001 A Bird’s Eye View of Mark

Mark 1:1-20

November 23, 2025

This morning we are beginning our study of the gospel of Mark.

We are calling it “The Amazing Jesus”

The reasoning for that is obvious when you read it.

READ: Mark 1:21-22

READ: Mark 1:27

READ: Mark 2:11-12

READ: Mark 5:20

READ: Mark 5:42

READ: Mark 6:2

And it just goes on and on and on and on.

You get the point.

JESUS IS AMAZING!

· Everywhere He went…

· Everything He did…

· He amazed the people.

That is certainly one of our reasons for studying.

TO BE AMAZED AT WHO JESUS IS.

There has never been another like Him.

· None so holy.

· None so powerful.

· None with such wisdom.

· None so merciful.

· None so kind.

· None so resilient.

He comes in human form,

But He continually behaves and speaks and responds

In such a way as to blow the human mind.

This is no ordinary human.

This is no ordinary man.

And throughout Mark’s account people are amazed, shocked,

And forced to ask themselves, “Who is this?”

Jesus stands in a stark contrast to sinful humanity

And you and I need to see that.

The writer of Hebrews writes:

Hebrews 1:1-5 “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again, “I will be a Father to Him And He shall be a Son to Me”?”

· The sermon of God

· The agent of Creation

· The radiance of God’s glory

· The exact representation of God’s nature

· The sacrifice for sins

· Seated at God’s right hand

· Called the Son of God

There is just none like Him.

And Mark’s gospel dwells on that fact.

That’s why you also see such a great emphasis in Mark’s gospel ON THE CROWD.

READ: Mark 1:32-33

READ: Mark 1:45

READ: Mark 2:1-4

READ: Mark 2:13

READ: Mark 3:7-8

And again, it’s all throughout the gospel.

Jesus is blowing minds and people are flocking to Him.

He is, “The Amazing Jesus”

And really that just has to do with His authoritative preaching and miraculous power.

WE FIND HIM AMAZING FOR SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

For Mark’s gospel won’t end until we learn that

· He is not only amazing for His preaching and miraculous power,

· But He is amazing as our Savior from sin.

· Mark takes us to the cross.

· Mark takes us to the empty tomb.

We even read at the end of the gospel account:

Mark 16:8 “They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

Mark’s gospel ends with the amazing Jesus, risen from the dead.

· He is the Christ!

· He is the Son of God!

· He is the Savior of the World!

We stand amazed in the presence of Jesus, the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love us, a bunch of sinners condemned unclean?

He took our sins and our sorrows, He made them His very own. He bore our burden to Calvary and suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory, His face we at last shall see. Twil be our joy through the ages, to sing of His love for us.

How marvelous! How wonderful! And our song shall ever be.

How marvelous! How wonderful! Is our Savior’s love for us.

WE ARE AMAZED.

And this gospel of Mark is meant to fuel and enhance that amazement.

And in reality, each of the 4 gospel accounts should do that.

SO WHAT MAKES MARK’S GOSPEL ACCOUNT UNIQUE?

· Over the last 22 years, we’ve already studied Matthew, Luke, and John.

· What makes Mark unique that we would want to study it too?

And my answer to that would be THE TONE of Mark’s gospel.

When you read Mark’s gospel

There is a heightened sense of drama and excitement

That doesn’t always show up in the other gospel accounts.

For example, just read it and notice Mark’s use of the word (yoo-THOOS),

It means “straightway, immediately, forthwith”.

Mark uses the word some 40 times.

READ: Mark 1:10

READ: Mark 1:12

READ: Mark 1:18

READ: Mark 1:20

READ: Mark 1:23

READ: Mark 1:28

READ: Mark 1:29

READ: Mark 1:30

READ: Mark 1:42

YOU’RE AGAIN GETTING THE IDEA.

There is a sense of pace and excitement to the book of Mark.

He writes like a child who walked into a THEME PARK for the first time

Through his excitement is desperately trying

To wrap his mind around everything he is seeing and to relay it to you.

· He can barely finish one story before he jumps to another.

· He can barely describe one event before he is on to the next.

· He’s dragging you by the hand trying to show you everything.

That’s why Mark doesn’t even start where others do.

· No lineage here.

· No backstory of His parents.

· Mark doesn’t even mention His birth.

Mark just wants to jump right in

And tell you the amazing stories of the things Jesus did.

You also notice that Mark writes in a UNIQUE TENSE.

Perhaps you notice in your Bible

All the verbs that are accompanied by an asterisk.

For example:

READ: Mark 1:12 - “impelled”

READ: Mark 1:21 – “went”

READ: Mark 1:40 – “came”

Those verbs appear to us in English to be in the past tense

As though Mark is simply recounting for you a story

That happened in the past.

But that is NOT how Mark is telling it.

Those verbs with the asterisk are actually in what is called

“The Historical Present” tense.

Your Bible may explain this, mine does so like this:

“Greek authors frequently used the present tense for the sake of heightened vividness, thereby transporting their readers in imagination to the actual scene at the time of the occurrence.”

(The New Inductive Study Bible; Harvest House Publishers; 2000, pg. iv)

So you have Mark not just telling you what happened,

But with absolute excitement and enthusiasm,

He is in effect wanting you to close your eyes and see it unfolding.

He is trying to transport you there with urgency and excitement

So that you will behold just how amazing Jesus really is.

JESUS IS EXCITING!

JESUS IS AMAZING!

There has never been anyone or anything like Him.

He entered the world and for 3 years turned it upside down.

The people were captivated by Him.

Mark wants you to be captivated by Him.

The reason Mark is trying to captivate you with Jesus is because MARK WAS SO CAPTIVATED by Jesus.

Mark (John Mark) in the New Testament is the author of the gospel.

· He is the same Mark who abandoned Paul on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:13)

· But who eventually returned and was useful to Paul (2 Timothy 4:11)

He is the Mark who was considered by Peter as a son.

1 Peter 5:13 “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.”

Mark was the author of this gospel,

But what is interesting is that

Mark was NOT an eye-witness of Jesus.

The things that Mark is writing for you

Are NOT things he saw with his own two eyes.

SO WHERE DID MARK GET THIS INFORMATION?

Mark got his information by listening to the stories of Peter.

And that also explains the FOCUS of Mark. Especially as it is different from the other gospel accounts.

You’ll notice the differences almost immediately when you read.

Matthew is all about the past.

· He loves to point out how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.

· He loves lineages.

· He loves Jewish imagery.

· Matthew is linking the past to Jesus to show Him as the rightful Messiah.

Luke is a technical and detailed historian.

· He is a researcher and an investigator.

· He wants the facts, all the facts.

· He rights with meticulous detail to show the aspects of Christ’s salvation.

John writes with intimacy.

· He calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved”

· ¼ of John’s gospel occurs in one night in the intimate upper room.

· He loves to focus on the life he found in Jesus and that Jesus offers to you.

· John writes this way because he was with Jesus.

· John saw Him

· John touched Him

· John heard Him

BUT MARK,

Mark is recounting the stories of Jesus that he heard from Peter.

But that is also why it is so gripping.

HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN A HISTORY CLASS?

Maybe listened to a lecture?

There are those who are incredibly accurate historians and they can bore you to absolute tears.

· The facts are there.

· The facts are orderly.

· The information is clear.

· But the delivery is dead.

And then all of a sudden you run across that teacher

Who speaks to you like he was there.

He shares it with an excitement that grips you and captivates you.

Several of us guys have talked about listening to Les Heflin stories.

· If you asked me if I was interested in hearing stories about life in the grocery

business, I’d probably be like, “No thanks”.

· But let Les start telling you one of those stories and you’ll be captivated.

· He’s just really good at telling stories.

Well that’s the book of Mark.

Mark is captivated and he’s excited to tell you all about it.

It is more than history, it is a living story,

Passed down to him and now passed on to you.

THAT IS MARK.

· He is NOT a historian.

· He is NOT a biographer.

· HE IS A FAN of the story of Jesus and he can’t wait to share with you what Peter shared with him.

Marvin Vincent wrote:

“Unlike the other gospels, Mark’s narrative is not subordinated to the working out of any one idea. Matthew’s memoirs turn on the relation of Christ to the law and the prophets. He throws a bridge from the old economy to the new. His is the gospel as related to the past…Luke exhibits Jesus as a Saviour, and expounds the freeness and universality of the Gospel, and the sacredness of humanity. John wrote that men might believe that Jesus is the Christ, and might have life in him. While Matthew and Luke deal with his offices, John deals with his person…Mark, on the other hand, is a chronicler rather than a historian. His narrative is the record of an observer, dealing with the facts of Christ’s life without reference to any dominant conception of his person or office. Christ’s portrait is drawn “in the clearness of his present energy;” not as the fulfilment of the past, as by Matthew, nor as the foundation of the future, as by John. His object is to portray Jesus in his daily life. “in the awe-inspiring grandeur of his human personality, as a man who was also the Incarnate, the wonder-working Son of God.”

(Vincent, Marvin R. [Vincent’s Word Studies In The New Testament; I, Hendrickson Publishers; Peabody, MA] pg. 154-155)

Mark is just blown away by this story of Jesus

And he wants to share it with you.

Mark’s DETAILS are unique in this way also.

So much so that Vincent calls Mark “the pictoral gospel” (ibid. pg. 156)

For example:

When you read Matthew and Luke regarding the baptism of Jesus.

They both write:

Matthew 3:16 “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,”

“opened” is (a-NOY-go) and it just means open.

And the same in Luke 3:21.

But when Mark writes about the baptism of Jesus.

Mark 1:10 “Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;”

“opening” there is (SCHEED-zo)

It means “rent asunder” or “torn into” or “ripped apart”

Matthew and Luke both say that Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Mark 1:12 “Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.”

Mark says He was driven into the wilderness.

Mark points out that He was there “with the wild beasts” as well.

YOU REMEMBER THE STORY of Jesus asleep in the boat during the great storm.

Matthew records:

Matthew 8:25 “And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!”

Luke says:

Luke 8:24 “They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.”

But Mark tells it like this:

Mark 4:38 “Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

There’s just a heightened level of drama there.

Mark isn’t just writing history.

Mark isn’t just charting prophecy.

Mark is recounting the most amazing story

About the most amazing person he has ever heard.

And, it should be of interest to you to know that he is telling this story TO GENTILES.

There is strong reason to believe that Mark is in Rome

(hence he goes by his Roman name Marcus, and not his Jewish name John).

He is the one who mentions

That Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus’ cross was the “father of Rufus”.

· That is significant because Rufus is mentioned in Romans 16 as a leader of the church in Rome.

There is also a recognition that Mark uses several Latin terms

That he translates into Greek for his writing.

Like in Mark 12:42 when he talks about the widow that gave all,

· He uses the term “quadrans” which was a Roman coin, you see it translated as “cent”.

Or in Mark 6:27

· He uses the Latin term for executioner when talking about the death of John the Baptist.

Mark has a Gentile audience.

And Mark wrote his gospel for Gentiles.

You’ll hear Mark explain Jewish customs.

For example:

Mark 7:3-4 “(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.)”

Mark 14:12 “On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

Those are the types of things that Jews already knew.

Mark is writing so that Gentiles can be amazed by Jesus.

So we are simply pointing out that Mark is

Re-telling Peter’s story with great excitement to Gentiles.

He wants us to see the amazing Jesus,

Not necessarily based on fulfilled prophecy or Messianic credentials,

But simply on the merits of what He did.

But that does NOT mean that Mark doesn’t have an agenda.

HE DEFINITELY DOES.

There are some definite THEMES that emerge

When you read through Mark’s gospel.

THE FIRST becomes apparent in the very first verse

THAT IS A RECOGNITION OF WHO CHRIST IS.

He writes:

(1:1) “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Mark wants you to know who Jesus is.

He is “Jesus Christ”

Christ is the Greek word “Cristos”

And it means “anointed”.

He’s not so concerned that you see Jesus as the Jewish Messiah.

Mark wants you to see Jesus as God’s King of the whole world.

He wants you to know that Jesus is the anointed One of God

You’ll see it in His miracles.

You’ll see it in His power.

He wants you to know that

This special power is because He is no less than “the Son of God”

WHEN YOU READ THE FIRST 8 CHAPTERS OF MARK

You will really see that there is a great point to be made

Regarding the person of Jesus.

Mark introduces Him in chapter 1.

In chapter 2 the attacks and false accusations start.

· They attack Him for claiming He can forgive sin.

· They attack Him for eating with sinners.

· They attack Him for His disciples picking grain on the Sabbath.

· They accuse Him of being demon possessed.

But all the while He keeps doing things that no one else can do.

He casts out demons

He cleanses lepers

He raises the dead

But despite all that He does there is this constant theme

Of a failure to recognize who He is.

Mark 6:1-6 “Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.” And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.”

His own hometown couldn’t seem

To wrap their minds around who He was.

You get another story:

Mark 6:14-16 “And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”

And still, even though everyone is amazed,

They just can’t seem to wrap their minds around who He is.

And you even see the frustration of Jesus

With regard to their continual unbelief.

Mark 7:5-7 “The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’”

And again:

Mark 8:11-12 “The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

And again:

Mark 8:15-17 “And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?”

Mark is on this journey to show you the amazing Jesus

And yet it appears like no one can see who He actually is.

AND THEN, IT HAPPENS!

It is the climax of the book.

Mark 8:27-30 “Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” And He warned them to tell no one about Him.”

You really get the feeling that this was the crux of Peter’s message.

You can hear the crowds:

· “Peter tell us again how you came to know who Jesus was.”

· “Mark tell us that story again of how Peter recognized Jesus.”

Everything in the first 8 chapters drives upward to you seeing that point.

Mark focuses on His person.

Mark focuses on His power.

And it is all to drive you to see that Jesus is the Christ.

He is God’s anointed King!

He is the ruler of the whole world!

Look at His power!

Listen to His authority!

This is the King of all Creation!

AND THEN THE BOOK TOTALLY SHIFTS GEARS.

It shifts to what He came to do.

Mark 8:31 “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

And from there it is all about

The suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ.

So first we learn who He is and then we learn what He did.

THIS GREAT KING CAME TO DIE!

It is Mark’s great story regarding Jesus.

Jesus is not only King – HE IS SAVIOR!

Mark is very specific regarding what Jesus came to save us FROM.

There are 3 big enemies that constantly emerge in Mark’s gospel.

· Sin

· Satan

· Self Righteous Religion

The book starts with calls for repentance so that one can be saved.

· (1:4) “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of

repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

· (1:15) “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and

believe in the gospel.”

· (2:10) “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on

earth to forgive sins”

SIN IS THE ENEMY, BUT JESUS CAN FORGIVE IT!

JESUS FACES SATAN OVER AND OVER IN MARK’S GOSPEL.

And Mark loves to show you how Jesus totally handled them.

Remember that Gadarene Demoniac from the other gospels?

READ: Mark 5:1-20

· Jesus totally dominated them!

The reason Mark highlights this is because

· Satan is seen as the enemy of salvation.

· He is the one who loves to take the word of the gospel and snatch it away

from men’s hearts so that they will not believe.

Jesus came to defeat him totally,

And He does it over and over in Mark’s gospel.

JESUS IS CONTINUALLY SQUARING OFF WITH THE RELIGIOUS ELITE

Who have no idea how ineffective their futile religion is.

READ: Mark 2:16-17

READ: Mark 3:1-4

READ: Mark 8:11-12

Jesus is continually frustrated with them.

They are the enemy of the gospel,

And He makes no bones about attacking them.

SO IF YOU WANT TO SUMMARIZE MARK’S MESSAGE.

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

He came to save men from their sin, from Satan,

And from self-righteous religion.

So there is your BIRD’S-EYE view of the gospel of Mark.

It is a fast-paced story, written to Gentiles.

It is written to keep you on the edge of your seat

And to amaze you with the person and work of Jesus.

And this is what I hope it accomplishes for us as we study.

· Dare we say that it is too easy to become complacent with Jesus?

· Dare we say that the gospel message becomes routine?

· Dare we say that we even grow bored with the same old stories?

What an awful thing to occur among the people of God.

WOULD THAT WE COULD

· Look again upon the person and work of Jesus with fresh eyes.

· Listen again to stories told by one who is totally amazed at Jesus.

· Again be amazed at who Jesus is.

THAT IS OUR GOAL AS WE STUDY THE BOOK OF MARK.

I hope you are at least a little intrigued to start studying this book.

THIS IS THE STORY ABOUT THE MAN NAMED JESUS.

· He is the Son of God.

· He came to earth and turned everything upside down.

He did is exactly what you’d expect if God were to come to earth.

“I’ll bet the demons hated Him being here.”

Mark 1:23-24 “Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Mark 1:34 “And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.”

Mark 3:11-12 “Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.”

Mark 5:6-8 “Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”

Someone else might say:

“Could He do other cool things that only God can do?”

Mark 1:40-41 “And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

Mark 2:9-12 “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

Mark 4:38-39 “Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.”

Mark 5:41-42 “Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded.”

Someone else might say,

“I’ll bet everyone loved Him!”

He was popular alright!

· They came from everywhere to see Him.

· They were mesmerized by Him

But ultimately He was rejected by the very crowd that flocked to Him, and He was crucified and killed.

Mark 15:11-15 “But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”

And someone might ask,

“If He was God, why did He allow Himself to be killed?”

And Mark would answer:

· It was all part of the His plan.

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

He died on purpose, so that He might save sinners.

BUT HE DIDN’T STAY DEAD.

Mark 16:5-8 “Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

This is the story of The Amazing Jesus.

The Christ, The Son of God, The Defeater of Demons, The Healer of Sickness,

The Savior of Sinners, The Ransom for Sin, The Defeater of Death.

It will be our amazement to study Him together.