The second gospel

The second Gospel is the shortest of them all and has a very unique feature. It's sudden and quick! This Gospel doesn't even give us the Christmas story! It starts with the ministry of John the Baptist.  Many scholars believe that this book was written first. It was also written to a Gentile or non-Jewish audience. The book of Mark uses a phrase "immediately" 38 times in 16 chapters (Mark 1:3, 10, 12, 18, 20–21, 23, 28–30, 42–43; 2:8, 12; 3:6; 4:5, 15–17, 29; 5:2, 29–30, 42; 6:25, 45, 50, 54; 7:25; 8:10; 9:15, 20, 24; 10:52; 11:2–3; 14:72).  It certainly keeps the action going.  The NIV translators try to smooth it out by translating the word "Just then" or "at once" or "as soon as".  Mark has another distinctive.  He focuses on the miraculous and powerful ministry of Jesus.  About the time you get into the action, the book is over and Christ has risen from the dead!  At once you discover the uniqueness of this book and know that Jesus is alive!  Praise God!