The writer of this book was John Mark, usually called Mark
(perhaps to distinguish him from the apostle John and from
John the Baptist). He was the son of Mary, the sister of
Barnabas, and he went with Barnabas and Paul on their missionary
journey to Cyprus (Acts 13:4-5). He was a friend of the
apostle Peter who called him his"'son" (1 Peter
5:13; Acts 12:12) and he may have been the "young man"
in Mark 14:51 who saw Jesus arrested by the Jews.
Mark records the events of Jesus' three-and-a-half year
ministry, from baptism to burial, and shows Jesus as the
one who served. It is worth noting how many miracles
of healing and other acts of service are found in this short
book; nearly twenty are recorded in chapters 1-10. It is
also significant how Mark emphasises Jesus' closeness
to the people - mingling with them, speaking
personally to them, and especially touching those to whom
he ministered.
There are only 16 chapters in this book. The message is
straightforward, simple and urgent, and the style is crisp
and to the point. The short last chapter gives a brief account
of the resurrection of Jesus and of his instructions to
the apostles to "go into all the world and preach the
gospel" (v.15).
Though Jeus was God's servant, he is also seen in Mark's
record to be the Son of God.