Today (April 25) is St. Mark Day, the traditional commemoration of Mark the evangelist. Normally speaking in terms of church history, we commemorate someone special in Christianity on the day of their death, the day they go to be with the Lord. St. Mark died a long long time ago, so I’m not sure how accurate April 25th is for his death day, but you have to choose a day anyway, so why not April 25?
But since it is St Mark day, I’d like to invite you to join us in reading the first two chapters of Mark’s telling of the Gospel this week. If you like it, you can read with us for the remainder of the Gospel. Mark is the shortest Gospel, a mere 16 chapters – which means we’ll be taking it in 8 short weeks, basically two months. Normally speaking, two chapters is about 10 minutes of reading out-loud, probably less if you are reading silently. Mark is pretty action packed. His favorite word is “immediately”. It’s kind of a “fierce” Gospel as well, which is shown in Christian art where Mark is usually with a winged lion.
Mark was most likely a disciple of the Apostle Peter. An early church leader named Papias tells us that Mark wrote the gospel from notes from Peter, so in some ways, Mark’s Gospel is really Peter’s Gospel. We don’t know for sure, but tradition tells us that Mark died because he tried to convert people in Alexandria (Egypt). They didn’t like that so they put a noose around his neck and dragged him through the streets until he was dead. Kind of gruesome, but it also shows what Mark was willing to suffer to share Jesus with others.
I also understand that it’s not easy finding the time to read the Bible, and that sometimes the Bible is a confusing text that you aren’t sure you’re up to reading. Nonetheless, Mark is a great place to start. And once you start, things will only get easier. You can also join us on the podcast (search “University Lutheran Tallahassee”) or get the same audio on the University Lutheran website (under the sermons). We want you to read Mark with us – not because it’s St Mark’s day, but because by reading the Gospels you will get closer to Jesus, and as we all get closer to Jesus, we will grow closer to one another.
So join us this St Mark’s Day and read the Gospel with us. It’s what Mark would have wanted (and Jesus too).