BIBLE STUDY on the Gospel of Mark
Introduction

The Gospel of Mark is a joyful account of the ministry, miracles, actions, and also the sufferings of Christ Jesus. The writer was not one of the twelve apostles, but an evangelist whose name was John Mark, or John, whose surname was Mark. John was his Hebrew name, and Mark was his Gentile name (Acts 12:12,25), and was Barnabas's sister's son (Col.4:10). His mother's name was Mary (Acts 12:12).  The Apostle Peter calls him his son (1 Pet.5:13), and if he is the same, he is thought to have written his Gospel from him, and by his order, and which was
afterwards examined and approved by him. Some say it was written originally in Latin, or the Roman tongue.

The Gospel of Mark was written to prove that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ. Mark paints a remarkable image of Jesus, in a vivid succession of events. The Gospel of Mark illustrates WHO Jesus is as a Person. The ministry of the Lord Jesus is brought out in intense detail and the messages of His teaching are presented more through what He did, rather than what He said. The Gospel of Mark reveals to us, Christ Jesus the Servant.

The author of the Gospel of Mark is believed to be John Mark, who was the attendant and writer for the apostle Peter. This is the same John Mark who traveled as a helper with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13). John Mark was not one of the 12 apostles.

The date it was written was about 55-65 A.D. This was probably the first Gospel to be written, since all but 31 verses of Mark are found in the other three Gospels.

The Gospel of Mark was written to encourage the Christians in Rome as well as the widespread church.

Landscape of the Gospel of Mark: John Mark wrote the Gospel of Mark in Rome. Locations in the book include Jerusalem, Bethany, the Mount of Olives, Golgotha, Jericho, Nazareth, Capernaum and Caesarea Philippi.

Subjects in the Gospel of Mark: Mark records more of the miracles of Christ than any of the other Gospels. Jesus proves His divinity in Mark by doing miracles. There are more miracles than messages in Mark’s Gospel.

Jesus clearly shows that He means what He says and that He is who He says He is! In Mark we see Jesus, the blessed Messiah, coming as a humble Servant. He reveals WHO He is by WHAT He does. He explains His mission and His message through His actions. John Mark reveals Jesus on the move. John Mark skips the birth of Jesus, and goes right into presenting His public ministry.

The dominant and prevailing subject of the Gospel of Mark is to show that Jesus came to serve. He gave His Life in service to mankind; to us! He lived out His message by His service, and for that reason, we can follow His actions and learn by His example. The key purpose of this Book is to reveal Jesus' call to personal fellowship with Him, through our daily discipleship as we follow Him.

Key Characters in the Gospel of Mark: Jesus, the apostles, the Pharisees and religious leaders, Pilate.

Key Verses: Mark 9:35  And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. (KJV)
Mark 10:44-45 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (KJV)

Outline of the Gospel of Mark:

• The Preparation of Jesus the Servant - Mark 1:1-13
• The Message and Ministry of Jesus the Servant - Mark 1:14-13:37
• The Death and Resurrection of Jesus the Servant - Mark 14:1-16:20

To better understand the message of Mark’s Gospel, it is helpful to understand who the author is, the approximate date it was written, to whom it was written, and the major themes of the book. The content of the book can be divided into two parts: the first 8 chapters emphasize the life and ministry of Christ Jesus and the last 8 chapters emphasize His death and His resurrection.

In the first 8 chapters Jesus is mainly traveling north and preaching . . . until chapter 8. In Chapter 8, Jesus is in the city of Caesarea Philippi where He asks His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” (vs. 27). Peter replies, “Thou art the Christ”. Then all through the last 8 chapters, Jesus travels south, back to Jerusalem, and to Calvary’s Cross.

 Gospel of Mark

ch.1 . . ch.2 . . ch.3 . . ch.4 . . ch.5 . . ch.6 . . ch.7 . . ch.8 . . ch.9. . ch.10 . . ch.11 . . ch.12 . . ch.13 . . ch.14 . . ch.15 . . ch.16

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