The Gospel of Mark was probably the first of the four Gospels to be written, although it was not the first of the New Testament books to be written.  Most of Paul’s writings were written earlier than Mark.  It is estimated that this Gospel was written around 69-70 CE.  Mark’s story of Jesus encourages faithful and persistent discipleship through suffering and service.  Unlike Matthew, Mark does not seem to have the same harsh negative view of the Jewish leadership.  There is definite conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leadership (see Mark 3:6), but in Mark’s story the religious authorities are viewed more as antagonists who think they know what God desires. 

Most biblical scholars say that the best way to read a book of Scripture is to read the whole book at one time, not a few passages at a time, which is how most of us read Scripture.  This is especially true of Mark’s Gospel.  Mark’s story is short and fast.  As I read Mark, I get the feeling he was in a hurry.  It had been at least 30 years since Jesus’ death and Resurrection and he was anxious to make sure everyone knew the good news.  As you read, you will discover that Mark moves quickly and he likes the term “immediately;” in fact, he uses this term more than 20 times in this short Gospel.

Like Matthew, Mark is probably writing to a predominately Jewish community, but there is a distinct difference.  It appears that this group has not yet experienced real persecution or rejection.  Remember, in Matthew’s Gospel, it appears that that community had been rejected by their own faith community.  Mark’s community is probably fairly affluent, well-educated, and very familiar with the Hebrew Testament and the Jewish faith and temple practices. 

For Mark, although the disciples are close followers of Jesus, they never seem to really get what Jesus is teaching and who he really is.  Mark presents the world as being dominated by evil and, as such, the “faithful” question the reality and goodness of God.  Mark speaks of Jesus’ ministry as proof of God’s mission and power over evil (3:22-30).  To fail to see that Jesus’ work was God’s work liberating the people from evil was unthinkable for Mark.  Not only did the religious leadership fail to understand this story, but so did the disciples.  Throughout this entire Gospel, only God (1:11; 9:7) and demons (1:23-24; 5:1-7) recognize Jesus as the “Son of God,” that is, until Jesus’ crucifixion when one person, a Roman Centurion, recognizes who Jesus truly is, “Truly this man was God’s Son!!” (15:39) 

Discipleship is difficult, and by the middle of Mark’s story he begins to tell the story in such a way that even the disciples are shown in a negative light.  Though they are willing in spirit, they are weak in flesh (14:38) and, by the end, the disciples are unable to remain loyal and they turn on Jesus; Judas betrays him, Peter denies him, and all of them forsake him.  They want to be faithful to Jesus, but it is too hard and they turn.  But for Mark, there is always hope.  During the passion, Jesus promised the disciples that after his Resurrection he would go before them to Galilee, and we discover at the end of the story (16:7-8) that indeed Jesus will see them again in Galilee.  He appears to the very ones who turned on him to reconcile them to himself.  Now, that is good news!

Lastly, there is a question as to how this gospel writer really ended his story.  The earliest known manuscripts ends with Verse 16:8, “So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”  Some later manuscripts include Verses 9-17, which includes three appearance stories.  Personally, I believe the real ending is 16:8.  My reason for this is two-fold:  First, I subscribe to the scholarship that states the oldest manuscripts are usually the most accurate; secondly, it fits Mark’s story better.  For Mark, discipleship involves being transformed.  One must not just confess their faith with their lips; they must truly change how they act and think.  Even when the disciples seem to “get it” (remember Peter confessing Jesus was the Messiah, 8:29), they really don’t know what they are saying.  Scholars refer to this as Mark’s great “Messianic Secret.”  For Jesus, until we understand that the vocation Jesus calls us to is one of service, the complete giving of ourselves, we cannot be true disciples.  Jesus is the Messiah, and he served even to death.  In Mark’s Gospel, he presents a choice; choose faith or fear.  To end the Gospel at Verse 8 is a perfect ending.  If the women really did not tell anyone, then how do we now know the story?  In the end, they must have chosen faith, and not fear.  The question, then, is ours to answer, “Will we choose faith or fear?”

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