old, Something NewWhenwearriveattheBookofMatthewinScripturethereisamassofliteraturethathas

comebeforeit.ManyfollowersofJesuscanforgetthatthereare39booksoftheBible

beforewecometothefirstbookoftheNewTestament.SohereIwantustolookbriefly

attherelationshipbetweentheOldandNewaswebegin,sowemightseethesignifi-

canceofthelast27booksoftheBible.Inasimplewaywewillbeginbylookingatthe

wordtestament.Whatexactlyisatestament?

InlookingatthelanguageoftheScripturesthewordfortestamentisactuallythe

sameword(Greek-diathekeandHebrew-berith)whichwetranslatecovenant.We

defineacovenantas:

2

Theideaofacovenantwasprominentinmanyculturesthatexistedinthe

timeoftheOldTestament.Acovenantwasusuallyseenasatreatyorcontract

betweentwopartiesbindingthemtocertainbenefitsandconsequencesshould

onepartyproveunfaithfultothedeal.InhisbookChrist of the Covenants,

O.PalmerRobertsondefinesacovenantwithfirmsobriety:A covenant is

a bond in blood, or a bond of life and death, sovereignly administered.2In

otherwords,acovenantisabondbetweentwopartiesinrelationshipthat

isnotcasualinnaturebuthascommitmentsofalifeanddeathnature.3As

such—thisrelationshipanditstermsareconveyedtousandestablishedbythe

SovereignGodoftheuniverse.Itisbothaprivilegeandaresponsibilitybefore

GodtobeHispeoplebycovenant.4

Inshort,intheOldTestament,GodestablishesandunfoldsHiscovenantorrelationship

withhumanity,intheNewTestamentHefulfillsitandbringsittofullnessinJesusChrist.Or

asMarkDeveraptlyputsit,theOldTestamentrecordspromises madebyGod,theNewTes-

tamentrecordsHispromises kept.5TheNewTestamentisnotadanglinggroupingofbooks

unrelatedtotherestofScripture.Rather,wefindintheNewTestamenttherevelationofthe

life,person,workandteachingofJesusChrist,thefulfillmentoftheOldTestamentpromises

ofGod.Remember,JesusisonlyseeninHisfullness(HighDef,HDJesus6)inlightofboth

3

theOldandNewTestaments.Itisonlywiththebackdropoftheredemptivehistoryin

theOldthatweproperlyseeJesusintheNew.

TheOldTestamentcloseswiththeBookofMalachiinmid-5thcenturyBC.That

particularbookrecordsapropheticrebuketothepeopleofGodbutalsoapointing

forwardtoacomingmessengerwhowouldpreparethewayoftheLord.Thismessen-

gerwouldbeknownsomedayasJohntheBaptizer,theonewhointroducesJesusonto

theworldscene.Intheroughly450yearsthatfollowthisprophet,aneraknownasthe

intertestimental period,thewordofGodceasedinIsraelandGodwassilent.Therewas

noprophetinthelandandScripturewasnotbeinggiven.Yetthissilenceshouldnotbe

seenasinactivity,forGodwaspreparingtheworldforwhatPaulwouldlatercall“the

fullnessoftime.”7ForinthecomingtimeofJesus,God’sultimatepurposesforthe

worldwouldbefullyknowninandthroughamanwhowouldbeborninBethlehem. Duringthetimebetweenthetestamentsmanythingstookplace.AGreek

languageandculturewasestablishedasmuchoftheknownworldwasHellenized

bytheconquestsofAlexandertheGreat(356-323BC).Vasttransportationroutes

andlawandorderwerebroughttoEurope,NorthAfricaandtheneareastbythefirm

handoftheRomanEmpire.TheRomanshadatenuousrelationshipwiththeJewish

peopleintheprovinceofJudeaandtheyhadadoptedtheancientPersianpracticeof

crucifixiontoexecutecriminalsandenemiesofRome.ItwasintothisworldwhereGod

4

becameahumanbeing.Hesteppedintoaworld

withacommonlanguagewhereamessagecouldbe

widelyproclaimed.Hesteppedintoaworldwhere

freemovementwaspossible,andthetraderoutes

andportcitiesoftheempirebecametheseedbeds

oftheChurch.8Hesteppedintoaworldwherea

Romancrosswaswaiting,aworldwheretheSon

ofGodwouldbepiercedforourtransgressionsand

crushedforouriniquitiesaspredictedinthe53rd

chapteroftheprophecyofIsaiah.Intothisworld,

Jesuslivedanddied;itwasinthisworldthatthegospelrangforthandhascontinued

untilthisday.SotheNewTestamentbeginsinaproperplace,withthestoryof

JesusintheGospels.Inthesebooks,Matthew, Mark, LukeandJohnwefindabody

ofliteraturepassionatelyproclaimingandpresentingJesusbeforeawaitingworld.

BeforeturningtotheseGospelsletusfirstlookattheoverallbreakdownoftheNew

Testament.

The Books of the New TestamentTheNewTestament,sharedbyProtestants,CatholicsandEasternOrthodoxChristiansis

comprisedof27individualbooksofvaryinglengthandliterarygenre.Agenreissimply

5

akindofwriting.Poetry,narrativestories,legalliterature,andpropheciesaresimple

examplesofdifferentliterarygenres.TheNewTestamentcontainsfourmaingenresof

literature:gospel,narrative,epistle/letterandapocalyptic.Manyofthesegenrescontain

differentsub-genressuchasparables,poems,creedalmaterialaswellaspersonaltesti-

mony.ThefollowingisonlyabriefdescriptionofthepartsoftheNewTestament.

The Gospel Literature – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

TherearefourbooksintheNewTestamentclassifiedasgospelliterature.TheBooksof

Matthew, Mark, LukeandJohnareconsideredtobeGospels.Thewordgospelisderived

fromtheGreektermeuangélion,whichsimplymeansgoodnewsorgoodtidings.So

theGospelsarebookscontaininggoodnews,butnotjustanykindofnews.Itwouldbe

onethingifahistoricalriseinthestockmarketorthefortunesofanationarerecorded

dispassionatelyashistory.Thatmightbeinteresting,butitwouldnotbeworld-changing.

TheNewTestamentGospelshoweverrecordsomethingdifferent—theyrecordgoodnews

ofGod’sactioninhistory,tobringpeopleintoarelationshipofloveandworshipthrough

JesusChrist.TheGospelsareafairlyuniqueformofwritingcomprisingseveralliterary

forms.Insomewaystheyarepartbiography,parthistoryandparttheology.Theyhave

thegoalofpresentingandpersuading—theyendeavortopresentJesusbutalsoto

teachuswhoHeisandwhatourresponsetoHimshouldbe.EachoftheGospelshada

6

differentaudiencewhichoriginallyreceivedtheworkandeachwascomposedbya

differentauthor.AssuchtheyrecordsomeofthesamedetailsofJesus’lifebutat

timesindifferentways.Thereisacommonalityintheevents,butadifferentrecording

dependingonthepurposesoftheauthorandhisintendedaudience.

The Synoptic Gospels

TheGospels-Matthew,MarkandLukeareknownastheSynoptic Gospels,inthateach

providesasynopsis,oroutlineofthelifeandteachingofJesus.Thewordsynopticisde-

rivedfromtwoGreektermsthatwhencombinedmeanto see together.Whenexamined

together,theseGospelspresentamulti-facetedviewofthelifeandteachingofJesus.

Thereisaninterestingbodyofscholarshipwhosegoalhasbeentoinvestigatetheorigin

andcompilingofthesynopticgospelsfromearlyoraltraditionandeyewitnessaccounts.

Scholarscallthisthesynoptic problem.Thequestionarisesfromboththesimilarityand

differencesbetweenthetextsofMatthew,MarkandLukeandtheliteraryandsource

connectionsbetweenthem.Acompletesummaryofthesynopticproblemiswellbeyond

ourpurposeshere,butIthinkabriefsummarywillhelpyouatleastknowsomeofthe

issues.Iwilllayoutafewoftheissuesthatmakethesynopticpuzzleaninterestingarea

ofNewTestamentstudies.Forthoseinterestedinaverybrief,approachable,butschol-

arlysummaryofthecurrentdiscussionIrecommendRethinking the Synoptic Problem

7

publishedbyBakerAcademic.9

First Issue - We Know the Gospels are Compilations

Thefactthattheevangelists,thewritersofthesynopticgospelscompiledtheiraccounts

fromothersourcesisnon-controversial.ItistheclearteachingoftheBibleandof

churchtradition.Forinstance,Lukebeginshisgospelwiththefollowingstatement:

1Inasmuchasmanyhaveundertakentocompileanarrativeofthethingsthat

havebeenaccomplishedamongus,2justasthosewhofromthebeginningwere

eyewitnessesandministersofthewordhavedeliveredthemtous,3itseemed

goodtomealso,havingfollowedallthingscloselyforsometimepast,towrite

anorderlyaccountforyou,mostexcellentTheophilus,4thatyoumayhave

certaintyconcerningthethingsyouhavebeentaught.-Luke1:1-4

AfewthingsshouldbenotedaboutLuke’sgoalsinwritinghisGospel.First,he

acknowledgesothershavetakenupthetasktocompileawrittennarrativeofJesus.

Second,thesecompilationsarebasedoneyewitnessaccountsfromthosewhowere

withJesusandministersoftheword.Third,hisconcernwastoputtogetherawritten,

orderly,factualaccountoftheteachingsoftheChristianfaith.Additionally,thereisa

strongtraditionstatingthatMark’sGospelisacompilationoftheaccountandpreaching

8

ofPeterwhichwaswrittenaroundthetimeoftheapostle’sdeath.We’llhavemore

onthatlater.So,ifthegospelsarecompilationswhichwerewrittendownatdifferent

times,fordifferentcommunities,bydifferentauthorsitislikelythattheysharedsome

ofthesamesourcesandperhapsusedoneanother’swritings.

Second Issue - Same Stories, Different Accountings

IfyoueverinteractwithpeoplewhoareskepticalabouttheBibletheyaresuretobringup

thesocalled“contradictions”intheGospelnarratives.Youseesomeofthestoriesarethe

same,sometimesverbatim(seenextissue),butsometimesthestoriesaresimilarbuthave

someprettysignificantdifferences.Aquickreadoftheresurrectionnarrativeaccountsinthe

synopticgospelswillsufficetoillustrate.Howmanyangelswerethereattheemptytomb?

Ifyougoafteransweringthatquestionforamomentyourunintoafeatureofthesynoptic

problem.Myanswer?Probably,atleasttwo…buteachdoesnotalwaysgetpropsinthestory.

Third Issue - Same Stories, Same Wordings

ManytimesthesynopticgospelscontaintheexactsamestoriesandteachingsofJesus

Christ.Thiswouldberatheruninterestingasamereaccountingofthesamelifewould

sufficetoexplainthisoccurrence.However,manytimesintheGospelswefindMatthew

andLukerepeatingMarkalmostword-for-word.Additionally,MatthewandLukecontain

someofthesamesayingsofJesusthatarenotfoundinMark.Thisasksthequestion:

9

Whowasusingwhatwritingsincompilingtheirwork?Inanyaccount,thereappearsto

bealiteraryinterdependenceofthesynopticgospelsandtheirsources.Thishasledto

thedominantpositionamongmanyscholarstodayknownastheTwoSourcehypothesis.

The Dominant Solution – Two Source Hypothesis

• Markwaswrittenfirst.TheviewthatMarkwasthefirstGospelissimplyassumed

bymanyinNewTestamentstudiestoday.10Forexample,BenWitheringtonbegins

hiscommentarywithasimplestatementregardingstudiesofthegospelofMark:

“Thesheervolumeofrecentstudies,however,suggeststhatwearetryingharder

tograspthemeaningofthis,the earliest of the gospels.”11Therearemanyreasons

forthinkingMarkmayhavebeenwrittenfirst.12

• MatthewandLukehadMarkavailabletothemastheywrote.

• Scholarshaveformedahypothesis(agoodandeducatedguess)ofanothersource

whichtheyhavecalled“Q”13(fromtheGermanquellefor“source”).Itisheldthat

thissourcecontainedsayingsthatMatthewandLukeshareincommonbutare

absentfromMark.Qisaworkinghypothesisusedbysomescholars.There is not

a single shred of archaeological evidence of its existence.Wedonothaveone

copyofthissource.Yetitisareasonableinferenceduetothematerialsharedby

10

MatthewandLuke.Itisquestionedbysomescholarsandanassumedhypothesis

byothers.

• Today,MarkanpriorityandtheuseofLuke/MatthewofMark/Qremainsthe

dominantview.

However,inthelastseveraldecadestherehavebeenotherswhoarearguing

quiteconvincinglyforthepriorityofMatthew.14Thisholdspromiseforacouple

reasons.First,thetraditionandteachingofchurchhistoryisunivocalthatMat-

thewwaswrittenfirst.Thiswasunchallengedforover1,800years.Second,this

schoolofthoughtisgivingmuchmorecredencetopatristicstudies,studiesofthe

writingsofthechurchfathers.Forthoseinterestedinthisschoolofthoughtwill

wanttoseeWhy Four Gospels?byDavidAllanBlack.15

Letmeclosebysayingthatallevangelicalscholars—whetherthosewhoholdtothe

twosourcehypothesisorthepriorityofMatthew—holdthatthesynopticgospelswere

writtendownbytheinspirationanddirectionoftheHolySpirit.AllevangelicalNew

Testamentscholarsagreethateachviewiscompatiblewiththetruththatthewritersof

theGospelsrecordedscriptureasinspiredbyGod.

Dr.CraigBlombergsumsthisupwell:

11

…it is important to state up front that none of the major solutions to the

synoptic problem is inherently more or less compatible with historic Christian

views of the inspiration and authority of Scripture.16

ThoughtheprecisesolutiontotheliteraryconnectednessoftheGospelsisnotof

centralimportancetoourfaith,itisgoodtobeawareoftheseissues.Manysocalled

“contradictions”skepticsclaimtofindinthesynopticnarrativesareeasilyresolved

whenwerealizedthateachotherarrangedhismaterialtotellthestoryofJesustoa

specificaudienceofChristiansfromaparticularperspective.Ourchiefconcernwith

Matthew,MarkandLukeisthepersontowhomtheytestify.Ourgazeisthepersonof

Jesuswholivedinhistory,taughtusmanythings,gaveHislifeasasacrificeforsinand

rosefromdeathtosetpeoplefree.ThisJesusistheJesusofthesynopticgospels—and

toHim,thefinalGospelcallsboldlytous…Believe!

John’s Gospel – Believe!

John’sGospelstatesitsgoalforcefullyandwithclarityinthe20thchapterofthebook.

These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and

that by believing you may have life in His name(John20:31).Johniswritingforthe

purposeofpresentingJesusastheChrist,theonesentfromGodtodeliverHispeople

fromsin,andcallingustobelieve.ItisanarrativeofthemiraclesandteachingofJesus

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whichhasadifferentfeelfromthesynopticgospels.Johnwrotehismaterialwiththe

divinityofJesusintheforefrontandwantsnoneutralreaders.ToreadJohnistobe

broughtclosetotheSonofGodinHisglorywithmajestyondisplay.ThefourthGospel

cannotbeignoredandcallsforaradicalcommitmentoflifetotheSavior.Allwhohear

HisvoiceinScripturewillfollowandbelieveandnoonewhocomestoHimwillhecast

out;thisistheradicalmessageofJohn.

Narrative Literature – The Book of Acts

TheBookofActsisprimarilynarrativeinnatureasitrecordstheunfoldingand

preachingofthegospelfromJerusalemoutwardthroughtheRomanEmpire.Itbegins

withthestoryofthecomingoftheSpiritataJewishfeastknownasPentecostand

peopleinJerusalembecomingfollowersofJesus.Itcontinueswithoppositionand

persecutioninJerusalemandthespreadofthegospeloutwardinthefirstmissionary

effortsofthechurch.ThebulkofthenarrativecontainsthetravelsofPaulandhis

companionsestablishingChristiancommunitiesthroughoutthetraderoutesofthe

world.Ittellsastoryandassuchitisnarrativeliterature.

Epistles and Letters – From Paul and OthersAlargeportionoftheNewTestamentismadeupofletterswrittenanddistributedwidely

toteachandinstructtheearlychurch.WhereastheGospelslayoutthelife-teachingof

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Jesus,theepistlesexpoundonthegospelleadingusinhowtoliveasfollowersofJesus

onHismission.Theepistlesfurtherexplainthegospel,giveusinstructiononhowto

moveintotheworldasChrist’sfollowersandteachushowwearetolivetogetherasthe

church.Thelettersareusuallydividedintotwogroups,thelettersofPaulandthose

knownasthegeneralepistles.We’lllookbrieflyatbothgroupings.

Paul’s Letters

MuchoftheNewTestamentwaswrittenbyaguynamedPaul.Paulwassortofabig

timeguyinhisdaythathaditonhismindtostampoutthenewChristianmovement.

AsareligiousJewhesawthefollowersofJesusasdepartingfromthewayoftheir

fathersandbegantopersecutethechurchheavilywithpermissionfromcivicleaders.

Onhiswaytogivesomepeopleabeatdownthetableswereturnedonhim.Jesus

smackedhimaround,blindedhimforafewdaysandtoldhimthathewouldnowbea

ChristianandbringthegospeltotheGentiles(non-Jews).Paulthenbecameapretty

radicalguywhonobodycouldsilence.Hepreachedthegospelwithcourageandat

greatperiltohisownlife.InestablishingnewchurchesPaulwouldwritetothem,

inspiredbyGod,toteachandinstructthenewfollowersinthewayofJesus.Thirteen

ofPaul’slettersmakeupalargeportionoftheNewTestament.Manyoftheletters

arenamedaftercitieswherethenewchurcheswereliving.TheBookofRomanswas

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writtentothoseinRome,1and2CorinthianstothechurchinCorinth,etc.Ifthey

werewrittentodaytheywouldbesomethinglike1Brunswickians.ThePastoralEpis-

tleswerewrittentoPaul’syoungerdisciplesteachingthemhowtobeservantleaders

inthechurchandnamedafterthesemen.Finally,Philemonisthenameofafriendof

Paulandthatletterbearshisname.Hereisalisting:Romans,1and2Corinthians,1

and2Thessalonians,Galatians;ThePrisonEpistles–letterswrittenduringhishouse

arrestinRome–Ephesians,Philippians,Colossians,Philemon;ThePastoralEpistles

–1and2TimothyandTitus.

General Epistles

TheremaininglettersoftheNewTestamentwerewrittenbyapostlesandearly

Christianleadersdealingwithparticularconcernsofmissionallivinganddoctrinein

theearlycommunities.Hebrews,thoughearlyonbelievedtobewrittenbyPaul,has

remainedanonymousinitsauthorship.Hereisalistingofthesebooks:Hebrews,James,

1and2Peter,Jude,1,2and3John.

The Apocalypse – The Revelation of Jesus Christ

ThefinalbookoftheNewTestamenthasauniqueliterarygenreknownasapocalyptic

literature.ThewordapocalypsecomesfromtheGreekwordwhichmeanstoreveal,to

uncover,unveilordisclose.AssuchthebookiscommonlycalledRevelation.Thisbook

16

hasprovedverycontroversialoverthecenturieswithmanyschoolsofthoughtonhowwe

shouldinterpretit.However,thebookisveryclearinitspurposefromtheopeninglines.

Itisarevelation of Jesus Christ.Whetherthebookisaboutbarcodesonourforeheads,

Apachehelicopters,one-worldgovernment,meteorscrashingintotheearthorbeing

leftbehindIwillleaveuptoyou.Butonethingwemustknow,thebookisaboutJesus,

notjusttheendoftheworld.Thebookisabouttheworshipandpraiseandultimate

revealingofJesusChrist.Wewoulddobesttofocusherewhenreadingthisbook.

Thatisbutabrieffly-overoftheNewTestamentwritings,butourfocusisontheGos-

pelsandtheGospelofMarkinparticular.Soletusmovetothegospelliterature,thebooks

thatfocususonthelife,teaching,deathandresurrectionofthecarpenterfromNazareth.

The Gospels – A Reliable and Biased Testimony to an Unparalleled LifeSkepticsthroughouttheageshaveaskedwhetherthegospelsaretobetrusted

becausetheywerewrittenbybiasedpeople,thefollowersofJesusHimself.Theysurely

musthavehadaskewedpointofviewastowhoisthisJesus.Afterall,youcannottrust

someone’sbiggestfanstogiveanobjectiveaccountofsomeone’slife…canyou?Recent-

lythisskepticismhasbeenfoundunwarrantedforacouplereasons.First,weknowthat

eyewitnessaccountsarealwaysthemostreliablewhenlookingateventsweourselves

didnotobserve.IftheGospelsdemonstratethemselvestobethetestimonyof

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eyewitnessestheyarethenthemosttrustworthyviewsofJesuswepossess.Second,the

claimthatsomeoneisunabletocorrectlyconveyastorybecausetheyare“biased”is

highlyunwarranted.Wewilllookateachoftheseissues.

Eyewitness Testimony in the New Testament

Whenaskingthequestion“WhathappenedwiththisJesusguy?”thefirstpersonswe

shouldaskarethosewhowalkedwithHim,talkedwithHimandlivedtheirliveswith

Him.Oras2Peter1:16rightlyrecords,thosewhowereeyewitnesses of His majesty.

ThisrequiresustolookattheclaimsoftheGospelstobejustthat—awrittenrecordof

eyewitnesstestimony.Thiswasaviewtakenforgrantedforyearsuntiltheadventofcriti-

calscholarshipinthe19thcenturywheretheoriginandsourceofallthegospelwritings

wasbroughtintoquestion.RevisionisthistoriansandliberalNewTestamentscholars

begantoclaimtheGospelswere3rdor4thcenturycompilationsofChristiancommuni-

tieswhichdidnotreflectanythingclosetoeyewitnesstestimony.

However,therehasbeenmuchmovementinNewTestamentstudiesoverthelast

severaldecadeswhichhasruledouttherevisionistideasofliberaltheology.Thelate3rd

and4thcenturydateshavebeenutterlyrepudiatedandwehavebeenabletodateallthe

Gospelsconclusivelytothefirstcentury.Thishasbeenduetoamazingarchaeological

discoveriessuchasafragmentofJohn’sGospeldatingtoaround125AD.Additionally,

18

19

recentscholarshiphasshownthatthereareverygoodreasonstounderstandtheGospels

astestimony.In2006ScottishTheologianRichardBauckhampublishedJesus and the

Eyewitnesses – the Gospels as Eyewitness Testimonywhichmakesastrongcaseforour

understandingtheGospelsascontainingthetestimonyofthosewhoknewthelifeand

teachingofJesusdirectly.Moreandmorescholarsarecomingtothepositionwhich

thechurchhasalwaysheld.TheGospelsarethemostreliableportraitofthelifeand

teachingofJesusbecausetheycontaintheaccountsofthepeoplewhowerethere.But

werethesepeopletoobiasedtobetrusted?Goodquestion.

Bias is not Always Bad

Thequestionofbiasisimportant,afterall,theGospelwritersdidnotleaveuswith

asimplenarrativethatrecordsnothingmorethanrotehistoricalfacts.No,they

wereconvincedofthetruthofJesus’teachingandtheiraccountofhistorycon-

tainstheteachingoftheologyaboutJesusaswellashistoricaldata.Yes,thereare

towns,rulers,timesandplacesmentioned,butalsoteachingastotheidentityof

JesusandHismissionfromGod.Butdoesthisone-sidedaccountofJesus’follow-

ersdisqualifytheirtestimonyasbeingvalid?InfactIwillarguethatifyouwantto

knowsomethingaboutsomethingorsomeone,youarebetteroffaskingpeoplewho

arepassionatelycommittedtothestoryheshares.Afewexamplescanhelpussee

thatbeing biased is not always bad.

Oneexamplecomesfromtheworldoftechnologyandthroughasimplequestion.If

youdesiretoknowabouttheinsandoutsofMacintoshcomputers,wouldyouasksome-

onehasnevertouchedaMactobeyourteacher?Ofcoursenot…whowouldyouask?

YouprobablywouldaskoneofthoseMacIdola-

terswhoareloyalsubjectsofthecultofSteve

Jobs.YouknowthatcrazyAppleguywhohasto

putdownWindowseverytimethesubjectarises.

Youknowtheguywhoisflossing17hisiPhonefor

alltosee.Youmaybethatguy.Thepeoplefrom

whomyouwillgetthebestinformationabout

Macsareprobablytheoneswhoarethemost

biased;theoneswhoarepassionateabouttheir

computers.Inlikemanner,NASCARfansshould

beconsultedontheintricaciesofStockcar

racing,thespiansonthetheater,indierockersonundergroundmusic,andhisoriginal

followersaretheonesweshouldconsultaboutJesusChrist.

Onefinalexampleofamoreseriouskindshouldbementioned.Toexcludeaperson

whowasinvolvedwithanevent,whopassionatelycaresthatthestorybetold,wouldbe

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quiteoddindeed.ThissortofreasoningwouldruleouttheaccountsofJewishhistorians

oftheHolocaust.Theyaremostinterestedastheyweretheonesmostcloselyinvolved

withthishorrificcourseofevents.Wewouldnotthinkofdiscountingsomeone’stestimo-

nybecausetheyare“biased”againsttheNazi’sbecausetheirfamilywentthroughthe

Holocaust.Ratherwetrustthemastheyweretheclosestpeopletotheeventsandcare

mostpassionatelyaboutconveyingandpassingonthishistorycorrectly.18

Untilsomeoneisshowntobeanunreliablewitnessweoughttotaketheirwordfor

somethinguntiltheyareshowntobenottrustworthy.ThephilosopherImmanuelKant

rightlyshowedsometimeagothatanassumptionthatallpeoplearelyingallthetime

isself-refuting.Weshouldassumetruthtellingunlesswehavegoodreasontothinkthat

someoneisnottellingthetruth.19Ifwefindthatsomeoneisintheirrightmindand

capableoftellingthetruthiswillingtodoso,hiswordsarerecordedandpreservedwith

integrityandhistestimonyisvalidatedbyotherwitnesses,weshouldtrustthewordsof

thatperson.20Itseemsthatthisispreciselythesortofrealitythatwefindinthewriters

oftheGospels.

It Was Their Intention to Tell the Truth• MostofthemwerereligiousJewswhothoughtthatintentionalfalsification(lying)

wasadirectviolationofoneoftheTenCommandments.Lyingwasnotavirtuein

21

theircommunity.ThisdoesnotmeantherewerenotreligiousJewswhowereliars

atthetime,butitwasnotavirtueextolledinthecommunity.

• TheNewTestamentwriterswereconcernedwith“delivering”theteachingofJesus

andthegospeltothenextgenerationintheirwriting.TheApostlePaulspecifically

saysthathedeliveredorpassedonthegospeltotheCorinthianchurch.This

gospelwasconsideredbytheearlyChristiansasamatter“offirstimportance.”

See1Corinthians15:1-3.Thereisgoodevidencethattheybelievedtheywere

passingonwhattheysawasaholytraditionthroughtheirwritings.21

They Were Able to Tell the Truth• Theywereaculturesteepedinatraditionoforalteachingandmemorization.In

fact,scholarshaveshownthatancientpeoplescouldmemorizemassiveamounts

ofinformation,withanimportantfocusonmaintainingtheverywordsoftheir

teachers.22

• Iftheyexperiencedanyexternalpressureitwasagainstthepreachingoftheir

message.Theygainednothinginthewayofposition,powerandpossessionsfor

faithfullytellingtheJesusstory.Tothecontrarymostofthemwerekilledforit.

22

Their Words Were Preserved Accurately• Itisbeyondthescopeofthispaperbutthereisgoodtextualevidencethatwe

havetheNewTestamentdocumentstodayinaformthatisextremelycloseto

theoriginalmanuscripts.Thisisnon-controversial.Mostscholarsagreethatthe

currentGreektextsoftheNewTestamentareveryaccurate.Toputitsimply,

wehaveprettymuchwhatwaswritten.Interestingenough,oneofthefew

controversialpassages,Mark16:9-20,isintheGospelofMark.

• Additionally,therewasverylittletimebetweentheactualeventsofJesusandthe

writingoftheNewTestament.Thelesstimethatpassesthelesslikelylegendary

developmentoccurs.TheGospelswereallfinishedaround90ADwithMarkand

MatthewlikelywithinjustafewdecadesoftheresurrectionofJesus.Intheperiod

inwhichtheGospelswerewrittendownmanyeyewitnessesoftheeventswouldhave

stillbeenalive.AsRichardBauckhamstates,“TheGospelswerewrittenwithinliving

memoryoftheeventstheyrecount.Mark’sGospelwaswrittenwellwithinthelifetime

ofmanyoftheeyewitnesses,whiletheotherthreecanonicalGospelswerewrittenin

theperiodwhenlivingeyewitnesseswerebecomingscarce,exactlyatthepointintime

whentheirtestimonywouldperishwiththemwereitnotputinwriting.”23

23

They are Validated by Others• Ifanauthorshowsthathetellsthetruthonmattersthatareverifiableexternally,he

isthoughttobeareliablewitness.TheNewTestamentwritersnoteatleastthirty

historicallyconfirmedpeopleintheirworks.TheGospelsingeneralandthepassion

narrativeinparticularfindcorroborationinseveralancientsourcesoutsideofthe

NewTestament.24Inaddition,wefindquotationsatlengthfromtheGospelsinthe

sermonsandwritingsoftheearlychurchfathers.

WhentheGospelsareexamined,theyshowastronghistoricalauthenticitywhich

isonlydoubtedwhenabiasagainstthesupernaturalisbroughttobear.Manyskeptics

havewrittenoffthetestimonyoftheGospelsbecausetheywerewrittenbymenwho

believedinGod,whorecordtheoccurrenceofthemiraculousandtheresurrectionofan

incarnateSaviorGod.Yetsuchbiasagainstthesupernaturalisjusttheworkofaclosed

mind.Someonewhosays,“IcannotbelievethewordsoftheNewTestamentbecauseI

don’tbelieveinGodormiracles”isalreadyclosed-offtoanyamountofevidence.They

aresaying“Idon’tbelievebecauseIdon’tbelieve.”Suchviewsareintellectuallystifling

andhardenedtowhatGodmightsayiftheysimplyreadtheGospelswithanopenheart

andmindtoseetheunparalleledlifeofJesusondisplay.

Inclosing,thegospelliteratureisuniqueindeed.Itispartbiography,parthistory,

24

parttheology,yetpassionatelywhatBauckhamsimplycallstestimony.

UnderstandingtheGospelsastestimony,wecanrecognizethistheological

meaningofthehistorynotasanarbitraryimpositionontheobjectivefacts,but

asthewaythewitnessesperceivedthehistory,inaninextricableco-inherence

ofobservableeventandperceptiblemeaning.Testimonyisthecategorythat

enablesustoreadtheGospelsinaproperlyhistoricalwayandaproperly

theologicalway.Itiswherehistoryandtheologymeet.25

Let’sgogetsomehistoryandtheology,inaportraitofthepersonofJesus,truthfully

setforthintheGospelofMark.

The Gospel of MarkIntermsofhistoricalattention,theGospelofMarkhasbeenabitofastep-brother

tothelongerGospelsofMatthew,LukeandJohn.Infact,manyintheancientworld

consideredMarktoservethechurchasasortofabstract,orashortoutlineversion,of

theGospelofMatthew.26HistoricallytherehasbeenmuchmorepreachingonJohnand

Matthew.Eventoday,youwillnotfindasmanysermonspreachedfromMark’sGospelas

youwillfromthemoretheologicalGospelofJohn.27Inrecenttimesmuchmorescholarly

focushasbeengiventothisGospelduetoitshelpfulnessinasolutiontotheSynoptic

25

Problem(seepg.7).Theworkisameresixteenchaptersandisafast-pacedaccounting

oftheteachingandlifeofJesus.ItcontainsnobirthnarrativeasdoMatthewandLuke

andisveryconcernedwithpresentingJesus’PassionWeekasthefocusofthestory.In

fact,abouthalfofthebookisaboutthelastweekofJesuslife.

Authorship of Mark AlloftheGospelsdonothavetheauthorsnameaspartofthetextitself,butthefourGos-

pelshaveneverreallybeenanonymousinchurchhistory.Theauthor’snamewhichisassoci-

atedwiththisbookisthatofamannamedMark.Thispersonismentionedseveraltimesin

theNewTestamentandwascommonlyknownasJohnMark.Theearliestchurchtraditions

allassociatethisGospelwithMarkandhistasktorecordtheaccountoftheapostlePeter

inwriting.TheearliestsourceswehavearefromthewritingsofPapias,achurchleaderin

Hierapolis,andIrenaeus,BishopofLyons(moderndayFrance).Papias’worksurvivesina

textwrittenbytheprominentearlychurchhistorianEusebius.Itreadsasfollows:

AndtheEldersaidthisalso:“Mark,havingbecometheinterpreterofPeter,

wrotedownaccuratelywhateverherememberedofthethingssaidanddoneby

theLord,butnothoweverinorder.”ForneitherdidheheartheLord,nordid

hefollowHim,butafterwards,asIsaid,Peter,whoadaptedhisteachingsto

26

theneedsofhishearers,butnotasthough

heweredrawingupaconnectedaccount

oftheLord’soracles.SothenMarkmade

nomistakeinthusrecordingsomethings

justasherememberedthem.Hetook

forethoughtforonething,nottoomitany

ofthethingsthathehadheard,nortostate

anyofthemfalsely.28

ItisestimatedthePapiastraditionisveryearly

anddatesperhapstowithin90-100AD.29

Irenaeus,writinginthesecondcenturyrecorded

thefollowing:

Aftertheirdeparture,Mark,thediscipleandinterpreterofPeter,didalso

handdowntousinwritingwhathadbeenpreachedbyPeter.Lukealso,the

companionofPaul,recordedinabooktheGospelpreachedbyhim.30

TheoldesttraditionsallholdthatMarkwastheotherwhoarrangedtheteachings

ofPetertogiveawrittenaccountofJesusChristtothechurch.Inadditiontothe

27

traditionthereisgoodinternalevidenceinthebookthatMark’sGospelgreatlyreflects

thepreachingofPeterthatweseeintheBookofActs.31NewTestamentscholarDaniel

WallaceprovidesagreatsummaryoftheinternalconnectionwithMarkandPeter;Iwill

quotehimatlength:

1. JohnMarkhadcontactwithPeterfromnolaterthanthemid-40s(Acts

12:12)anditappearsthatthechurchmetatMark’sownresidence.

2. BothPeterandMarkwereconnectedtothechurchesinAntiochandJerusalem.

3. PaulsentMarkfromRometotheColossianchurchandtoPhilemonin60-62.If

PeterwereinRomeatthistime,Markwouldhavehadcontactwithhimthere.

4. In2Tim4:11wefindPaulgivingTimothyinstructionstobringMarkwith

himfromEphesustoRome(c.64).Itispossiblethathehadbeenoutsideof

Romesincehisdeparturein62.

5. MarkiswithPeterinRomeinc.65(1Peter5:13)perhapsafterhisreturn

atPaul’srequest.PeteralsocallsMarkhis“son”inthispassageindicatinga

morelongstandingrelationship.

28

6. ThebookofMark’soutlinefollowsthePetrineteachingrecordedinActs

10:36-41.(1)JohntheBaptist(2)JesusBaptizedbyJohn(3)Jesus’

miraclesshowHeisfromGod(4)HewenttoJerusalem(5)Hewascrucified

(6)Hewasraisedonthethirdday.ThisshowsthatperhapsMarkeven

receivedaframeworkfortheoraclesofJesusfromPeter.

7. ThelowviewofPeterandtheotherapostlesinMarkshowsthattheperson

writingwasnottryingtoputthemonapedestal.Anon-apostolicwriterwouldhave

donethisunlesshewasrecordingwhatheactuallyhadreceivedfromPeter.32

Sowehavegoodreasons,bothexternaltestimonyfromtraditionandcontentofthe

bookitself,thatJohnMarkarrangedtheinstructionofPeterwhogaveeyewitnesstesti-

monytothelifeandteachingofJesusChristhisLord.

Who was John Mark?

JohnMarkismentionedseveraltimesintheNewTestamentasanassociateinmin-

istryofbothPeter(1Peter5:13)andPaul(Acts12:25;15:37-39;2Timothy4:11).

Insomewaysheisoneofthekeyplayersintheearlychurchasheisadiscipleand

co-laborerofthetwomenwhomostshapedtheChristianmovementaftertheascen-

sionofJesus.IntheearlydaysinJerusalemthechurchapparentlymetinhishouse

29

(Acts12:12),thesamehouseinwhichthelastsupperwasheld.33Heexhibitsgreat

abilityasastorytellerandtakesusonajourneytothecentralfocusofthegospel—

thedeath,burialandresurrectionofJesus.

OneofthethingsIappreciatemostaboutJohnMarkisthatheisabitofa

comebackkid.InhisrelationshipwithPaulweseehimasoneoftheearliestmis-

sionariestakingthegospeloutintotheworld.Thenapparentlyhebecomesalittle

freaked-outinthefieldandabandonsthemission.ThisofcoursehadPaulalittle

miffedandPaulandBarnabasactuallypartways.Paulsimplydoesn’ttrusthim

afterMarkpunked-outonhim.YetBarnabas,whosenamemeansson of encourage-

ment,giveshimasecondchanceandMarkwasgreatlyusedbyGod.Heeventually

becomesPeter’sright-handmanandwhatGoddoesinhisrelationshipwithPaul

isamazing.Paul’slastcommentsabouthimareveryendearing.JustbeforePaul’s

death,heasksTimothytosendforJohnMark;apparentlyhewantedhisfriendathis

sideinhislastdays.

Dating of MarkManyeventsfactorintoadatingoftheGospelofMarkandknowingsomeimportantand

confirmed/acceptedtimesfromthefirstcenturyisalwayshelpful.Thesedateswillbe

broughtintoourdiscussionofadateforMark’swriting.

30

InlookingatMark’sdatewefindseveralimportantissues.First,ifweacceptthe

traditionthatherecordedtheteachingofPeterthenwemustplaceitsomewhereduring

thelifeoftheapostle.Second,ifonefindsthetwosource/Markanpriorityhypothesisas

agoodsolutiontotheSynopticProblem,thenMarkmustprecedeMatthewandLuke

andthisaffectsitsdating.Third,wehavetestimonyfromtheearlychurchthatMark

wroteeitherjustbeforeorjustafterthedeathofPeterwhichwedatetothepersecution

underNeroafteragreatfirein64AD.WiththethemeofsufferingsoprominentinMark

andPeter’sexecutioninthemid-sixties,mostpreferadateforthegospelbetween60

and70,usuallyrightaround65. YetsomewhofavorMarkanpriorityplaceitinthemid50s34forthefollowingrea-

sons.IfMarkwaswrittenfirstthentheGospelofLukemustbedatedafterMark.Dating

Luke’sGospelisnotsodifficult.Weknowfromthetextitselfthatthesameauthorcom-

posedbyLukeandActsasatwopartvolumewithLukecompiledfirst.Afewdateshelp

uspositionLuke-Acts.First,ActshasnomentionofthefallofJerusalemwhichwe

Date (AD) Event

70 FallofJerusalem

64-68 MartyrdomofPaulandPeter

45-68 EpistlesofPaul

32-70 SomeOralTradition

32 CrucifixionofJesus

31

dateconclusivelyto70AD.Thiswouldbestrangeifthispainfuleventhadalready

occurred.ThisgivesusconfidencetoplacethewritingofActstobefore70.Additionally,

ActsalsoendswithPaullivingunderhousearrestinRome.WeestimatethatPaulis

martyredinbetween64-68sothiswouldplaceActssometimebeforehisdeath.IfLuke

camebeforeActswefindthatgospelcomingontothesceneintheveryearlypartofthe

60swithsomeplacingitaround62AD.SoifonefavorsthethesisthatMarkwaswrit-

tenfirst,thenadateprecedingLuke,sometimeinthelate50sseemstobepreferred.

However,ifyouholdtothetraditionthatMatthewwasfirst,thenMarkcanbeplacedat

around65AD.Witheitherconsideration,MarkisoneoftheearliestGospelsrecordedto

passtheteachingandstoryofJesusonforgenerationstocome.

Provenance of MarkHereisourbigwordfortheday...provenance.Itsimplymeanstheoriginofthewritingor

theplacewhereitwaswritten.Thechurchhasalwaysheldthatthegospelwaswritten

fromItaly,intheimperialcapitalofRome.TheuseoftechnicalLatinterminology,the

useofRomanaccountingoftime(6:48;13:35)allpointtowardsRome.Mark’suseof

theGreekversionoftheOldTestament,hisexplanationofJewishcustomsandpractices,

histranslationofAramaictermsindicatehewaswritingwithaGentileaudiencein

mind.35Finally,Mark’slackofinclusionofaJewishgenealogyforJesusperhaps

32

pointstoaRomanaudienceaswell.Wehavenogoodreasontodoubtthatthegospel

originatedinthefirstcenturyChristiancommunityinRome.

Context and Purpose of MarkBenWitherington’scommentaryonMarkcallstomindtwoveryimportantcultural

contextswhichareatplayinMark’sGospel.First,thecultureofearlyfirstcentury

Galilee/Judeain20-30ADandsecond,themid-firstcenturycultureofRomeinthe

60s.36Itisaninterestingfactthatbothcontextspresentedgreatdifficultyforboththe

JewishandearlyChristiancommunities.Galilee/JudeawasunderRomanoccupation

andrulewhereJesusandhisfollowingappearedareligious-politicalthreattoimperial

power.Romeinthemid-60spresentedanintense,thoughbrief,timeofsufferingand

persecutionunderthemaniacalleadershipofNero.Thatstoryneedsabriefexplanation.

IntheearlydaysofNero’sreignChristianslivedinrelativepeaceintheempire.

Theywereseenwithsomesuspicionduetotheirrejectionofpagangodsandfestivals

aswellastheirpreachingofthegospel.Aggressiveseekingofconvertsputthemat

oddswiththeestablishedandancientreligionsoftheday.ThoughPeterandPaulwere

executedfortheirleadershipinpreachingthegospel,aggressive,wide-spreadpersecu-

tionofChristiansasaclassofpeoplewasnotyetthereality.Thischangedaround64AD

33

withawidespreadfireinRome.Thecauseofthefireisuncertainwithsomeblaming

theemperorasthesource.Nero,however,foundadifferentscapegoattoturnsuspicion

awayfromhim.HeblamedtheChristians.Thiswassignificantfortworeasons.First,he

wasthefirstemperortotreattheChristiansasfollowersofadifferentreligionthanthat

oftheJews.Thismadethembelieversinanewreligion,notanancientandaccepted

faith.37Second,hedeclaredopenseasononChristiansandsetoffunprecedentedabuse

ofChristianpeople.AfterthetimeofNero’spersecutions,abrutalaccountwasrecorded

bytheancienthistorianTacitus.Oh,howoursistersandbrotherssufferedforthesakeof

thenameofChrist.HereistheaccountofTacitus:

Butallhumanefforts,allthelavishgiftsoftheemperor,andthepropitiations

ofthegods,didnotbanishthesinisterbeliefthattheconflagrationwas

theresultofanorder.Consequently,togetridofthereport,Nerofastened

theguiltandinflictedthemostexquisitetorturesonaclasshatedfortheir

abominations,calledChristiansbythepopulace.Christus,fromwhomthe

namehaditsorigin,sufferedtheextremepenaltyduringthereignofTiberiusat

thehandsofoneofourprocurators,PontiusPilatus,andamostmischievous

superstition,thuscheckedforthemoment,againbrokeoutnotonlyin

Judaea,thefirstsourceoftheevil,buteveninRome,whereallthingshideous

34

andshamefulfromeverypartoftheworldfindtheircentreandbecomepopular.

Accordingly,anarrestwasfirstmadeofallwhopleadedguilty;then,upontheir

information,animmensemultitudewasconvicted,notsomuchofthecrimeof

firingthecity,asofhatredagainstmankind.Mockeryofeverysortwasadded

totheirdeaths.Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and

perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt,

to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his

gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he

mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car.

Hence,evenforcriminalswhodeservedextremeandexemplarypunishment,

therearoseafeelingofcompassion;foritwasnot,asitseemed,forthepublic

good,buttoglutoneman’scruelty,thattheywerebeingdestroyed.38

NerosoundslikeaprettybigjerktomeandjustmakinganeducatedguessI

imaginethathereceivedareally,reallywarmreceptionintheafterlife.Thethemesin

Markreflectthiscontextofsufferingandpersecution.InthegospelJesusispresented

asthesufferingservant,wronglyandbrutallypunishedbythehandofRome.Christians

inRomeunderNero’sreignwouldhaveunderstoodthismessage.Followtheexampleof

Jesusinthemidstofsuffering.

35

Suchisourowncall—wearecalledtoJesusandtolivetogetherinHismission.

Whetherweliveintimesofopensuffering,orarebeinglulledtosleepbycomfortand

familiarity,wemustbeshakenloosefromourcurrentviewsoflifeinordertofollowJesusin

ourworldtoday.WeneedHislifeandstorytoconstantlydefineourown.Thisisourinvita-

tion,toseeJesusasthefounderandperfecterofourfaith,thedefineroflifeandtheperson

whosestorygivesussignpostsforeveryturnoflifeahead.

Signposts for Our JourneyAswebeginwewillbefollowingMark’sstoryofJesus,whichwasajourneytowardsthe

crossofChristandlivinginlightofHisresurrection.Ourmainconcernishavingour

visionoflifetransformedbythewondersweseeinJesusChristandHisgospel.Itisour

hopethatourvisionandloveofJesusisarousedandourfeetaremadeswiftinfollowing.

The Gospel is Our Life – Signpost in Mark 1

TheBookofMarkbeginswithresoundingclarityofpurpose—thebeginningofthegospel

ofJesusChrist,theSonofGod.Herewefindthebeginningofanewchapterinan

unfoldingstory,wehavegoodnewscomingforth,wefindthenameofapersonwhich

means“TheLordSaves,”wefindapersonuniqueinallofhistory—aSon,butnoordinary

man.Humanbeingshavebeenmadeandfashionedforworshipandourheartswillgloryin

36

allmannerofthingsbeitthroughreligion,thepursuitofpleasure,theidentificationwitha

certaingrouportheexaltationofself.Yetourliveswillwanderadriftwithouttheliftingof

ourburdensofsinandthereceivingofgraceandpeacewithGod.

Whenreligionbeckonswemustfindtherootofourstoryinthegoodnews.Itisnot

whatwedothatmakesusacceptabletoaholyandgoodGod—itiswhathasbeendoneby

JesusHimselfinthefullnessoftimeontheearth.Jesus’firstwordsintheGospelofMark

beckonustoaction.“Thetimeisfulfilled,andthekingdomofGodisathand;repentand

believeinthegospel.”

Healing Comes from Jesus – Signpost in Mark 1, 2, and 3

Inaworldthatdailyechoestheremnantsofthefallofman,weknowthatweareindesper-

ateneedofhealingandwholeness.Ourbodiesarebrokenandwillsurelypassawayatanap-

pointedtime.Ourrelationshipsarebrokenwithcommunitiesconstantlyseparatingandbeing

fractured.Spiritualpowerstormentanddestroylivesdailyandoursoulsarestainedwiththe

realityofsin.Welivetodaywiththepresentworldgroaningandlongingforredemptionand

renewal.Jesustellsusthattheself-righteous,theproud,theself-sufficientandthedenialof

ourconditionhavenoplacewithGod.HetellsusinMark2:17—“Thosewhoarewellhave

noneedofaphysician,butthosewhoaresick.Icamenottocalltherighteous,butsinners.”

AllsinnersmaycometoHimandnonewillbecastout.

37

We Live In His Story – Signpost in Mark 4

Therearemanywaystodefinelifeandcommunicateitsultimatemeaningandpurpose.

Manyhavechosentodescribetheworldonlyinscientificterms.Manyhavechosen

toweavecomplexphilosophiesfortheconsumptionofhumanity.Othershavedanced

throughamyriadofpoliticalvisions,culturalrevolutionsandsocialengineering.Yet

howdidJesusteachusanddefineforustheultimaterealityandtheKingdomofGod?

Hetoldstoriestoteachthosewhocouldhear.StoriesdesignedbyGodtobothreveal

thehiddensecretsoftheruleandreignofJesusandtoconcealthemfromthosewho

wouldhavenopartinworshipingtheirCreator.IntheparablesofJesuslifefindsform

anddefinition.InHisstoriesweseeourstorywithclarityandsoulhumblingandsoul

refreshinglife.Infact,inthelargestoryofthegospelwefindthetruthandseeourfaces

aswearemeanttobe.

The Hero of Every Story – Signpost in Mark 4

Iflifeistheunfoldingofagreatstory,thestoryofGod,thenthatstoryhasabeginning,

aclimax,andafinalresolution.Italsohasahero,agreatrescuerandeverystoryof

ScripturewhispersHisname.39TheidentityofJesus,SonofMan,SonofGodisthemost

importantissueinallofhistory.InthelastpartofMark4weseeaquestionemergefrom

thelipsofthedisciples,“Whothenisthis,thatevenwindandseaobeyHim?”Inthis

38

signpostwelookattheheroofhistoryinastorythatincludesuncertainty,calamity,fear,

perilandchaos—soundlikelife?ItendswithJesusspeakingdefinitivelyintoheartsfilled

withtrepidationandthepeaceandcalmthatresult.

A New Living Way – Signpost in Mark 7

Somanytimeswegetconsumedwiththeexternalrealitiesofappearances,morality,and

religion,wearingmasksforpeopleallaroundus.Yetwhatistherealityofthehuman

heart?ThepicturethatJesuspaintsforusisnotprettyasHetellsusallmatterofsinand

wickednessflowsoutfromourhearts.ThoughHispictureofhumanityisoneofdepravity,

Hedoesnotleaveusthere.Heknowsthatamerecoatofpainttocoverourbrokennesswill

crackandcrumbleinlife.No,insteadofasimplepiousmakeover,Heremindsusthatthe

problemwehaveisnotsimplyourpoorreligiousperformances.Inordertotransformusinto

newpeopleandplaceusonapathoflife,itrequiresradicalheartsurgery.Itiswhatcomes

outofamanthatmakeshimunclean,anditisarenewalandrecreationofourveryselves

whichwemostdesperatelyneed.Isthispossible?SeeingJesusinMark7tellusYES!But

wemustcometoGodneedyandhopeful—infaith—fortheworkonlyHecando.

A Continual Unfolding – Signposts in Mark 8, 9 and 10

Therearesomehighmountainpeaksineverynarrative,crucialplotturnswhichmove

39

thestorytoitsclimax.AsthestoryofJesusunfoldsinMarkweseesomeveryimportant

eventsgodown.First,PeterconfessesJesustobetheChrist—aconfessionuponwhich

thechurchwillbebuilt.Second,JesusbeginstoforetellwhatwasprophesiedaboutHim

longago,thattheSonofManmustsuffer,bemurderedandrisefromdeath.Thiswasan

unexpectedturnofeventsforthedisciples—drivinghomethecentralfocusofhismis-

sion.Third,GodrevealsJesusisHisgloryonthetopofamountain.Hisradiantbeauty

andmanifestglorywasdisplayedforafewdisciplesjustbeforetheyturntowardleading

themissiontowardacrossinJerusalem.ThecostoffollowingJesus,aJesuswhowould

berejectedbypeopleanddieanignobledeath,wasbeingmadeclear.

Do We Really Want Jesus? Signposts in Mark 11 and 12

UponHisentrytoJerusalem,Jesuswastreatedlikeapoliticalandreligiousrockstar.The

wholetownwasinanuproaratthearrivalofJesus.Theirherohadcometosavethedayfor

JerusalemandthereignsoftheRomanoppressorwouldsoonbyconqueredbytheMessiah,

agreatwarriorKing!Orwasthereanotherplan?ManyofthepeoplewhowelcomedJesus

wouldsoonstandontheothersideofHiscause.Hewouldthreatenreligiouspowerby

bringingthesalvationofGod.Thosewhodesiretoleadmeninreligion,ratherthantothe

throneofgrace,wouldsoonshoutoutwithferocity“CrucifyHim!”EvenHisclosestof

friends,themanwhojusthadconfessedHimastheChristofGodwouldturnonHisfriend

40

inamomentoftrial.PeterhimselfwoulddenyJesus.SoIaskus…dowereallywantJesus?

Death by Love and Life by Death – Signposts in Mark 14, 15, and 16

ThefinalapexofMark’sstorycomestoaheadinthefinalchaptersofthebook.Everything

thatbeganinchapter1hasmovedtothisfinalstationwheredeathwillcomebylove

andlifeforGod’speoplewillcomebydeath.Jesus,thecreatorofallthings,ismocked,

rejectedandtriedasacommoncriminal.HispeopleabandonHimandHesubmits

Himselftoashamefuldeathonacross.YetsuchwasthewillofalovingGod,forit

pleasedtheFathertocrushtheSon.Puttinganendtosin,deathandhellinoneact,

andbydeathlifewouldcometoallmenwhobelieve.Thisisthecrownjewelofourfaith.

Thesongsofworldlymenmightsingofself-sufficiencyandthetriumphofourhuman

ingenuity.Wewillhavenoportionofthisplate—wewillpreachandliveChrist.Christ

crucified,victoriouslyraised,andonmissiontodaybeckoningtoeachofus…FollowMe.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Reid S. Monaghan

41

Endnotes

1 ReidMonaghan,An Old Testament Overview and Introduction to the Prophecy of Habakkuk(InversionFellowship,2007,accessedAugust22007);availablefromhttp://www.inversionfellowship.org/mediafiles/article_oldschool_paper.pdf.

2 O.PalmerRobertson,The Christ of the Covenants(Phillipsburg:PresbyterianandReformed,1980),4.

3 Ibid.,14,15.

4 Monaghan,(accessed).

5 MarkDever,Promises Kept: The Message of the New Testament(Wheaton:CrosswayBooks,2005).AndPromises Made: The Message of the Old Testament (Wheaton:CrosswayBooks,2006).

6 ReidMonaghan,The Importance of the Old Testament - HD Jesus(PowerofChange,2007,accessedAugust22007);availablefromhttp://www.powerofchange.org/blog/2007/01/the_importance_of_the_old_test_2.html.

7 Galatians4:4-6Butwhenthefullnessoftimehadcome,GodsentforthhisSon,bornofwoman,bornunderthelaw,toredeemthosewhowereunderthelaw,sothatwemightreceiveadoptionassons.Andbecauseyouaresons,GodhassenttheSpiritofhisSonintoourhearts,crying,“Abba!Father!”

8 ForanexcellentstudyoftheinfluenceofearlyChristianityinportcitiesseeRodneyStark,Cities of God : The Real Story of How Christianity Became an Urban Movement and Conquered Rome,1sted.([SanFrancisco?]:HarperSanFrancisco,2006).

42

9 DavidAlanBlackandDavidRBeck,Rethinking the Synoptic Problem(GrandRapids:BakerAcademic,2001).

10 Ibid.,17.

11 BenWitherington,The Gospel of Mark : A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary(GrandRapids,Mich.:W.B.EerdmansPub.,2001),1.Emphasisadded.

12 D.A.Carson,DouglasJ.Moo,andLeonMorris,An Introduction to the New Testament(GrandRapids,Mich.:Zondervan,1992),32-36.

13 Moreon“Q”canbefoundatPeterKirby,Q Document(2001-2006,accessedAugust132007);availablefromhttp://www.earlychristianwritings.com/q.html.

14 MostinfluentialhasbeenthelateWilliamReubenFarmer,The Synoptic Problem, a Critical Analysis(NewYork:Macmillan,1964).SeebriefdiscussioninR.T.France,The Gospel of Mark : A Commentary on the Greek Text(GrandRapids,Mich.:W.B.Eerdmans,2002),42.

15 DavidAlanBlack,Why Four Gospels - the Historical Origins of the Gospels(GrandRapids:Kregel,2001).

16 BlackandBeck,Rethinking the Synoptic Problem,18.

17 SeetheUrbanDictionaryforadefinitionofthewordfloss-TheUrbanDictionary,(accessedAugust142007);availablefromhttp://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=floss.

43

18 ForamoresophisticatedlookattheuniquenessofHolocausttestimoniesseethetreatmentinRichardBauckham,Jesus and the Eyewitnesses : The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony(GrandRapids,Mich.:WilliamB.EerdmansPub.Co.,2006),493-502.

19 JamesPorterMoreland,Scaling the Secular City : A Defense of Christianity(GrandRapids,Mich.:BakerBookHouse,1987),137-138.

20 Ibid.,138.

21 Ibid.,144.

22 Seeparticularlychapters10and11ofBauckham,240-263.

23 Ibid.,7.

24 Seethechapter“TheCorroboratingEvidence”interviewinghistoryprofessorEdwinYamauchiinLeeStrobel,The Case for Christ : A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus(GrandRapids,MI:Zondervan,1998),73.

25 Bauckham,5,6.

26 WilliamL.Lane,The Gospel According to Mark; the English Text with Introduction, Exposition, and Notes(GrandRapids,:Eerdmans,1974),3.

27 Thisisnotascientificsurvey,butifyoucomparethetwopagesonSermonCloud.comandyouwillseethedisparity.Mark-http://www.sermoncloud.com/sermons-on-Mark/andJohn-http://www.sermoncloud.com/sermons-on-John/

44

45

28 Lane,8.

29 JamesR.Edwards,The Gospel According to Mark(GrandRapids,Mich:Eerdmans,2002),4.

30 Irenaeus,Against Heresies(ChristianClassicsEtherealLibrary,accessedAugust152007);availablefromhttp://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ix.iv.ii.html.

31 Lane,10-12.

32 DanielWallace,Mark: Introduction, Argument, and Outline(Bible.org,accessedAugust152007);availablefromhttp://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=1093.

33 Edwards,5.

34 ThisisthepositionfavoredinCarson,Moo,andMorris.

35 Lane,25.

36 Witherington,31.

37 Ibid.,34-35.

38 Tacitus,The Annals(MITInternetClassicsArchive,accessedAugust152007);availablefromhttp://classics.mit.edu/Tacitus/annals.11.xv.html.Emphasisadded.

39 ThisphraseisborrowedfromthesubtitleofwhatIconsidertobethebestchildren’sBibleavailabletoday.SallyLloyd-Jones,The Jesus Storybook Bible - Every Story Whispers His Name(GrandRapids:Zonderkidz,2007).

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Notes

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Notes

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