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THE KING’ S BUSINESS
There are very few references in Mark to the Old Testament or, as in the case o f Matthew, to fulfilments o f prophecy. The Romans were not acquainted with the Hebrew Scriptures nor with the proph ecies regarding Christ," consequently not much is made o f connecting Christ with the Old Testament.' The Saviour is here presented with present, not past, interest. To the Romans, Christ is not so much, if at all, a man o f prophecy as a man of power. To the Roman mind, Caesar, the Emperor, 1 stood for power, so Christ is presented as an ideal o f power—He has power over nature, to control; over demons, to cast ou t; over sickness, to recover; over death, to quicken. It may be noted in this connection that Paul in writing to the Romans (1:16) describes the gospel as the “power o f God.” The key word o f Mark’s gospel is “straightway” or “immediately” (cf. 1 : 10 , 12, 18, 20, 28, 29, 42 ; 2:2, 8 , 12, etc.). In harmony with the purpose o f this book, it sets forth the prompt, unwavering "obedience- o f the “ Servant o f the Lord.” This key word occurs forty-one times in Mark, and only two or three times in Matthew and Luke. Surely this is not a mere accident, but the result pf deliber ate intention. Mark’s gospel is the gospel of. activity. Christ is restlessly active. The whole book is crowded with action, with deeds rather than works. Matthew with its twenty-eight chapters, has twenty miracles; Luke, with its twenty-four chapters, has twenty ; while Mark, with only sixteen chapters, has nine teen miracles.. Matthew has fifteen par ables ; Luke, twenty-three; Mark, only four, and these four deal largely with the idea o f the growth and power o f the King dom of God. Christ is everywhere active. He rises “very 'early in the morning” (1:35) ; has no time to eat (6 :3 1 ); even his periods o f rest are broken into (7:24). Jesus is “ driven” not “led” (as in Mat thew) by the Spirit. Matthew, narrating the healing o f the epileptic boy, describes him as one that “suffereth grievously,” whereas Mark says that the spirit so
afflicted the child that it “ dashetjj him down and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth” and “ casteth him both into the fire and into the water” and convulsed him griev ously so that he “ fell to the ground and wallowed foaming.” Matthew says, in describing the scenes attending the baptisms o f Christ, that “the heavens were opened,” while Mark says “the heavens were rent asunder?’ Mark is the gospel for this rushing, busy age, which may be described as being “ driven” ' rather than “led.” This gospel is occupied with “the crowds” and “the multitudes” (1 :3 3 /4 5 ; 2:2, 13. 15; 3:7, 8 , 9, etc.). E. THE DATE OF WRITING Between 63 and 70 A. D. Probably after Paul’s letter to the Colossians (62 A. D., cf. Colossians 4:10) ; before the destruc tion o f Jerusalem (cf. Mark 13). F. OUTLINE OF MARK I. The Coining of the Servant of the Lord, 1:1-13. 1. The Servant is diving; “ Son o f G od;” His origin, 1 :1. The “beginning” here refers to the com mencement of Christ’s official life and min istry. Mark begins the record o f Christ’s life at His baptism for this very reason. The gospel, as Mark understood it, is the glad tidings concerning Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. Mark emphasizes Jesus as Son of God (cf. Matthew 1 :1—Son o f David and Son o f Abraham; Luke 3 :38—The Son of Adam). 2. Foretold in prophecy; human testi mony, 1 : 2 - 8 . It is probable that Mark here, refers to Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. As already stated (see introductory notes), Mark does, not make much reference to the Old Tes tament, for the Romans, to whom this gospel was written, were not acquainted with the Old Testament Scriptures. The references here and in 15:28 are probably the only references to the Old Testament in the entire gospel. John’s mission was a ministry to repent-
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