St Mark

The Gospel of Mark is the second of the four canonical gospels and one of the three synoptic Gospels. It tells the story of Jesus' ministry, from His baptism by John the Baptist to His death, burial, and the discovery of His empty tomb. Here are some key points about the book of Mark:

1. Authorship and Key Personalities:    - Written by John Mark, who accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their mission trips.

   - Key personalities include Jesus Christ, His Twelve Disciples, Jewish religious leaders, Pilate, and John the Baptist.

2. Emphasis on Miracles and Servanthood:     - Mark emphasizes miracles, recording 27 of them (more than any other Gospel).

   - The key word in Mark is "Immediately," used 34 times, creating a rapid narrative pace.

   - The Gospel highlights Jesus as a Servant, teaching, healing, and showing compassion.

   - It shares 21 miracles, including 2 unique to Mark's account.

3. Structure:     - The 16 chapters can be divided into two parts:

     - Chapters 1-8: Jesus travels north, preaches, and selects His disciples.

     - Chapters 9-16: Jesus travels south, back to Jerusalem, ultimately to the Cross.

   - The final chapters focus on Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension.

In summary, the Gospel of Mark portrays Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God who came to serve, suffer, and rescue humanity. 

Scripture Reading