HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Mark 1:1-13
In your New Testament the first four books are called gospels--the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John. These aren't exactly biographies of the Lord Jesus, but rather individual accounts of the life
of the Lord written from different perspectives to teach certain lessons. Matthew is the gospel which
presents Jesus as the Messiah of the Jewish people. Luke is the gospel which presents the Lord Jesus
as the perfect man, emphasizing His perfect humanity. John's gospel begins in eternity and sets forth
Jesus Christ as the eternal God, the one who came into time, wrapped himself in human flesh, became a
man and dwelt among us.
Mark's gospel, which is the shortest of the gospels, takes a different view altogether. The purpose
of Mark's gospel is to present the Lord Jesus as the suffering servant. There is a verse in Mark which
is the key verse to the entire book. In Mark 10:45 there is a summary statement of what Mark's gospel
is intended to do. Jesus Himself gives the key which unlocks the book when He says:
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and
to give His life a ransom for many."
Two purposes of our Lord's coming are indicated: to serve and to give Himself on the cross as a
sacrifice for man's sins. These two emphases summarize the overall purpose of Mark's gospel. Mark
presents the Lord Jesus as the suffering servant. This accounts for the absence of a great deal of the
teachings of Jesus in Mark's gospel. Not the words that Jesus taught but primarily the works of the
Lord Jesus, are recorded.
Mark's gospel is a gospel of action. Jesus is seen on the move. He heals in one city and moves to
another. He moves rapidly from place to place. Moving through the chapters of Mark's gospel two
words recurr in the King James text- the words "immediately" and "straightway". For example, in the
first chapter of Mark, verse ...
Mark 1:1-13
In your New Testament the first four books are called gospels--the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John. These aren't exactly biographies of the Lord Jesus, but rather individual accounts of the life
of the Lord written from different perspectives to teach certain lessons. Matthew is the gospel which
presents Jesus as the Messiah of the Jewish people. Luke is the gospel which presents the Lord Jesus
as the perfect man, emphasizing His perfect humanity. John's gospel begins in eternity and sets forth
Jesus Christ as the eternal God, the one who came into time, wrapped himself in human flesh, became a
man and dwelt among us.
Mark's gospel, which is the shortest of the gospels, takes a different view altogether. The purpose
of Mark's gospel is to present the Lord Jesus as the suffering servant. There is a verse in Mark which
is the key verse to the entire book. In Mark 10:45 there is a summary statement of what Mark's gospel
is intended to do. Jesus Himself gives the key which unlocks the book when He says:
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and
to give His life a ransom for many."
Two purposes of our Lord's coming are indicated: to serve and to give Himself on the cross as a
sacrifice for man's sins. These two emphases summarize the overall purpose of Mark's gospel. Mark
presents the Lord Jesus as the suffering servant. This accounts for the absence of a great deal of the
teachings of Jesus in Mark's gospel. Not the words that Jesus taught but primarily the works of the
Lord Jesus, are recorded.
Mark's gospel is a gospel of action. Jesus is seen on the move. He heals in one city and moves to
another. He moves rapidly from place to place. Moving through the chapters of Mark's gospel two
words recurr in the King James text- the words "immediately" and "straightway". For example, in the
first chapter of Mark, verse ...
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