1. Mark the Evangelist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2rL Xr3cEU

2. Evangelistic Symbol: The Lion

3. The Lion is attributed to Mark because the Lion stands for the strength and courage that he called Christians to exercise.

4.  Written about AD 65-70  Written to early Christians who were persecuted, to strengthen their faith that they must carry their cross in suffering just as Jesus did.

5.  Tradition:  John Mark: Companion of Paul and Peter  Referred to in Paul’s letters.  Was Peter’s interpreter and drew from Peter’s stories.  Did not have direct contact with Jesus.  Today:  Many scholars say that he may have drawn from various written and oral sources.  Unknown author.  Christian, from Jewish background.

6. Since the author was a companion of Peter and Paul, who were leaders of the early Church and later martyrs, he witnessed the persecution of early Christians firsthand. He had the advantage of knowing many of the witnesses firsthand.

7.  Portrays Jesus as:  Fully human, getting angry, but loving and compassionate  Hiding His true identity as Christ  Son of Man: Humble, yet the bringer of God’s Kingdom  Controversial actions  Suffering servant

8. And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch." 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt."

9. What human elements of Jesus’ Humanity can you pick out from this passage?

10. Jesus repeatedly told his followers and those whom he healed to not reveal his Messianic Identity

11. “And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they should crush him; 10 for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." 12 And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. “

12. Why do you think Jesus didn’t want to be publicized as the Messiah? Some people would want Jesus only for his miracles, only because he is the Messiah. It would be difficult for people to identify with him if they knew him only for his divinity

13. The Gospel of Mark portrays Jesus as a controversial figure He taught with authority He ate with tax collectors He healed on the Sabbath He tore up the Temple

14. Barack Obama is not Jesus but, but they are similar in the fact that they are both polarizing figures So…….

15. Imagine Barack Obama on TV partying with the head of the IRS

16. Here’s where it gets good: Imagine Barack Obama preaching in a strip club or brothel (Sorry guys, no picture)

17. Imagine Barack Obama going over to eat with Tiger Woods

18.  And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons; 16 and he would not allow any one to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he taught, and said to them, "Is it not written, `My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and sought a way to destroy him; for they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.

19. What message do you think Jesus was trying to express through his controversial actions? Jesus wanted to stress that sometimes you had to go against the status quo to serve God, even though it may lead to isolation, unpopularity, and further suffering

20. In Mark’s Gospel, all of Christ’s actions and words, including the ones that were initially popular like healing people on the Sabbath were used to condemn him to death.

21. It is often said that in order to be a Christian, one must prepare to suffer. Most of that suffering comes not as a result of being a Christian, but as a result of acting as a Christian. Jesus was not condemned for who he was, but for his righteous acts and words.

22. Can you give examples of that happening to people? Famous? Someone you know? You? Are you prepared to do the same?

23. Jesus was condemned, ridiculed, tortured and strung up on a cross by the very same people he came to save, people whom he did not even need.

24. It’s like having the ***** beat out of you by a drunk person whom you just saved from getting behind the wheel and definitely killing himself.

25. Jesus however rose from the dead in glory and saved all of mankind. His one Friday of suffering, dying and rising three days later was all worth it because it saved us for eternity.

26. This is the shortest Gospel account in part, because it was the first and had less to draw on. Mark is the only one of the four writers who is not one of the original Twelve.

27. Through Mark, God tells us that we need to hang in there because in the end all of our suffering will be worth it.

28. Think about it from the standpoint of school and sports. You don’t necessarily like to practice so hard and study so much, but in the end it’s all worthwhile

29. To Follow Christ: One must be prepared for hardship One must be loving and open to all people

30. How does the message of Mark’s gospel apply to your life? Have you lived out his message? How can you live out his message?