Weekly Readings
Week 14: April 6-10 Week 13: March 31-April 3Week 12: March 25-27Week 11: March 16-20Week 10: March 9-13Week 9: March 2-6Week 8: February 24-28Week 7: February 17-21Week 6: February 10-14Week 5: February 3-7Week 4: January 27-31Week 3: January 20-24Week 2: January 13-17Week 1: January 6-10Be sure to check out these videos from the Bible Project as we go through the gospel of Mark. They will help to give you the big picture of what's happening. The first is a general video about how to read the 4 gospels and the second is a video specifically about how to read the gospel of Mark. The third is a video to help give you context on the Jewish Messiah.
Author and Date
Although it is nowhere stated in the book itself, the early church is unanimous in attributing the authorship of this book to John Mark. Mark shows up a few times in the New Testament. Peter went to stay at Mark's mom's house after escaping prison (Acts 12:12). He accompanied Barnabas and Saul on their first missionary journey (Acts 12:25). He quit the Journey at Perga for unknown reasons (Acts 13:13). Because of this Paul chose not to take him along on his second missionary journey, instead taking Silas. Mark traveled with Barnabas then to Cyprus (Acts 15:37-41). He was later reconciled to Paul (Col. 4:10). Finally, he worked with Peter in Rome (1 Peter 5:13).
It is this last reference that is most significant. Mark was Peter's close companion in Rome in the early 60s before Peter was martyred under the reign of Nero. It is there where he collected the accounts of Jesus he details in his book. So the book of Mark is essentially Peter's memoirs of his time with Jesus.
Historical Context
This gospel account was likely written in Rome for Roman, Gentile Christians. The evidence from the book itself indicates that he wrote for Greek readers who's primary frame of reference was the Roman Empire, spoke Latin, and for whom the land of Judea and the Jewish way of life were unfamiliar.