Mark: The Servant Son

Where Mark sits

In the story

Act V, Christ

In the Bible

New Testament · Gospels · book 41 of 66

Before it in the story

Matthew

After it in the story

Luke

The shortest Gospel: Peter's witness, set down by Mark, to the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, told at speed from John's preaching in the wilderness to the empty tomb.

Mark summary

Mark is the shortest Gospel and the fastest: a story told in action, with “immediately” and “at once” driving it from scene to scene. Its first line names Jesus the Christ, the Son of God (1:1). John prepares the Lord's way, the Father names Jesus His beloved Son, and He is tested in the wilderness (1:1–13). In Galilee and beyond He preaches that the kingdom of God is near, calls disciples, and shows authority over sickness, demons, sin, the sea and death, while scribes and Pharisees plot against Him, His own town rejects Him, and even the Twelve fail to understand (1:14–8:26). The question “Who is this?” is answered at Caesarea Philippi: “You are the Christ” (8:29). From then on Jesus teaches openly that the Son of Man must suffer, die and rise; three times He says it on the road to Jerusalem, three times the disciples misunderstand, and three times He teaches that following Him means the cross, for He came to give His life a ransom for many (8:27–10:52). In Jerusalem He enters as King, judges the barren temple, answers every challenge, foretells the temple's fall and His coming, gives the bread and cup of the covenant, is betrayed, condemned and crucified, and a Roman centurion confesses Him the Son of God. On the first day of the week the women find the tomb empty: He has risen (11:1–16:8). The BSB prints 16:9–20, while some ancient witnesses end at 16:8.

Mark in context

Written by

John Mark, whose mother's house in Jerusalem was a meeting place of the church (Acts 12:12); he traveled with Barnabas and Paul (Acts 12:25; 13:5, 13; 15:37–39), was later Paul's fellow worker (Col 4:10; 2 Tim 4:11; Phlm 24), and Peter calls him his son (1 Pet 5:13). The early church remembered the book as Peter's preaching set down by Mark (Papias, Irenaeus, Clement).

Written to

Christians who were mostly Gentiles, very likely at Rome: Mark explains Jewish washings and days (7:3–4; 15:42), translates Aramaic words (5:41; 7:34; 15:34), uses Latin loanwords, and names Rufus as if the readers knew him (15:21; Rom 16:13). The book's warnings of persecution (10:30; 13:9–13) fit a church under pressure.

Setting

Palestine under Roman rule, about AD 27–30: Galilee and its lake, short journeys into Gentile country (5:1–20; 7:24–37; 8:27), the road through Judea to Jericho (10:1, 46), and Jerusalem, Bethany and the Mount of Olives in the last week (11–16)

When

Written before AD 70, probably in the late 50s or the 60s, most likely at Rome. Early writers differ on whether Mark wrote while Peter was still preaching there (Clement) or after Peter's departure (Irenaeus).

Why

To proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (1:1): to show who He is by His authority in word and deed, to show that the Christ must suffer, die and rise, giving His life as a ransom for many (8:31; 10:45), and to call all who hear to repent, believe the gospel, and follow Him in the way of the cross, standing firm under persecution (1:15; 8:34–38; 13:13).

Themes of Mark

• The Son of God
• The kingdom at hand
• Authority
• Who is this?
• The suffering Son of Man
• Following on the way
• Hard hearts and opened eyes
• Faith and fear
• The temple judged
• The gospel for the nations

Key verses in Mark

• Mark 1:1

  This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

• Mark 1:15

  “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

• Mark 8:29

  “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

• Mark 8:34

  Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

• Mark 10:45

  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.”

• Mark 14:24

  He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

• Mark 15:39

  When the centurion standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

• Mark 16:6

  But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.

Mark chapter by chapter

Part 1 · Prologue: the beginning of the gospel 1:1–13

Part 2 · Galilee and beyond: who is this? 1:14–8:26

1. 1
   Mark 1: The beginning of the gospel

   John prepares the way; the Son is baptized and tested, then preaches the kingdom with authority in Galilee.

2. 2
   Mark 2: Lord even of the Sabbath

   Jesus forgives sins, calls sinners, and claims the Sabbath as the Son of Man, and opposition begins.

3. 3
   Mark 3: Tying up the strong man

   Jesus heals on the Sabbath, appoints the Twelve, ties up the strong man, and names His true family.

4. 4
   Mark 4: The mystery of the kingdom of God

   Jesus' parables of seed and soil show how the kingdom grows; then He stills the storm with a word.

5. 5
   Mark 5: Do not be afraid; just believe

   Jesus frees a man from a legion, heals a woman by her faith, and raises Jairus' daughter.

6. 6
   Mark 6: Like sheep without a shepherd

   Rejected at home, Jesus sends the Twelve, feeds five thousand as their Shepherd, and walks on the sea.

7. 7
   Mark 7: Out of the heart

   Jesus exposes tradition that voids God's law, teaches that defilement comes from the heart, and helps Gentiles.

8. 8
   Mark 8: You are the Christ

   Peter confesses the Christ, who must suffer, die and rise, and calls all who follow Him to the cross.

Part 3 · On the way: the Son of Man must suffer 8:27–10:52

1. 9
   Mark 9: This is My beloved Son; listen to Him

   Transfigured, the Son is named by the Father; He foretells His death again and teaches greatness as service.

2. 10
   Mark 10: A ransom for many

   Going up to Jerusalem, Jesus teaches on marriage, children and riches, and gives His life a ransom for many.

Part 4 · Jerusalem: the cross and the empty tomb 11:1–16:20

1. 11
   Mark 11: Blessed is He who comes

   The King enters Jerusalem on a colt, judges the barren temple, and is challenged by its rulers.

2. 12
   Mark 12: The cornerstone

   In the temple Jesus silences every challenge, names the rejected Son and David's Lord, and praises a widow.

3. 13
   Mark 13: Not one stone left on another

   Jesus foretells the temple's fall, warns His disciples to endure, and bids all watch for His coming.

4. 14
   Mark 14: My blood of the covenant

   Anointed for burial and betrayed, Jesus gives the Supper, prays in Gethsemane, and confesses Himself the Christ.

5. 15
   Mark 15: Truly this man was the Son of God

   Mocked as King, Jesus is crucified and dies forsaken; the veil tears, and a centurion confesses Him.

6. 16
   Mark 16: He has risen; He is not here

   Early on the first day the women find the tomb empty: He has risen, and goes before them.

See the outline of Mark