What is the Purpose Behind the Gospel of Mark? – A Bible Study

Why did Mark write the gospel bearing his own name?  What audience was he writing to?  What was the purpose for the gospel of Mark?

Who was Mark?

Mark is really John Mark as John is his Jewish name while Mark was his Latin name. Mark was a very young man, perhaps even a teenager, when he began to follow Christ.  Peter is believed to have been his mentor after Christ ascended into heaven.  Mark was also known as John Mark and sometimes referred to as John Marcus and was apparently the nephew of Barnabas. Mark was the writer of the gospel bearing his name but Peter is actually the one behind the gospel.  It is only Mark who wrote down what Peter experienced during his time with Christ.  Mark is the same person that accompanied the apostle Paul during some of his missions and was referred to as John Mark (Acts 12:12, 25; 15:77-41).  John Mark is the same person who is the author of the gospel of Mark even though it could actually be called the gospel of Peter. The vast majority of scholars are in agreement with this because of the minute detail that is given and it is always from Peter’s perspective.  Why did Mark write it for Peter?  Was Peter unable to write or did he just leave it up to Mark to record his time with Jesus while being discipled by Christ?  We may never know this until we can speak to Peter in heaven.  It seems highly unlikely that Peter couldn’t read or write because he knew the Old Testament and on the Day of Pentecost, gave one of the greatest sermons ever given and after Peter’s sermon, over 3,000 people then put their trust in Christ that very day (Acts 2:1-41).

Who was Mark Written to?

We do know that Mark was of great service and help to the apostle Paul late in Paul’s life (2 Tim 4:11).  Even though Paul had earlier refused to have Mark go with them on a missionary trip, he later changed his mind about Mark.  But what audience did Mark write this gospel for and what was his purpose for recording what should really be called the gospel of Peter?  He apparently wrote it for the common man on the street.  The simple style in which he wrote it reflected the working man’s approach as Peter was a fisherman by trade and was part of the local fishing trade.  There is some evidence that this gospel was written in Rome for Roman Christians, but among the four gospels, it is the gospel that is most recommended for those who are new to the faith because it is written in an easy to understand format.  The reason for this is that it is an uncomplicated book and goes right to the point when speaking about the gospel of Christ and being stripped of excess verbiage it could easily be read by the working masses and slaves.  The gospel of Mark contains fewer Jewish customs and prophecies and so it is more easily understood indicating that it is intended to be the gospel for the Gentiles (those outside of the Jewish faith).

The Purpose of Mark

The reason that the gospel of Mark was written down was to make a historical record for Peter of his encounter with Christ and that ultimately people who would read it would believe, might repent, and then put their trust in Christ.  The Word of God is unique in that it has effectual power.  The purpose for any book of the Bible is to make a person see the sinfulness of their state, to understand that unless the blood of Christ is applied to their life, they are headed to the lake of fire.  Our sins have cut us off from a relationship with God but Jesus, as the Mediator, restored us to a right relationship with God if we have trusted in His atoning work at Calvary and have repented of our sins and repentance must be accompanied by evidence that we are saved.  Listen to what John wrote in 1 John 3:4-10, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.  You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.  No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.  Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.  Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.  No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.  By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”  Anyone that reads the gospel of Mark will come to the same conclusion.  You will know them by their fruits…no fruits means they are not really a believer…fruits bearing or showing repentance is genuine faith (Matt 7:15-20).  The gospel of Mark says it in a way that even a child could understand. That is one of the main reasons that this gospel was written.

Conclusion

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which human author was used to write the gospel of Mark, because the Holy Spirit is the actual author of all Scripture, said to be God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16) and was not of human origin but by the Spirit as He moved men to write for Him (2 Peter 1:20-21).  Today, God may be using the Word of God and the Spirit of God to make you a child of God.  If not, then you are a child of the Devil because you cannot serve both Satan and God. You are either born again (“from above” John 3:3) or you will perish in the lake of fire.  There is still time to decide this today (2 Cor 6:2) but no one knows if tomorrow may come because our life is a vapor and if you die in your sins, then you will face the righteous judgment of Jesus Christ (rev 20:11-15).  I pray that is not so, because by then, it will be too late.

Another Reading on Patheos to Check Out: What Did Jesus Really Look Like: A Look at the Bible Facts

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want to Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book  Blind Chance or Intelligent Design available on Amazon.
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