The Gospel of Mark abruptly opens by proclaiming the good news of Jesus the Messiah (Mark 1:1). The story depicts Jesus and the kingdom of God that He announces as advancing against both worldly powers and supernatural forces. While the disciples consistently struggle to understand His mission, Jesus proceeds unflinchingly toward the cross. Along the way, He calls those who would follow Him to take up their own crosses (8:34–38).
The Gospel of Mark is attributed by early church fathers to John Mark, whose mother was a prominent member of the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12). In the first century, it was not unusual for some Jews to have a Hebrew name (“John”) as well as a Greek one (“Mark”). Mark joined his cousin Barnabas and the Apostle Paul on their initial missionary journey (Acts 12:25; 13:5; Col 4:10). Somewhere along the way, he had a falling out with Paul, but they apparently reconciled in later years (Acts 15:37–40; 2 Tim 4:11; Phlm 24). Mark also is associated with the Apostle Peter’s ministry in Rome (1 Pet 5:13, where “Babylon” is generally understood to be a metaphorical reference to Rome). According to early Christian tradition, Peter told Mark all about Jesus’ earthly ministry, and Mark put these accounts in writing.
Among the four Gospels, Mark is likely the earliest. It might have been written even before Peter’s execution in Rome in the mid-60s AD. Because of Mark’s connection to Peter, the Gospel could have been addressed initially to the church in Rome. The Gospel may also have been written not long after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70.

—Faithlife Study Bible, Lexham Press