GOOD NEWS
The gospel of Mark is about “the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ (v1), the Son of God” and ends with Jesus asking his followers to proclaim the “good news” to the whole creation (16v15).  It seems that Mark’s “good news” was written for non-Jews, probably the Romans.  The Romans had many gods but this book explains why they should consider the claims of Jesus, the Son of God.  The Romans would not have been particularly interested in Jewish history and that could be the reason for the absence of a Jewish family tree (like we see in Matthew and Luke). Compared to Matthew, Mark has relatively few references to the Jewish, historical, old testament prophecies and some verses, like 7v3, actually, explain Jewish customs.  The Romans would also have been more interested in the person himself, his power and remarkable acts and that is how the book starts. Mark goes on to show how the power of Jesus differs totally from their own power of military intimidation.

MORE POWERFUL THAN I
Mark is a fast moving and vivid account of the life of Jesus but starts with John, the baptizer, who appeared in the wilderness and introduced the one who was more “powerful” than him (v7) and who would baptise in the Holy Spirit (v8).  Much of Mark then goes on to explain what was so special about Jesus who came proclaiming the “good news” of God.  His kingdom was near and, to become part of it, people needed to repent and believe (v15).

AMAZING POWER OVER DEMONS AND DISEASE
It is, clearly, written by someone who was amazed by Jesus; see v22 where they, the people, were “astounded” at the authority of His teaching.”  The power of Jesus to cast out demons is a big emphasis in Mark and his first miracle account(v23) shows His authority over an unclean spirit  and “they were all amazed,” “He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him” (v27).  Mark goes on to explain how this amazing man soon made an impact in the surrounding areas (v28).  There then came the healing of Peter’s mother in law (v31), followed by “many” other healings and we are told that “many” demons were cast out (v34).

CAME TO CALL SINNERS
To the paralytic, dropped through the roof, Jesus told him his sins were forgiven and the man picked up his mat and carried it out (2v12); “they were all amazed and glorified God saying, “we have never seen anything like this”.   In chapter 2v17 we see that Jesus had come to call those who were spiritually sick, “not the righteous but sinners”.

Mark mentions that Jesus spoke with many parables (4v33), and we read of a few, but the book is, far more, filled with the actions of Jesus and how impressive they were.  In chapter 4v41 he notes the reaction to Jesus calming of the storm, for “they were filled with great awe” and said to one another “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’” There is a wonderful description in chapter 5 of the desperate state of the Gerasene demoniac, called Legion, and how all his demons entered the swine, about 2000 of them, who suddenly rushed down the steep bank into the lake (v13).  There is a challenge for us, in the message Jesus gave to the man, for he was asked to tell his friends (v19) how much the Lord had done for him, and what mercy he had shown him.  Accordingly, once again, “everyone was amazed” (v20).

PEOPLE MATTER
Little personal touches shine from this book for you can, vividly, imagine Jairus falling at His feet, begging Jesus for his little daughter (v22, 23) or the woman with continous bleeding who had spent all she had on doctors but rather grew worse (v26). We can hear her thoughts as she came up to touch him from behind (v28) and then feel her fear and trembling as Jesus points her out (v33).  The girl died before Jesus arrived and we are presented with a commotion of people who started by laughing at His faith but, when He told the little girl to get up, they were “overcome with amazement” (v42).  Thousands of hungry people were fed (ch 6) and, when He walked on water and calmed the storm, “they were utterly astounded” (v51).  The deaf and dumb man was healed and people again were “astounded”, this time “beyond measure” (7v37).

THE SUFFERING SERVANT
From chapter 9 v31 there seems to be less emphasis on the power ministry as Jesus prophesies His own betrayal and death (v31). His people are called to be humble servants (v35) and if they do not receive the kingdom as a little child they will never enter it (10v15).  The good news is so important that we need to forsake earthly treasures and leave all and everyone for the sake of the good news (v29).  It is very interesting that in verses 42-45 Jesus contrasts the way Gentiles wield power by being tyrants to His disciples who should be servants.  They should be like Him for Jesus says in verse 45 “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

The different leadership groups tried to trick Jesus with questions but after His perfect answers (12v34), “no one dared to ask Him any question”.  He warned them of the hypocrisy of the scribes (v38-40) who had the appearance of religious observance but devoured widow’s houses.  It was the heart of a widow (v42) that Jesus esteemed, the one who put her 2 copper coins into the treasury and, by doing so, had put in everything she had to live on.

We are then taken to the intimacy of the upper room (14v22) where Jesus compared the broken bread with His body and the cup of wine with the blood of the new covenant which was poured out for many.  Peter then denied Him and the others deserted .  In verse 51 we have the account of a young man who was following Jesus but ran off naked because they caught hold of his linen cloth.  Some believe this was Mark himself.

Even in the crucifixion, Mark mentions people amazed by Jesus.  Pilate (15v5) was amazed that Jesus did not answer the charges against Him and the centurion declared “truly this man was God’s Son” (15v39).  After the resurrection, the ladies at the tomb fled in “terror and amazement” (16v8).

DISCIPLES PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS WITH POWER
It is no surprise that the book of Mark ends up with Jesus’ disciples proclaiming the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. The wonderful Jesus had gone to heaven (16v19) but His amazing power was still there to accompany the preaching of the good news (v20).