Mark Bible Study: Discover the Transformative Truths of Jesus (paperback)

Mark and His Book about Jesus

The book of Mark, named after its author, is one of the four Gospels in the Bible. Each one is a biography that focuses on the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Mark’s book is the shortest and most concise of the four Gospels. It’s an ideal source to gain a quick and essential understanding of who Jesus is and what he did. Though Mark may not include some of the delightful details we read in the other Gospels, he provides us with the critical elements of Jesus’s life and ministry. As such, the book of Mark is a great place to start.

The books of Matthew and Luke have many parallel passages to what we read in Mark, but this is not the case with the book of John.

The Gospel of Mark, likely written by John Mark, is considered the first Gospel written. It’s a fast-moving narrative, clearly communicated in dramatic description. It is simultaneously simple yet also equally profound.

We first read about John Mark in Acts. His mother’s name is Mary. Jesus’s followers are having a prayer meeting at her house, asking God to release Peter from prison. John Mark doesn’t play any role in the story, but the author of Acts feels it’s important that we know he’s present.

John Mark is a cousin of Barnabas. Barnabas wants to take John Mark with him and Paul (also called Saul) on one of their mission trips. Paul objects because John Mark had deserted them on a previous journey, but Barnabas sees potential in his younger cousin.

Paul and Barnabas debate the issue, but they can’t reach a consensus. Their pointed dispute over John Mark causes them to end their partnership and stop working together. Though a sad development, this allows them to cover more territory and mentor other people. God turns their disagreement into something good.

Based on this event, we may assume Paul has no use for John Mark and writes him off. But this isn’t true.

The two of them reconcile. We get a hint of this at the end of Paul’s second letter to Timothy. There Paul instructs his protégé: “When you come, bring John Mark with you, for he’s helpful to me in my work.” Furthermore, Paul notes that John Mark is with him when he writes to his friend Philemon.

Though John Mark initially proves himself unworthy, he turns things around and wins Paul’s approval. Though John Mark didn’t start out well, he finished strong.

When we flounder, do we give up or push through to turn things around?

Who must we reconcile with? Who can we mentor?