BIBLE STUDY -- NEW TESTAMENT GOSPELS

GOSPEL OF MARK – PART 2

YESHUA’ AUTHORITY AND THE PHARISEES’ ENMITY {1:14–3:6}

Immediately after the introductory portion {1:1-13}, which describes John the Baptist’s ministry as well as Yeshua’ baptism and temptation, Mark opens the body of the work with a summary statement {verses 14-15}. In these two verses he seems to suggest that Yeshua’ public ministry, characterized by the proclamation that YHVH’s Kingdom is about to be inaugurated, was occasioned by John’s imprisonment. This is followed by the call of the first disciples {verses 16-20} and then by a complex of stories {verses 21-38}, all of which report incidents that took place in Capernaum, apparently within a 24-hour period: synagogue instruction followed by the healing of a demoniac; the healing of Peter’s mother-in-Law; numerous other healings in the evening; prayer in a lonely place. The statement that Yeshua proceeded to expand His ministry throughout the province of Galilee {verse 39} is followed by the story of a leper’s cure {verses 40-45}. Next are found a very important group of incidents {2:1–3:6}, all of them focusing on Yeshua’ conflicts with Jewish leaders: the healing and forgiveness of a paralytic; the call of Levi, whose dinner {attended by Yeshua as well as by the hated tax gatherers} occasioned some disputes, particularly on the issue of fasting; and two significant stories regarding proper behaviour on the Shabbat.

THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSE {3:7–6:6A}

Mark opens this second section as he opened the first: a summary statement {Yeshua’ healings by the lake -- 3:7-12} followed by the official appointment of 12 apostles {verses 13-19}. Then follows a section that focuses on the kinds of charges brought against Yeshua by His own family and by the scribes {verses 20-22}, leading to a response touching on Satan, on blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and on what constitutes true membership in His family {verses 23-35}. Most of chapter 4 is devoted to Yeshua’ parables of the kingdom -- the sower, the seed growing secretly, the mustard seed -- and includes statements on the nature and purpose of his teachings {4:10-12, 21-25, 33-34}. In the evening Yeshua and His disciples set out to cross the Sea of Galilee, leading to the stilling of the storm {verses 35-41}, the healing of the Gerasene demoniac on the other side of the lake {5:1-20}, and on their return to Capernaum, the healing of a haemorrhaging woman and the raising of Jairus’s daughter {verses 21-43}. The section concludes with Yeshua’ visit to His hometown Nazareth, and the rejection He suffered there {6:1-6a}.

THE DISCIPLES’ MISUNDERSTANDING {6:6B–8:21}

The third section begins with two introductory passages: the sending out of the 12 {6:6b-13} and the story of John the Baptist’s death {verses 14-29}. When the disciples return, Yeshua determines to seek some rest, but the crowds follow them; Yeshua then teaches and feeds the 5,000 {verses 30-44} and, after crossing the lake {verses 45-52, which includes Yeshua’ walk over the water}, He performs numerous cures in and around Gennesaret {verses 53-56}. Then follows a controversy with the Pharisees regarding the hand-washing ritual {7:1-8}, and this incident leads to the Moshiach’s assertion of the authority of YHVH’s Word over human tradition {verses 9-13} and to some general instructions on true purity {verses 14-23}. The next several stories describe Yeshua’ withdrawal from Galilee, first to Tyre, where a gentile woman’s daughter is healed {verses 24-30}, then to the Decapolis, where he cures a deaf-mute {verses 31-37} and feeds a crowd of four thousand {8:1-10}. The demand of the Pharisees for a sign {verses 11-12} leads to Yeshua’ warning against the “leaven” of the Pharisees, a statement misunderstood by the disciples {verses 13-21}.

THE MOSHIACH’S MISSION AND THE DISCIPLES’ BLINDNESS {8:22–10:52}

Still away from Galilee, but now in the nearby town of Bethsaida, Yeshua heals a blind man {8:22-26}. He then leads His disciples north toward Caesarea Philippi, which sets the stage for Peter’s confession {verses 27-30}. This recognition on the part of the disciples {of whom Peter is in effect a representative} leads Yeshua to prophesy His death, but Peter’s refusal to accept the prophecy calls forth a rebuke and instruction on discipleship {verses 31-38}. The failure of the disciples to understand the necessity of the Moshiach’s death provides the background for the Transfiguration {9:1-8}, which assures Peter, John, and James that YHVH’s Kingdom will indeed come {note verse 1}; further, the Father Himself enjoins them to believe Yeshua’ prophecy {verse 7}. After some words about the resurrection and about the coming of Elijah {verses 9-13}, Mark relates the healing of a demoniac boy {verses 14-29}. Back in Galilee, a second prophecy of Yeshua’ death {verses 30-32} is followed, sadly, by a trivial discussion among the disciples as to who is the greatest {verses 33-37}. Appropriately, one finds some further instructions concerning discipleship {verses 38-50}. Mark next writes that Yeshua left Galilee for the last time and began His journey toward the south. During this journey, Yeshua delivered teachings on divorce and on the spiritual privileges of children {10:1-16}, then met the rich young ruler {verses 17-22}, an incident that leads to further words on discipleship {verses 23-31}. A third prophecy of Yeshua’ death {verses 32-34} is again followed by selfish behaviour on the part of the disciples, in this case an ambitious request from James and John {verses 35-40}. The incident produces indignation among the rest of the disciples, thus necessitating another rebuke from their master, who Himself came to serve and to die {verses 41-45}. The section ends as it began -- by reporting the cure of a blind man, Bartimaeus of Jericho in this story {verses 46-52}.

FINAL MINISTRY {11:1–13:37}

This section seems naturally to divide into three balanced subsections. The first one {11:1-26} includes three events: the Triumphal Entry, the withering of the fig tree, and the cleansing of the temple. The second subsection {11:27–12:44} is particularly important, for here is found Yeshua’ final series of controversies with the Jewish leaders. The topics covered are the source of Yeshua’ authority {11:27-33}, the parable of the wicked husbandmen {12:1-12}, the legitimacy of Caesar’s tax {verses 13-17}, the Sadducees’ denial of resurrection {verses 18-27}, the chief Commandment {verses 28-34}, and the question regarding David’s Son {verses 35-37}. This subsection ends with a warning against the scribes and with the story of the widow’s mite {verses 38-44}. The third subsection {chapter 13} is devoted completely to the Olivet discourse, with its prophecies of destruction, calamities, persecutions, deceivers, and final vindication. The discourse ends with various admonitions to keep alert.

THE PASSION NARRATIVE {14:1–15:47}

This final section, which is introduced by a report of the priests’ plot {14:1-2}, may be divided into two subsections.

The first one relates the events leading up to Yeshua’ trial {verses 3-52}. They include the anointing of Yeshua {verses 3-9}, Judas’s betrayal {verses 10-11}, the incidents connected with the Last Supper {verses 12-31}, the scene at Gethsemane {verses 32-42}, and the arrest {verses 43-52}.

The second subsection relates Yeshua’ trial before the Jews {verses 53-65}, Peter’s denials {verses 66-72}, the trial before Pilate {15:1-15}, the crucifixion {verses 16-41}, and the burial {verses 42-47}. The Gospel concludes somewhat mysteriously, but no less triumphantly, with the news that Yeshua has risen from the dead {16:1-8}. The earliest surviving Greek manuscripts, usually regarded as the most reliable, end at verse 8; the majority of manuscripts however, include an additional 12 verses that report Yeshua’ appearances to His disciples.