The Gospel
according to
Mark
Major Themes in the Text
Jesus as the Son of God
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Authoritative
Opposed
Misunderstood
Acknowledged
Suffering
Crucified
Vindicated
Recall the Greco-Roman Biography
• 4 major characteristics
of Greco-Roman
biography:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Usually based on
written/oral sources
Less concerned with
relating historical events
Little/no character
development
They often portrayed
the character of the
main figure at the
outset of the narrative
Jesus’ use of Parables in Mark
• Parable: a story that
makes a theological
point through the use
of metaphors.
• Jesus speaks in parables
extensively throughout
the Gospels in order to
illustrate important
truths (about the
Kingdom of God).
Jesus’ use of Parables in Mark
• Interestingly, MOST of
those who hear Jesus’
words don’t understand
what they mean.
• Purpose of the Parables
(4:10-20)
• Parable of the Mustard
Seed (4:30-34)
Jesus as “Opposed” Son of God
• Jesus becomes hated and opposed by the
religious leaders of his people, HOWEVER…
• Mark does not portray Jesus as standing in
opposition to the religion of Judaism.
• Jesus is the Son of the JEWISH God (Yahweh),
who comes in fulfillment of the JEWISH
scriptures and is preceded by a JEWISH
prophet (John the Baptist).
So why did they oppose Jesus?
• Throughout the Gospel,
Mark maintains that Jesus
is faithful to the Jewish
Law (1:40-44).
• They are gravely offended
by what Jesus says and
does (he challenges
convention):
1.
2.
Jesus refused to follow
traditional practices of
purity (2:15-17)
Jesus puts human needs
above the Sabbath (2:2336)
Definition of Terminology (p. 71)
1. Jewish Scribes: the literary elite; those who studied
sacred scripture (most Jews were not well-educated).
2. Pharisees: Jews who were strongly committed to
maintaining the purity laws in the Torah. They developed
a set of carefully designed laws. They are the main “bad
guys” in the Jesus story.
3. Sadducees: Jews of the upper class, who were closely
associated with the Temple. They mostly made up the…
4. Sanhedrin: who were the council of priests that advised
the high priest of the Temple.
5. Chief Priests: the upper classes of the Jewish priesthood
who operated the Temple and oversaw its sacrifices. The
leader of the Chief Priests was the…
6. High Priest: who was the ultimate authority over civil and
religious affairs when there was no king in Judea.
Development of Opposition
1. The religious leaders
question Jesus’ actions
(2:7)
2. They take offense at his
associations (2:16)
3. They take offense at his
activities (2:18)
4. They protest the actions
of his followers (2:24)
5. They decide to find a
way to kill him (3:6)
3. Jesus as “Misunderstood” Son of God
• Nobody else recognizes
Jesus’ identity.
1. Not his own family
(3:21)
2. Not his own
townspeople (6:1-6)
3. NOT EVEN HIS OWN
DISCIPLES (4:41; 6:5152; 8:21)
The Plot of Mark’s Gospel
“Do you not understand?” (Mark 8:21)
4. Jesus as “Acknowledged” Son of God
• “Who do people say
that I am?” (8:27)
• “Who do you say that I
am?” (8:29)
• Peter’s response? “You
are the Christ” (8:29)
• FINALLY! Somebody
understands Jesus!
4. Jesus as “Acknowledged” Son of God
• Peter sees who Jesus is,
but he still is unable to
see the entire picture.
• Prediction of the
Passion (8:31-33)
• Peter’s understanding
of the role of the
Messiah is VERY
different from Jesus’
understanding…
“Messiah”: Typical/Traditional
understanding vs. Mark’s understanding
TYPICAL UNDERSTANDING
• The future deliverer of
Israel
• A man of grandeur and
power who will usher in
God’s kingdom in a mighty
way
MARK’S UNDERSTANDING
• Jesus is the Messiah who
must suffer and die in
order to bring salvation
for the world (8:31-33)
Presumably, Peter uses the term “Messiah” in the more
traditional sense, the way other Jews in the first-century
would have; that is why Peter rebukes Jesus (Mark 8:32)
The Messianic Secret
• “Then he warned them
not to tell anyone about
him” (8:30)
• Jesus is the Messiah –
the Son of God – and
yet he wants his
identity to remain a
secret (1:34; 1:43;
5:43).
5. Jesus as “Suffering” Son of God
• Jesus will have to die
(2:20; 3:6)
• After Peter’s confession,
Jesus begins to talk about
it in more explicit terms.
• Jesus predicts his own
death three separate
times (8:31; 9:30-31;
10:33-34)
• In all accounts, Jesus also
emphasizes that following
Christ means suffering,
death and persecution
(8:34-38; 9:33-37; 10:45)
5. Jesus as “Suffering” Son of God
• Jesus confesses to his
identity as the Son of
God to the high priest
(14:61-62).
• The Sanhedrin charge
him with blasphemy.
• Blasphemy is not
claiming to be the
Messiah, it is claiming to
be Divine!
6. Jesus as “Crucified” Son of God
• Mark’s narrative makes it clear that none of
Jesus’ disciples ever come to understand who
he is.
• The author provides two accounts that remind
us of the importance:
1. The veil in the Temple is torn in half (15:38).
2. The Roman centurion confesses Jesus to be the Son
of God (15:39).
The Torn Veil of the Temple
Why is the account of the
torn veil significant?
• The most sacred part of
the temple was the Holy
of Holies, which was
where God was believed
to dwell. It was covered
by the veil.
• The torn veil signifies, for
Mark, that God is no
longer removed FROM
the people; His presence
is available to everyone
(in Christ).
The Confession of the Roman Centurion
Why is the confession
significant?
• The first person to recognize
Jesus’ true identity is the
Roman guard who presided
over his crucifixion.
• The Roman guard is a pagan
soldier, who was not a
follower of Jesus.
• Jesus brings salvation to the
world, not simply his own
people. Jesus’ message will
be adopted by Gentiles
(non-Jews) like the soldier.