The Gospel According to Mark

The Portrait of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark (1:1-8:38) (Part 1)

The Purpose of the Gospels

The Purpose of the Gospel of Mark

“Mark recorded selected events from the life of Christ to demonstrate to a primarily
Roman audience that Jesus Christ was the Divine Servant, the Son of God, who was
willing to attend to the needs of others to the point of laying down His life for them, in
order that he might encourage their similar response to the needs of others.”

The Structure of the Gospel of Mark

I. The Servant’s Preparation (1:1-13)

II. The Servant Attends His People: Galilee and Beyond (1:14-8:26)

III. The Servant Attends His Disciples: From Galilee to Jerusalem (9:1-10:52)

IV. The Servant Attends His World: A Ransom Given and Accepted (11:1-16:20)

I. The Servant’s Preparation (1:1-13)

A. The Title (1:1)

B. The Ministry of John the Baptist (1:2-8)

C. The Qualifications of Jesus (1:9-13)

II. The Servant Attends His People: Galilee and Beyond (1:14-8:26)

A. Jesus’ Early Ministry (1:14-2:13)

1. Jesus’ Early Message (1:14-15)

2. Jesus’ Early Disciples (1:16-20)

3. Jesus’ Early Miracles (1:21-2:13)

B. Jesus’ Ministry Opposed (2:14-5:43)

1. The Conflict over the King and Kingdom (2:14-3:6)

2. The Confirmation of the King and the Kingdom (3:7-5:43)

C. Jesus’ Ministry Transitioning (6:1-8:26)

1. Rejection of Jesus by His Own (6:1-6)

2. Commission of Disciples by Jesus (6:7-13)

3. The Martyrdom of John the Baptist (6:14-29)

4. Feeding of the Five Thousand: The Demand of Ministry (6:30-44)

5. Walking on Water (6:45-52)

6. A Summary of Jesus’ Ministry (6:53-56)

7. Ritual, Religion, and Regeneration: The Law in the New Age (7:1-23)

8. Jesus’ Ministry among the Gentiles (7:24-8:10)

9. Jesus’ True Identity (8:11-38)