Mark is a storyteller, and the story he is telling is the story of Jesus Christ through the lens of the Apostle Peter’s stories for Roman Christians undergoing persecution.
The Christians in Rome had already heard and believed the good news of God’s saving power (Rom. 1:8) but they needed to hear it again with a new emphasis to catch afresh its implications for their lives in a difficult culture that was not supportive of their faith.
He introduces his subject – ‘the gospel of Jesus Christ’ – Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” – this first verse is like the title of the book – the good news of Jesus Christ.
All this to establish Mark’s thesis that Jesus is the Son of God and our response to his accounts is to repent and believe the good news.

What just happened? In February 1958 a strange vessel appeared out of the mist on Macquarie Harbour approaching Strahan in SW Tasmania. It was a canvas covered kayak sailed by Olegas Truchanas. He had no paddle, but had set up a jury mast and rigged it with a ground sheet for a sail. A length of cord secured the sail to his big toe. This enabled him to steer and to leave his hands free to hold the book he was reading. There was no road to, nor habitation on any other part of its shores, yet this tiny craft appeared from the wrong direction – east.
Witnessing this vessel approaching Strahan three men jumped into their fishing boat and headed towards it. As they approached the man in the kayak continued reading, without looking up or any acknowledgment. Not a word was spoken.
Pulled up at wharf. Some children asked where had he come from “Lake Pedder” Must have come down the Gordon River (via Serpentine)… a feat never before accomplished in all the years of European settlement.

We’re only up to chapter four and they’re wanting to kill Jesus. So Mark begins to explain for his readers why the message (repent for the kingdom of God is at hand) and ministry of Jesus met with such opposition.
In this section, Mark explains that “those outside” the believing community, while hearing the word and seeing the works of the kingdom, cannot understand what is taking place (4:12). (Stein)

Mark wants us to understand that having been given ears to hear, we are to listen (4:3, 9, 23, 24–25) making sure that the soil of our heart is good, bearing fruit for the kingdom (4:8, 20).