Mark is a great place to start if you want a somewhat abbreviated introduction to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As the shortest gospel account, it functions like a rapid-fire of faith-building information. Luke and Matthew both give so much attention to things that happened before the start of Jesus’ ministry (nearly all of Luke chapters 1-3 and Matthew chapters 1-3 chronicle other things: John the Baptist [his family, birth, and preaching]; the genealogical records of Jesus; the miraculous conception [and birth] of Jesus). Not Mark, he jumps right into the thick of it: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk. 1:1).

He moves his pen for one particular purpose: Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and you should believe in Him. Mark wants you to see the power and person of Jesus Christ. Nothing will help you stay faithful in the face of opposition or persecution like knowing Who Jesus is. That’s what Mark’s audience needed then and is what we need today.