Shuford Jones

Maximum Impact! Mark Shuford Jones

The title Maximum Impact as Mark reports the life and ministry of Jesus by revealing His powerful impact on His world and, finally upon the lives of all who lived, are living and will live on earth. Mark clearly shows His compassion, His strength, His power, His authority over demons and demonic activity, His clarity of thought in responding to the numerous attacks by Jewish authorities, His vision of His suffering, death and resurrection, and His relationships within His ministry. This little gospel is filled with these and so much more. No wonder people love this first written of Gospel prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The Jewish Rebellion against Rome had begun. Rome soon had more than 60,000 troop in Judea. The onslaught by the Romans in 70 AD fulfilled Jesus' prophecy that no stone of the temple complex would be left upon another. Some of stones, when uncovered in the last century, were more than 20 feet in length. The gospel and the clear presentation of the life, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord make this a must for all readers. We are shown a world of demons over which Jesus had complete authority (Mark chapters 1-8). The high note of the first half is Peter's "Great Confession" that Jesus is Messiah (Mark 8:29). The High note of the second half is the Great Commission (Mark 16:15). The death and resurrection of Christ calls for believers to share the gospel with everyone on earth. The first confession of Christ crucified as the Son of God is from a non-Jew (a soldier), Mark 15:37-39. Jesus gives His disciples three predictions of His suffering and death: Mark 8:30; 9:30-32; and 10:33. He makes a statement regarding His death in Mark 9:9. The first verse (Mk. 1:1) informs the reader that this Gospel is about the Son of God.