In our Resonate series we are studying the book of Mark. Instead of a usual wandering through the gospel I was inspired to take a different perspective on the study. As you read the Gospel of Mark there are many references to Old Testament quotes, phrases or ideas. I was intrigued by this so I did some digging and I came up with some interesting examples.

My theory is that while Jesus was speaking to the large crowds there were some who were hearing “more” than simply his words. Many of Jesus’ words and phrases point his listeners back to Old Testament stories. These phrases kind of work like inside jokes for the hearer. It’s almost as if Jesus is speaking in a secret code. The words makes sense when you first hear them but if you peel back the layers a bit a whole new world of understanding opens up.

I’d like to spend the next few blog posts peeling back some of those layers and point you to some of the secret Old Testament coded words in the gospel of Mark. Before we go any further I had better take the time to explain the concept and contexts behind the book of Mark.

The book of Mark was generally believed to be written in Rome to Gentile believers. It is believed that the book of Mark was written by a man by the name of John Mark who travelled with Paul and Barnabas and spent time with Peter. The common idea is that Mark simply wrote down the words that Peter spoke while preaching and compiled the ideas into a letter for the churches.

If you are looking for a way to explain this “secret code” idea, it’s like this: You know those movies where you watch the whole thing and then at the end they tell you something and you realize that your entire understanding of the movie was not completely accurate. Where you watch the movie a second time or a third time and suddenly you see things you never saw before which help you to understand more and more of the story. These secret codes are like this.

To a Gentile believer the information on Jesus’ life and works is important but as you drill down you realize that the bigger story, the Old Testament Narrative that weaves its way through Mark’s gospel, is particularly important. That’s what I would like to focus on, because I believe it will help you see the necessity of not simply reading the bible but beginning to ask the critical questons necessary for a proper understanding of it.

Join me as we journey into the secret words in the gospel of Mark.

Over the next few blog posts we will go behind the words to study… John the Baptist, The 10 Commandments and the Remnant of Israel… stay tuned.