Intro to the Gospel of Mark
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark 1:1
- What stands out to you about this introduction to the Gospel of Mark?
- What is the “gospel”?
- What does the term “Christ” mean or imply?
- What is the title “Son of God”? Why do you think the author uses it here?
- What significance does the word “beginning” have in this statement?
- What do we know about the author of this account of Jesus’ life?
- Who was Mark? Why do we attach his name to this book?
- Was he a direct disciple of Jesus? If not, where did he get his material from?
- Do we know anything about where or when this account was compiled? What was going on in the world at the time? What about the order that the gospels were written?
Structure of the Gospel of Mark
The intent of Mark was to be a “witness document” of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Scholars today believe that it was not intended as a strictly timeline-based account of Jesus’ ministry, but rather a collection of vignettes that are crafted together to support two great confessions of who Jesus is:
Confession #1: Peter’s confession of the Messiah (the Christ)
27 Jesus went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am? ”
28 They answered him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”
29 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am? ”
Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” Mark 8:27-29
Confession #2: The Centurion’s confession of the Son of God
37 Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God! ” Mark 15:37-39
- What do you find similar in these two confessions? What is different?
In the first eight chapters of Mark, we see Jesus calling his disciples, preaching and teaching, healing, and establishing his authority. He spends a lot of his time among the “people” rather than the leaders.
In the remainder of Mark’s gospel, we see Jesus speaking of his “mission”: his death and resurrection. He speaks of his authority to heal and forgive sins. He challenges the religious leaders and the wealthy. He speaks of judgment and end times. And he goes to the cross. The earliest manuscripts conclude rather abruptly with the resurrection.
- What purpose might the author have had in structuring the account this way?
- What questions do you have as we start this study of the Gospel of Mark? What are you hoping to gain from the study?