THE GOSPEL OF MARK
PART 1 – WHO IS JESUS?
Study 1 – Mark 1:1-15 – Your Gospel is Too Small
1. (1) Read Isaiah 40:3-5 and then cf. with Mark 1:1-4. What is Mark telling us about the identity of
Jesus?

Mark claims Jesus is the Christ (“anointed royal one”)

Greek “Messiah” – deliverer from oppression
o
Most Jews thought the Messiah would be a powerful political, but human, figure
o
But Mark claims divinity for Christ – “Son of God”

And claims that John the Baptist is the prophet who would announce the
Messiah – “the Lord (Yahweh) Himself will come” (40:9)

Mark is saying this Christianity is not something brand new, but a fulfillment of the longings
of the Jews
2. (2) How, specifically, does John ‘pave the way’ for the Lord? i.e. What do verses 4-8 tell us about
how the Messiah, the king, is to be received?

V.4 – He is received by repentance followed by forgiveness of sins
o
In the past, only Gentile converts needed to be baptized – they were unclean

Now, all were called to be baptized


V.7 – Through the baptism of the Spirit we meet the king
o

Pedigree doesn't matter, a call for complete newness
This baptism is received when a person believes – 1 Cor. 12:13
V.7-8 – There is an attitude of submission and a recognition of His kingship
o
Not “I will untie his sandals” – John feels unworthy even to do that!
3. What do verses 9-13 tell us about what ‘the baptism of the Spirit’ means and brings to us?
4. (3) What do verses 14-15 tell us about the essential message of the King?
a. What is explained?

V.14 – “good news”

V.14 – “The kingdom of God is near”
o
Not “here” – Mark will reveal what needs to be done for the kingdom to be
“here”

V.14 – “repent and believe the gospel”
o
The way to relate to this king is not through making ourselves worthy or
accomplishing great deeds but by admitting we are sinners
b. What is left “mysterious” and unexplained in Jesus’ proclamation?

Who is the king – we will find out! The king will slowly be revealed – chapters 1-8

What He came to do – chapters 9-16
5. (4) Everyone notices the abruptness and breathless speed of Mark’s narrative style. Everything
happens so quickly, all the statements and descriptions are extremely terse and direct. What do
you think Mark is trying to get across?

Mark is telling us God has broken into history

Mark has very little teaching, it’s more the “doings” of Jesus

Decisive action is necessary, swift, and Jesus will bring it
o
All he did, and in only 3-4 years
6. What was the most helpful or impressive thing that you learned today personally? What
practical application can you make from today’s lesson?
7. Look back over the whole section. What have we learned about what “the gospel” is?
Study 2 – Mark 1:16-34 – The Meaning of the Kingdom
1. (5) In verses 16-20, what do we learn about the kingdom?

It means coming under Jesus’ authority in all aspects of our lives
o
When you enter the kingdom, every part of you comes in



Looks at the disciples who leave their professions
It means working with Jesus to draw others into the kingdom
o
“Fishers of men”
o
Not converting them, but helping them come into the light – transformation
It means decision – “without delay he called them, and they left”
o
Jesus makes all people choose
2. What do verses 21-22 teach about the kingdom of God?
3. What do verses 23-28 teach us about the kingdom of God? Despite modern prejudices against
the idea of demon-possession, how does the existence of evil spirits help us explain what goes
on in the world?
4. Over what area of life do verses 29-34 show his authority? What do we learn about the kingdom
here?
5. (6) People today struggle with the idea that we must absolutely submit all of our thinking and
practice to the Lordship of Christ. How can we answer a person who struggles like that?

Hard in America – we are a democracy, the emphasis is on individual rights

We need to convince folks they have a need they can’t meet on their own

We need to convince folks that we must not just accept his help and his love, but also his
rule