Encyclopedia entry · the book of Mark
Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels and probably the earliest — most scholars date it around AD 65, written in Rome shortly before or during Nero's persecution. Tradition holds that Mark, a companion of both Peter and Paul, recorded Peter's eyewitness preaching. The book moves at a sprint — immediately appears more than forty times — and presents Jesus less through extended teachings (Matthew) or theological reflection (John) than through what he does.
The book is built around two questions: who is this man? (chapters 1–8) and what must he suffer? (chapters 8–16). The pivot is Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi. From that point on, Jesus is on his way to the cross. The shortest Gospel devotes a third of its space to the last week of Jesus' life.
Movements
4 arcs through the bookMovement 01
1–3
chapters
The Servant Arrives
Mark opens without genealogy or birth narrative. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Then John the Baptist in the wilderness, Jesus' baptism, forty days of temptation, and the calling of fishermen — immediately they left their nets. Within three chapters, Jesus has healed lepers and paralytics, cast out demons, called the twelve, and provoked the religious establishment enough that they begin plotting to destroy him. The pace is breathless. The conflict is set.
Movement 02
4–7
chapters
Parables and Miracles
The middle chapters interleave teaching with miracle. The parables of chapter four — the sower, the mustard seed — describe the kingdom in seeds. Then in rapid succession: Jesus stills a storm, casts a legion of demons into a herd of pigs, raises Jairus' daughter, feeds five thousand with five loaves, walks on water. Mark notes the disciples' growing puzzlement — their hearts were hardened — even as the crowds press in. The question of who Jesus is gets sharper with every miracle.
Movement 03
8–10
chapters
The Turning Point
At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks his disciples whom say ye that I am? Peter answers: Thou art the Christ. The recognition opens the second half of the Gospel, and Jesus immediately begins teaching what kind of Christ — the Son of Man who must suffer many things, and be rejected, and be killed, and after three days rise again. Three times in three chapters he predicts the cross. Three times the disciples fail to understand. The transfiguration confirms his glory; the road to Jerusalem confirms his destination.
Movement 04
11–16
chapters
The Cross and the Empty Tomb
A third of Mark's Gospel covers the last week. The triumphal entry. The cleansing of the temple. The Olivet discourse. The Last Supper — this is my body ... this is my blood of the new covenant. Gethsemane: not what I will, but what thou wilt. The trial, the cross, the cry of dereliction, the centurion's confession: Truly this man was the Son of God. Mark's resurrection narrative is brief — the women find the tomb empty and flee in fear and amazement. The longest-printed ending of Mark may not be original to him. The Servant has finished his work.
Key passages
