Looking at Mark's Gospel1

The answer to a simple question

Looking at Mark’s gospel

Looking at Mark's Gospel2

The question is… who is Jesus?

The good news is tied up with who Jesus really is

…and with what he did So no nativity story No childhood accounts Limited teaching 75% tied up with the last few weeks of his life

Looking at Mark's Gospel3

The preparation by John the Baptist

1:1-8 The Old Testament The baptism of repentance The person of John/ Elijah The baptism of the Holy

Spirit

Looking at Mark's Gospel4

1:9-13 Introducing the man

The baptism The Spirit The voice The temptation

Looking at Mark's Gospel5

1:14-20 Jesus is the one who calls

Jesus succeeds to John’s ministry

“The kingdom of God is near”

“Come follow me” “Fishers of men” “Without delay…they left

their father”

Looking at Mark's Gospel6

1:21-28 Jesus is the one who drives out evil spirits

The time … the place (Home town… the sabbath)

The people’s reaction Amazement … gossip

The demon’s reaction Insight

Jesus’ decisive action

Looking at Mark's Gospel7

1:29-34 Jesus is the one who heals

Simon’s mother-in-law “All the sick and demon-

possessed” Jesus healed many…

he also drove out many demons

“He would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.”

Looking at Mark's Gospel8

1:35-39 Jesus prays… and preaches

Praying alone The source of his power? A solitary place

Preaching The crowds The effect

Looking at Mark's Gospel9

1:40-45 Jesus heals a leper… but why?

Leprosy = death The total outsider The completely unclean

The resurrection business The manifest compassion

Looking at Mark's Gospel10

So what is Mark’s initial answer to to the simple question?

A man with power… A power over evil A power over sickness A power over leprosy (living death)

A man with love… Compassion on the hopeless Constraint/ calling

A man with authority The one who calls The one who demands following