Mark
The author of the Gospel of Mark—John Mark (Acts 12:1212And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. (Acts 12:12))—was not an apostle nor an eyewitness. It is this Mark, the failing though restored servant, that God in His sovereignty chooses to present for us a divine picture of the perfect Servant Jesus Christ, the Son of God in His unwearied and faithful service. “They were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well” (Mark 7:3737And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. (Mark 7:37)).
The order of events in Mark’s Gospel is, by and large, chronological. A genealogy is not to be found; though required for a king, it has no significance for a servant. He is not once addressed as “Lord” by the disciples. The word variously translated “immediately,” “straightway,” “forthwith” and “anon” occurs some twenty-six times directly of the Lord and His acts, but rarely in the other Gospels.
This is a Gospel of action; there is immediacy to what is written. Though the shortest Gospel, it is full of details not elsewhere recorded. While the Lord’s divine power is everywhere displayed, the depths of His feelings as man are never hidden.
If we contrast Mark 4 with Matthew 13, the distinct character of this Gospel may be clearly seen. Both chapters begin with the parable of the sower, yet the subject pursued in Mark is that of the Lord’s service—its history, character and results. He was the sower that was His service and likewise the service of His disciples.
A candle is not to be hid, either by industry or laziness. In His absence the gospel goes forth, and though the King be not here, the seeds sprout and grow. At the time of the harvest He will return, and the fruit, or lack of it, will be seen. He will personally take care of the harvest. There are storms, yet the Lord is with us. The One whom even the wind and the sea obey is in the ship it cannot sink. If we feel that He has abandoned us, it is because of our own lack of faith. He shares in all our labors.
The book may be divided in the following manner: chapters 13, Christ’s ministry in Galilee, the opposition of the Jewish leaders, their apostasy, and the Lord’s rejection of the nation; chapters 45, a summary of His personal service among the Gentiles and His people, taking us to Israel’s future raising up; chapters 6-10:45, His service resumed, though rejected by a blinded people; chapters 10:46-13, His return to Jerusalem and final ministry; chapters 14-16, His death and resurrection.
Luke
Luke, Paul’s companion and fellow-laborer (Acts 16:10; 20:610And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. (Acts 16:10)
6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. (Acts 20:6); Philem. 2424Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlaborers. (Philemon 24); 2 Tim. 4:1111Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. (2 Timothy 4:11)), wrote both this Gospel and the Acts. He addresses both accounts to Theophilus, an Italian nobleman. Luke was “the beloved physician” (Col. 4:1414Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. (Colossians 4:14)), apparently a Gentile.
The Gospel is an account of the Lord’s life, by a Gentile to a Gentile: “That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed” (Luke 1:44That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. (Luke 1:4)). It is a divine portrait of Christ—a Man among men—perfectly meeting their need in grace His moral glory always shining.
Whereas the “kingdom of heaven” is predominant in Matthew, the “kingdom of God” distinguishes Luke. This expression takes us beyond Israel and the Messiah “all flesh shall see the salvation of God” (Luke 3:66And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Luke 3:6)). Yet even in Luke, the order followed is to the “Jew first, and also to the [Gentile]” (Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)).
Its message is to those who were bidden, then to the poor of the city the remnant and finally beyond the city to the highways and hedges the Gentile (Luke 14:16-2416Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. (Luke 14:16‑24)). In Luke 1316And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 17And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. 18Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. 20And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 22And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (Luke 13:16‑24) He is presented to the godly remnant in Israel (Luke 2:25-3825And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:25‑38)) the devout few that thought upon His name (Mal. 3:1616Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16)).
The “kingdom of God” also has an important moral element: “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:1717For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17)). Moral principles, applicable to all, shine in Luke.
The genealogy in Luke is traced back to the first man, Adam. Jesus is the Son of Man taking up the inheritance God gave to man. The temptations in Luke are presented in moral order first the most basic desire, hunger, and then that which man has by every means sought for himself, power and glory: “He builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son” (Gen. 4:1717And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. (Genesis 4:17)). The final temptation-more subtle is spiritual in character, appealing to man’s religious nature.
Unlike the first Adam, the Lord Jesus is triumphant in obedience. In Luke He is ever the obedient, suffering, victorious man, and only here do we find such details concerning His agony in the garden: “Being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:4444And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44)).
While all the subject matter of Luke is rich, it is helpful to observe the following divisions: chapters 1-3, His birth till the commencement of His public ministry thirty years; chapters 4-5, His ministry of grace among the cities, towns and villages of Galilee; chapters 6-9:50, His ministry in grace, but in contrast with Judaism (the old garment cannot be patched with new cloth), closing with His glory as man; chapters 9:51-19:48 begin with His determination to go to Jerusalem and end with His entry into that city, in between which we have the judgment of those who rejected the Lord and the grace He dispensed along the way the promises of God are accomplished by grace and laid hold of by faith; chapters 20-21, Jerusalem and the Jews delivered up to the Gentiles; chapters 22-24, the Lord with His disciples, His death and resurrection the risen Man.
N. Simon