Mark the Saint By Andrew Cooper and Meaghan Bresnahan

Mark Mark’s full name was John Mark according to Acts. John was his Jewish name and Mark (Marcus) was his roman name. He was the son of a Christian woman named Mary from Jerusalem. Barnabas is said to be his cousin.

More about Mark Feast day: April 25 th. Evangelical symbol: Lion. The Lion is often found as a symbol of Venetian art. Patron saint of Venice. Founder of the Church of Alexandria, where he is believed to have been buried. He is assumed to be the writer of Mark’s gospel, but some people still consider it was written anonymously.

Missions Mark accompanied Barnabas and Paul to Antioch. He also accompanied them on their mission to Cyprus, but he left them at Perga and returned to Jerusalem. Paul refused to take Mark on another trip after this and created a rift with Barnabas, who was a relative of Mark’s.

Gospel according to Mark. Mark’s gospel is the second book of the New Testament. It is also the shortest of the four gospels. It was written before the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, around 70 A.D. The literary device common in Mark’s gospel is dramatic irony, in which we all know the truth about Jesus, but the disciples don’t see Jesus’ true identity until his death.

Gospel continued. There are four main sections in Mark’s gospel: Beginning of the ministry of Jesus First two years of preaching and healing in Galilee Third year of ministry The Passion and Resurrection

Gospel continued. The Gospel story begins with the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. It contains a Passion narrative. The term “beloved son” is used. Many of the descriptions of the events are written as if from an eye witness account. It is believed that he gained these eyewitness descriptions from Peter, and was possibly his interpreter.

Passage from Mark 1:1-8 1The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"— 3"a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' " 4And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Gospel continued. The main theme in the Gospel is the proclamation of the dead and risen Lord. Even the baptism foreshadows Jesus’ death and resurrection. The purpose in the work is to convey that Jesus’ death and resurrection, not necessarily his teaching and healing, was what made his identity clear. The Gospel puts an emphasis on fait in the dead and risen Lord.

Audience Mark’s Gospel is considered Hellenistic and geared toward the members of the Roman Empires, specifically those that spoke Greek. Many of the Jewish traditions mentioned in the bible are explained, primarily for the benefit of non-Jews. The Latin influenced vocabulary suggests that it was written in Rome.