Bible Matters 224: Gospel According to Mark

Matthew and John walked with Jesus when he was on the earth. Mark and Luke were disciples with Paul. Paul states in one of his last letters that Mark is profitable for the ministry. He is doctrinally correct.

2 Timothy 4:7,11 – I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Peter escaped the prison of Herod, by an angel of the Lord and he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname is Mark.

Acts 12:11-12 – And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

Sources also state that some believe that Mark was one of the early disciples sent forth by Jesus two by two. He tells them to preach that men should repent.

Mark 6:7 – And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

Mark 6:10-12 – And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.  And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

From this history, one can deduce that Mark spent time with apostles that walked with Jesus. His gospel reads a lot like Luke’s. Jesus’s ministry began following the imprisonment of John the Baptist. Jesus tells you to repent and believe his Gospel. Jesus came to call sinners unto repentance.

Mark 1:14-15 – Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 2:17 – When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

With a pure heart, you repent of your sins, turn your life to Jesus and accept the gift of the Holy Ghost into your heart. The Holy Ghost will direct your life in the righteousness of the Lord. When you blaspheme the Holy Ghost, you refuse to accept a life worthy of the Lord. You decide to continue your life of sin, walking with the devil. Jesus tells you that when you blaspheme the Holy Ghost, you are in danger of eternal damnation. When you do the will of God, those Christians that walk with you are your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Mark 3:28-29,34-35 – Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

It is more important to turn from sin and sacrifice your current lifestyle than to die in hell. Do not deceive nor let any man deceive you. Do not be ashamed of God’s word. The rich man came to Jesus and asked what must be done to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to give up his sinful life in the flesh and come follow him. He loved his worldly possessions. He walked away grieved. Jesus wants you to lay up treasures in heaven by living a righteous life and turning your life and trust in riches away from the devil.

Mark 8:34-38 – And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark 9:39-47 –  But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Mark 10:17-23 – And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

When you turn to God, you want to do his will from your heart. Let the Holy Ghost direct your heart. Speak to the lost, from your heart. When you endure to the end, you shall be saved. To be saved from your enemies, with the end, eternal life.

Mark 13:10-13 – And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Your baptism will be of the Holy Ghost. He will be with you. Preach the gospel to every creature. Those that believe will have eternal life.

Mark 16:15-16 – And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

The Son of man will come in great glory. Be ready for his coming.

Mark 13:22,25-26 – For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Mark 13:33,36-37 – Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Today, repent of your sins and follow God’s Word. Being led by the Holy Ghost, living a righteous life, spreading God’s Word, unto the end life everlasting.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.