Mark’s Story of Jesus: A Reader’s Guide

Reading the text of Scripture is becoming or maybe more firmly “has become” a lost art. We read the Bible in fragments. The internet to some degree has expedited that notion. In the sacred text, we fight an uphill battle because it is has been fragmented for as long as we have been alive and many more years before. The addition of chapters and verses in the 1500s, which was originally meant to help find ideas in the text, has become the way in which we are taught to read the text. I’m sure that the ancient authors would be somewhat perturbed that their material has been treated in such a way, not to mention the frustration that God must feel when his kids seem to claim that he only speaks in fragmented thoughts.

In these guides, we will read and reflect on the Mark’s Story of Jesus as the first telling of his story in the sacred text.

Setting the Stage
Who’s That Guy Mark?
The Story Opens: 1.1-13
First Act: Presentation of Jesus 1.4-8.30
Scene 1: The Authority of Jesus: 1.14-45
Scene 2. Mounting Opposition: 2-1-3.6
Scene 3. Counter Opposition: 3.7-35
Scene 4. More Stories about God’s Rule: 4.1-34
Scene 5. More Stories about the Rule of God: 4.35-5.43
Scene 6. Show and Tell: 6.1-56
Scene 7. Darkness to Light: 7.1-8.30
Second Act: Passion Predictions: I Am Going
to Jerusalem to Die: 8.31-10.52
Scene 1. Passion Prediction 1 (8.31-9.1)
Scene 2. Passion Prediction 2 (9.30-50)
Scene 3. Passion Prediction 3 (10.32-52)
Third Act: Passion of Jesus 14.1-15.47
Scene 1. Questions, Questions, Questions! 11.1-12.44
Scene 2. When is the End?: 13.1-37
Scene 3. It is Finished!: 14.1-15.47
The Story Continues: 16.1-8