Mark - The Love of Jesus, the Ransom for Many, the Suffering Servant - 41st Book in the Bible

Mark, ESV Version, Dramatized

ABOUT

Mark is the story of what Jesus did for us. The author, John Mark, wrote this book based on the apostle Peter’s memories of Jesus’ words and deeds.

Mark is the second Gospel (an account of Jesus’ life and ministry) in the New Testament. Like the other Gospels, Mark records Jesus’ life: His miracles, betrayal, death, resurrection, and commission. However, Mark’s Gospel is very brief (nearly half as long as Luke) and focuses more on things Jesus did than things Jesus said. Mark’s stories are not arranged chronologically; instead they’re put together to give us a quick, accurate view of Jesus.

This Gospel emphasizes two important characteristics of Jesus Christ:

His authority as the Son of God
His compassionate service to people (particularly in miracles)

As you read Mark, you’ll see the word “immediately” repeated often: Mark is a quick, urgent, bold message about who Jesus is and what He did.

Theme verse of Mark

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:45)

Why Mark was written

Mark opens with a quick overview of what the book is about: “the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk 1:1). Every passage in Mark, every miracle, every conversation, every deed, points back to Jesus’ authority as the Son of God.

Mark is a brief synopsis of Jesus, and could have been meant for reading in one sitting—or aloud to an audience. It’s an exciting account of the Son of God that could speak to the Jews and the non-Jews of Mark’s day.

Quick outline of Mark

Jesus announces the kingdom (Mk 1:1–8:21)
- Jesus is the new king (1:1–3:6)
- Jesus starts a new kingdom (3:7–6:6)
- Jesus sets up a new order (6:7–8:21)
Jesus predicts his death to the disciples three times (Mk 8:14–10:52)
- Jesus heals a blind man (8:22–26)
- First prediction cycle (8:27–9:29)
- Second prediction (9:30–10:31)
- Third prediction cycle (10:32–10:45)
- Jesus heals another blind man (10:46–52)
Jesus: the suffering servant (Mk 11–15)
- Jesus enters Jerusalem as king and lawgiver (11–12)
- Jesus predicts the fall of Jerusalem (13)
- Jesus suffers (14–15)
- Jesus’ resurrection (Mk 16:1–8)
- [Possibly added endings of the disciples’ response]