When evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick and demon-possessed. The whole town was assembled at the door, and he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him (Mark 1: 32-34).

Our journey through the New Testament takes us now to the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark. Mark, also known as John Mark in scripture, was a teenager during the ministry years of Jesus. Although we don’t know anything about his father, Mark apparently grew up in a wealthy family in Jerusalem. His mother’s house was large enough for many in the early church to gather, and they employed servants. When Peter was released from prison, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had assembled and were praying. He knocked at the door of the outer gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer (Acts 12:12-13).

Mark and Barnabas were cousins (Colossians 4:10) and Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). During that missionary journey, Mark left and returned to Jerusalem. When Barnabas wanted Paul to take John Mark on the second missionary journey, Paul refused (Acts 15.36-41). However, later in his life, Paul wrote Mark is useful to me for ministry (2 Tim. 4:11).

Scholars agree Mark wrote about the ministry of Jesus from the teachings of the Apostle Peter. Mark certainly heard Peter tell stories of Jesus as the early church met in his mother’s home. And perhaps when Mark left the strenuous missionary work with Paul and Barnabas and returned home, he sought Peter for additional training. Peter referred to Mark, my son (1Peter 5:13) indicating that Mark was one of the men he discipled.

The emphasis in this gospel is on activity. Mark describes Jesus as He busily moves from place to place and meets the physical and spiritual needs of people. One of Mark’s favorite words is immediately, which he uses over 40 times. Mark does not record any of the Lord’s sermons because his emphasis is on what Jesus did rather than on what he said. Mark reveals Jesus as God’s servant, sent to minister to suffering people and to die for the sins of the world. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mk 10:45).

Mark described two miracles of healing in chapter 1, both of which reveal the compassion of the Savior for those in need. The miracle in the synagogue and the miracle in the home are preludes to the general healings in verses 32-34. These two isolated miracles had taken place on the Sabbath, but now after sunset, the Sabbath was over and the crowd assembled to seek healing.

Jesus had spent a busy day with His disciples. They had already eaten their evening meal and were relaxing in Simon Peter’s home. Yet when the whole town was assembled at the door, (v33) instead of sending them away to minister to them the next day, Jesus had compassion on them, and he healed many who were sick (v34) Jesus Christ the faithful servant of God always looked to serve others ahead of His own personal needs.