Explore the social settings, traditions, and historical setting, as well as the question of the authorship of Mark. Tackle the first half of Mark, which is dedicated to Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, where he performed miracles; and the second half of Mark, which is focused on Jesus in Jerusalem and the passion. Discover the purpose of Mark’s Gospel, which is to present Jesus as God’s true Son who fulfills his mission on earth. Dr. Craig Evans sheds light on the book of Mark and brings the text to life.
“We think Peter died in the year 65 in the aftermath of the fire in Rome when Christians were blamed for that fire and were severely persecuted. It’s likely, in the year 65, both Peter and Paul died, and it’s likely, I think, shortly after that John Mark then composed the Gospel of Mark, taking these teachings from Peter and stitching them together, editing this material and giving us what we now call the Gospel of Mark.” (source)
“God saved Israel and revealed Himself to Israel in the past—and there was no greater moment in Israel’s past than the exodus and then the giving of the Law (the first covenant on Mount Sinai)—so God has revealed Himself a second time to His Son, the Messiah for Israel, who will establish for Israel through His own death and resurrection the new covenant.” (source)
“Nero, in his insanity and his fear about succession, had eliminated the rest of the Julio-Claudian dynasty” (source)
“the parable of the sower is a key parable—the mixed response to the proclamation of the kingdom of God.” (source)
“it’s in this setting that Mark introduces the story of Jesus as good news” (source)