Bible Commentaries
Mark

Mark is likely the earliest of the gospels. William Barclay calls it the world's most important book, and it may also be the very first story of Jesus' life that has come down to us.^(F1) Because it is the shortest of the gospels, and the one specifically written to Gentiles, it also may be the world's most translated book and the one that appears in more languages than all the others.^(F2)

The author of this short gospel is generally agreed to be John Mark. Although Mark was a young man at the time of Jesus, he was no doubt well acquainted with the events of early Christianity. Mark's mother Mary was very influential in those early times and we see that the first Jerusalem church met in her home (Acts 12:12). Young Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas, his cousin, on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:5), but for some reason he turned back to Jerusalem (13:13). The early writer and preacher John Chrysostom (c AD 349-407) suggested that young Mark might have just gotten homesick.

Because Mark had turned back on the first trip, Paul would not allow him to join them on the second, thus creating a division between Barnabas and himself. Instead, Barnabas took Mark with him and the two set out for Cyprus (Acts 15:39). We know that in time, Mark earned the respect of Paul and we see the great apostle actually requested his presence when he himself was imprisoned (2 Timothy 4:11). We see Mark with Paul also in Colossians 4:10.

So far as this gospel is concerned it is no doubt more important that Mark was a close companion of Peter. In 1 Peter 5:13, he is reported to be in Rome (code-named "Babylon") with Peter and the chief apostle refers to Mark as "his son." Several early church writers not only place him in Rome with Peter, but verify that he was with Peter a long time. Most importantly they verify that he was Peter's interpreter and wrote his gospel directly from Peter's knowledge, sermons and memoirs. One of these early sources was a certain Papias, who received his report from "the elder." His information could easily date back to the first century.^{Ecclesiastical History 3:39:15. He asserts that Mark was Peter's interpreter who recorded accurately, but not chronologically, Peter's memories of Jesus. Apparently Mark took and adapted Peter's sermons and organized them into a gospel presentation. Papias claims to have received this information from "the elder," which could refer to the Apostle John." (Utley, Introduction). Utley mentions Justin Martyr (AD 150), who quotes from Mark and states that it comes from Peter's memory….also he relates how the Anti-Marcionite Prologue to Mark written about AD 180 states that Peter was the "eyewitness" in Mark's gospel and that Mark wrote the gospel after Peter's death around AD 65. (Utley, Intro.). Utley also mentions how Irenaeus, who wrote about AD 180, speaks of John Mark as Peter's interpreter and compiler, (cf. Contra Haereses 3:1:2), and how Clement of Alexandria (AD 195) tells us that the people who heard Peter preach at Rome requested that Mark record his sermons.(Utley, Intro.). James Edwards (The Gospel According to Mark) continues with this, saying, "the Second Gospel was in many respects 'Peter's memoirs:' – found as far as we know, unanimous agreement in the early church." p. 5.">(F3)} Thus Mark's gospel was probably written from Rome and it is generally dated to about the mid-sixties of the first century.

Because Mark took his information directly from Peter and had long exposure to the great disciple, his gospel reads very much like an eye-witness account. Mark portrays the humanness of Jesus. His gospel is filled with activity as Jesus quickly moves from one event to the next. We will note that one of Mark's favorite words is "immediately." In fact, he uses it over 40 times.^(F4) Mark does not focus so much on the teaching of Jesus as he does on who Jesus actually is. He presents Jesus as the "Servant;" "the Christ;" "the Son of Man;" and most important of all, "the Son of God."