Memory Verse
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Mark 1:15
Overview

The Gospel of Mark focuses on stories which reveal the life and the perspectives of Jesus. In Mark, Christ is the Servant King. Ray Stedman summarizes it this way: Christ is the servant who rules and the ruler who serves. He serves and rules by preaching, teaching, and healing. The book is fast-paced and full of action. Mark allocates much of his Gospel to the last weeks of Jesus’ life, particularly the last seven days in Jerusalem. 

Hymn: Jesus Paid It All
Sheet Music
Top 5 Facts to Remember
  1. The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four Gospel accounts.
  2. It was written primarily towards a Gentile audience.
  3. Mark primarily focuses on narratives and what Christ did during His earthly ministry.
  4. Mark portrays Christ as the Servant King, a king who rules and serves.
  5. A lot of Mark’s Gospel account records the events during the final weeks of Jesus’ life.
Theme: The Mission of Jesus Christ

In Mark, God is glorifying Himself through the mission of Jesus Christ, so that He might demonstrate His superior goodness in the salvation sinners, the damnation of the wicked, and for the preservation of His people, for His eternal glory, and their eternal joy.

Author: Mark

This is the same “John Mark” who did not go with Paul and Barnabas on a missionary journey (Acts 15:37–39).

Audience: The Gentiles

Mark uses less Hebrew terminology than Matthew, making it likely that his Gospel was aimed at a Gentile audience.

Key Verses:

“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?’ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’ ”

Mark 4:39–41

“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’ ”

Mark 8:34–37

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’ ”

Mark 10:42–45

Lessons:
  1. Repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15). 
  2. Christ is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28).
  3. Parables involving physical things are meant to teach us truths about spiritual things (Mark 4:11–12).
  4. Take up your cross and follow Christ (Mark 8:34).
  5. It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Mark 10:25).
  6. All things are possible with God (Mark 10:27).
Outline
  1. Jesus Predicts His Own Suffering (Mark 8:22–38)
  2. Jesus Begins His Ministry (Mark 1:1–13)
  3. Jesus Ministers in Galilee (Mark 1:14–6:6a)
  4. Jesus Withdraws from Galilee (Mark 6:6b-8:21)
  5. Jesus Journeys to Jerusalem (Mark 9–10)
  6. Jesus Ministers in Jerusalem (Mark 11–13)
  7. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection (Mark 14–16)
Study Questions

Chapters 1–8

What was Christ’s call to the disciples?
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17).

What did Christ do to show He had “power on earth to forgive sins”?
He healed the paralytic (Mark 2:11).

What is the unpardonable sin?
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29).

What does the seed that fell on the good ground resemble?
“Those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit” (Mark 4:20).

How did Christ heal the demon-possessed man?
He commanded the demons to come out of the man and sent them into a herd of swine (Mark 5:8–13).

How did Jesus get to the disciples’ boat while they were out at sea?
He walked on the water (Mark 6:48).

What are the sins that Christ lists that come from within?
The sins are: “evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, [and] foolishness” (Mark 7:21–22).

What did Christ say to Peter when Peter rebuked Him?
“Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Mark 8:33).

Chapters 9–16

What was Christ’s response to the question “who would be the greatest” (Mark 9:34)?
“If anyone desired to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

What was required of the rich young ruler before he could follow the Lord?
To sell all he had and give it to the poor (Mark 10:21).

What will happen to those who do not forgive?
God will not forgive them (Mark 11:26).

What did Christ say to the Pharisees when they asked Him about paying taxes to Caesar? 
“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17).

Why did Christ command His disciples to “watch” (v. 35)?
Because they “do not know when the master of the house is coming” (Mark 13:35).

What does Christ say of Judas, the man who betrayed Him?
“It would have been good for that man if he had never been born” (Mark 14:21).

What happened to the veil of the temple when Christ died?
It was “torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38).

What happened to Christ at the very end of the book of Mark?
He ascended into heaven (Mark 16:19).

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