The Gospel According to
MARK
Author:
Mark was a cousin of Barnabas and served Christ with Barnabas, Paul, and, according to tradition, especially with the apostle Peter. Compare 1 Pet 5:13. It is very probable that he learned many of the facts he records in this Gospel from Peter. Mark’s other name was John (Acts 12:12).
Date:
Some years after the death and resurrection of Christ. Some scholars believe that this Gospel was the first to be written, and it may be so, but we have no real proof for this.
Theme:
Mark presents Christ as the Son of God (Mark 1:1) who became the Servant of God and man, and did mighty works among men (compare Acts 10:38; Rom 15:8-9). Twice He said that true greatness is in service to others (Mark 9:35; 10:42-45), and demonstrated this in His own life and ministry. Mark emphasized the deeds of Christ more than His teachings. For example, he wrote of 18 miracles of Jesus, but records only 4 of His parables (Matthew records 14 parables, and Luke has 15), and he includes no long discourses such as the Sermon on the Mount.
Contents:
The preparation of God’s Servant 1:1-13
He calls others to God’s service 1:14-20
He performs various miracles in Capernaum 1:21-34
He preaches and heals in surrounding villages 1:35-45
He heals and forgives a paralyzed man 2:1-12
He calls Matthew and eats in his house 2:13-17
He answers some objections 2:18-28
He heals a withered hand and is hated by the
Jewish leaders 3:1-6
He heals many 3:7-12
He chooses His disciples 3:13-19
He is accused of doing miracles by Satan’s power 3:20-30
The unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit 3:29-30
He speaks of His mother, sisters and brothers 3:31-35
He gives some parables about God’s kingdom 4:1-34
He causes a storm to cease 4:35-41
He heals a man possessed by a legion of demons 5:1-20
He raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead
and heals the woman with an issue of blood 5:21-43
He meets unbelief and rejection in Nazareth 6:1-6
He sends out His disciples 6:7-13
The death of John the Baptist 6:14-29
He feeds the five thousand 6:30-44
He walks on the sea 6:45-52
He heals many 6:53-56
He disputes with the Jewish leaders 7:1-16
He teaches about clean and unclean 7:17-23
He heals the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman 7:24-30
He heals a deaf and dumb man 7:31-37
He feeds the four thousand 8:1-10
He warns His disciples about false teaching 8:11-21
He heals a blind man 8:22-26
He reveals who He is and speaks of His death
and resurrection 8:27-33
He speaks of qualifications for discipleship 8:34-37
He is transfigured 9:1-8
He speaks of Elijah and John the Baptist 9:9-13
He drives a demon out of a boy 9:14-29
He teaches what true greatness is 9:30-37
He warns about hell 9:42-50
He teaches about marriage and divorce 10:1-12
He blesses little children 10:13-16
He talks with the rich young ruler 10:17-22
He promises rewards to faithful disciples 10:23-31
He speaks of His death and resurrection 10:32-34
He teaches again about true greatness 10:35-45
He heals a blind man in Jericho 10:46-52
He rides into Jerusalem on a donkey 11:1-10
He curses the barren fig tree 11:11-14
He drives the merchants from the temple 11:15-17
He teaches about the power of faith 11:22-26
He stands against the religious leaders 11:27-33
He gives the parable of the vineyard 12:1-12
He answers the questions of the religious leaders 12:13-40
He teaches about giving 12:41-44
He tells what will happen in the future
and speaks of His second coming 13:1-37
He is anointed by a woman 14:1-9
He is betrayed by Judas 14:10-11
He eats the last Passover with His disciples 14:12-31
The new covenant 14:22-25
He prays in Gethsemane 14:32-42
He is arrested 14:43-52
He stands before the high priest of Israel 14:53-65
He is denied by Peter 14:66-72
He stands before Pilate 15:1-15
He is mocked by Roman soldiers 15:16-20
He is crucified 15:21-41
He is buried 15:42-47
He rises from death 16:1-8
He appears to His believers
and instructs His disciples 16:9-18
He ascends to heaven 16:19-20