An Overview of the GospelBy Timothy Thiem

Date Written: 60-75 (most likely between 68-73)

Locale: Traditionally Rome (where Christians were persecuted by Nero). Others suggest Syria, the northern Transjordan, the Decapolis, and Galilee.

Author Traditional

Mark, the follower and “interpreter of Peter. From Contents:

A Greek-speaker who was not a witness to Jesus’ ministry and made inexact statements about Palestinian geography.

a) Geographyb) Theologyc) A New Kind of Literatured) Mark’s Purpose

The first half of the Gospel focuses on Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and beyond.

The second half focuses on Jerusalem The journey from Galilee to Jerusalem Jesus’ symbolic teachings and actions Jesus’ passion and death

Highlights: Authority of Jesus Revealed through:

Actions Words His rejection of his own people

Jesus clarifies the nature of his authority on his way to Jerusalem and spells out its consequences to his followers

First Gospel to be written about the “good news” of God’s action in Jesus Christ.

Used various kinds of traditions Sayings Parables Controversies Miracles

Mark gave order and plot to these incidents, connecting them with linking passages and adding comments for his readers.

To deepen the faith of the members of his community

To show them how the traditions about Jesus related to their belief in the saving significance of the cross and resurrection.

a) The Kingdomb) The Messianic Secretc) Discipleship

Who Jesus is and discipleship (response to Jesus)

In Jesus’ time the ‘kingdom of God’ referred to the display of God’s lordship at the end of history and its acknowledgement by all creation.

While Jesus taught about the kingdom of God in parables, his own life was really the parable of the kingdom.

Mark’s message Whoever wishes to understand the kingdom

must look at Jesus the healer, the teacher, and the crucified-and-risen one.

Mark’s focus Healings and exorcisms Mark knew and revered Jesus as a wonder-

worker The miracles are balanced by teaching in both

word and deed.

Mark outlined the story of Jesus in such a way as to make the passion and death the climax.

Without the cross, the portrayals of Jesus as wonder-worker and teacher are unbalanced and without purpose

The ‘messianic secret’ is a feature of Mark’s Gospel that refers to several instances in which Jesus commands people to be silent about his action or identity (see 1:34, 44; 3:12; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26, 30; 9:9).

Jesus, in his public ministry, never claimed to be the Messiah nor was recognized as such.

The real meaning of Jesus’ messiahship became clear only with his death and resurrection.

In some Jewish circles the longed for Messiah had political and military functions, and Mark may have been unwilling to provoke the Roman authorities.

Mark’s ideal of discipleship is ‘being with’ Jesus, sharing his mission of preaching and healing (3:14-15).

As the narrative proceeds, the disciples repeatedly fail to understand Jesus (6:52; 8:14-21)

On his was to Jerusalem Jesus predicts his passion and resurrection three times; each time the disciples fail to understand.

The passion narrative turns on The betrayal of Jesus by Judas The denial of Jesus by Peter

The disciples are portrayed as: In the beginning

As examples to be imitated In the end

As examples to be avoided

This highlights that Jesus is the only one who deserves to be imitated

Brown, Raymond E., An Introduction to the New Testament (New York: DoubleDay, 1997).

Brown, R., ads, The New Jerome Bible Handbook (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1992).