But even the synoptic Gospels are unique. Matthew was writing primarily to a Jewish audience, Luke was writing to a Greek audience, and Mark was writing to a Roman audience. In Matthew’s Gospel we see the things that would be important to the Jews, such as the lineage of Jesus. In Luke’s Gospel we see a lot of detail because in addition to being a physician, Luke himself was a Greek and also was a historian. The Greeks would have wanted plenty of explanations, particularly about Jewish customs, so Luke provided a lot of detail and background information that Matthew’s Gospel lacked. Mark’s audience, however, was a “bottom line” kinda group. Like Sgt Joe Friday of Dragnet fame, the Romans were interested in “Just the facts, ma’am.” So Mark’s Gospel is a fast-paced, 'hit-it-and-git-it' narrative.
Mark wrote at a time when Christians were feeling the squeeze from the Roman government. It’s believed that he was living in Italy and wrote his Gospel when Nero was near the height of his power. In addition to being thought to be a slave to public opinion, Nero was also power-hungry and is believed to have ordered the execution of his rivals, including his stepbrother , his ex-wife, and his own MOTHER! According to Roman historian Suetonius, Nero "showed neither discrimination nor moderation in putting to death whomsoever he pleased."1
Hmmm… power-hungry, image-conscious, egotistical …with the exception of the murderous tendencies, I’m guessing you can think of a person or two who might fit this description! So Mark’s audience was very much like us and felt the same kinds of pressures we do, and his Gospel message is one that blesses the 21st century Christians as much as it blessed the first century ones.
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Mark opens his account with one of the many prophecies from Isaiah, this particular one that introduces us to John the Baptist in all his camel-hair-wearing, locusts-and-wild-honey-eating glory. We also see the baptism of Jesus that was followed by the audible blessing of His Father. Jesus was then called into the wilderness for a 40-day fast and to prepare for His earthly ministry. Upon returning to Galilee He chose 12 disciples and traveled through the region preaching and teaching in the synagogues, casting out demons and healing the sick.
I find it interesting that when Jesus called the disciples to join Him that they immediately followed Him. They didn’t ask questions, talk it over with each other or their families, they dropped what they were doing and WENT. What was it about Jesus that caused them to do that? Isaiah 53:2 tells us “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.” He had no money, no position, no power, not even a place to stay, but these men left everything to follow Him.
No doubt there was something that drew them to Jesus, something in them that recognized Jesus' authority and sensed they could trust Him. They may have heard some gossip about Jesus: Anna the prophetess recognizing Who He was as a baby being presented for circumcision, teenage Jesus debating scripture with the priests in the Temple courts, and more recently His turning water into wine in Cana. Galilee is a pretty small area, and I imagine that human nature is the same throughout the centuries -- something exciting or unusual happens and people want to TALK about it!
We know from John chapter 1 that Andrew had followed John the Baptist, and heard John’s testimony of Jesus’ baptism and his declaration that He was the Lamb of God. Andrew told his brother, Simon Peter, and since several of the disciples were fisherman on the Sea of Galilee (which is SMALL), you might draw the conclusion that these guys were friends or at least knew OF each other. So when they saw their friends following Jesus it may have influenced them to follow Jesus themselves.
Think about that – somebody we know, even the most casual acquaintance, may be influenced to follow Jesus because of US. They may see our witness, spoken and UNSPOKEN, as the Holy Spirit reveals their need for a Savior. And what they see in US might influence their decision to follow Him. WHOA – that’s some serious responsibility!!
The curriculum outline for this chapter showed that Jesus offers us four things: salvation, guidance, freedom and strength. Salvation – saved from our sins to spend eternity with Him; Guidance – His leadership to live in a way that makes us mature and brings Him honor; Freedom – from sin and the things that tangle and bind us; and Strength – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual strength to face the troubles of the world. But they are GIFTS we must receive and actually USE.
With Christmas less than three weeks away, we will no doubt scurry around looking for the perfect gift for someone we love. Imagine your disappointment and heartbreak if you gave your special someone a gift that cost you a pretty penny, and they didn’t even TAKE it. They just ignored it, unwrapped, left on the floor. Or worse yet, kicked it across the room! Now imagine how our Heavenly Father must feel when His Gift is ignored and despised. Or when those of us who have accepted His gift of salvation don’t understand the way the Holy Spirit longs to help us?
Jesus sacrificed His life and died so that we could LIVE -- live WITH Him in Heaven after we die and live FOR Him on earth as long as we’re here. His Spirit will lead us, free us and empower us; but we have to CHOOSE -- to discipline ourselves to follow and obey Him, let Him reveal what binds us, and strengthen us to overcome it. And then let the world see our changed life and tell them that HE is the reason!
1 Lives of the Twelve Caesars. C. Suetonius Tranquillus.
University of Chicago, 21 July 2009. Web. 4 Dec 2009.
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Nero*.html
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