Dale Ridge church of Christ

Hopefully you have spent this week reading along in Mark as we work toward reading the New Testament in a year. This schedule will help those of us who are “too busy” or “read too slow” or make “too many” excuses discipline ourselves to read the Bible each day this year.

If you haven’t started yet, never fear. We take the weekends off of the schedule so we can catch up the days we missed. So go ahead. I’ve linked the outlines below for easy reference. It’s also a good chance to plan our week ahead and reflect back on the week of reading we just did. If we “start with the end in mind,” we stand a better chance of succeeding in our goal of reading the NT all the way through this year.

The Bible Record of Mark

Mark’s mother Mary had a house that was used as a meeting place for Christians in Jerusalem. (Acts 12:12) Peter was recognized by the servant girl at the gate in Acts 12:13-16 which indicates frequent visits.

Barnabas was Marks cousin according to Colossians 4:10. We think it is more likely that Peter brought him to Christ because he refers to Mark as “My son” in 1 Peter 5:13.

Barnabas and Paul took Mark along when they returned from Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 12:25) and he left with them on Paul’s first journey. (Acts 13:5) Mark turned back to Jerusalem when they got to Phyrgia (Acts 13:13) Barnabas wanted Mark to go on the second journey but Paul refused to allow him. The resulting disagreement caused Barnabas to take mark to Cyprus and Paul and Silas went to Syria and Cilicia. (Acts 15:36-41)

12 years later Paul wrote that Mark was with him during his first Roman imprisonment. (Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24)

Paul sent for Mark at near the end of his life stating that he was useful for Paul’s ministry. (2 Timothy 4:11)

The Book of Mark

Depending on the source, it is thought that Mark was the first of the Gospels written. Mark had basically recorded everything that Peter taught him. The exact date is uncertain.

Mark’s Gospel is the shortest of the four. He emphasizes Jesus quickness of action throughout the first half of the book. This is a book about a servant so Mark jumps right into Jesus ministry.

• Mark lists only 4 parables told by Jesus
• Mark records 19 Miracles

Many think the book was directed to a Roman audience and some even think it originated there. A few bits of “proof:”

• Mark omitted a number of things not interesting to the non-Jew – Jesus’ genealogy, fulfilled prophesy, references to the Law, Jewish custom.
• Mark interpreted Aramaic words (Mark 3:17, Mark 5:41, Mark 7:34, Mark 15:22)
• He used Latin terms in place of the Greek equivalents (Mark 4:21, Mark 6:27, Mark 12:14, Mark 12:42, Mark 15:15-16, Mark 15:39)

During your reading, you likely noticed the words “immediately”, “straightway” and the like. This is the word “euthus” from the Greek and is used 41 times in Mark.

Last Week (Jan 4-8)

Here’s a quick link back to last weeks’ reading:

• Mark 5 – Legion, A Blood Problem and a Grieving Father
• Mark 4 – Sowing Seeds and Calming the Seas
• Mark 3 – Jesus Chooses the Twelve
• Mark 2 – Jesus Works on the Sabbath
• Mark 1 – Jesus’ Ministry Begins

This Week (Jan 11-15)

In the coming week be sure and pay close attention to Mark 8:34-37 and Mark 10:43-45 as these are key passage. Don’t worry though, the reading notes will remind you those days. Also This Wednesday will be the turning point of the book. Jesus’ ministry will change focus. Peter will make an important confession and really change things.

Published by Butch  Email This Post  Print This Post
Filed under: Uncategorized on January 9th, 2010