Mark’s Gospel was the first written and many of the stories in Mark are repeated in Matthew and Luke.  These are called the Synoptic Gospels, gospels seen through the same eye.  However, Matthew changes some of Mark and Luke makes considerable changes.  Each of the gospels is written for a specific audience at a certain time in history.  Each gospel is written to people with different concerns and so the gospels vary.

Some people might be concerned about finding all the stories about Jesus as they happened in the time of Jesus.  However, nothing was written at the time of Jesus and most of the things that happened in the short time that Jesus walked the earth were told orally for many years.  Only a few things were put into writing—for instance, a scroll containing some of the miracles or a scroll with a sketch of the passion story. 

Actually, Mark is the first gospel written and that wasn’t until about 65 A.D., some 30 years after Jesus’ resurrection.  The Gospel was written for that community and not just to tell the story of Jesus as it was lived.  So, in order to understand Mark’s Gospel, you need to reflect upon the concerns of the writer Mark at the time he wrote. 

65 A.D. was a time of tension for the Jewish nation and for Christians, many of whom had deep Jewish family roots.  The Romans were flexing their power and were threatening the destruction of the Temple—the place of God’s presence among the Covenant people.  Mark writes a short account in a hurry—using “immediately” to show the time of tension and distress.  You could easily sit down and read through Mark’s Gospel in about ½ hour.

Mark also writes an account that shows how difficult it is to follow Jesus in a time of distress.  He shows both understanding and misunderstanding of Jesus but sometimes these seem backwards to us.  For instance, the demons understand Jesus when they say, “I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24).  On the other hand, the relatives of Jesus say that Jesus is “out of his mind” (Mark 3:21) and, after Peter proclaims Jesus as the Messiah (Mark 8:29), Jesus rebuke Peter, saying, “Get behind me, Satan” (Mark 8:33).  Mark even has the women who find the empty tomb running away because “they were afraid” (Mark 16:8), the ending of the gospel in its earliest sources.

This can only be a gospel written as a paradox, the writer Mark telling a story of despair in order to encourage a community to follow Jesus no matter what happens.  We are not to be followers who run away afraid but we are to boldly tell the gospel, the good news, even in times of stress.  Mark shows us how to live with conviction when he starts with, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Mark 1:1).  This is the conviction we are called to have in the face of stress.

Questions for Reflection—Gospel of Mark

1. Go through Mark’s Gospel and find others who misunderstand Jesus.  What do you learn from those who misunderstood Jesus?  How does this help you be more resolute in following Jesus?

2. Find other passages than the one mentioned above where demons understand Jesus.  Why do you think Mark has them understand?  What does this teach you?

3. Read Mark 1:15 and ask yourself what would be the “time of fulfillment” if that question was being asked today?

4. One Markan technique is to “sandwich” one story in the middle of another.  Read Mark 5:21-43 and ask yourself, “what do these stories have in common and how do the responses of faith help you with your journey of faith?”

5. The two “bread” passages (Mark 6:34-44, 7:1-10) happen on the Jewish side of the lake and then on the Gentile side.  What do you think Mark is trying to tell his community about inclusiveness?  How does that help you be open to others?

6. There are three predictions of the passion in chapters 8-10 (Mark 8:31-33; 9:30-32; 10:32-34).  Each one is followed by teachings about being a true disciple.  How do the teachings on discipleship relate to the passion predictions?  How do these stories on discipleship teach you to live as a disciple of Jesus?

7. Mark 8:22-26 and Mark 10:46-52 are stories of blind men being healed.  They are sandwiched around the above passion predictions.  What is Mark trying to teach his community about “seeing” from these two stories?  What do the stories in between the blind men passages teach you about “seeing”?

8. In Mark 11:12-26, there is another “sandwiching”, this time of a fig tree and the cleansing of the temple.  What might Mark be trying to teach his community by sandwiching these stories together?  What do these passages teach you about faith?

9. The story of the woman who anoints Jesus (Mark 14:3-9) begins Mark’s account of the passion (Mark 14-15).  What does Mark want to teach by putting this anointing at the beginning of the passion story?  Have you ever remembered her for what she did?  How?  If not, why not?

10. The original ending of Mark’s Gospel has women run away in fear (Mark 16:8).  Read this passage and follow it by reading Mark 1:1.  What might this tell you about Mark’s purpose for ending his gospel in this way?

Summary and Reflection Questions offered by
Dorothy Jonaitis, OP, DMin
Dominican Sister Dorothy Jonaitis is assistant professor of biblical studies for the Catholic Biblical School at the University of Dallas School of Ministry.  She has 17 years experience of teaching Bible study to adults using The Catholic Biblical School Program published by Paulist Press.  There are over 600 adults studying the Bible in both the Dallas/Fort Worth area and online.  Check out this program at www.udallas.edu/ministry.  Sister Dorothy is also the author of Unmasking Apocalyptic Texts: A Guide for Teaching and Preaching and has given workshops on apocalyptic literature in many areas of the country.  She has been a speaker at the LA Religious Education Congress and for other diocesan conferences and welcomes invitations to speak.