Survey on Mark Date: 01/15/06

The Gospel of Mark  Introduction  Key Information  Characteristics  Theme & Purpose  Keys to Mark  Outline of Mark

Introduction  Jesus the Servant – dual focus of Christ’s life: service and sacrifice. – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (10:45). 因為人子來，並不是要受人的服事，乃是要 服事人，並且要捨命作多人的贖價。 ”

Key Information  Background – Geographical: mainly Palestine of Jesus’ day, between Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan Valley. – Date written: most scholars believe Mark’s Gospel is the earliest of the four; probably written between AD. – Audience: Roman, gentile readers. – Place written: Rome.

Key Information 2  Author – Mark, John (Latin Marcus, Hebrew John) – Mark’s mother is Mary, Barnabas is his cousin – Peter may be one who led him to Christ (1 Peter, 5:13 – “Mark my son”) – Assistant to Paul and Barnabas (missionary journeys) – Peter’s interpreter

Characteristics  Petrine characteristics – Reproduces Peter’s preaching (reflects Peter’s personality: direct, impulsive, aggressive, active) – Action packed (has most of miracles: 18 out of 35, but few parables – 18 out of 70) – Vividness of details (shortest gospel, but longer narratives) – Picturesque-ness of description (6:30-44)

Characteristics (cont)  Roman characteristics – Romans glorified action, hence focus more on Jesus’ activity – Jesus as man of action – No genealogies of Jesus as in Matthew and Luke; almost straight into His public ministry – Presents Him as mighty Conqueror over demons, disease, and death.

Theme & Purpose  Purpose – Writing history with evangelistic purpose – Centers on Jesus, Son of God and His ministry  Theme – Jesus Christ the Servant (10:43-45) – Shows His power and compassion

Keys to Mark  Key Word: Jesus the Servant  Key Verses (10:43-45) – … 誰願為大，就必作你們的用人；在你們中 間，誰願為首，就必作眾人的僕人。因為人 子來，並不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人 ，並且要捨命作多人的贖價。 ” – …whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 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.

Keys to Mark (cont)  Key Verses (8:34-37) – “ 若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十 字架來跟從我。因為，凡要救自己生命的， 必喪掉生命；凡為我和福音喪掉生命的，必 救了生命。人就是賺得全世界，賠上自己的 生命，有甚麼益處呢？人還能拿甚麼換生命 呢？ ” – “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”

Keys to Mark (cont)  Key Chapter - 8 – Show the change of emphasis in Jesus’ ministry; pivotal event lies in Peter’s confession, “You’re the Christ.” (8:29)  Now, He begins to teach His men for His forthcoming suffering and death. Taking him closer to the place where the Perfect Servant will demonstrate the full extent of His servant-hood.

Keys to Mark (cont)  Servanthood – true discipleship (8:34-30): – Surrender ourselves completely to Him – Identify with Him in suffering and death – Follow Him obediently, wherever He leads  If we acknowledge Christ and live for Him, He will one day acknowledge us and share His glory with us.

Outline of Mark  5 parts: 1. Presentation of the Servant (1:1 – 2:12) 2. Opposition of the Servant (2:13 – 8:26) 3. Instruction by the Servant (8:27 – 10:52) 4. Rejection of the Servant (11:1 – 15:47) 5. Resurrection of the Servant (16:1-20)

I. Presentation of the Servant 1.Forerunner of the Servant (1:1-8) 2.Baptism of the Servant (1:9-11) 3.Temptation of the Servant (1:12-13) 4.Mission of the Servant (1:14-2:12) – Work of the Servant (1:14-15) – 1 st disciples are called (1:16-20) – 1 st miracles are performed (1:21-2:12)

II. Opposition of the Servant 1.Initial Opposition to the Servant (2:13-3:35) – Controversy over Jesus’ Friendship with Sinners, Sabbath-Work, Healing (2:13:22, 2:23-28, 3:1-5) – Pharisees Counsel to Destroy Jesus (3:6-12) – Opposition of His Friends (3:20-21) – New Relationship Are Defined (3:31 – 35)

II. Opposition of the Servant 2.Parables of the Servant (4:1- 34) – Parable of the Soils, Lamp, Growing Seed, Mustard Seed (4:1-20, 21-25, 26-29, 30-34)

II. Opposition of the Servant 3.Miracles of the Servant (4:35 – 5:43) – Sea is Stilled (4:35-41) – Demons are Cast into Swine (5:1-20) – Woman with Issue is Healed (5:25-34) – Jairus’ Daughter is Healed (5:35-43)

II. Opposition of the Servant 4.Growing Opposition to the Servant (6:1 – 8:26) – Jesus is Rejected at Nazareth (6:1-6) – John the Baptist is Murdered (6:14-29) – Pharisees Clean/Unclean, Seek a Sign from Heaven (7:1-23; 8:10-13) – More miracles: Fed 5k, Walks on Water, Healed blind man, etc. (6:32-34, 45-52, 8:22- 26)

III. Instruction by the Servant 1.Peter’s Confession of Christ (8:27-33) 2.Cost of Discipleship (8:34-38) 3.The Transfiguration (9:1-13) 4.Demon-possessed Son is Delivered (9:14-29) 5.Jesus Foretells His Death (9:30-32) 6.Jesus Teaches to Prepare the Disciples (9:33- 10:45) 7.Blind Bartimaeus is Healed (10:46-52)

IV. Rejection of the Servant 1.Formal Presentation of the Servant (11:1-19) 2.Instruction on Prayer (11:20-26) 3.Opposition by the Leaders (11:27-12:44) 4.Instruction on the Future (13:1-37) 5.Passion of the Servant (14:1-15:47)

V. Resurrection of the Servant 1.Resurrection of Jesus (16:1-8) 2.Appearances of Jesus (16:9-18) 3.Ascension of Jesus (16:19-20)

Assignments  Group A: The Healing of a Demon-possessed Man (Mark 5: compare with Matthew 8:28-34)  Group B: True Discipleship (Mark 8:34-38)  Use Inductive Bible Study method to study the two passages through – Observation: 5W and 1H – Interpretation: Context, Context, Context – Application: So What? Now What?  Group Presentation in 4 weeks on Feb 12