1. Introduction to the Gospel of Mark (Mark 1:1)

The first account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth very probably came from the pen of Mark, who appears to have recorded the memoirs of the Apostle Peter. His fast-paced narrative presents Jesus as a man of action and compassion. Mark highlights the authority of Christ, and the crisis provoked as Jesus challenged the status quo of established religion in Jerusalem, setting in motion events that would inevitably lead to the arrest, trial, and execution of Jesus in Jerusalem. Mark probably wrote his gospel during the early days of Nero's attack on Christians, and he therefore not only intends to give an account of the most remarkable life in human history, but also to encourage the people of God whenever they face times of trial and persecution.