Commentary in Simple English on the Gospel that Mark wrote

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Revised September 2006

Prayer

Our most gracious God,

We thank You for Your goodness and love;

We thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour;

We thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to Your people;

We thank You for Your Word;

May this book help us to know what it means;

May it help many in the Christian way;

May it turn no one from the truth;

For Christ's sake. Amen

John Mark

Mark grew up in Jerusalem. His full name was John Mark (Acts 12: 12). He was younger than Jesus and His disciples. Paul and Barnabas went from Antioch on their first journey. This was to preach the Good News. Mark went with them on this journey (Acts 13:5). This may be because he was a nephew of Barnabas (Colossians 4: 10). We do not know why Mark went back to Jerusalem (Acts 13: 13). Paul was not pleased. He would not take Mark on his next journey (Acts 15: 36-39).

Later Paul forgave him, and Mark was with Paul and Luke in Rome (Colossians 4: 10,14 and Philemon verse 24). He was with Peter, probably in Rome (1 Peter 5:13). This would have been just before Nero killed Peter. Then Paul wanted to see Mark again in Rome. This was just before the Romans killed Paul (2 Timothy 4:11). We know nothing about Mark's life after this.

The Gospel

More than one writer in the Early Church believed that Mark based his Gospel on what Peter preached. [1.1] Look at Mark 7: 31-37. Someone saw this and heard what happened. This was probably Peter. Mark may just be the young man in Mark 14: 51. We do not know. There is a young man again in Mark 16: 5. This also may be Mark.

How to use this book

Jesus was born, lived and died - and rose again! - in Palestine, which is in Asia. As a baby he was a refugee in Egypt, part of Africa. Those of us who come from Europe and 'the West' do not understand some Bible ideas such as 'honour' and 'shame'. Yet I hope you will find things in this book which you know in your heart are true and which you can teach and preach. But it is not this book which will do you good. It is God's Word, Mark's Gospel, which will.

The Shape of Mark's Gospel

1. The First Part: Chapter 1: 1-13

Verses

(a) Good News 1

(b) Get ready for Jesus 2-8

(c) John baptises Jesus 9-11

(d) The devil tempts Jesus 12 and 13

(Shared subject: The Wilderness)

2. The Second Part: Chapter 1:14 - Chapter 3:7- Jesus in Galilee

(a) What sort of thing did Jesus do? Chapter 1:14 and 15

(b) Following Jesus 16 - 20

(c) Jesus' Works of Power 21-45

(d) Jesus' teaching Chapter 2: 1 to Chapter 3: 5

(Shared subject: Jewish Customs)

(e) Enemies of Jesus Chapter 3:6

3.The Third Part: Chapter 3:7 - Chapter 6: 6 - Jesus in Galilee again.

(a) What sort of thing did Jesus do? Chapter 3: 7-19

(b) Following Jesus Chapter 3:20-35

(c) Jesus' teaching Chapter 4: 1-34

(Shared subject: the Kingdom of God)

(d) Works of Power Chapter 4:35 to Chapter 5:43

(Shared subject: Jesus is master of all around Him)

(e) Enemies of Jesus Chapter 6:1-6

4 The Fourth Part: Chapter 6:6 - Chapter 8:21 - Jesus in Galilee and beyond

(a) What sort of thing did Jesus do? Chapter 6:6

(b) Following Jesus - the work and the cost Chapter 6: 7-29

(Notice the two feasts by Galilee and the Dead Sea)

(c) Works of Power Chapter 6: 30-56

(d) Jesus' teaching Chapter 7:1 to Chapter 8:21

(Shared subject: be open to those who are not Jews)

5. The Fifth Part: Chapter 8: 22 - Chapter 10:52 - Christ's glory and coming sufferings

This part has a very clear shape, but it is not at all like the second, third and fourth parts.

The blind man at Bethsaida                           Chapter 8: 22-26

(A link with the last section, especially Chapter 7:31-37)

Peter says ’You are the Messiah, Christ’                           Chapter 8: 27-30

Jesus says: ‘I must suffer’ - the first time         Chapter 8: 31

Peter gets it wrong                                       Chapter 8:32 and 33

Following Jesus                                             Chapter 8:34 to Chapter 9:1

God says: ‘This is My Son’                                               Chapter 9:2-13

Jesus drives out an evil spirit                           Chapter 9:14-29

Jesus says: ‘I must suffer’ - the second time                      Chapter 9:30-32

John gets it wrong                                         Chapter 9:33-41

Teaching                                                      Chapter 9:42-50

(The end of Jesus' ministry in Galilee)

Teaching Chapter 10:1-16

(Shared subject: the family from Chapter 9: 36 to Chapter 10:14)

The cost of following Jesus                                              Chapter 10:17-31

Jesus says: ‘I must suffer’ - the third time                          Chapter 10: 32-34

James gets it wrong                                        Chapter 10:35-45

The blind man at Jericho                                  Chapter 10:46-52

6. The Sixth Part: Chapter 11:1 to Chapter 13:36-Jesus in Jerusalem

(a) What sort of thing did Jesus do?                   Chapter 11:1-26

(b) Jesus' teaching                                          Chapter 11:27 to Chapter 12:44

(c) Following Jesus - the cost                            Chapter 13:1-37

(d) Enemies - and love!                                     Chapter 14:1-11

7. The Seventh Part: Chapter 14:12 to Chapter 15:41- Jesus suffers and dies

(a) The Passover and the Lord's Supper                Chapter 14:12-26

(b) Gethsemane                                                Chapter 14 :27-52

(c) Jewish and Roman trials; Peter's failure             Chapter 14:43 to Chapter 15:15-20

(d) Jesus dies on the Cross                                 Chapter 16:21-41

8. The Eighth Part: - Chapter 15: 42 to Chapter 16:8: Jesus rises from death

(a) Jesus' body is laid to rest.                              Chapter 15:42-47

(b) Easter morning                                             Chapter 16:1-8

The longer ending: Chapter 16:9-20

 
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