Mark is most likely the first of the Gospels to be written because it is the
shortest and tells of the ministry of Jesus. Mark stresses Jesus' message about
the kingdom of God and how it is breaking into human life as good news and that
Jesus himself is portrayed as the "gospel of God." Jesus is explained
as the Son of God who is sent down to rescue everyone. His life is predestined
as a sacrifice for humanity. The beginning of the book sets the tone of Mark by
the actions of John the Baptist and God as he speaks during Jesus' baptism
declaring Jesus his son. Also in the beginning Jesus is supposed to baptize the
Holy Spirit and that the temptation of Satan fails. Examining the verse 14-15 of
chapter 1 one can understand Jesus proclamation as Gospel: "fulfillment,
the nearness of the kingdom and therefore the need for faith." From this
point on we see miracles being performed on the people. It almost seems as
though he is carrying out these miracles in order to make people either fear
him, or prove to people who he is. People then start to take a real liking to
him as he helps them unconditionally with all of their ailments. Jesus later
appoints 12 disciples to carry out his reign and to drive out the demons as he
is doing. Though we see in chapter three the introduction of the Apocalyptic
thought. Jesus is accused of being "Beelzebul" which is a word used
for Satan, they say this because they do not have an explanation for him driving
out the demons. We also see in this chapter that Jesus say's that his family is
those that believe in God and follow his reign. This insinuates the idea that
Jesus is in all of us. Continuing the story we see Jesus is preparing for
everything that is to happen. He is aware of the disciples that are going to
betray him, and that he is going to be sentenced to death by Pilate. Then the
Last Supper where he is to foretells the future. In chapter 13 we are told about
the destruction of the Temple. This is very apocalyptic in tone because it tells
of the falling of all the great buildings right down to the last stone. He says
that there will be many wars, and many nations will fight but it will all be
built again, saying that intervention will only happen after destruction. What
he is talking about is the Romans coming to take over Jerusalem and to destroy
the temple. Though Jesus does not say when this is going to happen. The book of
Mark ends with Jesus being crucified and dying on the cross for everyone. He was
buried and then the following day as Mary Magdedalene, Mary Mother of James and
Salomon went to go anoint his body they found that his body was not there. They
assumed that Jesus had risen. He appeared to the eleven and said go out and
proclaim what has happened and those that believe will be saved and those that
don't will be condemned. This is the final portion of Mark and it's proclaims
that those who do not believe will be punished. This is a very similar attitude
that was seen in Daniel as God the punisher.