THE LIVING WORD OF GOD THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE - Chennai presents:
(Affiliated to American Theological University)
LWGTC 501 : THE NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY
LESSON TWO : THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST : THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST.MARK

I. OUTLINE:

1.Preparation for Jesus Ministry(1{1-13)

1. The Ministry of John the Baptist(1:1-8)
2. The Baptism of Jesus Christ(1:9-11)
3. The Temptation of Jesus(1:12-13)

2. Early Galilean Ministry(1:14-3:6)

1. The First Four Disciples(1:14-20)
2. A Sabbath in Capernaum (1:21-34)
3. First Preaching Tour(1;35-45)
4. Conflicts with Pharisees(2:1-3:6)

3. Later Galilean Ministry (3:7-7:23)

1. Withdrawal to the Seaside(3:7-12)
2. Appointment of the Twelve Disciples(3:13-19)
3. Friends and Foes(3:20-35)
4. Teaching in Parables (4:1-34)
5. Jesus at Nazareth( 6:1-6)
6. The Mission of the 12(6:7-13)
7. Herod and John the Baptist(6:14-29)
8. Miracles and Teaching around the Sea of Galilee(6:30-56)
9. Conflict with the Tradition(7:1-23)

4. Ministry beyond Galilee(7:24-9:29)

1. The Gentile’s Healings(7:24-37)
2. More Miracles(8:1-26)
3. The Cesarea Philippi Episode(8:27-9:1)
4. The Transfiguration(9:2-29)

5. The Road Toward Jerusalem(9:30-10:52)

1. En Route Toward Galilee(9:30-50)
2. Ministry in Perea (10:1-52)

6. Passion Week (11:1-15:47)

1. Sunday: Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem (11:1-11)
2. Monday:
   1. Cursing the Fig Tree (11:12-14)
   2. Cleansing the Temple (11:15-19)
3. Tuesday:
   1. Faith and Fear (11:20-33)
   2. Parable and Controversy (12:1-44)
   3. The Olivet Discourse (13:1-37)
   4. The Anointing at Bethany (14:1-11)
4. Thursday: The Last Supper (14:12-25)
5. Friday:
   1. Jesus in Gethsemane (14:26-52)
   2. The Jewish Trial (14:53-72)
   3. The Roman Trial (15:1-20)
   4. The Crucifixion and Burial (15:21-47)
6. The Resurrection (16:1-20)
   1. The Resurrection Discovery (16:1-8)
   2. Post Resurrection Appearances (16:7-18)
   3. Ascension and Apostolic Mission (16:19-20)

II. AUTHOR:

• According to Acts 11:12, Mark’s Mother Mary had a large house that was used as a meeting place for believers in Jerusalem.
• Peter apparently went to this house often because the servant girl recognized his voice at the gate (Acts 12:13-16).
• Barnabas Mark’s cousin (Colo. 4:10)
• Peter was the Person who led Mark to Christ. Peter called him, “Mark my son” 1. Pet.5:13
• Mark Gospel has Apostolic Authority, because Peter was evidently Mark’s source of information.
• Mark referred himself in his account of “ a certain young man” in Gethsemane (14:51,52) This incident may have been a firsthand account.
• Mark travelled with Barnabas and Saul in their first Missionary Journey. Acts 12:25; 13:5; 13:13
• Mark was with Paul during his first imprisonment, Colo.4:10; Phile.24
• Paul said, “Mark is useful to me for ministry” (2.Tim.4:11).

III. THEME:

IV. DATE OF WRITING:

• Mark was the first of the four Gospels.
• Mark was evidently directed to a Roman readership and early tradition indicates that it was originated in Rome.
• Mark interpreted Aramaic words (3:17;5:41;7:34;15:22) and used a number of Latin terms in place of their Greek equivalents (4:21;6:27;12:14,42;15;15,16,39).

V. BACKGROUND:

• Among the four Gospels, Mark is the most concise account of “ the beginning of the Gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God”(1:1).
• John Mark was responsible for writing this Gospel.
• This Man Mark grew up in Jerusalem, and was among the first generation Christians (Acts 12:12).
• Mark derived the content of his gospel from his association with Apostle Peter, wrote it in Rome and designed it for Roman believers.
• The Gospel would have been the first of the four Gospels to be written.

VI.PURPOSE:

1. In the 60s of the first century, the populace treated believers in Rome cruelly, and many were tortured and put to death by the Roman emperor Nero.
2. According to tradition, among the Christian Martyrs in Rome during this decade were the Apostles Peter and Paul.
3. As one of the Church leaders in Rome, John Mark was moved by the Holy Spirit to write this Gospel as a prophetical anticipation of, or a pastoral response to, this time of persecution.
4. His intentions was to strengthen the foundations of faith in Roman believers and if need be, to inspire them to suffer faithfully for the gospel, placing before them the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

VII.SURVEY:

In a fast moving narrative, Mark presents Jesus as the Son of God and the SUFFERING SERVANT Messiah. The watershed of the Book s the episode in cesarean Philippi, followed by the transfiguration(8:27-9:10)

Chapters 5-25 record Five major discourses

• The first half of Mark focused primarily both on Jesus mighty miracles and on His authority over sickness and demons as signs that God’s kingdom is at hand.
• At Caesarea Philippi, however Jesus tells His Disciples, openly that He must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the Chief Priests, and scribes, and be killed and after three days rise again (8:31).
• There are numerous references throughout Mark to suffering as the cost of discipleship (e.g.3:21-22;30;8:34-38;10:30;33-34,45;13:8;11-13).
• God’s vindication,however will follow righteous suffering, as demonstrated in Jesus’ resurrection.

VIII. KEYS TO MATTHEW:

• Key word: Jesus the Servant
  Jesus is portrayed in this Gospel as Servant and Redeemer of man (cf. Phili.2:5-12), Mk.10:45.
  • There are 18 miracles in this Book. They demonstrate the power and compassion of Christ.
  • Mark shows his gentile readers how the Son of God- rejected by His own people- achieved ultimate victory through apparent defeat.
• Key verses: Mark 10:43-45 and 8: 34-37
• Key Chapter: Mark 8
  Mark’s Gospel contains a pivotal chapter showing the change of emphases in Jesus Ministry. It lies in Peter’s Confession: “ Jesus is the Christ, The Son of God”. In Jerusalem, the perfect Servant Demonstrated the full extent of His servant hood.

IX. SPECIAL FEATURES:

Four major features characterize Mark’s Gospel:

• It is a Gospel of action, emphasizes what Jesus did rather than what He said( Mark records 18 miracles but only four parables, not inclusing parabolic statements).
• It is distinctively is Gospel for the Romans- explaining Jewish Chrisstians, omitting all Jewish Genealogies and both narratives, translated Aramaic words and using Latin terms.
• It is a Gospel that begins abrubtly and proceeds rapidly from one episode to another with the frequent use of the Greek advent for “immediately”(42 times).
• It is a Gospel of vividness, describing the extents of Jesus life succinctly, vividly and with the picturesque skill of a literary artist.

10. READING MATTHEW:

The Book of Mark should be read in four days, according to the following schedule:
+1-4
+5-8
+9-12
+13-16

Memory Verses:

Review Questions:

1. Write the following Bible verses from your memory:
   • Mark 2:5
   • Mark 5:34
   • Mark 10:45
   • Mark 11:24
   • Mark 16:15
2. What are the five events which happened during the Passion week?
3. Write a note on “ John Mark” ( Who is John Mark?)
4. What are the keys to Mark’s Gospel? Key word; Key verses; Key Chapter
5. What are the special features of Mark’s Gospel?

Assignment No.2.

Write answers for the above Questions by your own handwriting and send it to me by regular mail through post, and I shall correct and send back to you after awarding Grade. You have to complete another 19 lessons( total 21 lessons) to complete your New Testament Survey Course.

There are 12 such courses to get your M.A. Degree in Biblical Studies!

Rev. C. Peter Chandran Ph.D.,
First Floor, Ravi Electronics, East Jones Road, Saidapet, Chennai- 600 015.Tamilnadu. India.

Cell: +91-9445113726
Email: peterchandran@hotmail.com
Website: www.thelivinggodministries.org

 

Mark 1:35		* Mark 9:7
Mark 2:5		* Mark 10:45
Mark 3:35		* Mark 11:22-24
Mark 5:34		* Mark 12:29-31
Mark 7:21-23		* Mark 16:15

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