In current society, with the release of books like The Da Vinci Code and movies such as Mel GibsonÆs The Passion of the Christ, as well as wars and terrorist acts that are attributed to different religious beliefs, it is not a question of whether religious scriptures and sacred texts will be studied, but to what degree. Only examination and discussion as to the application of these texts will lead to a better understanding of conflicts around the world and within American society. In view of this need, this paper will examine the Gospel of Mark, discuss and determine the historical contexts, the audience addressed, main themes and messages, and then demonstrate how these main themes and messages may apply in todayÆs society.
In order to properly discuss the Gospel of Mark, it must first be placed within its historical context alongside the other gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John. Before the gospels were recorded, Christian communities depended on oral stories about JesusÆ life and his sayings that were passed down from leaders. In the face of persecution and questioning of faith these stories offered comfort and hope. However, there was concern in the early church that the oral histories were being embellished and fictionalized. For this reason, some of the leaders, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John being at least four of those leaders, began to record these histories (Nickle, 1980). According to several sources, Mark was the earliest recorded gospel, although dates vary from 64 CE to as late as 72 CE (Crain, 1999; Duling, Ferm, and Perrin, 1982; Holy Bible, 1966).
It is believed that the author of the Gospel of Mark was John Mark, who was closely associated with the 12 disciples from the beginning and who also worked alongside Paul, Barnabas, and Peter in the early Christian ministry. John Mark is supposed to have written the gospel for the church in Rome shortly after PeterÆs death around 64 CE (Holy Bible, 1966). In 150...