Mark’s Gospel is the shortest of the four gospels found in the New Testament and, at first, can seem the least memorable—there are no stories of Jesus’s birth, no long teachings of Jesus like the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel or the Last Supper discourses in John’s Gospel–it has a different feel. Yet, Mark’s Gospel is worth a close read because it reveals who Jesus is and what Jesus accomplishes in a uniquely fast-paced and dramatic style
Mark’s Gospel provides insight as we live into the calling of Unleash the Gospel, a pastoral letter filled with ten “Guideposts” to point us in the right direction of missionary conversion. We’ll explore six quotes from Mark’s Gospel and how each connects to a Guidepost–and as a bonus, because missionary conversion is about stepping out of a passive view of our faith, I’ll share four quotes for you to take to prayer.
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (thatMk 1:1)
What’s your “gospel?”
Mark the Evangelist begins his gospel by declaring that this is “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk 1:1). For Mark’s original first-century hearers, “gospel” did not mean a book of the Bible. Instead, gospel (which literally means “good news”) was a word used to describe when a king or an emperor made a royal proclamation of major significance, like a wedding uniting two royal families or a victory in military conquest. With his foundational conviction, Mark boldly declares to all readers that what he’s going to say about Jesus is on a level of importance as significant as anything they could possibly imagine in the earthly realm.
The starting point of unleashing God’s message of salvation for each of us is to have truly good news. This is a personal announcement that each of us naturally wants to share because we know beyond intellect and in our hearts that this message is true and life-changing.
Are you not sure what your personal message might be? Reflect on your life story in light of Guidepost 2, “Eyes Fixed on Jesus.” Where and when did your profound or memorable encounters with Jesus happen? What difference has knowing Jesus personally made in your life?
“I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mk 1:8)
Hope and trust in Spirit-led transformation.
The very first action scene of Mark’s Gospel includes nothing of Jesus’s birth, childhood, or even Mary and Joseph, but instead starts with John the Baptist, who emphasizes a baptism of repentance. This call to “repent and believe” is not merely about apologizing for wrongs but an invitation to total transformation–and the Holy Spirit is the one who guides and works that transformation in our lives (Mk 1:15). Jesus models receptiveness to the Holy Spirit, yielding to God’s direction into the wilderness immediately following his baptism (Mk 1:12). The next teaching on the Holy Spirit comes from Jesus who explains in Mk 3:28 that the only sin that cannot be forgiven is to not believe in the transformation, the forgiveness the Holy Spirit calls us to (Mk 3:28-29). (Learn more about this passage and Mark’s other key words.)
Guidepost 1 “New Pentecost” calls us to be docile and follow the Holy Spirit as the “principal agent of evangelization” (Pope St. Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 75). Jesus’s teaching that any and all sins can be forgiven gives us hope that no problem or complicated situation is beyond God’s mercy when a person believes in the Holy Spirit’s call to transformation.
Jesus “appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and have authority” (Mk 3:14-15)
Equipping starts when we go to Jesus.
When I think about a home improvement project, I often think first of all the things that I need to do–coming up with a plan, buying supplies, watching videos to learn skills, and more. Notice the trend? I’m the one doing the equipment; it’s all about my initiative–DIY, do-it-yourself.
When it comes to unleashing the Gospel message, Jesus’s priorities for equipping and forming us as disciples sent on mission are different. Before being sent out to announce or do anything, the first twelve disciples are called to be with Jesus.
Guidepost 4, “Equipping for the Service of the Gospel,” provides many examples of charisms (spiritual gifts) to discern and skills to grow in, but our deepest foundation, our deepest identity, and our deepest source of strength will always come from our closeness to God, being with Jesus. And Jesus expects us to do great things with this divine equipping! After his resurrection from the dead, Jesus makes it explicit: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). This is Jesus extending and sharing his power in us.
“Peace! Be Still!” (Mk 4:39)
God is with you, even when challenges surround us.
Drawing near to Jesus and being sent by Jesus doesn’t mean that the Lord expects us to be perfect, free from worry, or fearless. Mark uses vivid writing to show the real emotions of Jesus and his followers–struggles just like the ones we experience. After what must have felt like a grand success to the twelve disciples, having a huge crowd gather to hear Jesus teach (Mk 4:1), the group encounters rough winds and waters while sailing across the Sea of Galilee. The panicked instinct of Jesus’s followers isn’t to ask Jesus to protect the boat or calm the storm, but to ask accusingly, “Do you not care?” (Mk 4:38). We often find ourselves having that same gut instinct–that when we run into those difficult circumstances in life, we turn inward, and feel like maybe God has forgotten about us. But this is far from true! In this situation, Jesus declares to the storm, “Peace! Be Still!” Interestingly, the word for “be still” or “be silent” is the term “muzzle,” which means placing a protective cover on the mouth of a noisy or aggressive animal. The threat still exists (and storms will inevitably arise again), but we are protected!
The protection of Jesus, the “Word Made Flesh” (Guidepost 3), is that he understands our human circumstances and wants to communicate with us. He never forgets us. Jesus always cares. He always wants to relate to us, especially through the Scriptures and Sacraments. Jesus’s protection doesn’t always make confusing or worrisome situations go away, but it gives us an assurance that He is truly with us in all that we do.
“Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you” (Mk 5:19)
God has placed you where you are for a reason.
Jesus gives this direction to a gentile man who had experienced new freedom and healing after encountering Jesus and who wanted to leave his village and follow Jesus, as many of Jesus’s other disciples did. Why did Jesus stop him? We don’t know. But Jesus’s words reveal a pragmatic reality when it comes to evangelization: you likely already have a relationship with the people the Lord is calling you to evangelize. Maybe it’s an acquaintance, a friend from way back when, a co-worker, a neighbor, or a close friend or family member–whatever the case, because God has placed you in the circumstances of having a common bond with this person for a reason.
Guidepost 6, “Person-to-Person Engagement,” reminds us that our ordinary human relationships are the most effective and natural places for introducing others to who God is and God’s plan for our world. While we might be tempted to think that programs or media are important in evangelization, person-to-person engagement is the preeminent venue for sharing your faith.
“I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24)
Weakness doesn’t make us bystanders.
In a world where qualifications and achievements are paramount, it’s easy to feel personally inadequate when it comes to saying anything about God and faith in Jesus the Messiah. Mark includes a dramatic example that shows that Jesus’s power is greater than all our weaknesses and can even work through our doubts. A man brings his son to Jesus for healing, expressing his own uncertainty about what Jesus might be able to do. Jesus asserts to the man that “all things are possible to him who believes” (Mk 9:23). In a moment of profound wisdom wrought out of desperation, the father cries out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24).
This is the idea of Guidepost 5, “No Bystanders”, we might think, “I struggle with belief sometimes, I should be on the sideline–let the ‘holier than thou’ types go evangelize!” But this simply isn’t true. Jesus accepts the faith we have and provides the supernatural help to work the impossible.
Missionary Conversion is a Journey
Mark shows us concretely that adopting a missionary spirituality is a journey–it doesn’t happen overnight, and Jesus isn’t expecting us to show up perfect, with every answer, or with our life seemingly “in order.” As long as we draw near to Jesus, our Lord is ready to send us, filled with his Holy Spirit, a sure hope in him, and the strength we need for wherever he’s calling you to announce the urgent, good news of God’s plan.
Bonus Passages for Prayer
Explore the remaining four Guideposts of Unleash the Gospel with these passages from Mark’s Gospel and try to read the Gospel of Mark in full, with an overview to help.
Mk 3:31-35: Our families of origin are important, yet can be challenging places for evangelization. Jesus encourages us by expanding our supernatural, divine sense of family (Guidepost 7 “Families”).
Mk 13:11: Even in the most dire, difficult times, we can trust in the Holy Spirit as our advocate, counselor, ally, and guide (Guidepost 10, “Calling Upon the Advocate”)
Mk 13:32-37: While waiting can seem unnerving, consider the incredible trust and confidence Jesus has in you to continue to grow and witness during your time of waiting (Guidepost 9 “Encounter, Grow, Witness”).
Mk 15:39: A soldier (who isn’t even Jewish like most of Jesus’s early followers!) makes his own personal declaration of the “Gospel” (just as Mark did, in 1:1). What was it about Jesus that let him to this conversion of faith? (Guidepost 8 “Attraction”).