There are a few ways to outline the Gospel of Mark (or any Gospel for that matter). Getting ready for the Transfiguration Sunday I stumbled across an interesting observation: Jesus is proclaimed (or acknowledged) as the Son of God in 3 instances - Baptism, Transfiguration, and Crucifixion.
A voice from heaven identifies Jesus as the Beloved Son of God with whom the Father is well-pleased (Mk. 1:11).
Again (similar to that), a voice from the cloud in the presence of Peter and James and John said [to them]: "This is my beloved Son, listen to Him" (Mk. 9:7). It was a response to Peter's idea to build three shrines of equal status for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. I am sure that Peter thought that he - proposing the equal status for Jesus - was lifting Him up. Yet, the Father had to intervene and correct him.
Then non the less than centurion confesses Jesus as the Son of God (Mk. 15:39). The death narrative picks up many elements from the Baptismal account - the Spirit and heavenly boundaries being torn (Mk. 1:10 and Mk. 15:38). Yet, now it is a gentile - first and the only human in Mark - confesses Jesus as the Son of God. Noting that in the Gospel Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ (Mk 8:29), I can guess that Mark "saves" it for the centurion. If this line of thought is correct, then it is even more interesting to see the realization of the Kingdom preached by Jesus right after His Baptism (Mk. 1:14-15). For the observant reader should've pondered with a question - what is the Kingdom pf God? or who can be a citizen (so to speak) of this kingdom? Having the centurion confess Jesus as the Son of God, Mark answers this question in the world-wide manner - it is for everyone, even for the centurion of Roman occupation army.
