Writing on Mark

As series editor of the Gateway Seven, I’ve lived a seasonal rhythm over three years, working with gifted writers, talented creatives, and the experienced team at IVP to offer a new title in this LICC series each spring and autumn. The Gateway Seven is now fully available ­- seven studies in seven books of the Bible, each representing seven different kinds of writing, or genre. It was great to plan, a joy to work with people who know and love God’s word so deeply, and a privilege to complete the series by authoring the final title: Mark - Living the Way of Jesus in the World.

The Gateway Seven series was conceived from the Bible Days that LICC has run for several years. Along the way, we’d offered a day in the Gospel of Mark. There was a time when Mark’s Gospel was overshadowed by the seemingly more orderly and fuller versions from Matthew, Luke, and John. Today, however, Mark’s skills as a writer and his depth as a theologian have come to the fore. Including a Gospel in a series that offers genre as a lens to explore the Bible was a must.

Mark’s Gospel is not only stunning in its content and craftmanship, it starts with a dramatic announcement of a radical new move of God that’s rooted in the ways of the Lord through the generations. This grips my heart and my imagination. It speaks of God’s utter faithfulness to his promises made long ago and the confidence we can have to trust him completely today. In wrestling with the writing of this study, I wanted to spotlight Jesus who is front and centre of the Gospel. Jesus, this radical, humble, authoritative, joyous, unpredictable, compassionate, confrontational, suffering servant, who changed the world forever through unparalleled sacrifice and love. I also wanted to shed some light on how Mark tells this story. For the way Mark tells the story underpins the invitation of the Gospel, the invitation to trust in the Lord in all things, always. Mark makes the connections between God’s ways and words of ancient days, captured in Israel’s Scriptures, and reveals how that are now embodied in the person of Jesus. Mark may be the shortest of the Gospels, but it’s rich and radical. Capturing something of this in just six sessions was a challenge.

The Gateway Seven is a series that offers the lens of genre through with to explore the Bible. It’s also self-conscious about the question: what are the implications of this word of God for us today, on our frontlines, the everyday places we live, work, study, and play? As in each study, Mark - Living the Way of Jesus in the World, offers three real-life stories to illustrate something of what it can look like when God’s people trust the Lord of all. That’s been my prayer throughout: that these seven distinctive books of the Bible will be a gateway for people to a richer, deeper, transforming life with God wherever they are - seven days a week.

Tracy Cotterell

Senior Mission Associate, LICC

The Gateway Seven Series Editor

Author of Mark - Living the Way of Jesus in the World, the final title in the series.