THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK
SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Author: Mark
Date written: Approximately A.D. 65 to 70. Some believe A.D. 60.
OT quotes: Approximately 49
Time period: From John the Baptist to after the ascension of Jesus into heaven
For/to: Seems to have been written with the Roman’s mentality in view; it could have been destined for Rome
Statistics: 16 chapters; 678 verses; 15,171 words
The author. The name of John is from the original Hebrew name Yochanan; Mark (the Latin name) (or Roman prefix which was later added) "Polite Shining." It is believed that this is the same one mentioned in the New Testament in Acts 12:12, 25; 13:5, 13; 15:37, 39; Col 4:10; 2 Tim 4:11; Phil. 24; 1 Pe 5:13. He was a Messianic Jewish believer, and his home was in Jerusalem. He was the son of Mary who lived in Jerusalem, whose house Peter came to after he was delivered from prison. He was a travel companion of Peter, Paul, and Barnabas. Some believe he may have been the young man that fled away naked in Mk 14:51,52. He was an associate of the apostle Peter.
About this Gospel. Mark’s Gospel is the shortest of the four. Some of the material in Mark’s Gospel is not chronological.
Emphasis seems to be on Jesus being the Son of God and on discipleship. Jesus is revealed as the Son of God and the suffering, obedient Servant of God the Father, Who gave up His life as a ransom for the sin of others in submission to God’s will. There is no genealogy given in Mark’s Gospel for the "Servant" or references to His virgin birth. The apostles are never recorded as calling Jesus "Lord" in this Gospel. He taught what it meant to follow Him. This and the denial of one’s own self and desires is something that is seldom taught or understood in this lukewarm generation of self-exaltation, selfishness, money, greed, pleasure, prosperity, and plenty. Mark, a book of action, focuses more on the deeds of Jesus rather than His words.