Mark 1: 1-14 The Gospel of Mark stands as a testimony to the fact that failure does not mean the end of usefulness to the Lord. John Mark was the son of a woman of means and position in Jerusalem (Act 12:12). His friendship with Peter was very close (I Peter 5:13). Mark traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). He deserted the missionary party for some unexplained reason (Acts 13:13). Paul and Barnabas had a heated argument and parted company because of Barnabas's insistence to bring Mark on the second missionary journey. Twelve years later, Paul acknowledged Mark as a fellow-laborer (Colossians 4:10-11). Mark apparently ministered in Rome (I Peter 5:13: ll Timothy 4:11). Tradition has it that he founded the church in Alexandria, Egypt and died a martyr's death. Mark presents Jesus as Servant. Mark is concerned with what Jesus did. His concern was the WORKS rather than the WORDS of Jesus. He omitted or abbreviated many of the conversations found in Matthew and Luke. Mark covers in chapter one what it takes Matthew eight chapters to cover.