what's in a name?

We have noted that the gospeller identified as "Luke" was probably so identified to commemorate Lukuas, the Judean leader of the Kitos revolt.

The gospeller identified as "Matthew" was probably so identified to commemorate Matthiyahu, who, with his five sons Jochanan, Simon, Eleazar, Jonathan and Judah, led a successful revolt against the Seleucids.

The gospeller identified as "John" (as well as the "baptist" known as John) was probably so identified to commemorate Jochanan, son of Matthiyahu.  Thus, just as "Jesus" is necessary as much for the translation of the verb ("he will save") as for the association with the Jesus (Joshua) who assumed leadership of the Israelites on the death of Moses, so Jochanan ("he will have mercy") likewise is as necessary for the translation of the verb as for the association with the revolt in which he successfully participated.

History has not provided us with a textual reference for the gospeller identified as "Mark."  However, the Hebrew language itself supplies the connection.  We have noted that Yeshoshua and Yochanan are both verbs as well as names.  Maraq, ( מרק in Hebrew) means "scour, cleanse." Marach ( מרח in binyan pa'al, in Hebrew) means "anoint, rub in."  Mirech (מרח in binyan pi'el, in Hebrew) means "straighten, level."  Any of those three meanings corresponds with the thematic content of the text.