Read: As you read and unpack this introduction of Mark, see also supporting scriptures found in: Mark 14:51-52, Acts 12:12, Acts 15:3-9; Acts 15:38; I Peter 5:13.

Introduction: Meeting Mark (Also known as John or John Mark )

Mark was not one of the 12 disciples of Jesus.  He was one of the many who had heard of Jesus by His reputation as a great healer, and joined the crowd to witness the mighty works of God.  When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on what we call “Palm Sunday”, Mark undoubtedly found a place among the crowd who welcomed the Savior with palm branches and cloaks laid in the path, as a conquering-hero.  

During Passover week, church tradition holds that it was in the “Upper Room” of Mark’s own father’s house that Jesus gathered with His disciples for the last supper, a time of preparation and prayer before Jesus would be arrested in the olive grove known as the Garden of Gethsemane.  How did Mark know that there was one young man, wrapped in a sheet, lurking on the side-lines to observe the way by which his hero was ambushed and arrested, and the commotion that followed? Was it Mark who panicked when the soldiers grabbed him, leaving his sheet in their hands, running away naked in fear of his own life? 

The next time we see Mark in the Bible, he has joined the Apostle Paul and gone on the very first hazardous trek to spread the Gospel salvation message of healing, love, and eternal life to the world surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.  That is, until, overcome by the dangers of the mission, Mark abandoned it, and left for the familiar safety and comfort of home. 

Interestingly, the next time Paul set out to visit the young churches they had planted on the first journey, he refused to trust Mark, the quitter, to accompany him.  It was Barnabus who took the aspiring young evangelist under his wing, and gave him the opportunity to prove himself an Apostle.  

Ultimately, it was the Apostle Peter that Mark attached himself to.  He became like a son to Peter. It was from Peter’s sharing of his personal experiences with Jesus that Mark gathered the details of the Master’s words and works, ministry and miracles deciding to spread the Good News in writing. 

Thus, we have Mark’s own Gospel, the first account of Jesus Christ put into writing for us to meet, not only Mark, but his hero-Savior and Lord-Jesus.  Through Mark’s Gospel, we hear of His power to heal and save those who trust Him as their own saving, healing Lord.  

Questions:

1. Which experience of Mark above can you identify with?
   1. The one who worships His Lord from afar?
   2. The one who tries to believe but flees in fear when confronted with the frightening prospect of what might happen, or naysayers and opposers?
   3. The one who never gives up until you find hope and companionship with other believers who stand with you on your journey to full restoration? 
2. How does knowing a little more about Mark impact your desire to read the healing accounts of Jesus in this Gospel?
3. Have you ever known someone that breached your own confidence and trust but looking back you wish you would have given them another chance?

Read Mark 1: 21-28
Sick Among Us

Jesus was in the sea-side town of Capernaum on a Sabbath.  He went into the local synagogue and began to preach. Can you imagine Jesus stopping by your church to preach one day?  He spoke with authority, not as the teachers of the law had taught. That’s because He literally was and still is the Word of God in the flesh. (John 1:1-2).

There was a demon-possessed man in the synagogue that day.  Could it be that he had hidden this spiritual affliction? When face to face with the Son of God, the demon could no longer hide for fear of Jesus.  Notice how Jesus reacted to this demon-possessed man who was interrupting his teaching. He said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” And the demon left the man shrieking at that moment.  All those attending that day saw Jesus’ power to cast out evil spirits.

Questions: 

1. Does it surprise you the demon-possessed man was at the synagogue?
2. Did you notice how Jesus cast out the demon?  What can we learn from Jesus’ approach to ridding this poor soul of the demonic possession?
3. Scriptures say that Jesus taught with authority.  Have you ever witnessed someone teaching with authority vs. someone say, just teaching?  Do you think it matters who we sit under and by what authority they teach?  How so?

Read Mark 1: 29-34
Gathering at the Door

Jesus was still in Capernaum and headed to the home of Simon (Peter) and Andrew.  Peter’s mother-in-law was sick, so they brought Jesus to her. Taking her hand, He helped her up and the fever left her.  She didn’t ask for the healing. Instead, her son-in-law, who personally knew Jesus, brought Jesus to her.

Later that evening, people came to bring their sick loved ones to Jesus.  Picture the entire town gathered around the door of Peter and Andrew’s tiny house.  These people wanted help for their loved ones and crowded the door where they knew Jesus was staying.  The account says Jesus healed many who had various diseases and were demon-possessed.

Questions:

1. In this account, the sick did not seek out Jesus, their loved ones brought them to Him and He healed them. What does this say to you about approaching Jesus?
2. As you picture the entire town gathered at the door, what comes to your mind as you think of these people and their sick loved ones?
3. What did you learn about Jesus from this account?

Read Mark 1: 35 – 39
Time with God

After a night of non-stop healings in Capernaum, Jesus got up before sunrise to be alone and pray to God.  The night before, He had just ministered to the entire town seeking healing for their sick and demon-possessed loved ones.

It’s refreshing to see that the Son of God placed a priority on being alone with His Heavenly Father.  He had just been serving, helping, listening, healing and caring for people, but now this was His time to refocus and regenerate, and how does He do so?  He spends time with God. He too needed a time of refreshing.

His alone time was cut short when His disciples told Him everyone was looking for Him.  But Jesus said, “Let’s go somewhere else.” Although physical healing was part of Jesus’ ministry, what did He say was his reason for coming?  He had more preaching to do.

Questions:

1. Why do you think Jesus made time to be alone and pray to God?
2. What is the importance of taking time to rest and focus when you are caring for others or yourself?
3. Why do you think Jesus was ready to move to the next town?

Read Mark 1: 40-45
If You Are Willing

“If you are willing, you can make me clean.”  This is what a man with leprosy said to Jesus.  Jesus had compassion for the man, touched him and said, “I am willing.”  He healed him right there, giving him instructions to tell no one of his healing but to go to the priests, offer sacrifices for his healing as a testimony to them.  Instead, the healed man went around telling everyone his good news. Would you blame the man for spreading the word?

This account is where we see an immediate healing due to this man’s faith.  He believed Jesus could heal him and begged for it. He sought Jesus as the one who could heal him.  No matter if Jesus heals immediately or over time, we are to learn from this man’s faith that Jesus is willing!

Questions:

1. Why do you think Jesus heals some people immediately and others over time?
2. Why do you think Jesus wanted the priests to see this healing?
3. What do you think of the fact that the man essentially went against Jesus’ instructions to “not tell this to anyone”, and instead spoke freely about it, spreading the news? What does scripture say is the impact or outcome that it had on Jesus?