The Lost Scriptures – books that did not make it into the New Testament.

The Secret Gospel of Mark

“And they come into Bethany. And a certain woman whose brother had died was there. And, coming, she prostrated herself before Jesus and says to him, “son of David, have mercy on me”. But the disciples rebuked her. And Jesus, being angered , went off with her into the garden where the tomb was, and straightway, going in where the youth was, he stretched forth his hand and raised him, seizing his hand. But the youth, looking upon him, loved him and began to beseech him that he might be with him. And going out of the tomb they came ied6+nto the house of the youth, for he was rich. And after six days Jesus told him what to do and in the evening the youth comes to him, wearing a linen cloth over his naked body. And he remained with him that night, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the Kingdom of God. And thence, arising, he returned to the other side of the Jordan.”

Sometimes the only version of a text that remains are the excerpts that have been included in writings from other authors – this is the case with The Secret Gospel of Mark. In a letter written by Clement of Alexandria, he denounces a particular group of Gnostic Christians and he responds to certain questions he had received about the gospel.

Most importantly, perhaps, is that the existence of The Secret Gospel of Mark brings attention to the fact that there existed different editions of the Gospel of Mark that circulated between the earliest believers of Jesus. We know, of course, that the Gospel of Mark went through several different stages of composition, and has more primitive collections of stories, parables, and apocalypse and a passion narrative. It also has two separate endings – a shorter and longer ending. The author of the Gospel of Matthew will use Mark and will expand upon much of it in his own account of the life and teachings of Jesus. Of course, the final question to consider is this: Which came first, the Gospel of Mark, or the Secret Gospel of Mark?

Pastor Dave