Mark the First Patriarch

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this lesson is to know the life of Mark, critically consider his approach to evangelism, and extrapolate lessons from his ministry and martyrdom in Alexandria.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK

5 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson.

Building a Tricycle

An engineer was given a box of parts from her boss and was told to construct a tricycle
She had no idea where to start or what to do, but she knew that her boss expected her to complete the task
The engineer poured out the contents and attempted to decipher the various parts
She gathered the parts most familiar to her and worked from there, trying her best to use what she had to accomplish the job before her
As the tricycle began to take shape, the engineer became more confident and worked much harder, seeing that her hard work was paying off
After many, many hours of labor, the engineer had a completed tricycle
As the engineer struggled with the box of parts given by her boss to create a tricycle, so Mark struggled to find a church in Egypt given the gifts that our Lord Jesus Christ poured upon the Apostles

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--- 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--- 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:1-7).
Memory Verse
"That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" 1 Jn. 1:3

CONTENT - 20 Minutes

Apostleship of Mark - One of the Seventy

He was born in Cyrene, in North Africa, and later moved with his family and grew up in Jerusalem, and spoke Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.
He was also known by the name "John" (cf. Ac. 12:12).
He was not a disciple of Christ, but one of the seventy apostles chosen by Christ.
Mark's house was the very first Christian Church in all of history.
- This was the location of the Last Supper and Pentecost (descent of the Holy Spirit).
He ministered with Paul and Barnabas during their first missionary journey, but left early
He later ministered with Peter and wrote the Gospel according to what Peter told him
- Therefore Mark is called an Evangelist, because he authored one of the four Gospels

Background on Alexandria

Alexandria was the most famous city at the time of Mark and was renowned as a center of learning as well as trade given its geographical position
The great city was founded by Alexander the Great between 332 and 331 BC, and was home to "The Museum," which was a sort of university in which the most distinguished writers, scientists, and philosophers gathered and worked.
- This included teachers, writers, mathematicians, astronomers, and historians of all backgrounds, including Greeks, Babylonians, Persians, Jews, and Egyptians.

Mark Meets Anianus

Mark went to preach in Alexandria, which had not yet received the teachings of Jesus Christ
While Mark walked around the city, one of the straps of his sandal broke
He went to the first cobbler he saw (one who fixes shoes and sandals) named Anianus and as he was fixing St Mark's sandal, the needle used for fixing the sandals went into his hand.
When Ananius cried out "Oh One God," Mark healed his hand and seized the opportunity to preach the gospel to him and his family
Anianus and his family believed and were baptized
From this point on St Mark began to preach, baptize, and confirm the faith in new converts in the city of Alexandria.

Mark Leaves Alexandria

Alexandria was filled with many pagans
- Pagans are people that worship nature (creation) instead of God (creator)
- One group, for example, worshipped the sun as god and named it "Serapis"
When Mark's life was threatened by the pagans and leaders of Alexandria, his congregation begged him to flee the city
He ordained Ananius as their Bishop, to oversee and lead the congregation of Alexandria, and then departed to Pentapolis to visit another church.
He later met with Paul in Rome

Mark Returns to Alexandria and is Martyred

After some time Mark had come back to Alexandria to visit his people and saw the good things that Ananius and the other Christians had done.
- They had built churches, served the poor, the sick, and spread the faith even more.
Mark prayed the Feast of Resurrection and was captured by pagans since the Christian feast fell on a feast for Serapis
They tortured him and dragged his body the following day
- After he received the crown of martyrdom, the Christians were able to recover his body through a miracle

Mark was succeeded by Ananius, the second Patriarch of Alexandria

DISCUSSION

10 Minutes

How do you think Mark's time serving with Peter and Paul prepared him for this ministry in Alexandria?
How did Mark approach the task of preaching the Gospel in Alexandria?
What doors did God open during Mark's ministry? In other words, how do you see God working in Mark's evangelism?
What sort of example or lesson did Mark's evangelism and martyrdom teach his successors the patriarchs regarding leading the Coptic Church?

LIFE APPLICATION