Daily Devotions
Mark
Day 11
Text: Mark 1
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father..." 1 Peter 1:2
SHORT BUT POWERFUL SENTENCE STRUCTURES
Mark’s style of writing was certainly different from that of Matthew and Luke. How may we appreciate his style of writing?
1. Accept differences
We must learn to accept that Mark has developed his own style of writing. The differences in the styles of writing by the synoptic writers must be understood and accepted.
2. Appreciating Terse sentences
Mark’s style of writing seems to be made up of short, terse sentences. We may appreciate this style of writing if we bear the following thoughts in mind.
a) Compact but not lacking in truth
We most not think that compact sentences have less truth contents. That is not necessarily the case at all.
b) Full of energy
Terse sentences may be seen as full of energy. Mark chose his words well, especially his verbs. Much energy is packed into pithy sentences.
c) Adequate and complete ideas
At no time was Mark guilty of truncating truth-concepts. His short sentences contain adequate and indeed, complete ideas.
SAME SPIRIT OF FAITH IN THE SCRIPTURES
Matthew and Luke would have used phrases like, “that it might be fulfilled” when they cited the Scriptures. Mark, on the other hand, merely quoted from the Scriptures. This was most observable as he introduced the ministry of John the Baptist.
“As it is written in the Prophets:
‘Behold I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
The voice of one crying in the wilderness
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight.'”MARK 1:2-3
1. “As it is written “
This phrase was used in common by all the synoptic writers. This was a standard way of indicating that the Old Testament Scriptures were being cited.
2. “In the Prophets”
Mark too expressed his firm belief in the prophetic Scriptures as other Biblical writers. There is no loss of clarity or content in Mark’s way of writing.