001-Background and Introduction

How can the one “crucified in weakness” (2 Cor. 13:4) be the Mighty One of divine power? This tensive question drives the plot of Mark’s Gospel.[1]

• Discussion Outline
• Discussion Audio (55 minutes)
• Text: Mark 1:1-8

"Colosseum in Rome, Italy - April 2007" by Diliff - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons.

The author of Mark’s gospel account redefines what euangelion (i.e., gospel) means to its audience. To its Roman audience the gospel is about a new royalty that supplants Caesar. To its Jewish audience the gospel is transition between the Present Age and the Age to Come – it is the promised Day of the Lord.

The word “gospel” (euangelion), “good news,” refers to the church’s message of God’s saving act in Jesus, the message proclaimed by the church of Mark’s day and ours. It does not here refer to a book representing the life and teaching of Jesus, a meaning the word did not attain until the middle of the second century.[2]

The opening of the gospel account is a recounting of an invasion; an invasion of God and his power into the realm of sin and darkness.

Mark is the story of an invasion, an invasion of this world by God and God’s reign… This is an invasion that is going forward without any invitation. This is an invasion that neither expects nor requires any real receptivity on the part of those for whom the invasion is planned.[3]

Mark was written to a church in crisis; a church facing persecution, martyrdom, and even death. How does the story of a crucified Jesus give strength and hope to a suffering church? Mark invites his readers to place themselves in Jesus’ place, to experience his trials, and to take strength and encouragement in his story of faithfulness, even to the cross. Mark introduces the “wilderness” as a place where God is most present, where he draws closest to his people, where the exodus and salvation takes place.

The biblical concept of repentance, however, is deeply rooted in the wilderness tradition. In the earliest stratum of OT prophecy, the summons to "turn" basically connotes a return to the original relationship with the Lord. This means a return to the beginning of God's history with his people, a return to the wilderness.[4]

Summary Points

1. Mark’s gospel account: written for Christians facing crisis with all the questions of theodicy and the like that suffering and persecution raises
2. “The gospel,” for Mark, is the explanation and meaning of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and how that speaks to Christians
3. Mark’s gospel account is not primarily for evangelism, but for encouragement and exhortation to those that already believe
4. Mystery surrounding Jesus and who he is figure prominently in Mark’s gospel
5. It might be seen as midrash (commentary) on the second half of Isaiah
6. The Exodus and wilderness wanderings figure as prominent motifs of salvation story
7. The gospel is not static – it continues with every generation of the Church

What could it mean for congregations to believe that we, here today, are part of this ongoing story of good news, that the end of the story has not yet been written?[5]

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[1] Feasting: Mark, location 658.

[2] Feasting: Mark, location 617.

[3] Feasting: Mark, location 522.

[4] NICNT: Mark, 1:4-5.

[5] Feasting: Mark, location 674.