Mark's Gospel in a Nutshell
B02-Mark-BiaNS.mp3The Gospel of Mark is one of the first accounts of Jesus' life. It's attributed to a Christian scribe named Mark (or John Mark). Mark carefully shapes the story of Jesus presenting it as a drama, with three acts, focusing on different themes. In each act, various reactions to Jesus are depicted, from awe and wonder to confusion and rejection. Jesus' identity as the Messiah is a central theme, with the disciples struggling to understand His true nature.
The first act is set in Galilee, where Jesus' power and message of God's kingdom are displayed through healing and forgiveness. The crowds are amazed, but others question or reject Him. The second act highlights Jesus' teachings through parables, emphasizing the mysterious nature of God's kingdom. The disciples, like the crowds, struggle to grasp the full significance of Jesus' message.
In the third act, Jesus reveals His true identity as the suffering servant King, rather than the victorious military King expected by Peter and the disciples. He challenges them to follow Him in selflessness and service, rather than seeking fame and power. Despite Jesus' warnings of His impending death and the destruction of Jerusalem, the disciples fail to fully understand His mission.
The story culminates in Jesus' crucifixion, where a Roman soldier acknowledges him as the Son of God. After His resurrection, two women disciples discover the empty tomb and are told by an angel that Jesus has risen. The traditional text of Mark seems to end abruptly there, with the women leaving from the empty tomb afraid and bewildered, without telling anyone. However, there is a longer ending, which is found in many ancient manuscripts, and which includes the appearances of Jesus to the disciples, but is considered to have been added later.
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Outline of the Gospel according to Matthew
I. The Person of the King, 1:1-4:25
A. His Background, 1:1-17
B. His Birth, 1:18-2:23
1. The announcement of the birth, 1:18-25
2. The adoration of the baby, 2:1-12
3. The advancement of the boy, 2:13-23
C. His Baptism, 3:1-17
D. His Temptation, 4:1-11
E. His Inauguration, 4:12-25
II. The Preaching of the King, 5:1-7:29
A. The Picture of Kingdom Life, 5:1-16
B. The Precepts for Kingdom Life, 5:17-48
1. The law of Moses, 5:17-20
2. The law of murder, 5:21-22
3. The law of reconciliation, 5:23-26
4. The law of adultery, 5:27-30
5. The law of divorce, 5:31-32
6. The law of oaths, 5:33-37
7. The law of nonresistance, 5:38-42
8. The law of love, 5:43-48
C. The Practice of Kingdom Life, 6:1-7:12
1. In relation to almsgiving, 6:1-4
2. In relation to prayer, 6:5-15
3. In relation to fasting, 6:16-18
4. In relation to money, 6:19-24
5. In relation to anxiety, 6:25-34
6. In relation to judging, 7:1-5
7. In relation to prudence, 7:6
8. In relation to prayer, 7:7-11
9. In relation to others, 7:12
D. The Proof of Kingdom Life, 7:13-29
III. The Proof of the King, 8:1-9:38
A. Exhibit 1: Power, 8:1-34
1. Power over defilement, 8:1-4
2. Power over distance, 8:5-13
3. Power over disease, 8:14-17
4. Power over disciples, 8:18-22
5. Power over the deep, 8:23-27
6. Power over demons, 8:28-34
B. Exhibit 2: Pardon, 9:1-17
1. Pardon of a paralytic, 9:1-8
2. Pardon of a tax collector, 9:9-13
3. Problem concerning fasting, 9:14-17
C. Exhibit 3: Power, 9:18-38
1. Power over death, 9:18-26
2. Power over darkness, 9:27-31
3. Power over dumbness, 9:32-34
4. Power over disease, 9:35
5. Pity on the people, 9:36-38
IV. The Program of the King, 10:1-16:12
A. The Program Announced, 10:1-11:1
B. The Program Attested, 11:2-12:50
1. By comforting John’s disciples, Matt 11:2-19
2. By condemning the cities, 11:20-24
3. By calling all to Himself, 11:25-30
4. By controversies over the Sabbath, 12:1-14
5. By condemnation of the Pharisees (the unpardonable sin), 12:15-37
6. By certain signs, 12:38-45
7. By changed relationships, 12:46-50
C. The Program Altered, 13:1-52
1. The sower, 13:1-23
2. The wheat and the tares, 13:24-30
3. The mustard seed, 13:31-32
4. The leaven, 13:33
5. The wheat and the tares, 13:34-43
6. The hidden treasure, 13:44
7. The pearl of great price, 13:45-46
8. The net, 13:47-50
9. The householder, 13:51-52
D. The Program Attacked, 13:53-16:12
1. Attack by His own townspeople, 13:53-58
2. Attack by Herod, followed by miracles (five thousand fed and Jesus walks on water), 14:1-36
3. Attack by the scribes and Pharisees, followed by miracles (Syrophoenician woman’s daughter healed and four thousand fed), 15:1-39
4. Attack by the Pharisees and Sadducees, 16:1-12
V. The Pedagogy of the King, 16:13-20:28
A. Concerning His Church (Peter’s Confession of Faith), 16:13-20
B. Concerning His Death, 16:21-28
C. Concerning His Glory (the Transfiguration), 17:1-21
D. Concerning His Betrayal, 17:22-23
E. Concerning Taxes, 17:24-27
F. Concerning Humility, 18:1-35
1. Illustrated in childlike faith, 18:1-6
2. Illustrated in concern for the lost, 18:7-14
3. Illustrated in church discipline, 18:15-20
4. Illustrated in continual forgiveness, 18:21-35
G. Concerning Human Problems, 19:1-26
1. Physical problems, 19:1-2
2. Divorce and remarriage, 19:3-12
3. Children, 19:13-15
4. Wealth, 19:16-26
H. Concerning the Kingdom, 19:27-20:28
1. Rewards in the kingdom, 19:27-30
2. Recognition in the kingdom, 20:1-16
3. Rank in the kingdom, 20:17-28
VI. The Presentation of the King, 20:29-23:39
A. The Power of the King, 20:29-34
B. The Presentation of the King, 21:1-11
C. The Purification by the King, 21:12-17
D. The Cursing of the Fig Tree, 21:18-22
E. The Challenge to the King, 21:23-27
F. The Parables of the King, 21:28-22:14
1. The rebellion of the nation, 21:28-32
2. The retribution on the nation, 21:33-46
3. The rejection of the nation, 22:1-14
G. The Pronouncements of the King, 22:15-23:39
1. In answer to the Herodians, 22:15-22
2. In answer to the Sadducees, 22:23-33
3. In answer to the Pharisees, 22:34-40
4. In questioning the Pharisees, 22:41-46
5. Concerning the Pharisees, 23:1-36
6. Concerning Jerusalem, 23:37-39
VII. The Predictions of the King, 24:1-25:46
A. The Destruction of the Temple, 24:1-2
B. The Disciples’ Questions, 24:3
C. The Signs of the End of the Age, 24:4-28
D. The Sign of His Coming, 24:29-31
E. The Illustrations, 24:32-25:46
1. The fig tree, 24:32-35
2. The days of Noah, 24:36-39
3. The two, 24:40-41
4. The faithful householder, 24:42-44
5. The wise slave, 24:45-51
6. The ten virgins, 25:1-13
7. The talents, 25:14-30
8. The judgment of Gentiles, 25:31-46
VIII. The Passion of the King, 26:1-27:66
A. The Preparation, 26:1-16
B. The Passover, 26:17-30
C. The Betrayal, 26:31-56
D. The Hearings, 26:57-27:26
1. Before the high priest, 26:57-75
2. Before the Sanhedrin, 27:1-10
3. Before Pilate, 27:11-26
E. The Crucifixion, 27:27-66
1. The preliminaries, 27:27-44
2. The death, 27:45-56
3. The burial, 27:57-66
IX. The Power of the King, 28:1-20
A. The Conquest, 28:1-10
B. The Conspiracy, 28:11-15
C. The Commission, 28:16-20