The Gospel According to
	MARK

	Mark, the shortest of the four Gospels, tells more about the actions than the
teachings of Jesus. Most of the events recorded also appear in Matthew and Luke, but Mark
narrates them with greater detail and vividness. His direct, fast-moving style carries the reader
swiftly to the central event of the gospel-Jesus' death and resurrection.

	Author and Date: Early tradition attributes this Gospel to John Mark, whose family
figured prominently in the early Jerusalem church (Acts 12:12). Mark was a cousin of Barnabas
and traveled with him, as well as with Paul, on their first missionary journey (Acts 12:25; 13:13).
Although Paul refused to take Mark on their second journey because he had deserted them
during their first (Acts 15:37, 38), he was later reconciled to Paul (Col. 4:10) as Mark proved
himself to be a reliable partner in ministry (2 Tim. 4:11) and associated with Peter (1 Pet. 5:13).
The church fathers believed that Mark based his Gospel on the preaching of Peter and that he
wrote it in Rome shortly after the death of Peter, sometimes between A.D. 65 and 70.

	Background: Mark writes for a Roman audience-people from a Gentile background, not
Jewish people who were familiar with the Old Testament; thus, he explains Palestinian customs
(7:3, 4; 14:12) and translates Aramaic terms (5:41; 7:34; 14:36). He omits extensive discussion of
the abiding value of the Jewish law, as found in Matthew.
	Early tradition held that Mark wrote for Christians in Rome; some features of his work
confirm this assumption. The Greek text of Mark uses a number of words derived from Latin.
Mark also divides the night into four watches (6:48; 13:35) as did the Romans, not into three as
did the Jews. He emphasizes the failure of the disciples and the necessity of suffering. These
emphases would have been very appropriate during Nero's persecution of the Christians in Rome
between A.D. 64 and 68.

	Contents: Mark opens by introducing Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God (1:1-13).
The first major section (1:14-3:12) begins with Jesus calling His disciples; the second (3:13-
6:6) with His choosing the Twelve; and the third (6:7-8:21) with His sending the disciples on their
mission. In the fourth section (8:22-10:52) Jesus instructs them in discipleship. In the fifth
(11:1-13:37) He presents His claim in Jerusalem. In the sixth section (14:1-16:20) He is
crucified and raised.

	Key verse: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give
his life as a ransom for many (10.45).

	Purpose: Mark seeks to demonstrate that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (1:1), who
died as a ransom for many (10:45), and presents the call for people to follow Him in self-giving
discipleship.

					Jesus the Servant

	I. The coming of Jesus						1:1-13
		A. Prophesied in Scripture				1:1-3
		B. Prepared for by John					1:4-8
		C. Confirmed by the Father				1:9-13

	GALILEE
	II. Jesus presents His claim in Galilee				1:14-3:12
		A. Demonstration of His authority			1:14-45
			1. To call disciples				1:14-20
			2. In His teaching				1:21, 22
			3. Over evil spirits				1:23-28
			4. Over all diseases				1:29-45
		B. Resistance to His claim				2:1-3:6
			1. How can He forgive sins?			2:1-17
			2. Why do His disciples not fast?		2:18-22
			3. Why does He break the Sabbath?		2:23-3:6
		C. Summary of His ministry				3:7-12

	III. Jesus calls the Twelve					3:13-6:6
		A. Reacting to Jesus					3:13-35
			1. The Twelve					3:13-19
			2. The teachers of the law			3:20-30
			3. The family of Jesus				3:31-35
		B. Hearing Jesus' word					4:1-34
			1. The parable of the sower			4:1-20
			2. The parable of the lamp			4:21-25
			3. More parables about seed			4:26-34
		C. Trusting Jesus' power				4:35-6:6
			1. The disciples					4:35-41
			2. The demoniac				5:1-20
			3. A woman and Jairus				5:21-43
			4. Jesus' neighbours				6:1-6

	IV. Jesus involves the Twelve					6:7-8:21
		A. The ministry of discipleship				6:7-56
			1. The disciples sent to preach			6:7-13
			2. Herod misunderstands			6:14-29
			3. The disciples help feed the five thousand	6:30-44
			4. The disciples misunderstand			6:45-56
		B. The life of discipleship				7:1-37
			1. Not legalism					7:1-13
			2. Heart purity and simple faith			7:14-37
		C. The disciples share in Jesus' ministry			8:1-21
			1. The disciples help feed four thousand		8:1-10
			2. The disciples misunderstand Jesus' power	8:11-21	

	V. Jesus instructs the Twelve					8:22-10:52
		A. Jesus heals a blind man				8:22-26
		B. Discipleship defined					8:27-9:50
			1. Peter's confession: You are the Christ	8:27-30
			2. Jesus' instructions: Take up your cross	8:31-9:1
			3. The Transfiguration: My beloved Son		9:2-13
			4. Jesus' instruction: Have faith and humility	9:14-50

	JORDAN
		C. Discipleship in all of life				10:1-31
			1. Marriage					10:1-12
			2. Children					10:13-16
			3. Wealth					10:17-31
		D. Discipleship and true greatness			10:32-45
			1. Jesus gives Himself for us			10:32-34
			2. Disciples give themselves for others		10:35-45
		E. Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus				10:46-52
	
	JERUSALEM
	VI. Jesus presents His claim in Jerusalem			11:1-13:37
		A. Jesus claims His authority over the temple		11:1-26
			1. Jesus enters in triumph			11:1-14
			2. Jesus cleanses the temple			11:15-19
			3. Jesus instructs the disciples			11:20-26
		B. Jesus' authority challenged				11:27-12:44
			1. The officials challenge Jesus			11:27-33
			2. Jesus tells a parable against the officials	12:1-12
			3. Three questions to trap Jesus			12:13-34
			4. Jesus' concluding judgment			12:35-44
		C. Jesus predicts the collapse of the temple		13:1-37
			1. Jesus' followers will suffer			13:1-13
			2. The temple will be destroyed			13:14-23
			3. Jesus will return				13:24-27
			4. We must be prepared				13:28-37

	VII. Jesus fulfils His claim on the Cross				14:1-16:20
		A. Preparation for death					14:1-42
			1. Anointing at Bethany				14:1-9
			2. The plot to betray Him			14:10, 11
			3. The Lord's Supper				14:12-26
			4. Prayer in Gethsemane			14:27-42
		B. Arrest and trial					14:43-15:20
			1. Arrested by soldiers				14:43-52
			2. Examined by the Sanhedrin			14:53-65
			3. Denied by Peter				14:66-72
			4. Tried by Pilate				15:1-15
			5. Mocked by soldiers				15:16-20
		C. The Crucifixion					15:21-47
			1. On the Cross					15:21-32
			2. His death					15:33-41
			3. In the tomb					15:42-47
		D. The Resurrection					16:1-20