Introduction to Mark's Gospel

At every Eucharist there is a reading from one of the four Gospels. During the three year cycle of readings, each Gospel is read once. Matthew, Mark and Luke have a year each, with parts of John’s Gospel being read throughout the three years. This year the featured Gospel is Mark, and Fr. Timon has written the following introduction.

Introduction to Mark’s Gospel

Gospel means, ‘The good news.’ The good news is of Jesus Christ about whom, Mark records being the, ‘Son of God.’

Mark’s gospel is the second book in the New Testament. It is believed to have beeen written probably in 62 AD, the oldest of the gospels; therefore with lots of relevant and significant evidence which must have been a step in the right direction for the other gospel writers. It contains sixteen chapters and is the smallest of the four gospels. It carries many parables, healings and miracles that Jesus performed while he was on this earth.

What is strikingly interesting, that Mark picks up the story of Jesus right at the beginning of his ministry. This is at the bank of the River Jordan where John the Baptist is seen to be proclaiming the baptism of repentance, and Jesus is seen coming forward to John to be baptised by him. Immediately after the baptism Jesus is taken into the wilderness where he fasts for forty days and nights and at the end is tempted by the devil.

Mark concentrates on Jesus’ ministry, his suffering, crucifixion, death, resurrection and ascension; he has recorded the last days of Jesus’ journey on this earth with great poise.

The entire gospel flows from one event to the other and that is what keeps the reader embedded into the book interested. This gospel can be read at ease if you have a morning free between the hours of breakfast and lunch.

So go on, grab your tea and let Mark take you two thousand years back into history, where Jesus walked and talked.

Fr Timon Singh

Fr Timon and family at Portsmouth Cathedral on the occasion of his Ordination into the Priesthood