Overview of Mark

Christian tradition has long associated each of the gospels with one of the four faces encountered by Ezekiel (1:1–14) & Revelation 4:7, called the Tetramorph ( Greek tetra, meaning four, and morph, shape).

Augustine associates:

Matthew - Lion

Mark - Human

Luke - Ox

John – Eagle

It needs all four aspects to give the full truth:

As Sovereign King He comes to reign and rule.

As Servant He comes to serve and suffer.

As Son of Man He comes to share and sacrifice.

As Son of God He comes to reveal and redeem.

WHO

John Mark - traveling companion of Paul and Barnabas

in Acts he deserted them during the 1st missionary journey, then became a close companion of Paul as seen in 2 Timothy

He started the journey poorly

He ended it well

WHY

A collection of Peter's eyewitness accounts

Papias (early church father) said Mark’s gospel was a collection of Peter's eyewitness accounts

Purpose:

Present Jesus as Messiah & SUFFERING SERVANT

Writing to a Roman, gentile audience

Mark likely wrote in Rome with a Roman audience in mind. Writing to Gentiles is likely because of his translations of Aramaic expressions, explaining Jewish customs (like hand washing), and his explanation of the cessation of ritualistic elements of Mosaic law (7:1-23)

Mark is hyperlinking his gospel to the OT

Mal. Ended with Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes. Malachi 4:5, now Mark begins with John the Baptist, who was Elijah.

Mark 1:1 (ESV) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Followed by a reference to Isa 42 and Malachi 3 (Bookends to Prophets section of OT). Mark is hyperlinking his gospel to the OT.

WHEN

57-67 SD

Uniqueness of Mark’s Gospel

93% of Mark is found in the other 2 synoptic Gospels

Focus is on what Jesus DID

Geographical Structure: in Galilee, traveling, Jerusalem

Mark is the shortest gospel

Matthew: 18,346

Mark: 11,304

Luke: 19,482

John: 15,634

Fast Paced: 41 uses of euthysmeaning immediately

Immediately used 41 times in the Gospel, or, on average, over twice per chapter (although it is concentrated at the beginning of the Gospel, with ten occurrences in the first chapter).

It creates a sense of a rapidly rushing narrative, like an action-adventure movie

Examples

Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. Mark 1:12

“Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:17-18

“Be made clean.” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. Mark 1:41-42

Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God Mark 2:12

Individual stories contain more detail than other gospels, because Mark focuses on what Jesus DID

Abrupt ending 16:8

LOTR endings: Shorter version, Longer version, Longest version

Key Verses

1:1 -The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

8:29 - Who do you say that I am?

10:45 - 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.” Mark 10:45

Structure

Think of Mark’s gospel like to different trolley carts with a linchpin holding them together:

Trolley 1 - Chapters 1-8 -Jesus man of miracles (wielding authority by displaying miracles & teaching through parables)

Linchpin - Chapters 8:27-10 -Transition from mighty miracle worker to suffering servant

Trolley 2 - Chapters 11-16 -Jesus suffering servant (suffers for his people)

Chapters 1-8:

Isa 40 & Mal 3- begins with Jesus' baptism. Proclaims good news of God's Kingdom coming. Jesus heals, helps the oppressed, and forgives sins. Jesus' parables collected in chap 4. Ends with the disciple's confusion that will continue into act 2.

Chapters 8-10:

Who do you say I am? Set expectations, not of conquering king, but as suffering servant. Following him = suffering and serving. This conversation happens 3 times. Parallel of glory on Mt. Sinai at Transfiguration. Jesus is embodiment of God's glory. The 3 are still perplexed.

Chapters 11-16:

Palm Sunday, Jesus confronts Pharisees and cleanses temple. Passover. The centurion recognizes Jesus as Messiah. Resurrection. Clears up confusion in act 2. False ending in Mark (added later). Abrupt ending purposeful to let a question linger. Are you going to be confused or recognize Jesus as King?

THE HEART OF THE KING

As we study the structure of the book, don’t miss Jesus heart for his people:

Then a man with leprosy came to him and, on his knees, begged him: “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” Mark 1:40-41

When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34

Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21

Miracles in Chapters 1-10

18 total miracles

Man with unclean spirit in the synagogue

Peter’s mother-in-law’s fever along with a whole group of people

A man with leprosy

Paralytic from the roof

Calming the storm

Demon-possessed man (Legion)

Jairus’ daughter resurrected

Woman with the bleeding

Gave the 12 authority over unclean spirits

Feeding the 5,000 (men)

Walking on water

Mass healings in Gennesaret

Deliverance of the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter

Deaf & mute man healed

Feeding the 4,000

Healing of the blind man

Deliverance of the demon-possessed boy

Blind Bartimaeus healed

Parables in Chapers 1-10

Sower

Light on a hill

Growing Seed

Mustard Seed

Food doesn’t defile, what comes from the heart does

Leaven of the Pharisees

Take up your cross

Linchpin

(Ch 8:27-10)

Jesus asks his disciples, “who do you say that I am?”

Jesus predicts his death 3 times in 8-10

8:31 (Peter rebuked shortly after)

9:31

10:33-34

Transfiguration

Jesus’ mission statement: “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

Jesus showed his disciples the nature of the Suffering Servant as Messiah instead of the Military Ruler as Messiah.

Suffering Servant

Ch 11 –16 all takes place within 1 Week

Triumphal entry

Cleansing the temple

6 times Jesus went toe to toe with the Religious leaders

Nature of Jesus’ authority

Parable of the vineyard owner

Caesar’s coin

Sadducees’ question of marriage in the resurrection

The Great Commandment

Warning against the hypocrisy of the scribes

More parables

Ch13 –future destruction of the temple

Jesus’ anointing at Bethany

Passover

Jesus’ arrest in the garden

Jesus on trial

Crucifixion

Empty tomb

Markan Sandwiches

A Markan Sandwich is a literary device used by Mark that took 2 unrelated stories and layered together to portray a deeper theological truth.

9 Sandwiches have been identified. Below are the chapter references along with the structure of hte split (the main story being A and the alternate story being inserted in the middle as B)

1. 3:20-35

A Jesus’ companions try to seize him, vv 20-21

B The religious leaders accuse Jesus of being in league with Beelzebub, vv 22-30

A Jesus’ family seeks him, vv 31-35

2. 4:1-20

A Parable of the Sower, vv 1-9

B Purpose of parables, vv 10-13

A Explanation of the Parable of the Sower, vv 14-20

3. 5:21-43

A Jarius pleads with Jesus to save his daughter, vv 21-24

B Woman with a hemorrhage touches Jesus, vv 25-34

A Jesus raises Jarius' daughter, vv 35-43

4. 6:7-30

A Mission of the Twelve, vv 7-13

B Martyrdom of John the Baptist, vv 14-29

A Return of the Twelve, v 30

5. 11:12-21

A Cursing of the fig tree, vv 12-14

B Clearing of the temple, vv 15-19

A Withering of the fig tree, vv 20-21

6. 14:1-11

A Plot to kill Jesus, vv 1-2

B Anointing of Jesus at Bethany, vv 3-9

A Judas’s agreement to betray Jesus, vv 10-11

7. 14:17-31

A Jesus predicts his betrayal, vv 17-21

B Institution of the Lord’s Supper, vv 22-26

A Jesus predicts Peter’s betrayal, vv 27-31

8. 14:53-72

A Peter follows Jesus to the courtyard of the high priest, vv 53-54

B Jesus’ inquisition before the Sanhedrin, vv 55-65

A Peter’s denial of Jesus, vv 66-72

9. 15:40-16:8

A Mary Magdalene cares for Jesus after death, vv 15:40-41

B Jesus buried, vv15:42-47

A Mary Magdalene goes to empty tomb, vv 16:1-8

Example Sandwich

The Woman with the Hemorrhage and the Healing of Jairus’ Daughter from Mark 5:21-43

Similarities

Both people are in need of a miracle and helpless to produce a solution to their problem. They both need Jesus.

The woman had been bleeding for 12 years. Jairus’ daughter was 12 years old.

Jesus calls the woman “daughter.” Jairus’ daughter is also referred to as “daughter”.

Both were considered unclean. According to Levitical law a woman during her menstrual cycle (Leviticus 15:19-23) and a corpse (Numbers 19:11-15) were both considered unclean and physical contact would have been forbidden.

Differences

Jairus is named. The woman isn’t. Her only identification is her shame.

Jairus has an influential position in the Synagogue. He is respected and authoritative in the community. The woman is lowly and an outcast become of her menstrual hemorrhaging.

Jairus comes to Jesus overtly, face-to-face but the woman approaches discretely from behind.

He has enough prestige to ask Jesus to come to his house, and his presumption is not disappointed, for Jesus goes with him. The woman can claim none of these.

The Point

The first lesson is about faith. Despite her lowly position, however, she exhibits the great faith. She will stop at nothing to get to Jesus. The outcome: "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

Meanwhile, Jairus' daughter dies and loses faith that anything more can be done. His messengers seem to think so when they say, “Why trouble the Master any further?” Upon this news, Jesus must remind Jairus to “Do not fear, only believe.” His faith waivered.

The point of the intermingled stories is that Jairus must have the kind of faith the woman has. Through her Mark shows how faith in Jesus can transform fear and despair into hope and salvation. It is a powerful lesson for Jairus, as for us today.

The second is about Jesus’ supremacy over sin and death. When physical contact was established between Jesus and the woman with the bleed / Jairus’ daughter, it should have made Jesus unclean. However instead, as well as healing them, Jesus made them clean.

Mark’s takeaway message: Faith is the key to belief in Jesus who is supreme over sin, sickness, and death.

Alternate Endings

Earliest manuscripts end with 16:8: “They [Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, & Salome] went out and ran from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.

2nd ending: One verse added: “And all that had been commanded to them they quickly reported to those around Peter. After these things, Jesus himself sent out through them from east to west, the holy and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.

Longer ending includes all of verses 9-20.

Because the 2nd and 3rd endings are not in the earliest and most reliable manyscripts, it is likely these are not original scripture penned by Mark.

If that is so, it begs the question: Why end at verse 8 so abruptly?

Mark is a storyteller

He wants the question to linger: Who do you say that I am?

The reader needs to wrestle through this question on their own and draw their own conclusions.

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