Mark presents Jesus as the “servant of man”. His audience was probably Romans who would not have been impressed by Jesus’ genealogy. The Roman world was more impressed by a person’s utility; Mark emphasized the works Jesus performed, miracles that would impress the Romans who were building an empire and constructing roads, bridges, and aqueducts.
Mark was probably close to Peter and learned all he could about Jesus as he listened to peter preach. He was the John Mark who went with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. He was also the nephew of Barnabas. We don’t know why he left during the first missionary journey, but, according to Paul, Mark became a useful servant of Jesus Christ later in life.
Key verses: “And then He told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to
everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned’.” Mark 16: 15-16 NLT.