Expert: Brenda Martin - 7/8/2009

Question
QUESTION: If John Mark is the certain youth in Mark 14:51-52, and if he was stripped of
his clothes, and if he wrote the first gospel, how did he continue on as an
eyewitness of the events which followed Jesus' arrest? Do you believe that the
certain youth who was a follower of Jesus was not stripped but preceded on
to be the other disciple and another disciple in John 18:15-16? I have worked
hard on this hypothesis that John Mark is the beloved disciple who has been
obscured because he was an African and may identify Jesus as a man of color.
I'm white, but I lived in Africa for a year. I draw much of my research from a
Coptic biography of John Mark which was only translated into English in
1997. Visit my website to learn more http://tanata.squarespace.com.  Tell me
that there is at least an outside chance that I may be right. Thanks.

ANSWER: "JOHN MARK IS THE CERTAIN YOUTH IN MARK 14:51-52, HE WAS STRIPPED OF HIS CLOTHES?"

Mark alone refers to this incident, so we can reasonably conclude that he was speaking of himself. When Jesus and his apostles left late that night, Mark apparently threw on a garment and followed.

Taking these accounts in time sequence, we start at the garden of Gethsemane. The apostles reacted in fear when Jesus Christ was arrested. “They all abandoned him and fled.” The very next verse in Mark’s account draws a contrast: “But a certain young man wearing a fine linen garment over his naked body began to follow him nearby; and they tried to seize him, but he left his linen garment behind and got away naked.”

Thus, the initial response of the 11 apostles is contrasted with that of this unnamed disciple, so it is logical to conclude that he was not one of the apostles.

"HE WROTE THE FIRST GOSPEL"

John Mark didn’t write the “first” gospel--The inspired account of the life of Jesus Christ was written by the onetime tax collector Matthew and has since ancient times been viewed as the first Gospel written.

Subscriptions, appearing at the end of Matthew’s Gospel in numerous manuscripts say that the account was written about the eighth year after Christ’s ascension (c. 41 C.E.). This agrees with internal evidence.

According to ancient tradition, Mark’s Gospel was first made public in Rome, this being the testimony of such early writers as Clement, Eusebius, and Jerome. Mark was in Rome during Paul’s first imprisonment there. (Col 4:10; Phm 1, 23, 24) Thereafter he was with Peter in Babylon. (1Pe 5:13) Then, during Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome, Paul asked that Timothy come soon and bring Mark with him. (2Ti 4:11) Probably Mark did then return to Rome. Since no mention is made of Jerusalem’s destruction in fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy, Mark must have compiled his account before that event in 70 C.E. His presence in Rome at least once, and likely twice, during the years 60-65 C.E. suggests that Mark may have completed his Gospel there sometime during those years.

The theory that Mark’s Gospel was written first and served as a source for Matthew and Luke is not based on “one logically cast-iron argument,” admits The Anchor Bible Dictionary.

It is simply not true that Mark adds nothing to Matthew and Luke. In Mark’s vigorous, fast-moving account of Jesus’ ministry, there are actually more than 180 passages and fascinating details that are not found in Matthew and Luke, making it a truly unique account of Jesus’ life.

HOW DID HE CONTINUE ON AS AN EYEWITNESS OF THE EVENTS WHICH FOLLOWED JESUS' ARREST?

He was not an apostle or an eyewitness to many of the events he relates. Although Mark had access to other sources, without a doubt his Gospel reflects to a great degree PETER’s familiarity with the life and ministry of Jesus.

A simple example will illustrate the point.-- Some time after the Passover feast of 31 C.E., Jesus was on his second preaching tour of Galilee, accompanied by the 12 apostles. He decided to cross the Sea of Galilee by boat. It is interesting to compare how Matthew and Mark tell the story. First, MATTHEW:

“Now, look! a great agitation arose in the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; he [Jesus], however, was sleeping.”—Matthew 8:24.

Although this communicates the idea of a storm, it does not especially highlight the action or stir the emotions. How did MARK describe the same event?

“Now a great violent windstorm broke out, and the waves kept dashing into the boat, so that the boat was close to being swamped. But he [Jesus] was in the stern, sleeping upon a pillow.”—Mark 4:37, 38.

Mark was not present. So how could he present such a graphic description? His obvious communicant was the fisherman Peter. Did you notice the vivid description of the storm and its effect on the boat? And the detail “in the stern” that the landsman tax collector Matthew did not include, even though he had been present in the boat? And what a retentive eye and memory Peter must have had to recall the fact that Jesus was “sleeping upon a pillow.”—See also Luke 8:23.

The book of Mark therefore is a combination of Peter’s perceptive narration and Mark’s concise quick-action writing. Mark was, indeed, one of those guided, or “borne along,” by God’s holy spirit, or active force.—2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CERTAIN YOUTH WHO WAS STRIPPED, WENT ON TO BE THE OTHER DISCIPLE IN JOHN 18:15-16?

No; John Mark was “stripped”, but the person known to the high priest was the apostle John, 2 different people. Here is why—

At some point that night, the apostle Peter also followed Jesus, at a safe distance. In this sense there is a similarity; the young disciple (Mark) began to follow Jesus but stopped.

Whereas later two of the apostles who had fled took up following their arrested Master. In the apostle John’s Gospel, we read: “Now Simon Peter as well as another disciple was following Jesus. That disciple was known to the high priest, and he went in with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.”—John 18:15.

The apostle John only ever uses the name “John” in reference to John the Baptizer but never refers to himself by name.

For instance, the apostle John writes “THE DISCIPLE that bears witness about these things and that wrote these things.”

Similarly: “HE that has seen it has borne witness, and HIS witness is true, and THAT MAN knows HE tells true things.” (John 19:35; 21:24)

Note also John 13:23: “There was reclining in front of Jesus’ bosom ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES, and Jesus loved him.” That was shortly before Jesus’ arrest. Later that day the impaled Jesus singled out one disciple, whom John mentions in similar terms: “Seeing his mother and THE DISCIPLE WHOM HE LOVED standing by, [Jesus] said to his mother: ‘Woman, see! Your son!’”—John 19:26, 27; compare John 21:7, 20.

This same characteristic of not naming himself is evident at John 18:15. Furthermore, the apostle John and Peter are linked in the post- resurrection account at John 20:2-8.

These indications suggest that the apostle John was “that disciple who was known to the high priest.”  Not John Mark. His being known by the household of the high priest enabled John to get past the doorkeeper into the courtyard and to gain entrance for Peter also.

"JOHN MARK HAS BEEN OBSCURED BECAUSE HE WAS AN AFRICAN AND MAY IDENTIFY JESUS AS A MAN OF COLOR".

“God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.”—ACTS 10:34, 35.

For over 33 years, Jesus had actual experience living as a man on earth, and the Bible reveals how he treated fellow humans. What was his attitude toward other races? Was he prejudiced or partial? Was Jesus a racist?

Jesus spent most of his earthly life with Jewish people. But one day he was approached by a Phoenician woman, a Gentile, who begged him to cure her daughter, Impressed with the woman’s faith, Jesus healed her daughter immediately.—Matthew 15:22-28.

Consider, too, Jesus’ encounters with certain Samaritans. Deep animosity existed between Jews and Samaritans. On one occasion, Jesus sent messengers to make preparations for him in a certain Samaritan village. But those Samaritans “did not receive him, because his face was set for going to Jerusalem.” This upset James and John to the point that they wanted to call down fire from heaven and annihilate them. But Jesus rebuked the two disciples, and all of them went to a different village.—Luke 9:51-56.

Then the well known account of the Samaritan woman who came to draw water. Jesus  said to her: “Give me a drink.” Since Jews had no dealings with Samaritans, the surprised woman replied: “How is it that you, despite being a Jew, ask me for a drink, when I am a Samaritan woman?”—John 4:1-9.

Consider also what happened on the desert road between Jerusalem and Gaza. A black man in the service of Ethiopia’s queen was riding in his chariot while reading the prophecy of Isaiah. Jehovah’s angel appeared to the Jewish evangelizer Philip and told him: “Approach and join yourself to this chariot.” Did Philip say: “Oh, no! He is a man of another race”? Far from it! Why, Philip was delighted to accept the Ethiopian’s invitation to get into the chariot, sit down with him, and explain Isaiah’s prophecy about Jesus Christ! When they approached a body of water, the Ethiopian asked: “What prevents me from getting baptized?” Since nothing prevented this, Philip happily baptized the Ethiopian, and Jehovah accepted that happy man as an anointed follower of His impartial Son, Jesus Christ. (Acts 8:26-39)

So in no way has John Mark been obscured because he may have been “black” & Jesus might be depicted as a Jew, but no human today knows precisely what his appearance was. (1 Cor. 15:45) He may well have had dark skin.

Are you not glad to find out that “God is not partial”, all races & colours are acceptable to him, there is no conspiracy to obscure John Mark in case it throws light on Jesus colour because it makes no difference what colour we are. Persons today who meet His requirements can look forward to living in the earthly paradise that God will soon establish. There they will be able to converse with Adam’s resurrected son Abel and to learn firsthand much about the start of the human family. They will also be able to share in the fulfillment of God’s purpose to have the earth filled with a delightful variety of humans who live in peace and unity and who can serve him forever.

For more information go to www.watchtower.org  

All the best
Brenda


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Brenda, I respectfully disagree, on the basis of the Coptic biography of John
Mark, which states that he was an apostle, the founder of the Coptic church
and several universities. Why do we not know who the Beloved Disciple is
after al these many years? Why is the Beloved Disciple known only to us as
"the other disciple, the one Jesus loved" in John 20:2? Of all people we should
know who this person is and was, but we don't. And, I don't care what color
Jesus is ... but if the enemy is an angel of light and if there will be false
Christs ... it might be a good idea to know what Jesus looked like. He
presumably had hair like wool and was a half-brother of Adam, whom
genetic scientists say was an Ethiopian. And Moses was also African. Visit my
website http://tanata.squarespace.com It's possible for the experts to be
wrong occasionally. The true ones admit when they are wrong. I have signs,
by the way. That is on my website, too. Peace in Jesus

ANSWER: No problem, we will just have to agree to disagree :¬)

all the best
Brenda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Doesn't the apparent dependence of Matthew and Luke on Mark's Gospel as a
source, which scholars say necessitates a Q document, plausibly suggest that
Mark's Gospel was the first of the Synoptic gospels written?

Answer
"THE APPARENT DEPENDENCE OF MATTHEW AND LUKE ON MARK'S GOSPEL AS A
SOURCE, WHICH SCHOLARS SAY NECESSITATES A Q DOCUMENT, PLAUSIBLY SUGGEST THAT MARK'S GOSPEL WAS THE FIRST OF THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS WRITTEN?"

During the first 17 centuries of our Common Era, the reliability of the Gospels was never seriously questioned. Then in the 19th century along comes some individuals who conclude that Mark must have written the first of the Gospels, since it seems to add little to those of Matthew and Luke. The critics have also assumed that Matthew and Luke used the book of Mark to compile their Gospels and that they consulted a supplementary source—a document the scholars call Q (from the German Quelle, or “source”). According to Bible scholar A.F.J. Klijn, this popular hypothesis “degraded the Gospel writers to compilers of isolated stories.” Such a notion actually makes the Gospel writers plagiarists and mythmakers. This theory has undermined faith in the divine inspiration of the Bible.—2 Timothy 3:16.

What can be said about document Q, which some claim was a source for Matthew and Luke? James M. Robinson, professor of religion, states: “Q is surely the most important Christian text that we have.” That statement is surprising because document Q does not exist today, and in reality, no one can prove that it ever existed!

Its total disappearance is all the more remarkable because scholars claim that several copies of the document must have circulated. In addition, document Q is never quoted by the Church Fathers.

Think about this. Q is supposed to have existed and to have supported the hypothetical priority of Mark’s Gospel. Is that not a case of one hypothesis built upon another hypothesis? When it comes to theories such as these, we are wise to keep this proverb in mind: “A simple man believes every word he hears; a clever man understands the need for proof.”—Proverbs 14:15

WHOM DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE BELOVED DISCIPLE IF MANY SCHOLARS SAY IT WAS NOT ZEBEDEE'S JOHN?

The apostle John;--In John’s Gospel he never refers to himself by his name John. He is spoken of either as one of the sons of Zebedee or as the disciple whom Jesus used to love.

The apostle John was the unnamed companion of Andrew to whom John the Baptizer introduced Jesus Christ. (John 1:35-40)

After Jesus’ resurrection John passed Peter by as they ran to the tomb to investigate the report that Jesus had risen. (John 20:2-8)

John was privileged to see the resurrected Jesus that same evening (Joh 20:19; Lu 24:36) and again the following week. (John 20:26)

He was one of the seven who went back to fishing and to whom Jesus appeared. (John 21:1-14)

John was also present at the mountain in Galilee after Jesus rose from the dead, and he personally heard the command: “Make disciples of people of all the nations.”—Mt 28:16-20.

I choose to believe God’s word as inspired, above imperfect men’s assumptions.

HE WAS NOT A LOVABLE CHARACTER, HAVING BEEN REBUKED BY JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

It would be a mistake to think of John as a weak sentimentalist however, the beloved apostle John appreciated the importance of agápē, the unselfish, principled kind of love. Even as in his Gospel he has far more to say about love than has any of the other Gospel writers, so in his first letter he has more to say about love than has any other inspired letter recorded in the Christian Greek Scriptures.

HE WAS ONLY A FISHERMAN.

Those men who were fishermen like James and John must have recognized that their being adequately qualified for the ministry issued from God. Yet they had a background for this service.

As Jews they had been taught by their parents in the Law and the Prophets. They felt that God’s Word was a ‘lamp to their foot and a light to their roadway.’ They must have prayed, “Instruct me, O Jehovah, in the way of your regulations.” (Ps. 119:105, 33) And now they had the privilege of associating with the one who was outstandingly a teacher of truth. (John 13:13) When the application of the Scriptures in the life of Jesus was made clear to them, they were ready to share what they knew with others. (Matt. 4:18-22) Their clear understanding of the Scriptures and the direction of God’s spirit in their ministry made it possible for these apostles and disciples to speak with authority so that even the rulers took note that “they used to be with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) God seen to it that they were adequately qualified for the ministry.

As for Mark being a “scholar” The bible tells us this about Mark—

1. He was a cousin of Barnabas

2. He was his travelling companion and that of other early Christian missionaries

3. He was inspired to write the Gospel bearing his own name. (Col 4:10)

4. He was evidently an early believer in Christ.

5. His mother’s home was used as a place of worship by the early Christian congregation.

6. He served as Paul & Barnabas’ attendant, perhaps caring for their physical needs while they travelled. (Ac 12:25; 13:5)

7. Paul “did not think it proper to take him along with them, seeing that he had departed from them from Pamphylia. Ac 15:36-41.

8. Mark was with Paul in Rome and joined him in sending greetings to the Colossian Christians (c. 60-61 C.E.).

9. John Mark also associated with Peter in Babylon

10. Mark, once the cause of difficulty, gained the commendation and trust of prominent servants of God and enjoyed the yet greater privilege of being inspired to write an account of Jesus’ ministry.

The bible doesn’t say he was a “scribe” or a “scholar” that is men’s words, not God’s.

PETER NEEDED A SCRIBE TO WRITE HIS MATERIAL ALSO, SO HE WAS PROBABLY ILLITERATE.

Peter was no lone fisherman but part of an operation of some size & though the Jewish leaders viewed Peter and John as “men unlettered and ordinary,” this does not mean they were illiterate or unschooled.

Regarding the word a•gram′ma•tos applied to them, Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible (1905, Vol. III, p. 757) says that to a Jew “it meant one who had had no training in the Rabbinic study of Scripture.”—Compare John 7:14, 15; Ac 4:13.

The New Interpreter’s Bible comments: “These terms are probably not to be taken literally as though Peter [and John] were unschooled and could not write or read. They simply recognize the profound difference in social class between those sitting in judgment and the apostles.”

Peter did not “need a scribe” he wrote his first letter in Babylon using Silvanus as a secretary: completing it 62–64 C.E.

The idea that Silas was engaged in scribal activity is wrong, it simply meant that Silvanus was the bearer, Peter used Silas as a penman to write the first letter but not the second.

His second letter was written by him about 64 C.E. from Babylon or its vicinity.

Peter’s writer-ship is established by the opening words. Moreover, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Tertullian all quote the letter, naming Peter as writer. The authenticity of First Peter is as well attested as any of the inspired letters. Eusebius tells us that the elders of the church made free use of the letter; there was no question as to its authenticity in his time (c. 260-342 C.E.).

IF HE WAS THEN WOULD HIS FISHING BUDDY HAVE BEEN ANYMORE EDUCATED?

As I said earlier--John recognized that being adequately qualified for the ministry issued from God. Yet he had a background for this service. As a Jew he had been taught by his parents in the Law and the Prophets. He believed that God’s Word was a ‘lamp to his foot and a light to his roadway. When the application of the Scriptures in the life of Jesus was made clear to him, he was ready to share what he knew with others. (Matt. 4:18-22) His clear understanding of the Scriptures and the direction of God’s spirit in his ministry made it possible for these apostles and disciples to speak with authority so that even the rulers took note that “they used to be with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) God seen to it that they were adequately qualified for the ministry.

All the best
Brenda