Discipleship and the Gospel
This is a devotional study on The Gospel according to Mark, using highlights from a sermon
series preached by Pastor Marcus Johnson (from November 2007 through April 2009).
For help in additional studies, click on Recommended Resources.
introduction
The following three sources were used in this study: The Gospel of Mark, by William Lane (New International
Commentary on the New Testament); Mark, by David Garland (NIV Application Commentary); and
Lecture notes on "Mark" by Robert W. Yarbrough (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School).
Application for Christian Living/Daily Life: This is specifically addressed in both the 4th paragraph down "Purpose & Message" as well as the last paragraph on "Summary Highlights". However, it is helpful to study this entire page and not just skip to the application. In doing so, we learn how to study God's word in context, understanding the flow of thought and how various passages of Scripture fit together. This type of biblical study will also help us know God more intimately, understand God's word at a deeper level, and better apply the Word to our lives as follow Jesus Christ in discipleship.
Author: Unidentified;
the testimony of the early church cites “Mark” as the author, most likely “John
Mark”. Mark traveled with the Apostle
Paul (see Acts 12-15), but left Paul at one point during their missionary journey,
and therefore Paul no longer wanted to take Mark with him (which led to Paul
and Barnabas splitting up). Later on,
Mark would win back the respect of Paul (see
Date & Recipients: Written probably in the 50’s to 60’s A.D., to (Gentile?)
Christians living in
Purpose & Message: not clearly stated. Observations are listed below (see also “Summary Highlights” below).
● A “pastoral” driven Gospel
written to assure believers who were suffering in
● To encourage believers
to persevere in their faith by showing them the glory of the divine Son of God
manifest thru the life of a simple carpenter, rejected by His family, hometown,
the religious leaders, and who was crucified (death on a cross); and by
assuring them that the kingdom of God (His reign) will continue to spread
throughout the world in mysterious and unrecognized ways (from a human
perspective), in spite of the rejection, persecution and overall suffering of
this world. [Note: Mark gives no formal
ending to Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness; His entire public ministry is a
battle with Satan, and the temptation to abandon the journey to the cross
amidst the popularity of the crowds and rejection of the religious leaders will
continue throughout].
● Calling believers to
trust in the divine call and power of Christ to be at work in and thru them
amidst their weaknesses and failures, as the gospel is preached to all nations
until Jesus Christ returns in power and glory to judge the living and the
dead. Mark highlights the failures of
the disciples but also God’s grace and power to continue using those who keep
following Jesus. He also highlights the
loyalty and importance of women as disciples in the last three chapters, and it
is three women who the resurrection is revealed to first.
● To show that the
kingdom of God and His glory is no longer centered in
● Finally, Mark gives no
formal ending to this Gospel (his original ending was probably at verse
8). The title of this Gospel is found in
Mark 1:1, where he calls this Gospel “The beginning
of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (ESV). The Resurrection is the end of “the beginning” of the gospel (the end of
the first quarter so to speak). We are
living out the fourth quarter of this journey/battle, and Mark ends abruptly,
leaving us hanging, as a way to call us forth in pressing on by faith thru following
Jesus who is out ahead of us. Will we
take the next step of faith in following Jesus?
an outline
of the gospel according to mark
{Taken & adapted from Mark
by David Garland (NIV Application Commentary)}
Mark 1 thru 8: Jesus of
Mark 1:1-13 ● The Coming of
Christ is Revealed: by John the Baptist to the Jews; Jesus’ Baptism & Temptation
Mark 1:14-8:30 ● Jesus’
Ministry in
Mark 8:29 ● The Turning Point in “Mark”: Peter (a Jew) confesses Jesus as the Christ (the prophesied OT Messiah)
Mark 8 thru 16: the way of the Cross is quickly Revealed as God’s
will (which will lead to a Triumphant Victory)
Mark 8:31-10:52 ● Jesus is
“on the way” to
Mark 11-12 ● Confrontation
in
Mark 13 ● Jesus’ Farewell
Discourse:
a call to Perseverance & Vigilance as the gospel spreads globally until the
2nd Coming
Mark 14-15 ● The Passion of
Christ
(anointing, Last Supper, betrayal, abandonment, trial, scourging, crucifixion,
burial)
Mark 15:39 ● The Climax of “Mark”:
The Roman Centurion (a Gentile) confesses Jesus as “the Son of God”
Mark 16 ● The Resurrection
of Christ is Revealed: by an Angelic Messenger to three women (at the empty tomb)
Jesus as the
Son of God: following him as lord
Listed below is a summary of Mark 1 thru 8 understood
in light of the OT Scriptures. Mark is “showing” us Jesus. He emphasizes Jesus as a man of action more
than He focuses on His teachings. Mark
also shows how Jesus’ divinity (He is God the Son) is hidden amidst His
humanity and humility; yet is revealed thru His authority in preaching & teaching,
His miracles, His presence, and His fulfilling of OT Scripture. All of this only makes sense, however, as God
reveals it to us.
● The Son of God: Jesus is God's Son and "the LORD" whose coming was foretold by the prophets [Mk 1:1-11; Isa 40:3]
● The Faithful Servant
in the Wilderness: what OT Israel failed to be [Mk 1:12, 35; Isa 35:1ff; 52:13,
53:11]
● The Teacher on the
Mountain: as God was to Moses/as Moses was to
● The Personification of
the Kingdom of God: the reign of God in this world thru Jesus [Mk 4:1ff; Is
9:6f; 35:5f; Dan 7:13f]
● The Lord over Demons
& the Sea: the power of the Lord
in the OT is found in Jesus [Mk 4:35-5:20; Job 1:12; Ps 107:29]
● The Healer of the Sick
& the Dead: what the OT prophets said the Messiah would be/do [Mk
5:21ff; Isa 35:5f; 65:20]
● The Scandalous/Veiled-Revelation:
His humility is offensive and it hides His divinity [Mk 6; 8:21; Isa 6:9f; 52:13-53:12]
● The Shepherd of His
Lost Sheep: what the Lord in
the OT promised to be Himself [Mk 6:34ff; Ezk 34; Isa 40:10-11]
● The Bread for a Hungry
People: as God provided for
● The Salvation [light]
for the Gentiles: what
● The Prophesied-Messiah
of the OT: as promised by the Lord
[Mk 7:37; 8:29; Deut 18:15; Isa 11; Ezk 34:11ff]
jesus as the suffering servant: embracing the way of the
cross
Listed below
is a summary of Mark 8 thru 16 understood in light of the OT Scriptures. Mark
is “showing” us the way of the cross as the will of God (for Jesus as the
Messiah and for all who follow Him). The
blind man who was healed in Mark 8:22-26 in two stages symbolically reveals how
the disciples had their eyes opened in two stages: 1st in “seeing” Jesus as the
Christ; and 2nd in “seeing” the way of the Cross for their Messiah & their
own lives, as the will of God [the way that the kingdom of God would go forth
and conquer the world was not thru political & military power, but thru the
power of God manifested thru the weakness, shame, & humiliation of the
cross (along with the ministry of the word: see Mk 4)]. Note: the Roman Centurion confessed Jesus
as the Son of God by watching how He suffered and died, not by witnessing a
miracle, etc.
● Jesus and the Way of the
Cross: “The will of God is the way of the Cross” [Mk 8:31ff; Isa
52:13-53:1ff]
● Jesus as the Rejected
Son of Man: Despised in this life; but will Reign eternally [Mk 8:31-9:13; 10:35ff;
13:1ff; Dan 7:13ff]
● Jesus and the Call to
Servanthood: our Lord is a servant who gives His life as a ransom [Mk
10:35ff; Isa 42; 49; 50; 52-53]
● Jesus and the Temple:
Judgment foreshadowed on the
● Jesus’ Confrontation:
Rejected by the Religious Leaders [Mk 11:11-12:44 (2:1-3:6); 2Ch 36:15f; Ps
118:22f; Isa 5:1ff]
● Jesus’ Call to
Perseverance/Vigilance: amidst the global triumph of the Gospel [Mk 13:1ff;
Isa 9:6f; 49:6; Dan 7:13ff]
● Jesus as the Suffering
Servant: He is rejected and abandoned by all [Mk 14-15; Ps 22; Isa
52:13-53:1ff]
● Jesus’ Death on the
Cross: Embracing God’s wrath & giving His life as a ransom for many [Mk
15:21ff (10:45); Isa 52-53]
● Jesus’ Triumphant
Resurrection: Raised from the dead; He is out in front of the Disciples [Mk
16:1-8; Ps 22:29ff]
summary highlights: for application in everyday life
● Faith: Believe in and follow Jesus Christ as the Son
of God, the Lord of all, who died on a cross as a ransom for our sin, who rose
from the dead, and who will come back in great power and glory as judge and to
reign forever. Faith in Jesus also
means we believe in His power to work miraculously in our lives according to
the plan and will of God. Finally, Mark
emphasizes faith as an embracing of the cross with a victorious/triumphant end
in mind: perseverance thru trials, guarding against deception, and keeping
vigilant (spiritually alert) until Jesus Christ returns in power and great
glory!
● Discipleship: Following Jesus in
fellowship and obedience. Discipleship
is based on Christ’s call, mercy, and power, not on ourselves (disciples are to
keep following Jesus even as our sin and failures are exposed/confronted). The call of discipleship goes out to those
the world looks down on/does not esteem (in Jesus’ day this was fishermen, tax
collectors, the sick, “sinners”, the Gentiles, women, etc.). Discipleship also includes knowing the word
of God (it is evident from the way Mark writes that he is well versed in the OT
scriptures and that he expects at least some of his readers to be as well).
● The Kingdom: the
Reign of God breaking into this world thru the person of Jesus Christ. The kingdom continues today thru the ministry
of the word, discipleship, and embracing the cross. God’s kingdom goes forth mysteriously (from a
worldly perspective). It advances thru
unseen, ordinary, and despised means (thru the Word, humble people of faith,
and the way of the cross, etc.), and its global-triumphant harvest/victory at
the 2nd Coming will surprise the world (but not believers).
● Worship: See the majestic/captivating glory of Jesus
Christ and be in awe of Him. In Mark we see the glory/power of Jesus amidst the
humility of His humanity and the cross he bears. The people were captivated by Jesus; in awe
of Him (see Mk 9: 15; 10:32 where the people are amazed simply by Jesus’
presence. With that, let us worship
Christ as the Lord who is also the Suffering Servant who embraces the cross as
the Father’s will (compare Ps 22 with Mark 15-16).
● Servanthood: Our
Lord came as a servant; we are to follow in His footsteps. Servanthood is greatness in God’s eyes. The disciples were preoccupied with exalting themselves, while Jesus taught and showed them the way of servanthood.
● Prayer: Mark
shows Jesus’ prayer life centered around His journey to the cross. Jesus refused to let His popularity and
miracles deter Him from embracing the cross. He surrendered His own will over to the Father through prayer, knowing the suffering that His journey would lead to. In Mark, Jesus is found praying when he would be most tempted to abandon the way of the cross: as His popularity was increasing amidst His teachings and miracles (Mk 1:35ff; Mk 6:46); and in the night He was betrayed/arrested (Mk
14:32ff).
● Embracing the Way
of the Cross: [Explained in the section above under “JESUS AS THE
SUFFERING SERVANT…”]
