When we open the New Testament, we find four books called “gospels” – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. All four present compelling accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Jewish Messiah and Son of God.
Mark is the shortest of the gospels, with 16 chapters. The main reason Mark’s gospel is shorter than the others is because he devotes the least amount of space to the teachings of Jesus.
Because he spends less time recording the teachings of Christ, the book of Mark is a fast-moving, action-packed description of Jesus’ 3-year ministry. But when you read Mark, you would do well to take note of this – while not focusing as much on the content of Jesus’ teachings, he does emphasize the importance and frequency of Jesus’ teachings.
To demonstrate Mark’s focus on Jesus’ teaching ministry, let’s take a tour through the book of Mark.
Please take note: Jesus taught everywhere He went.
He taught in the synagogue. As a faithful Jew, Jesus would go the synagogue to observe the Sabbath. And he would often be the speaker, or what we would call the “guest preacher.” We see this in Capernaum, his ministry headquarters in Galilee – “when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach” (Mark 1:21). Likewise, when he traveled to other cities, such as his hometown of Nazareth, “When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue” (Mark 6:2).
He taught in homes. In Capernaum, where he likely stayed with Peter’s family, “he preached the word to them” (Mark 2:2). Note also Mark 3:20-23, where Mark mentions specifically that “Jesus entered a house” and then “spoke to them in parables”.
He taught by the lake. We know that Jesus spent much time in the northern part of Israel, in the region of Galilee. At least four of the apostles were fisherman (Peter, Andrew, James and John) who made their living on a lake known as the Sea of Galilee. This lake this was one of Jesus’ favorite places to teach – “Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them” (Mark 2:13). “Once again” communicates that teaching by the lake was something Jesus did repeatedly.
He even taught on the lake. But crowd control was a problem. People came to Jesus by the thousands, which forced him to use the water as a way to protect himself from the masses clamoring for his attention. “On another occasion Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things” (Mark 4:1-2).
Can you picture this scene? I would love to have been there on the shore, listening to Jesus teach the Word while sitting in a boat! When you think of Jesus and imagine what it would have been like to follow him for three years, have you ever visualized this – Jesus in a boat, doing what he told the disciples he would show them how to do – fishing for the souls of people by teaching them the Word of God.
So Jesus taught in public places, both indoors and outdoors.
He taught in small towns. Dozens of towns dotted the landscape of first century Israel. Jesus made it a priority to keep moving throughout the countryside, visiting as many communities as possible. This was part of his strategy. Early one morning, while spending time alone in prayer at Capernaum, Peter tracked him down. Jesus told him, “Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. This is why I have come. So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues” (Mark 1:38-39).
He taught in big cities. Jerusalem was the largest city in Israel and Jesus went there for the annual Jewish religious festivals every spring and fall. He went to Jerusalem for the Passover, most importantly to die on the cross. When Mark tells us that Jesus spent his last few days on earth “teaching in the temple courts” (Mark 12:35), this should not surprise us.
Jesus spent much time teaching and preaching to the masses. He wanted everyone to have opportunity to hear his message. Inside and outside, small towns and big cities. If you wanted to hear Jesus speak, there would have been many opportunities to do so.
He taught his inner circle. And he also spent much quality time with just his disciples, especially toward the end of his ministry. “He then began to teach them (the disciples) that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected . . . and that he must be killed and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31).
As his crucifixion drew nearer, Jesus made time alone with the disciples a priority — away from the crowds — specifically for the purpose of teaching them about his death and resurrection. “Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise'” (Mark 9:31-32).
Make no mistake about it. Jesus was known first and foremost as “The Teacher,” a title used of him over 40 times in the gospels. And he spent time teaching his followers about the most important event in his life and in the history 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” (Mark 10:45).
Unfortunately, “they (his disciples) did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it” (Mark 9:32).
What about you? Do you understand the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus? What did Jesus mean when he said that the purpose of his coming was “to give his life as a ransom for many”?
If you are not sure what Jesus meant, please don’t be afraid to “ask him about it.” By reading and studying the Bible, you can go to Jesus himself and listen to him delineate the meaning and significance of his death, for your eternal destiny depends on it. The book of Mark is a good place to start. After that, I recommend the books of Romans and Galatians to better understand the Gospel.
Jesus is King of kings, Lord of lords, and the one and only God-Man. He is also the greatest Teacher to ever walk on this planet.
What is he teaching you today?
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