Mark is written for the Gentile people and so explains Jewish customs and refers to the Greek Old Testament scrolls in references.  It’s an account of Jesus’ life and ministry written for the community of believers, rather than an evangelistic tool.  It is thought to be the first Gospel written, likely between 66 and 70 AD.  It is often referred to as the “shortest Gospel.”

Jesus is introduced at his baptism.  Here he is identified as the Son of God.  Yet, Jesus’ identity as the Messiah is kept quiet throughout most of the Gospel.  Perhaps Jesus wanted to keep his identity secret to prevent an earlier death.  Regardless, Mark’s Jesus is definitely on a mission.  There’s an urgency to this Gospel.  Jesus seems aware of his limited time and is always moving towards the cross.  While this Gospel depicts much of Jesus ministry and devotes a third of the stories to Jesus’ miracles, it is succinct and the word “immediately” is used often.  Jesus doesn’t seem to have time for niceties in the Gospel of Mark, and is blunt and direct.  Jesus spends much time helping the disciples to understand, but seems to have little luck in that department for most of the Gospel.  Mark’s Gospel depicts a man on a mission who reacts to events with authentic human emotion.  In Mark’s Gospel we see Jesus get angry, frustrated, surprised, sad, distressed, and even grieved. We see Jesus moved with pity, sympathy and compassion.  We see a suffering Jesus, too.  We hear Jesus cry out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (15:34)

Note, too, that the original ending to Mark’s Gospel is after Mark 16:8 and the empty tomb.  It read, “And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter.  And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal life.”  So, there is a promise of Jesus’ appearance, but no record of it.  The final verses (9-20), recording record Jesus’ appearance and commission to his disciples, as well as his ascension were added sometime later.

I wrote that Mark’s Gospel is an account of Jesus’ life and ministry, but really I think it’d be more accurate to say it’s an account of Jesus’ death.  The Gospel of Mark is a narrative meant to make sense out of Jesus death and to tell who Jesus is.[1]  I believe it was Jesus’ death, not life, that’s central to this Gospel.  Jesus’ life events all lead to his death in the Gospel of Mark.  They explain why he died.  I see Mark as the passion Gospel.  Read Mark 15, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Annie

[1] http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/story/mark.html.  Accessed June 7, 2016.