The book of Mark is named after John Mark who is believed to have been a companion of the Apostle Peter who dictated these eye witness accounts to him. Mark is thought to have been the earliest Gospel written in Rome where Peter was staying at the time. Written in Greek around the late AD 50's it is also the shortest of the four Gospels. Mark (Marcus) hints at official Roman connections whilst John means "God has shown Grace" He also had a third name Colobodactolus which means "stubby fingers".
Mark shows an urgency in his Gospel and has a rather dramatic and emotional style, the Gospel is aimed particularly at the unbelieving Gentiles. It carries a lot of imperial imagery which the Gentile Romans would have identified with, drawing particular parallels with the coronation rituals of Caesar. A crown, a robe, a procession, the offering of wine and Myrrh as well as people to the left and right as he ascended to the throne.
The Gospel of Mark is set in a distinctly political world where Jewish society had been factionalized into groups such as the Pharisees, Sadducee's, the Essene's and the Herodian's. In addition to which there were philosophical ideas from Greece, the imperial power of Rome and Pagan and Baal worship which was practiced by the ten cities. The Decopolis on the other side of the lake at Galilee was a place the Jews would not visit because it was a representation of evil and the abyss of hell. But this is where Jesus cast out demons into a herd of pigs. Pigs were seen as unclean in Jewish culture and the sea represented the Abyss. Mark was the first to use the word Gospel meaning good news from the Greek word evangelon, which at that time had been used to refer to the good news of Caesar. Into this crazy mixed up and diverse culture Mark and the other gospel writers introduce the teachings and works of Jesus Christ.
Mark repeatedly links the teachings and actions of Jesus in a symbolic way to the ideas that prevailed among the various groups in the society at that time. Mark also highlights that Gods kingdom is in the here and now highlighting the power of Jesus over everything as almost one third of his book is concerned with his miracles. Much of the book is concerned with what Jesus did rather than what he said, showing little of the discourse of Jesus but rather looking instead at the reactions of people to Jesus, which can be summed up as either Fear or Faith. He often used the phrase "Don't be afraid" and asks people to respond in faith. The book also includes the only Gospel reference of speaking in tongues and stresses that Baptism is essential.
The expectations and problems of the disciples is highlighted in the failings of his followers, there is also a focus on the secretive nature of the Messiah-ship and the gradual revelation of who Jesus really was. It is believed that John Mark's home may have been the venue for the last supper, he was probably known to Jesus but was not part of his close circle. He certainly assisted Paul and Barnabus on their first missionary journey but for some reason he left the group. We do know that Paul and Barnabus had an argument over John Mark on the 2nd missionary journey and according to early Church documents we know that Mark went on to assist Peter in Rome by translating messages into Latin and recording sermons. It was important to make a record as the followers feared arrest particularly during the time of Emperor Nero. Peters sermons in Acts bear a close resemblance to Marks Gospel though Peter is often portrayed in an unfavorable light, as impulsive and ignorant of many things. There are no details of Jesus's birth nor of his early life in Marks gospel, so there is no Christmas story but he begins with the story of John the Baptist preparing the way instead.
The early part of the gospel focuses on his Galilean ministry, then dramatically on the disciples at Ceasaria Phillippi in a pivotal moment at the place where pagan worship took place and where there was a statue dedicated by Herods son Phillip to the Gods of pan. It is here that Jesus asks the disciples "Who do people say i am" before asking "Who do you think i am " It is here that he tells Peter that he would be the rock on whom his Church would be built and of his intention to go to Jerusalem to die on the cross. The latter part of the Gospel centres on the events leading up to the cross. This begins with Jesus taking John, James and Peter to the top of the mountain for the transfiguration. The events leading up to the crucifixion and the details of his execution are well recorded but the resurrection account is brief and Marks gospel ends abruptly on a note of fear. The events after the resurrection have been added on by somebody else as if a brief footnote. It is believed that the other gospel writers particularly Matthew drew from Marks account and elaborated on the events he describes but also that they found other sources to give a fuller account of the events of that time.
Summary and references from Unlocking the bible- David Pawson. The bible book by book - Cris Rogers.