Bullinger Companion Bible Notes - Mark

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Bullinger Companion Bible Notes - Mark


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Verse Commentaries:


Mar

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK



THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK.





THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK AS A WHOLE.

"BEHOLD MY SERVANT" (Isa_42:1).



Mar_1:1-8. THE FORERUNNER.

Mar_1:9-11. THE BAPTISM:WITH WATER.

Mar_1:12-13. THE TEMPTATION:IN THE WILDERNESS.

Mar_1:14-20. THE KINGDOM

Mar_1:21 - Mar_8:30. THE KING

Mar_8:31 - Mar_10:52. THE KING

Mar_11:1 - Mar_14:25. THE KINGDOM

Mar_14:26-42. THE AGONY:IN THE GARDEN.

Mar_14:43 - Mar_16:14. THE BAPTISM:OF SUFFERING (DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION).

Mar_16:15-20. THE SUCCESSORS.





For the New Testament and the order of the Books, see Appdx-95 .

For the Inter-relation of the Four Gospels, see the Structure on p. 1304.

For the Diversity of the Four Gospels, see Appdx-96 .

For the Unity of the Four Gospels, see Appdx-97 .

For the Fourfold Ministry of the Lord, see Appdx-119 .

For words used only in Mark, see some 70 recorded in the notes.



MARK is a Roman (Latin) surname. His Hebrew forename was John (Act_12:12). He was a cousin of Barnabas (Col_4:10). His mother''s name was "Mary" (Act_12:12; see Appdx-100 ). What may be gathered of his history can be learnt only by the Scripture references to him (cp. Act_4:36; Act_12:12; Act_13:5, Act_13:13; Act_15:37-39. Col_4:10. 2Ti_4:11.



Mark was not the young man mentioned in ch. Mar_14:51, Mar_14:52. See the notes there. His Gospel was not derived, as alleged, from any human sources; such assertions are at the best only conjectures. It was given to him, as Luke''s Gospel was given to him, "from above" (Luk_1:3). This precludes all theories about "copying" and human "inditing" and "transcribing". There are other reasons for the omission and inclusion of certain events, which depend on, and are to be gathered from, the Divine perfections of the Word of God. Such omissions and inclusions are to be explained by the special presentation of the Lord as Jehovah''s Servant and not by the conflicting and uncertain speculations as to the "sources" of this Gospel.



To this special presentation of the Lord, in Mark, is due the fact that while He is addressed as "Lord" in the other three Gospels 73 times; by His disciples 37 times, and by others 36 times (5 of which are rendered "Sir"); He is addressed as such in the Gospel of Mark, only twice; once by the Woman (a Greek or Gentile), Mar_7:28, where it should be rendered "Sir"; and Mar_9:24, where "Lord" is omitted by all critical texts (see Appdx-94 . VI) as well as by the ancient Syriac version (see Appdx-94 , p. 136, note 3). Moreover, He is spoken of as such by the Holy Spirit through the Evangelist only twice (Mar_16:19, Mar_16:20), but that was after His ascension into heaven.



To this presentation of the Lord in this Gospel as Jehovah''s servant, are due also the minute references to His activities, not only to what He said, but how He said it; what He did, and how He did it. These are not due to any "peculiarity" of the human writer, but to the Divine supplements of the Holy Spirit. Hence we are told:---



How the disciples were sent forth "two and two" (Mar_6:7);

How the centurion "stood by, over against" the Lord (Mar_15:39);

How the people were made to sit "in ranks" (Mar_6:40);

How the Lord went to pray (Mar_1:35);

How He withdrew "to the sea" (Mar_3:7); and how He "sat in the boat, on the sea" (Mar_4:1);

How He was in the stern, asleep "on a pillow" (Mar_4:38); how He sat (Mar_12:41; Mar_13:3).



We are told also of the fear, astonishment, and sore amazement of the disciples (Mar_4:41; Mar_6:51; Mar_10:24, Mar_10:26); and of the effect of the Lord''s words and works on the People (Mar_2:2; Mar_3:10, Mar_3:20; Mar_4:1; Mar_5:21, Mar_5:31; Mar_6:31, Mar_6:33; Mar_8:1).



The activities and movements of "Jehovah''s Servant" are always prominent, from the very "beginning"; which without any preface, introduces the public ministry of the Lord, setting forth on the one hand the very height of His Divine power (Mar_1:27, Mar_1:31; Mar_2:12; Mar_3:10; Mar_5:29; Mar_6:56; Mar_7:37); and on the other the depth of His feelings as man-His fatigue, &c. (Mar_4:38; Mar_11:12; Mar_14:36); His sympathies and compassion (Mar_6:34; Mar_8:2); His love (Mar_10:21); His composure (Mar_4:38-40; Mar_15:5); His seeking solitude (Mar_1:35; Mar_6:30-32); His wonder (Mar_6:6); His grief (Mar_3:5); His sighing (Mar_7:34; Mar_8:12); His anger and displeasure (Mar_3:5; Mar_10:14). See note on "immediately" (Mar_1:12).



The four Gospels are treated in The Companion Bible not as four culprits brought up on a charge of fraud, but as four witnesses whose testimony is to be received.