Mark's Opening Statement.

Whereas Luke's emphasis and intention was to provide Theophilus a "certainty of the things he was taught" concerning Christianity and Jesus Christ, Mark's emphasis and intention in writing his account is quite different. Where Luke's account provides for a historical narration of the life and ministry of Jesus, Mark's Gospel, especially from its opening statement, is in a kerygmatic form. Kerygmatic means Mark's account may have been a transcription of a sermon. It is sermonic in nature.

"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way. A voice in the desert crying, 'prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching" (Mark. 1:1-4).

Mark waste no time in establishing the identity of his subject. He abruptly and bluntly asserts that Jesus is the "Christ" and the "Son of God" (Keller). The word beginning (αρχη) here denotes the beginning of the Gospel story. The same word is used in the opening verses in Luke and John but with slightly different but related meaning in each. Luke uses the word to refer to the beginning of the apostle’s witness to Jesus and John is referring to the beginning of creation (Wyatt). So Mark began his account with the intention that he wants to convey the beginning of the Gospel message.

 The phrase “of the gospel” (ευαγγελιου) occurs more times in the Gospel of Mark than in any of the other Gospel accounts. This, points to the conclusion that Mark’s account is sermonic. His purpose and intention is to present the Gospel message. And here in his opening statement, by his choice of words, he is making that intention clear.

 Therefore, Mark waste no time in presenting the identity of Jesus. He wants to get the message out in the clearest way possible, and what better way than to be blunt and straight to the point? Perhaps not in the most creative of introductions and certainly not poetic, but we get the message. This is the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

 Jesus the Chosen One, the Son of God has come to earth. That is indeed Good News of the highest caliber. In fact, no other news can be its equivalence: God the Son, in human flesh. In other words, this is Immanuel (Matthew’s description). This is Mark’s intention and purpose for writing. He wants to present an account of the Good News of Christ. This is not so much an emphasis on a historical chronology as it is in delivering what the Gospel is.

Now ancient tradition, from the Church Father Papias, through Eusebius, tells us that “Mark, an interpreter of Peter, wrote down carefully all that he had recollected, though he did not record in order the that which was said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but as I said, attached himself to Peter, who used to frame his teaching to meet the demands of his listeners and not making a connected narrative of the Lord’s discourse...” Hence, the reason why Mark’s account appeared sermonic or kerygmatic.