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The '''Gospel of Mark''' is an account by an outsider, anti-[[Establishment]], even [[Trump]]ian eyewitness: a direct, easy-to-understand explanation of the teachings, miracles, and [[Passion]] of [[Jesus]].  This Gospel emphasizes deeds and [[faith]].<ref>''See, e.g.'', Mark 8:35.</ref> This Gospel was written by [[Mark]], seeing the events as an impressionable, open-minded young boy, who subsequently was the first to publish, perhaps without authorization.  The Gospel of Mark begins and ends abruptly, makes no mention of [[St. Joseph|Joseph]], and omits the post-[[Resurrection]] meetings by [[Apostles]] who met without him -- which justifies placing it second rather than in its first place chronologically.

The '''Gospel of Mark''' is an account by an outsider, anti-[[Establishment]], even [[Trump]]ian eyewitness: a direct, easy-to-understand explanation of the teachings, miracles, and [[Passion]] of [[Jesus]].  This Gospel emphasizes deeds and [[faith]].  This Gospel was written by [[Mark]], seeing the events as an impressionable, open-minded young boy, who subsequently was the first to publish, perhaps without authorization.  The Gospel of Mark begins and ends abruptly, makes no mention of [[St. Joseph|Joseph]], and omits the post-[[Resurrection]] meetings by [[Apostles]] who met without him -- which justifies placing it second rather than in its first place chronologically.

'''''The Gospel of Mark is [[Trump]]-like in its blunt, down-to-earth style critical of the elite and their practices''''':

'''''The Gospel of Mark is [[Trump]]-like in its blunt, down-to-earth style critical of the elite and their practices''''':

There are several indications that this Gospel was written by a very young eyewitness.  Unlike the [[Gospel of Matthew]] and the [[Gospel of Luke]], the Gospel of Mark has very few economic parables that mean more to adults than to children.  The accounts that Mark does include are those making a bigger impression on a child, such as the multiplication of the loaves (which Mark references ''twice'').  Mark's mother was a follower of Jesus, and Mark's account of the Resurrection was based on the account of the women disciples.  Mark's description of the walking on water by [[Jesus]] is from the perspective of someone on the shore (where a boy would remain), in contrast with Matthew's and John's perspective of being in the boat while tossed in the waves.<ref>https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/30437/why-is-it-only-matthew-who-records-peter-walking-on-water-in-matthew-1426-31</ref>

There are several indications that this Gospel was written by a very young eyewitness.  Unlike the [[Gospel of Matthew]] and the [[Gospel of Luke]], the Gospel of Mark has very few economic parables that mean more to adults than to children.  The accounts that Mark does include are those making a bigger impression on a child, such as the multiplication of the loaves (which Mark references ''twice'').  Mark's mother was a follower of Jesus, and Mark's account of the Resurrection was based on the account of the women disciples.  Mark's description of the walking on water by [[Jesus]] is from the perspective of someone on the shore (where a boy would remain), in contrast with Matthew's and John's perspective of being in the boat while tossed in the waves.<ref>https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/30437/why-is-it-only-matthew-who-records-peter-walking-on-water-in-matthew-1426-31</ref>

The Gospel of Mark is simpler and briefer than the other gospels, and more focused on suffering and loss.  Mark does not describe appearances by Jesus after the Resurrection, which again suggests authorship by a child who was not present with the older Apostles when Jesus appeared at their meetings.  Mark's writing style is vivid and non-intellectual, containing repetition that one expects from a child.<ref>For example, Mark uses the Greek word meaning "immediately", "soon" or "at once" more than 40 times!</ref>  Peter referred to Mark as his son (1 Peter 5:13), and once Paul became disillusioned at Mark's impulsive return to Jerusalem.

The Gospel of Mark is simpler and briefer than the other gospels, and more focused on suffering and loss.<ref>''See, e.g.'', Mark 8:35.</ref> Mark does not describe appearances by Jesus after the Resurrection, which again suggests authorship by a child who was not present with the older Apostles when Jesus appeared at their meetings.  Mark's writing style is vivid and non-intellectual, containing repetition that one expects from a child.<ref>For example, Mark uses the Greek word meaning "immediately", "soon" or "at once" more than 40 times!</ref>  Peter referred to Mark as his son (1 Peter 5:13), and once Paul became disillusioned at Mark's impulsive return to Jerusalem.

Most scholars agree that the Gospel of Mark was the first to circulate,<ref>https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/synoptic-gospels</ref> which again suggests it was written without authorization by the Apostles (although [[Peter]] may have encouraged it), and the Gospel of Mark was penned by a young, less discretionary author rather than a cautious adult.  

Most scholars agree that the Gospel of Mark was the first to circulate,<ref>https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/synoptic-gospels</ref> which again suggests it was written without authorization by the Apostles (although [[Peter]] may have encouraged it), and the Gospel of Mark was penned by a young, less discretionary author rather than a cautious adult.