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The Book of Mark

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The Book of Mark WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOL OF PREACHING VICTORY LECTURES October 29 November 1, 2001 Theme: THE BOOK OF MARK Church of Christ Fourth Street and Willard Avenue Moundsville, West Virginia 26041 Published by & Order From West Virginia School of Preaching P.O. Box 785 Moundsville, WV 26041 (888) 418-4573 Table of Contents Overview of the Book of Mark........................................... 4 Dan Kessinger Popularity of Jesus ............................................................ 17 Emanuel Daugherty Blaspheming of the Holy Spirit ........................................ 25 David Stevens Parable of the Sower ......................................................... 32 Doug Minton The Widows Two Mites.................................................... 37 E. Claude Gardner Growth of the Kingdom.................................................... 44 Bob Winton The Withered Fig Tree...................................................... 58 Brent Gallagher The Baptism of Jesus ........................................................ 63 E. Claude Gardner Jesus and the Sabbath........................................................ 69 Glen Hawkins Preparatory Work of John The Baptist ............................. 75 E. Claude Gardner Demon Possession ............................................................ 81 Bruce Daugherty Rejection of the Carpenter ................................................ 93 Michael Barclay The Olivet Discourse in Mark......................................... 100 Frank Higginbotham Jesus Came Preaching..................................................... 108 Terry Jones Inheriting Eternal Life..................................................... 113 Matt Thomas 2 New Wine In Old Wineskins .......................................... 120 Charles Aebi Introduction, Source Criticism, Q, Date, Order.............. 128 Owen Olbricht The Alabaster Box .......................................................... 140 Albert Farley Humility & Service Of Jesus .......................................... 148 Bob Eddy The Execution of John the Baptist.................................. 155 E. Claude Gardner Miracles of Jesus in Mark............................................... 161 Louis Rushmore Jesus’ Transfiguration..................................................... 173 J.D. Conley Crucifixion And Burial ................................................... 185 Owen Olbricht Is Mark 16:9-20 Fraudulent of Genuine?........................ 193 W. Terry Varner Great Commission Baptism ............................................ 216 D. Gene West Confirming the Word With Signs Following.................. 227 Charles Pugh, III Other Disciples................................................................ 245 Robert Johnson Marriage and Divorce in Mark ....................................... 253 Owen Olbricht Traditions of Men vs The Word of God ......................... 263 Denver Cooper The Passover and Lord’s Supper .................................... 272 Alan Cole The Resurrection of Jesus ............................................... 283 Owen Olbricht 3 Overview of the Book of Mark Dan Kessinger Introductory Issues Although the Book of Mark will be formally introduced in another lecture, some pertinent questions seem to be in order that we might better understand the themes therein. The text itself makes no signature claim, but ancient sources seemed universally confident that the author is Mark, the John Mark who was the source of contention between Paul and Barnabus. Mark was also called the "interpreter of Peter," and it is supposed that his knowledge came from the preaching and or dictation of the apostle. The Gospel of Mark is sometimes called "Peter's Gospel." On these points, Papias, Eusebius, Clement, Origen, and Irenaus all concur. 1 Though some downplay direct ties between Peter and this Gospel, the same sources which identify Mark as the author also claim Peter as Mark's fount of information. Mark is also identified as the son of Mary in whose house the disciples were praying for Peter's release from prison (Acts 12:12), and by tradition as the young man who fled naked from the authorities at Jesus' arrest (Mk. 14:51-52). Given the parenthetical nature of this brief account, it seems most reasonable (to this writer) that the tradition is accurate. The book of Mark was probably written in the mid 60's AD, though liberal scholars push the date forward by a matter of decades. The matter of date becomes a bone of contention with the advocacy of transmission via oral tradition or previous and extensive written sources. Therefore, the farther one can remove the author from the events, the more doubt is cast on the veracity of the material. Overview of the Book of Mark Many believe this Gospel to have been written to a Gentile audience, or even to a Latin speaking one. Some of the linguistic clues include "Latinisms" in the Greek text. On another front, Jewish customs are thoroughly explained, as to folks unfamiliar with them. The so-called Synoptic Problem must certainly be addressed. Why are the three Gospels similar, with virtually parallel accounts and wording? Why is there not just one? What is the correct sequence? Did each Gospel build on the previous work, or did they rely on a previous source ( the infamous and fictitious Q document)? These questions have actually proved valuable to those interested in the text as the Word of God, as they encourage a better focus on each Gospel as an independent document rather than creating an amalgam of the three. It is tempting, but overly simplistic to dismiss the Synoptic Problem as yet another brainchild of rampant liberalism. Instead, we need to address the question. However, it is ironic to compare these New Testament criticisms with those of the Pentateuch. In the Synoptic case, we have three parallel documents, so liberals tell us there must have originally been only one (Q). In the other case, we have but one account, so of course, there must originally have been four sources (JEPD). The irony, though unintended, is glaring. Another irony comes from those who cite Gospel parallels as evidence of their being mostly the product of man. When the various Gospels record individual facts, skeptics call them contradictions. When they record the same facts, skeptics tell us they must have copied. It is difficult to win with those rules. But unless one cedes all the rule making to skeptics, there is no real synoptic problem. Why are there three books so similar? They are individual documents written for various purposes, but each one precious on its own merits. Which one came first? Sequence is only a problem if one assumes the gospels are 5 Overview of the Book of Mark (a) not really true, (b) entirely dependent on sources, and (c) un-inspired by revelation from God. The four (and the three) are unique, and each serves a special need, then and now. None is a simple history, and if they were, the other three would be superfluous. They each contain parallels as those accounts pertained to their respective messages; they differ for the same reason. And despite the strident claims, agreement does not always, or even usually, imply collusion. ...the similarities observable in the Synoptic Gospels can be accounted for only on the basis of literary dependence...Modern criticism finds it difficult to conceive that the common teaching material in Matthew and Luke could have come about in any other way than by their respective authors both using an earlier source...Q may after all be no more than the creation of modern imagination, 2 To concern ourselves primarily with the historical intricacies and linguistic niceties is to miss the point, to study the frame rather than the masterpiece. While it is interesting and sometimes informative to better know the author and audience, this is only the framework of the truth. As with all of the Gospel accounts, Mark's first and primary purpose is to reveal the savior of mankind. Whether or not these truths were first learned at the feet of Peter, whether directed to the Gentiles, or even if truly composed by Mark, are at best secondary considerations. Though we may succeed to a certain degree, it may well be beyond the capability of this author to properly identify the major themes in this book. In a similar vein, someone once described violin playing as "rubbing horse hair across a cat's guts." While technically correct, it is an inadequate description. There are some vistas which defy the grandeur of any language. We believe this to be true of 6 Overview of the Book of Mark the Bible in general, and those books describing the life of Christ in particular. A modern arrangement of themes cannot approach the power and the unsearchable riches of Christ, nor of the Holy Spirit's story as told through Mark. The Presentation of the Christ: The Son of God One of the great themes of Mark is found in the very first verse. "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." (Mk. 1:1) The goal of each Gospel is to "Tell Me the Story of Jesus." Each is semi-independent of the others, and Mark should not be studied as volume 2 of a four part history. Mark's portrait of Jesus differs from that of Matthew, where Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy, the Messiah. It also differs from Luke's orderly account. Though almost all of Mark's material may be found in these other two Synoptic Gospels, 3 the theme is similar in some respects to that of John. There , Jesus as the living word, the eternal and Divine Son of God. Mark says little
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