“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
(Mark 1:1 ESV)
“Lights. Camera. Action!” Mark is like the director of a documentary. He begins his film by zooming in on John the Baptist then panning to Jesus’ baptism. Instead of simply telling Jesus’ story from beginning to end, Mark races from scene to scene, rearranging “snapshots” of Jesus’ ministry to help us understand who Jesus is and what he came to do. The book of Mark also calls us to act—to follow Jesus as his disciples.
John Mark, the author of the book, was an assistant to the apostle Peter. He spent years listening to Peter’s stories about Jesus and collecting that testimony for the church. The earliest records indicate that Mark wrote his book from Rome 20-30 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Most scholars agree that Mark’s book was the first of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), since there is evidence that it was one of the sources Luke used.
Mark tells Jesus’ story for all believers—Jews and Gentiles, ancient readers, and readers today. In chapters 1-8, he begins by introducing us to Jesus, the Son of God, who has come to save his people. Jesus’ first followers struggled to understand who Jesus was and what it would mean for him to be their Savior, so in the next section, Mark makes this clear (beginning in Mark 8:31 through the end of the book). He doesn’t sugar-coat matters. He shows his readers that Jesus came to suffer and to die. It was only through this sacrifice that God would establish his kingdom (Mark 8:31).
Jesus gave people a foretaste of his kingdom when he healed illnesses, set people free from demons, fed the hungry, and forgave sins. Jesus explained that although the kingdom begins like a tiny mustard seed, it is already growing into a sturdy tree that will one day be a refuge for all people (Mark 4:30-34). When God rules as King, his people will be free from sin, illness, sorrow, and suffering. This is the life that Jesus’ followers look forward to.
Jesus explained that although the kingdom begins like a tiny mustard seed, it is already growing into a sturdy tree that will one day be a refuge for all people (Mark 4:30-34).
Mark also tells us that our journey will look a lot like Jesus’ journey. Jesus followers will also face suffering. Why then would anyone willingly follow Jesus? In Mark’s gospel, Jesus tells his disciples, “If any of you want to be my follower… you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life” (Mark 8:34-35 NLT). Jesus shows by his example and by his teaching that God’s kingdom is worth sacrifice.
Following Jesus is the action that Mark calls his readers to take. He retells Peter’s stories so that we can see who Jesus is and what he came to do. Mark isn’t just celebrating a dead role-model or a celebrity. He is calling us to be willing to give up everything else to follow a living king and to enjoy life in his kingdom. Mark’s book asks a question of us that demands a response.
Is Jesus my Savior-King, and am I willing to lay aside every other ambition to follow him?