An introduction and outline to the New Testament and Mark's gospel who is a disciple of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel according to John Mark, a disciple of Jesus Christ was written in the 50's A.D. John Mark was the son of a wealthy woman named Mary. The Gospel of Mark records more of the miracles of Jesus than of the discourses of Jesus. The Gospel of Mark is closely related to the Gospel of Matthew telling many of the same things. Although the two Gospels are similar, we garner extra information from these same events due to the point of view in which Mark wrote.
Mark wrote the Gospel for the Gentiles and Romans. The Sermon on the Mount is not included in Mark. The condemnations of the Jewish factions that received great exposure in Matthew are only briefly mentioned. Mark also used Aramaic words and Latin words that are not found in the other Gospels.
The Gospel of Mark uses fewer references from the Old Testament then the Gospel of Matthew and Luke. Mark uses approximately 60 references to the Old Testament, Luke uses around 100, and Matthew uses around 130 references to the Old Testament. Mark's Gospel also lends more attention to what Jesus did instead of what He said. Mark's Gospel is a book full of action. The word immediately or reference to something happening instantly occurs over 40 times in the Gospel of Mark
The focus of the Gospel of Mark centers on Christ the Servant. The key to Mark is found in Mark 10:45: "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." The Gospel of Mark has three major divisions:
1. The service of the Servant
2. The sacrifice of the Servant
3. The victory of the Servant
An outline to the Gospel of Mark:
I. The service of Christ the Servant 1:1 - 10:52
A. The groundwork of the Christ 1:1-20
1. John the Baptist
2. Christ's baptism
3. The temptation of Christ
4. Christ preaches the Gospel
B. The Power of the Christ 1:21 - 3:12
1. His power over demons
2. His power over disease
3. His power over leprosy
4. His power over paralysis
5. His power over a publican
6. His power over old religion
7. His power over the Sabbath
8. His power over deformity
C. The followers of Christ 3:13 - 35
1. The appointment of the twelve disciples
a. Simon Peter
b. James, son of Zebedee
c. John, brother of James (Christ called them Boanerges, which means, "˜Sons of Thunder.')
d. Andrew
e. Philip
f. Bartholomew
g. Matthew
h. Thomas
i. James, the son of Alphaeus
j. Thaddaeus
k. Simon the Zealot
l. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him
2. The condemnation of the scribes
3. The Spiritual family of Christ, Christ says those that do the will of God are His family
D. The parables of Christ 4:1 - 34
1. The parable of the sower
2. The parable of the lamp
3. The parable of the kingdom of God
4. The parable of the mustard seed
E. His Power 4:35 - 9:1
1. His power over storms
2. His power over demons
3. His power over death and sickness
4. His rejection by His own people, unable to do things in His own home town
5. His power over the twelve
6. His power concerning Herod
7. His feeding of the 5000
8. His ability to walk on water
9. His power over the traditions of the Pharisee's
10. His power over the Syrophoenician woman
11. His power over a deaf mute
12. He feeds 4000
13. He condemns the Pharisees
14. He teaches about the leaven
15. His power over Peter and the lives of the disciples
F. Christ's transfiguration and telling of His glory and what is to come 9:2-50
1. The glory of Christ
2. The death of Christ
3. The rewards of following Christ
4. The causes of hell
G. Christ preaches in Perea 10:1-52
1. Christ preaches on divorce
2. Christ preaches concerning children
3. Christ preaches on eternal life
4. Christ preaches on His death and resurrection
5. Christ preaches on greatness
6. The healing of blind Bartimaeus
II. The Sacrifice of the Servant (His Crucifixion) 11:1 - 15:47
A. His arrival at Jerusalem 11:1-11
B. The cursing of the Fig Tree 11:12-14
C. The cleansing of the Temple 11:15-19
D. His teaching 11:20 - 13:37
1. About faith
2. About His authority
3. About the Jewish nation
4. About taxes
5. About the resurrection
6. About the greatest commandment of all
7. About His Holiness
8. About haughtiness
9. About giving
10. About the future, of things to come
E. The feast of the Passover, Mary anoints Him with oil, Judas arranges to betray Him 14:1-11
F. The Last Supper and the betrayal 14:12-52
1. The Last Supper is prepared
2. They partake of the Supper
3. Christ introduces the bread and wine as His blood and body
4. The walk to Gethsemane and the prayer at Gethsemane
5. Judas betrays Christ
G. The trial and Crucifixion 14:53 - 15:47
1. Christ brought before Caiaphas, the high priest
2. Peter's denial of Christ
3. Christ brought before Pilate
4. Christ is abused by the Praetorium soldiers
5. Christ is crucified
6. His death and burial
III. The Victory of the Servant (His Resurrection) 16:1-20
A. Christ's resurrection from the tomb
B. He appears before Mary and others
(It must be noted that many theologians do not consider verses 9 to 20 as a part of the book of Mark since they do not appear or have reference made to them in two of the most valid books of the New Testament. These verses are part of other manuscripts though. It is believed that the closing verses of chapter 16 were lost after verse 8. This is only speculation, the fact that they were included would lend one to believe them to be inspired.)
C. Christ ascends to heaven
Resources:
KJV Holy Bible
NIV Holy Bible, Thompson Chain Study Reference
New Jerusalem Bible
Matthew Henry Commentary
Darby Commentary
RSV Holy Bible
Barclay's Commentary
