In the early chapters (1-8), Jesus' main work is curing people, especially by casting out demons. He tells parables that people do not understand; and when he explains the parables to his disciples they do not always understand either. There is some confusion about his identity. By the end of this period his disciples have been making guesses about him, and Peter blurts out that Jesus is the Messiah. But Jesus rebukes him for saying this. At this point the gospel shifts.  From the beginning of chapter 9 attention turns to Jerusalem and the striking events there.  All this can make Mark’s gospel hard to understand.  The questions below will guide you.  There is also a map at the bottom of this page to help with the geography of the gospel.

Scripture scholars think that Mark is the first of the 4 gospel to have been written, around 70 CE, perhaps 40 years after Jesus' death.  When Mark decided to write the first gospel he may have had a lot of material to work with and had to decide what to include and what not. The author gathered many sayings of Jesus and stories about Jesus and formed them into an explanation of who Jesus was.  The gospels according to Matthew and Luke both copy the overall structure of Mark's gospel.  The scholars think these two were written around 80 CE.  They contain more stories and information than Mark.  John's gospel is quite different from these first three.

This RG is worth 20 points, twice as much as each of the other 3.   More than one single-spaced page would be appropriate, up to two such pages.

READING GUIDE QUESTIONS: First read ALL of these questions so you know what to look for; then read Mark's gospel, marking it as you go to identify items that will address these questions. (A useful way to keep track is just to write down the chapter and verse. Later you can use this list to identify the items the questions ask for. Another way to mark the text without defacing it is to use tiny post-it notes. Just stick one next to any verse you want to keep track of.)

1.  Identify at least 3 places where Jesus tells either demons or those whom he has cured not to tell anyone about it.  Make a guess as to why Jesus would do this.

2.  The apostles are usually treated with great respect, even reverence, by Christians.  (Muslims do the same with the first supporters of the Prophet.)   Citing specific lines (i.e., quoting the lines) to justify your conclusion, explain how deserving of respect and reverence the apostles appear to be in Mark's telling of the story.

3.  You read in the book of Daniel that one who is like a Son of Man will come in the clouds with angels and with power.  Find at least two places in Mark where similar words appear.  Look for passages where at least 3 of these 4 are mentioned: 1) "clouds," 2) "power (or "glory")," 3) "angels," 4) "Son of Man."  Do not just look for what you think fits the general idea here; find passages where these exact words appear.

4.  Most people have not read the Gospel of Mark all the way through.  People tend to hear just bits and pieces of it.  Now that you have read it all, what is most surprising to you about any of its content that is not covered by the first 3 questions here?

"Decapolis" is a Greek
 name for a district with
10 [deca] cities [poloi],
predominantly Greek in
culture.  For 250 years
after Alexander, this area
was part of greater
Syria, ruled by a
descendent of one of
Alexander's generals. 
[The Romans took over
this territory ca. 63 BCE,
but it remained largely
Hellenistic (Greek) in
culture.]
As a result Jesus grew
up as a Jew living
close to Hellenistic
centers of culture.