Introduction to Mark's Gospel

When we pick up a Bible, what are we reading? What kind of book is it? What genre?

"Well," someone says, "it's a religious book. It's a book about God." Okay. That tells us something. But it doesn't really tell us a lot. What kind of religious book is it? When was it written? Who wrote it? What does it contain? Who were the original readers? What have people historically believed or thought about it? All of these things are important to know if we are going to get a good grasp of what it is we are reading when we open the Bible.

And the first thing we need to understand about the Bible is that it isn't just one book. In fact, it's a tome (I like that word. Tome. Autocorrect didn't like it. Autocorrect tried to change it to 'time.' But I like the word so I kept it.) The Bible is a library--a collection of books. What you're reading when you open the Bible depends on where you opened it to. The Bible contains 66 books written over about a thousand year period, or more.

When we were in the Psalms we understood that what we were reading was ancient Jewish poetry written for purposes of worship and instruction in the faith. We were reading songs and prayers and liturgy put down in verse for the purpose of public use in public worship in the ancient, Old Testament Church. Because we are Christians we interpreted them, as Jesus taught us, Christocentrically. We looked for what they meant to the people then, what they pointed to as far as Jesus, and what they, therefore, had to say to us and our living out our faith today.

But what about the New Testament? When we first open it, what do we find? The first four books are all called gospels. But what does that mean? What is a gospel?

In this Introduction to Mark's Gospel I talk about what a 'gospel' is, what makes Mark's Gospel unique, how it came to be written, and by whom. I also talk about why it was written and what it's particular challenge is to us. I hope you will take the time to listen to this sermon and I hope you will follow along with us in Mark's Gospel as we grow each week in awe and wonder at God, and in the God-man, Jesus Messiah. Just click below to listen.

Click here: Introduction to Mark



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