Drive Thru History: Bible Backroads – The Gospel of Mark
Episodes
Background of the Book
In the Gospel of Matthew, we learned that Jesus was born ‘King of the Jews.’ He came to fulfill prophecy and reveal the Kingdom of God to humanity. But before King Jesus put on his crown of glory, he had to endure a crown of thorns and be treated as a lowly Servant. This is the primary purpose of Mark’s Gospel – to present Jesus as the one who came into the world to serve, suffer, and give his life as a ransom for many.
Survey of the Book
The Gospel of Mark is a short, unified account of selected parts of the life of Jesus. The Gospel moves through three distinctive sections: The Ministry of Jesus (Mark 1:1 to 9:1) The Sacrifice of Jesus (Mark 9:2 to 15:47) The Triumph of Jesus (Mark 16:1-20) It’s a straightforward narrative. The ministry of Jesus begins in obscurity, grows in popularity, and ends in opposition. This leads to the death and resurrection of Jesus – the Servant of God “who gave his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Key Players
John the Baptist was a colorful character in history. He was a fearless preacher who came in the “spirit and power of Elijah” from over 800 years earlier. John wore a simple garment of woven camel hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He survived on locusts and wild honey, and spoke boldly, even to the religious and political leaders of the day.
Key Locations
Jesus spent much of his ministry on the Sea of Galilee. Also known in the Bible as the Sea of Gennesaret, Lake Tiberias, and Lake Kinnereth, the Sea of Galilee isn’t really a “sea” – it’s a beautiful freshwater lake. The Sea of Galilee is fed by mountains and springs, which combine at the head of the Jordan River to the north. The Jordan River then passes through the lake, which is 13 miles long, 8.5 miles wide, and 686 feet below sea level.
Life Applications
Since Mark focused on the works of Jesus for a Roman audience, miracles occupied a prominent place in his Gospel. In fact, Mark recorded more of the miracles of Jesus than the sermons of Jesus.
The Great Takeaways
Mark 10:45 is probably the key verse in Mark’s Gospel. We might think of this verse in two parts. First, it describes the Servant’s supreme ambition – not to be served, but to serve. Second, it describes the Servant’s supreme mission – to give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus is not simply a model of a Servant – He is God’s perfect Servant.