Now we come to the Gospel according to Mark, usually attributed to Mark the Evangelist, the second book of the Gospels.
Probably the first question one should ask is, who exactly was Mark?
He certainly was not one of the 12 disciples who followed Jesus during
his ministry.
He was born in the first century, probably not long after
the birth of Jesus and there are a number of conjectures concerning his origins and connection with the early Christian Church.
With the help of Wikipedia:
According to William Lane (1974), an "unbroken tradition" identifies Mark the Evangelist with John Mark, and John Mark as the cousin of Barnabas. His connection to the story in this version, is based on being the cousin of Barnabas.
Oh you say--Who is Barnabas and what is he doing in this story?
Barnabas, born Joseph, was an early Christian, one of the prominent Christian disciples in Jerusalem. According to Acts 4:36, Barnabas was a Cypriot Jew. Named an apostle in Acts 14:14, he and Paul the Apostle undertook missionary journeys together and defended Gentile converts against the Judaizers. They traveled together making more converts (c. AD45–47), and participated in the Council of Jerusalem (c. 50) Barnabas and Paul successfully evangelized among the "God-fearing" Gentiles who attended synagogues in various Hellenized cities of Anatolia.
On the other hand, Hippolytus of Rome in On the Seventy Apostles distinguishes Mark the Evangelist, John Mark, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas . According to Hippolytus, they all belonged to the "Seventy Disciples" who were sent out by Jesus to disseminate the gospel in Judea. (Seventy Disciples, where did that come from?)
In
another version of the story of who Mark is, and his connection to the story; Herod Agrippa I, killed James, son of
Zebedee and arrested Peter, planning to kill him after Passover. Peter
was saved by the angels and escaped out of the realm of Herod. Peter
went to Antioch, then through Asia Minor (visiting the churches at various locations) and arrived in Rome in the second year of Emperor Claudius
(AD 42). Somewhere on the way, Peter
encountered Mark and took him as travel companion and interpreter. This established that Mark was educated and likely spoke Greek. Mark
the Evangelist could have taken notes on the sermons
of Peter, this being the basis for composing the Gospel according to Mark, (So in a way, under this interpretation of Mark's ties to Christianity, the
Gospel of Mark is really the sermons of Peter). Then he left for
Alexandria (c AD 49) in the third year of Claudius.
Upon arriving at Alexandria, he founded the Church of Alexandria.
So Mark was the cousin of Barnabas, who was a disciple to Paul, or he was a disciple to Peter. Perhaps both. Take your choice.
Most modern scholars argue the Gospel of Mark was actually written by
an anonymous author, not by Saint Mark. Certainly not by anyone who
actually witnessed the actual events that were wrote about in the Book of
Mark.
It is easy to conclude that the author of the Gospel of Mark is
guilty of bit of plagiarism, that he read Matthew first and just copied a large part of it, in fact almost all of it. However, some scholars believe the Mark was actually the first Gospel written and it was Matthew and Luke that followed.
Mark begins his tale after Jesus has left
his home to begin his ministry with his visit to John the Baptist to be baptized. Mark did not tackle the story of the birth of Jesus. Jesus then started to gather his first disciples.
The story of Peter, Andrew, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother joining Jesus was exactly as in Matthew.
One episode high lighted the friction that was growing between Jesus and the Pharisees. (Mark 2:15-17) "And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and they followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and publicans, said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners".
Another significant entry in the book was the issue of performing healing on the Sabbath. (Mark 3:1-4) "And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered.
And they watched, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man that had his hand withered, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or do harm? to save a life or to kill? But they held their peace." This was an on going problem for Jesus, performing healing on the sabbath. Jesus then restored the mans hand. (Mark 3:6) "And the Pharisees went out, and straightway with the Herodians took counsel against him, how they might destroy him."
So right away, the book showed that Jesus was at odds with the Pharisees. But, who were these Pharisees that hate Jesus so much that they are looking for ways to destroy him? The Gospels often portray the Pharisees as an enemy of John the Baptist and Jesus. But, there are also several references in the New Testament to the Apostle Paul being a Pharisee. The relationship between Early Christianity and Pharisees was not always hostile however: e.g. Gamaliel is often cited as a Pharisaic leader who was sympathetic to Christians. Mainly the Pharisees were a political, which in those days meant a religious party, generally having the backing and good will of the common people. Just how the Pharisees fit into the society of the Jews is a history lesson within itself. The Pharisees might not have liked Jesus's teachings but, they were not the only voice in Israel at the time. But, Jesus's great appeal was to the people that supported the Pharisees. It is easy to see why the leadership of the Pharisees would not care for Jesus and his attractiveness to the very people that were their base. The Jews were not a single unified voice in how to interpret the Torah. The Sadducees, who were mainly the upper class and wealthy Jews, were another major political (religious) party.
According to Mark, Jesus chose a little different way to anoint his twelve chosen ones.
(Mark 3:13-19) "And he goeth into the mountain, and calleth unto him whom he himself would; and they went unto him. And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to cast out demons: and Simon he surnamed Peter; and James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder: and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him".
At one time Jesus's mother and his brethren came to him and wanted to talk. (Mark 3:31) "And there came his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren? And looking round on them that sat round about him, he saith, Behold, my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." It seems that Jesus was not that good a son in the common meaning of the word. It could be that he really was on the outs with his family, especially his parents, in spite of the fact that he taught that to disrespect one mother and father was a sin. His mother came to see him and he was too busy to bother. Not sure what was going on here, but it looks odd. He taught that doing the will of God trumped all and that you should leave your family to do so. It also reinforces the notion that Jesus had siblings.
Jesus continues his roaming and doing Jesus things. Most all the parables, healing, casting out of demons and sayings found in the book of Matthew are repeated here. One small exception is that Mark has a bread and fishes story with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes with which he fed the multitude. The seven loaf story emerges in chapter 8.In fact he enjoyed this tale so much it was repeated 2 more times each.
He continued to roam the land drawing huge throngs of people to hear him, making the Pharisees uncomfortable. He was breaking all kinds of Jewish traditions along the way. Healing on the sabbath, eating with "defiled" hands and others.
At last he came near to Jerusalem.
(Mark 11:1-2) "And when they draw nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go your way into the village that is over against you: and straightway as ye enter into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat; loose him, and bring him" Most accounts having Jesus sending the disciple for an ass, but Mark preferred a colt which is the foal of an ass.
The disciples got the colt and Jesus rode it into Jerusalem. While in Jerusalem he was challenged many times on his teachings which he answered with parables and other teachings.
(Mark 11:11) "And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and when he had looked round about upon all things, it being eventide, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered. And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs. And he answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And his disciples heard it." Later when they returned the fig tree was withered and dead. Jesus didn't put up with anything, not even a stubborn tree.
Then they returned to Jerusalem and entered the temple, saw what was going on, and all hell broke loose, just as the story told by Matthew.
(Mark 11:18) "And the chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how might destroy him: for they feared him, for all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
After they returned to the mount of Olives, Peter, John, James and Andrew asked him about what signs would there be before the end of time. This is where Jesus went through a litany of things that will happen. Wars and rumors of wars, nations will rise against nations, earthquakes, famine and the gospel must first be preached unto all nations. Brother shall slay brother and father shall slay his child; and the child shall rise up and slay it's parents. False Christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders. The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light and the stars shall fall from the heavens. Then you will see the Son of man coming in great power and glory. In other words, all kinds of bad things are in our future. How Mark found out about this meeting and what was said, is anybodies guess. Perhaps from Peter. Matthew certainly never revealed it in his telling.
All this is mothers milk to the typical fire and brimstone preacher.
Marks telling of the last supper is very close to the story told in Matthew.
The story of Jesus's betrayal by Judas and the subsequent events are well documented in Matthew, with very few differences. For one, the famous scene of Pilate washing hands is missing from Mark's story. Another, the amount of money isn't mentioned. The scene on the cross follows closely to Matthew. (Mark 15:25-28) "And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two robbers,one on this right hand, and one on his left. And the scripture was fulled, which saith, And he was reckoned with transgressors". It should be noted that there is no atonement for one of the robbers during the crucifixion. That is reserved for Luke to write about, or invent.
Joseph of Arimathaea asked Pilate if he could have the body for burial. (Mark 15:44-45) "And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph." Jesus died in only three days which was unusual. Crucifixion was designed to be a long and painful death.
Here the story various a little from that related in the Book of Matthew.
The two Mary's, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome, brought spices that they might anoint him. They wondered how they were going to roll back the stone so they could do what they came for.
When they arrived the stone was already rolled away. (Mark 16:5) "And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed" Notice that Mark doesn't name the young man as an angel, although he seems to infer it.
The young man then pointed out that Jesus was no longer where they had laid him. He said to the Mary's to tell his disciples and Peter that he would go before them to Galilee and meet with them.
(Mark 16:8) "And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid".
Now the story gets even more interesting. The first person he appeared to was, Mary Magdalene, described as a women from whom he had cast out seven demons. She then went to the disciples, as they mourned and wept, and told them that she had been with a risen Jesus. They didn't believe her. Of course not, she was a woman. Why would Jesus come to her first? This does show that there was a special connection between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, which leads to all kinds of speculation.
Then he appeared in another form to two of them (It doesn't say which two). The two then told the others, but they weren't believed either. Jesus is having a hard time with his disciples.
Jesus then appeared to the eleven as they sat eating. (Mark 16:14-16) "And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into the world, and preach the gospel to whole creation. He that believeth and baptized shall be saved; but he the disbelieveth shall be condemned." So Jesus sent the eleven men, who had real doubts about him, out in the world to carry his word.
Then Jesus anointed the eleven with special gifts. (Mark 16:17) "And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover".
Now one can see where so called faith healers get their authenticity. This passage has generated all kinds of weirdos, including snake worshipers, speaking in tongues and other practices. Notice, Mark, like Matthew, doesn't give the power of actually forgiving sin to the eleven. Each person is responsible for themselves. An individual is saved by believing in him and being baptized. No intermediary required.
After that, it says, he went to heaven and sat at the right hand of God.
The final passage in Mark; 16:20 " And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
Thus ends the story of Jesus as told by Mark. Luke follows:
