The Gospel of Mark

Studying Bible verses can be like a lively Bible discussion when we take time to compare them with other pas­sages. For example, Matthew records that “…they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed; and Jesus seeing their faith said…thy sins be forgiven thee” (9:2). What we are not told by Matthew is the unusual way in which this man was brought before Jesus. Mark and Luke fill in the details that make the participants in this healing come alive.

Unusual effort reveals faith

This sick man was borne by four friends who experienced great difficulty reaching Jesus. Mark records that “when they could not come nigh unto him (Jesus) for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed…” (Mark 2:4).

The parallel passages in Mark and Luke show these men took extraordinary measures to lay the sick man before Jesus. The four friends demonstrated a faith sufficient to risk embarrassment and even arrest so that the palsied man could be healed by the Master. Here was a vibrant faith that we would all do well to emulate.

Compare other gospels

Comparing gospels usually gives a fresh insight and furnishes the Bible student with additional information that he knows is right. There is no need to wonder if the supplemental details we have noticed are appropriate or not. We are freely provided with the benefit of God-inspired parallel accounts that draw our attention to many significant details that can increase our understanding and appreciation of His word.

Nearly always, turning up a parallel gospel passage brings out hidden details not fully explained in the book being read. God has designed that the record of His Son should be a plural one, not to confuse us, but that we might gradually absorb the full message.

The synoptic gospels

Although there are some parallel accounts involving all four gospels (the feeding of the 5,000 and the inscription on the cross are two examples), parallels involving three of the gospels are more common.

This Biblical feature has resulted in the title synoptic gospels being given to Matthew, Mark and Luke. In these three records, the parallels are so many that it has proved possible to make a synopsis of them as presented in a gospel harmony.

The extent of parallelism is greatest in Mark’s gospel, where 610 of the 661 verses have a parallel in Matthew or Luke. For many of these verses, there are two or more parallel accounts.

The gospel of Mark

In spite of its shortness, Mark’s gospel often provides a fuller account of individual incidents than either Matthew or Luke. This is possible because Mark omits material found in the other two, such as the record of Jesus’ birth, genealogy and childhood.

At the same time, Mark contains some unique passages not found in the other gospels. Three of the longer examples are: Mark 4:26-29; 7:31-37 and 8:22-26. For these, and other sections in Mark without parallel passages in other gospels, the assured lively discussion easily prompted by consulting a gospel harmony is not possible. Scripture can still be compared with scripture, however, and a fuller understanding can thereby be obtained. This process is usually more involved than referring to the corresponding gospel account, but it still follows the ancient and commendable practice of arriving at an under­standing through scriptural consensus (Acts 17:10,11).

The development of the word

Using Mark 4:26-29 as an example, we readily see the value of comparing scripture with scripture to understand this parable of the kingdom of God.

Seed is cast into the ground, it springs up, grows, and produces fruit. How it grows is not understood by the sower; yet, when it matures, it is immediately harvested.

From Luke 8:11 it is evident that the seed represented the word of God. The man was diligent in his activity. He followed the advice: “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good” (Eccl. 11:6).

After a while, the seed cast into the ground sprung forth, although the man did not know how (v. 26). His sleeping or rising made no difference in the result. Once he had cast the seed, it was cared for by God (I Cor. 3:7). God provided all the necessary steps so the dormant seed, with a potential for life, could “spring and grow up.”

The man must have experienced great excitement when he first saw the blade. The day before there was nothing visible, no promise of a harvest. He might think the seed had rotted in the ground or that it was sterile. Yet out of his sight, beneath the ground, a miracle was even then taking place. As we read in Isaiah, “For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the LORD God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations” (Isa. 61:11).

Inevitable maturation

Verse 28 is considered by some to describe the slow but steady growth of the plant. “Then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” It is true that plant growth is gradual, but the emphasis here may instead be on the inevitable nature of the growth process. There is no stopping this process once it begins. The man still “knoweth not how,” but the seed, if not rooted out, proceeds in a precise manner toward the mature plant it will become. What God has started no man can stop.

A harvest is inevitable. For the seed or for the kingdom there is a certainty of growth and maturity. God’s word guarantees it, “While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest…shall not cease” (Gen. 8:22). “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD” (Num. 14:21).