Bible Study Questions on Mark’s Gospel

Chapter 1: 1 – 28

Read through Mark 1:1-28.

(Questions in italics are optional extras for those wanting something a little more challenging).

v. 1 Right at the start, Mark declares that his story is ‘good news’ (the meaning of the English word ‘gospel’). Given the focus on Jesus’ suffering and death in the second half of the book, and his call for his followers to imitate his suffering, how can Mark still call it good news?

Does the message of Jesus feel like good news to you? When you share it with others, how good do you think it sounds to them? (Isaiah 52:7 might give some food for thought on this).

v. 2-8 It’s interesting that Mark’s story begins not with Jesus, but with John. Why is John’s role in the story important? (Look at Malachi 3:1).

Compare Mark’s description of John (v.6) with the description of Elijah in 2 Kings 1:8, and then look at Malachi 4:5 and Mark 9:11-13. What might Mark be saying to Jewish readers? Given Malachi is the last book on the OT, how does this opening of Mark’s gospel affect our understanding of the relationship between old and new testaments?

v. 9-11 Mark tells us that John’s baptism was ‘for the forgiveness of sins’ (v.4). Presumably Jesus did not ‘need’ this baptism, so why do you think he was baptised by John?

Who exactly does the seeing and hearing in verses 10 and 11? So who is this event for and what does it prove?

Compare 1:10-11 and 15:38-39. (The same word for ‘torn apart’ is used in verses 10 and 38). What do you think Mark is saying by paralleling Jesus’ baptism with his crucifixion?

v. 14-15 If you were asked to summarise the Christian gospel in 60 seconds, what would you say? (Maybe get two or three volunteers from the group to have a go. Ask the group what worked well for them in each attempt). How does our message compare with Jesus’ ‘manifesto’ (verses 14 & 15)?

Why is the kingdom of God ‘coming near’ such good news?

v. 16-20 How much did Simon and Andrew and James and John know about Jesus before he called them? So what do you think made them respond so quickly?

Describe your own response to Jesus call. Was it immediate or more gradual?

v. 21-28 What do you think made Jesus’ teaching authoritative for those in Capernaum?

Who are the authorities you experience in everyday life and how would you rank their importance? How do you tend to deal with a conflict of authority? And with authority?

Overall Christmas is one of the most important occasions in the church calendar, yet Mark says nothing about Jesus’ birth. What does Mark prioritise instead? What do you think are the most important things to emphasise in telling the story of Jesus?