Why Did Mark Write His Gospel?

The Gospel of Mark was probably written in the time range of 50 to 68 A.D. The Gospel was composed prior to A.D. 70 before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple as indicated by the comment Jesus made in Mark 13:2.

Though the Gospel’s author is not named, the early church unanimously affirmed Mark is the author and that his Gospel was historically based on the eyewitness account of the Apostle Peter—of whom Mark was a ministerial companion.

The Gospel of Mark has also been called “the Gospel according to Peter” since so much of its content is based on the testimony of Peter. Justin Martyr, writing about A.D. 150, referred to the Gospel of Mark as “the memoirs of Peter.”

The New Testament provides several biographical details about Mark. His full name was John Mark and he was a cousin of Barnabus (Acts 12:25; 15:37, 39). It was at the home of John Mark’s mother Peter went to after the angel set him free from prison (Acts 12:12). Mark accompanied Barnabus and Paul on their first missionary journey (Acts 12:25; 13:5). But later he got cold feet and left Paul and Barnabus on their way to Perga (Acts 13:13). Paul and Barnabus were to later split up over their disagreement about Mark (Acts 15:37-38). Later in life, Mark matured and became a solid ministry companion of Paul (Colossians 4:10; 2Timothy 4:11).

Mark was also a ministry co-worker with Peter in his missionary travels. Peter called Mark his spiritual son in 1Peter 5:13. Mark’s Gospel presents the Lord Jesus as the suffering Servant of the Lord whose service and sacrifice to God for man is immediate and unswerving (Mark 10:45).

Mark tends to place more emphasis on the actions of Jesus rather than His speeches. In the early part of Mark’s Gospel the frequent use of the word “immediately” with the active Jesus underscores this theme.

The Gospel of Mark also emphasizes the humanity of Jesus more frequently perhaps than the other Gospels. The emotions of Jesus are stated frequently by Mark (Mark 1:41; 3:5; 6:34; 8:12; 9:36); his natural limitations in a human body and other details that highlight the humanity of Christ are found throughout this Gospel (Mark 7:3, 34; 10:13-16). The deity of Jesus as God’s Son are also chronicled in Mark’s Gospel (Mark 12:35-37; 14:60-62).

Mark’s primary audience was the Gentiles in the Roman Empire. This is hinted at when Mark translates Aramaic terms for his reading audience (Mark 3:17; 5:41); uses Latin expressions instead of their Greek equivalents (Mark 5:9; 6:27; 12:15, 42; 15:16, 39); and measures of time according to Roman system of keeping time.

Mark quotes Old Testament Scripture fewer times than the other three Gospels. He does not mention the birth of Jesus or His genealogies like Matthew and Luke do. Mark’s Gospel immediately starts with the inception of Jesus’ ministry at His baptism in the Jordan River.

Mark 10:45 is the key passage in Mark’s Gospel that summarizes the overall theme for its composition. Mark’s inspired portrait of Jesus as the Messianic Servant of the Lord is one to which sinners should look to and trust in—Who came not to be served, but to serve and gave His life as redemptive ransom to save many (Mark 10:45).