As Mark makes plain in his first sentence (1:1), his gospel is the ‘good news’ announcement that Jesus is God’s King (Messiah) and Son.  Mark is believed to have been a friend and assistant to Peter and his gospel was the first to be written.  It can be understood as giving us Peter’s eyewitness account of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection (hence perhaps why it doesn’t feature Jesus’ birth which Peter didn’t witness).  It’s short, pacy, action-packed and accessible (it isn’t packed with Old Testament quotes and allusions or dense theological teaching).  It focuses on Jesus’ actions more than on his teaching. 
 
Mark’s gospel is a story of two halves.  In the first half (chapters 1-8), which we’ll focus on in this series, Mark focuses on Jesus’ identity, proving that he is God’s king, culminating with Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Christ in 8:29.  In the second half of the gospel (chapters 9-16), which we’ll return to in a year or so, Mark looks at Jesus’ purpose, showing us what kind of king Jesus is – one who suffers and dies, as the centurion sees and testifies in 15:39. 
 
The cross lies at the heart of Mark’s gospel.  His death and resurrection over-shadow its first half (as Jesus amazes and yet fails to fulfil expectations) and is at the forefront of the second half (as he travels to and arrives in Jerusalem).  Mark’s gospel raises the question of how we will respond to Jesus, God’s Messiah, who has so abruptly broken into history.
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