This gospel comes from the pen of John Mark and is the shortest gospel, possibly the first to be written. His first name, John in Hebrew, is 'Yohanan' meaning, 'Yahweh has shown favour.' His second name, Mark, is like a surname, a family name, Latin in origin. His mother's name was Mary and he was a cousin of Barnabas – Acts 12:12; Colossians 4:10. He accompanied Paul and Barnabas on that first missionary journey as a helper - Acts 13:5.

The gospel centres on a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Mark's focus is to introduce Jesus to us and to tell us something about his life and ministry, but importantly to write of his death, burial and resurrection. And so he commences with the words, "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God" - verse 1. The word 'gospel' means 'good news.' Our newspapers and the media today report so much bad news which can be discouraging and depressing. But here is some good news and it's all about Jesus Christ. In verse 14 we read, "Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God." In verse 15 Jesus said, "Repent and believe the good news." Towards the end of the gospel Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the good news." (16:15). Who is this person who Mark writes of?

1. He is JESUS

This is His personal name, His given name by which they would know Him. Notice in these verses that Mark highlights the coming of two persons:

• Verse 4 "And so John came…"
• Verse 9 "At that time Jesus came…"

Mark quotes from Isaiah 40 in verses 2, 3. The fulfilment of that prophecy was the coming of John the Baptist to "prepare the way for the Lord, and make straight paths for him." John's pulpit was the wilderness and his method was preaching – verse 4. The word 'preaching' here in the Greek is 'kerusso', meaning 'to herald, to proclaim, to publish', and this is the divinely appointed means of communicating the gospel, the good news. His message was a direct and uncompromising call to repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of their sins – verse 4. He was quite clear in his declaration that after him would come someone who was far more powerful, whose sandals he was not worthy to unloose.

He looked forward to the one called Jesus. Matthew reminds us in his gospel that the angel told Joseph, "You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21). In the Hebrew the name is Joshua, which means, 'the Lord saves.' He came to be our Saviour. The angels announced to the shepherds the birth of a Saviour – Luke 2:11. The Samaritan woman testified "that this man really is the Saviour of the world." (John 4:42). Peter declared that God has exalted Jesus to his right hand as Prince and Saviour - Acts 5:31. He came to save us from the penalty of our sins, and to save us from a Christless eternity. There is power in the name of Jesus, for one day at the name of Jesus every knee will bow. Look up Philippians 2:10, and compare with Acts 4:12.

2. He is the CHRIST

The word 'Christ' is His official title; He is the Christ. It is 'Christos' in the Greek, meaning the Messiah, God's appointed and anointed one. Look up Psalm 2:2, John 1:41; 4:25, 26. The Jews had been waiting centuries for the Messiah to come, now it was God's time and the Messiah appeared. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is God and that He can be nothing less. In Thessalonica Paul proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ. Look up Acts 17:3, and compare with Acts 9:22; 18:28. Central to our faith is the person of Jesus Christ and His death for us on the Cross.

3. He is the SON of GOD

This reveals his relationship with the Father. He is one in nature and essence with Almighty God. The Father sent Him and He came to do His Father's will. Scripture teaches that Jesus is the Son of God. Notice these three things:-

• The Father declared it. See the words in verse 11, "You are my Son, whom I love ; with you I am well pleased." God sent His one and only Son for us. Look up Romans 8:3, 32.
• Jesus Christ claimed it. At His trial the high priest asked Him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" And He replied, "I am." (Mark 14: 61, 62); compare with John 4: 25, 26.
• The disciples believed it. At Caesarea Philippi, approximately six months before His crucifixion, Jesus asked the disciples "Who do you say that I am?" And Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (Matthew 16: 15, 16); see also Mark 8:29.

Mark teaches us the deity of Christ, but also His essential humanity. Our Lord became a real man, a human being. Notice what Mark includes:-

• He was baptised, verse 9. He did not need to be baptised, He had no sins to repent of! But as the God-man He showed His obedience to the Father and He identified with the sinners He had come to save.
• He was anointed, verse 10. The Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove as He was coming up out of the water. The Christ, the anointed one, was now anointed by the Spirit for His earthly ministry; to empower Him, to equip Him and to enable Him.
• He was tempted, verses 12, 13. He was "tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15). Compare this verse with Hebrews 2:18. As a man He was tempted, but He never sinned, so that as the perfect sacrifice He might die in our place at Calvary.

There is only one gospel, and that is the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).