Understanding The Gospel of Mark: Key Themes and Teachings

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Exploring the Gospel of Mark reveals major themes like discipleship, Christology, and the Kingdom of God. Mark's account focuses on the teachings and authority of Jesus, challenging traditional beliefs and calling for total obedience. The Gospel unfolds through narratives of Jesus's actions, interactions with religious authorities, and the call to discipleship exemplified by the first followers. This profound text invites reflection on the nature of Jesus, the Kingdom of God, and the purpose of following Him.

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The Gospel of Mark -Discipleship

WeekOne We Learned Mark is Major Themes Peter s Gospel and the shortest Gospel Christology - Who is Jesus? written for persecuted Christians in Rome Mission What is the Kingdom of God? full of stories common to the other Gospels, but Discipleship What does it mean to follow Jesus? dynamic and action-focused Atonement What is the Pascal Mystery about? a blend of Jesus humanity and divinity Eschatology What happens at the end? focused on who Jesus is and why He is here

Jesus taught with authority Jesus taught with authority a new teaching a new teaching He healed and cast out demons as a sign Religious and secular authorities saw Him as a threat Pharisees practiced a strict Judaism, looked for a Messiah to overthrow Rome Sadducees practiced a liberal Judaism, didn t believe in anything but the Torah Scribes were intellectuals, focused on learning and ignored the heart Herodians wanted to maintain the status quo, especially with Rome Romans wanted to stop rebellion Week Two

The Unexpected Messiah [1:15] This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. What is the Kingdom of God? The experienced authority and reign of God God s dominion is accepted and loved in the human heart - Thy will be done Obedience to Jesus in totality Freedom in following Christ Purity & Service First shall be last, last shall be first. Jesus reveals this over the course of the whole Gospel detailing to the apostles The Sower [4:1-20] Put your light on a lampstand [4:21-25] The seed sprouts and grows [4:26-29] The mustard seed [4:30-34] - The culmination is the Pascal Mystery-

The First Call 1:16-20 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will send you out to fish for people. At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

1:16-20 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will send you out to fish for people. At once they left their nets and followed him. The First Call Mark emphasizes movement Jesus went , came , entered , left He sees Simon and Andrew, James and John - They are found in a real world, as a family relationship, their social status, their professions The glance becomes a call Come, follow me follow me Jesus takes initiative, unlike typical rabbis When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. and I will send you out to fish for people. [Jer 16:14-16] The Gathering of Nations Jesus does not try to convince them, but He calls without delay

1:16-20 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will send you out to fish for people. At once they left their nets and followed him. The Response? Prompt and radical response, no questions asked It builds with James and John, complete abandonment of work and family Why? When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. They are reacting to the irresistible presence of God We begin to see what discipleship means: -The priority of Jesus claim over your heart, even more than family -Disciples are not called to learn something but to follow someone -The answer is to leave everything and follow Jesus. -It is a free decision, the end of a lifestyle now belonging to the past. -Belonging to a new community The community destined to become The Church is beginning

The Call of Levi 2:13-17 Once again he went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, Follow me. And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? Jesus heard this and said to them [that], Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.

2:13-17 Once again he went out along the sea along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, Follow me. And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who for there were many who followed him followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? Jesus heard this and said to them [that], Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. The Call of Levi Very similar to the call of the first four disciples By the sea Levi was working Jesus doesn t say much, just Follow me Levi s response was the same- immediate, complete abandonment In Jewish culture, a meal often solidified a relationship [Gen 26:30; 31:54; 1 Sam9:24] -it also hearkens back to the Messianic banquet [Isa 25:6; 55:1-2] Many responded to His call - for there were many who followed him. Jesus response to His critics is telling physician/healing our sickness --- sin [Jer 3:22] - Return, rebellious children! I will heal your rebellions. [Hosea 14:5] - I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from them.

The Twelve 3:13-19 He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed twelve [whom he also named apostles] that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: [he appointed the twelve:] Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

3:13-19 He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed twelve [whom he also named apostles] that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: [he appointed the twelve:] Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. The Twelve He went up the mountain Remind you of someone? [Exodus 19:3] God gave the law to Moses, the 12 tribes became His chosen people A place of isolation from people deep prayer, closeness to God Mountains are places where Jesus reigns Calvary He calls and summons those whom HE chose He calls, appoints with authority This is different from the first call which was a universal call, now we see a deeper call he also named apostles (Greek apostolos) means one sent out , authorized envoy -Two purposes - that they might be with him and he might send them forth - He makes them his companions and messengers with full power

3:13-19 He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed twelve [whom he also named apostles] that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: [he appointed the twelve:] Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. The Twelve that they might be with him - Communion with Jesus is the heart of their authority and collegiality - A new bond is established with Christ at the center - The source of discipleship is relationship with Jesus - Lifelong learning they return often to be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons - They participate in the establishment of the kingdom of God - Heralds of the Gospel, with the authority of Jesus - They don t understand completely until Jesus resurrection and ascension What a motley crew, but they are called the response is dependent on human freedom, thus making failure possible

Names and Changing Names In the OT, a new name is a divine divine act - indicates a change in destiny, a call to play a role in God s plan for salvation Abram -> Abraham Peter is always mentioned first in the lists signifies his role as chief/spokesman Simon, whom he named Peter Jesus called the two sons of Zebedee the sons of thunder Those three apostles (and more rarely Andrew [1:29, 13:3]) become Jesus inner circle Peter leads the universal church James leads the church in Jerusalem John, whom Jesus entrusts His mother, deeply theological Gospel The three disciples are trained to perceive the mystery of the person of Jesus and his divinity, they need to be able to understand the path to the cross to teach to their future Christian community.

Authority for The Mission [6:7-13; 30-31] He summoned the Twelveand began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them. So they went off and preached repentance. They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.

[6:7-13; 30-31] He summoned the Twelveand began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them. So they went off and preached repentance. They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. Authority for The Mission After following Him for some time, they must go out Take nothing but a walking stick a symbol of authority [Exod 4:20; Mic 7:14] their clothes/shoes nothing to carry provisions Rely only on God s providence, a witness to the message Focus on the mission, God will provide the rest Their need will call others into community through charity Work because it s true, not to make a profit He began to send them out not all at once, as they were ready They had His authority, performed the same signs Upon their return Come away ..

Not-Awesome Discipleship [4:35-41] -- Lacking faith, even after witnessing so many miracles [6:52; 8:14-21; 16:14] -- hardness of heart [9:33-37; 10:35-37] -- Jockeying for position - who is the greatest , sit at your right and your left [16:11; 16:13-14] -- they did not believe These do not even include their failures leading up to and during the Pascal Mystery

Misunderstanding The Messiah Once Jesus established His identity Who do you say that I am? He focuses on His destiny [8:31 8:31- -33 33; 9:30-32; 10:32-34] He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do. Israel was not expecting a suffering Messiah, even in light of the prophecies [Isa 53; Dan 9:26] Get behind me a strong rebuke, and a reminder to follow

The Cost of Discipleship [8:34-38] He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father s glory with the holy angels. He summoned the crowd All are invited to be disciples, so all must understand The conditions: Whoever wishes - Free choice Deny himself abandon yourself entirely to God Must follow Jesus to the cross there is suffering, you re not alone Jesus asks His followers for complete devotion to Himself The amazing reward - life!!

Discussion How do we serve God in both activity and rest? Does the world misunderstand discipleship? Discuss the challenges of discipleship in our time. How do we witness to the Kingdom of God today?