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The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels recorded in Scripture. It does not contain as much of Jesus’ teaching as the other three Gospels. Instead, it deals primarily with His ministry activities. By studying the Gospel of Mark, Christians can learn how to properly give witness to the fact that JESUS IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
Jesus' Ministry
Jesus’ ministry activities included preaching, healing the sick, casting out devils and feeding multitudes. This is the Gospel of the Kingdom in action. The word gospel comes from the Greek word evangelion that has come to mean the good news. It is the promise of salvation fulfilled by the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The word salvation comes from the Greek word soterion. It means deliverance from whatever an individual needs to be delivered from. Jesus’ ministry activities are an example of salvation coming to every area of man’s life.
The Great Witness
Gospel of Mark ends with Jesus sending His disciples into the world to preach and telling them signs would follow those who believe the Gospel preached to them. (Mark 16:15-18) The signs are there because the Holy Ghost is present in the lives of those who believe the Gospel. The manifestations of those signs are evidence that Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
Jesus said Christians would receive power and be witnesses after the Holy Ghost comes upon them. (Acts 1:8) This power is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. (Romans 8:11) It is manifested in the lives and ministries of Christians through the signs Jesus said would follow them. Therefore, as a phenomenon, the signs mean JESUS IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
Correct Views Concerning the Manifestation of the Signs
There are several erroneous views concerning manifestation of the power of God as demonstrated through the signs mentioned in Mark 16:15-18. Those erroneous views will not be mentioned. Instead, the correct views are listed as follows:
- The Power of God Manifested in the Signs is not Total.
The Holy Ghost does not manifest these signs without a human vessel to work through. It is this writer’s belief that Jesus instructed His disciples to lay hands on the sick because He wanted to work through a human vessel. Jesus also told His disciples they would do the works He did and greater works. (John 14:12)
- The Power of God Manifested through the Signs is not Totalitarian.
The Holy Ghost does not force anyone to speak in tongues, cast out devils, lay hands on the sick, etc. The vessel He uses must be willing.
- The Power of God Manifested through the Signs is not Tandem.
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God." Romans 8:14 NKJV Christians are to wait for the anointing of the Holy Ghost before moving into these areas. In 1 John 2:27, Apostle John states the anointing of the Holy Ghost teaches Christians and they should abide in that anointing.
- The Power of God Manifested through the Signs is not Tethered.
The Holy Ghost is definitely involved in the manifestation of these signs. (John 15:5) He is the One who actually does the work. Jesus said, “He who believes in Me as the Scripture has said, out of His belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38 NKJV Jesus did not say, “out of His own belly”, but out of the belly of the individual who believes on Him according to the Scripture would flow the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, when a Christian lays hands on the sick, he does so knowing the God he serves is able to heal and that the healing anointing of the Holy Ghost is flowing out of his own belly.
Conclusion
Because the Gospel of Mark gives an almost pictorial account of the Jesus’ ministry, it can be studied as a “how to” book for Christians who operate in the Gifts of the Holy Ghost. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) By studying the Gospel of Mark, Christians desiring to know how to properly minister to others can learn to do so.
The Gospel of Mark is the Gospel of Action - first in the life and ministry of Jesus, then in the lives and ministries of Christians who are living witnesses (proofs) of His resurrection.
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