Mark

Gospel of Mark   

Title: Gospel of Mark. Gospel – good news. Authorship is “unknown”. Mark – companion of Peter (1 Pet. 5:13); possible, John Mark (Acts. 12:12,25; 15:37, 39). Paul mentions Mark in Col. 4:10 makes a great point connecting both stories.

Mark means “consecrated to Mars” (cp. Mordechai – dedicated to Marduk from the Book of Esther).       

Date of writing: 50s AD

Date of Narrative: From the ministry of John the Baptizer (1:2,3) to the Ascension (16:19,20). 

Structure: adapted [and improved] from “Mark 1:1-8:26” by Voelz, p. 49

	Geographical outline	Thematical outline
1.	1:1-13 Intro, ministry of John the Baptizer	A. 1:1-8, Preparation for the ministry by John the Baptizer
2.	1:14 – 6:13, Galilean ministry	B. 1:9 – 8:26, Jesus begins his ministry, initial growth
3.	6:14 – 8:26, ministry outside Galilee	C. 8:27-30, Confession of Peter. Messianic secret
4.	8:27 – 10:52, journey to Judea and Jerusalem	B’. 8:31 – 10:52, three warnings about His death
5.	11:1 – 16:20, denouement in Jerusalem	A’. 11:1 – 16:20, realization of the ministry of Christ

 

Main themes:

Jesus as the King – Gospel begins with the fulfillment of time and kingdom of God is at hand (1:14).

Many events happen “immediately” – cp. 1:12, 18, 21 … 

Main Characters:

Jesus

Disciples, enemies.

Minor characters – Jairus, woman with the issue of blood, Syro-Phoenician woman, the father of demon-possessed boy, widow who gave her “mite”, the woman who anointed Jesus with costly ointment, centurion at the cross, Joseph of Arimathea.   

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

Messianic secret (cp. 8:30) is realized in the crucifixion. It is picked up by St. Paul in his letter to Philippians 2:6-11. 

The signs of the Kingdom (16:17-18) are fulfilled in the Apostolic era (cp. Acts 2; 28:3-6; James 5:14-15)

Lutheran teaching:

The necessity of Baptism of heavily argued by 16:16 (AC, IX; Ap., XXIV (XII):17; SA III, VIII:7; SC IV:2; LC, Shorter Preface:21; LC Part 4:5,23,33; FC SD XI:39).

Bringing together 1:1 and 16:15 Lutheran Confessions clarify the terms of Gospel (FC SD V:4).     

Lutheran hymnody:

518:15 – By All Your Saints in Warfare (St. Mark, Evangelist)

837 – Lift High the Cross

Relevancy of the Book:

Gospel of Mark pictures Jesus as the King who comes to establish the kingdom. He feeds five thousand (6:30-44) as an opposition to the birthday party of Herod (6:14-29). He proclaims that repentance and faith in the gospel is foundational for the kingdom (1:14-15).

Gospel depicts the disciples who do not fully believe (16:14), but after Ascension go and preach everywhere (16:20) under the guidance of the LORD.       

Memory verses:  

10:45 “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many”.