The Toronto Catholic District School Board

Course: Grade 10 Religion – Christ and Culture

Date/Lesson Number: Lesson 3 and Lesson 4

Unit: Scripture

Lesson Topic: The Gospel of Mark

Focus Question:

The purpose of these lessons is to illustrate the gospel portrait of Jesus Christ according to St.

Mark.

Instructional Objective(s):

1) Students will examine the origins of John Mark the evangelist and for whom he wrote his

gospel in ancient Rome.

2) Students will learn how the gospel of Mark’s titles for Jesus, reveal Him as an authoritative

teacher and a miracle worker who announces the kingdom of heaven.

3) Students will learn about Mark’s unique portrait of Jesus and the way of discipleship that

follows the path of the suffering servant.

New Evangelization Essential Element(s):

Key Element I: Knowledge of the Faith: What We Believe.

Key Vocabulary:

Miracle

Exorcisms

Paschal Mystery

Son of Man

Testament

Messianic secret

Key Scriptural Passage(s):

Mark 8:35

Key Catechism Reference(s):

Key People:

Internet Link(s):

www.avemariapress.com

www.vatican.va

www.cccb.ca

Textbook Suggestions:

Encountering Jesus in the New Testament. (2009) Michael Pennock. Notre Dame: Ave Maria

Press, Inc. Chapter 4.

Jesus Christ: God’s Revelation to the World. (2010) Michael Pennock. Notre Dame: Ave Maria

Press, Inc. Chapter 6.

Materials required:

1) Sacred Scripture (NRSV)

2) PowerPoint Presentation [Appendix A]

3) Appendix B [Contemporary Stories]

4) Student Handout

Prayer learned or reviewed:

Mark 11:25

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your

Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Lord, teach me to be humble and to ask for forgiveness and to forgive others as you have loved

and forgiven me.

Step by Step Procedures:

Task 1: Who is Mark the evangelist and why did he write his gospel?

Who was Mark the evangelist?

[Most students are surprised that the second gospel of the New Testament canon was actually

written first and NOT attributed to one of the twelve apostles. So why is this gospel so important

and how did St. Mark come to know the stories and important message about Jesus? Curiously,

they also often ask about the lion that appears in artistic portraits of this evangelist.]

Share the following with the class:

What is the issue at hand?

A class discussion should ensue around the following questions which could be presented to the

students as part of a large group discussion.

a. Who was “Mark” after whom the gospel is written?

b. Why was Mark’s gospel chosen as one of the four gospels in the New Testament canon?

c. What did Mark’s gospel reveal about Jesus’ message in the early Christian community?

d. How is the gospel of Mark relevant today?

Important: Each of the gospels in the next four lessons will follow a pattern that addresses:

a. The context of why the gospel was written and how that context can be integrated with

current issues in the world today that require a response of justice and compassion, in

other words, a gospel response.

b. Each gospel will focus on common themes to all four gospels:

1. Titles for Jesus and how this connects with questions about who Jesus is and the

Catholic faith about Jesus,

2. The portrait of Jesus particular to a gospel,

3. The kind of call to discipleship particular to each gospel,

4. The predominant genre [miracle, parable, etc.] in each gospel that teaches about

the kingdom of God,

5. How this gospel is relevant in today’s world.

Task 2: Research on Social Justice Issues in the News Today

1. [In order for students to find an entry point for the challenging message of this gospel, it is

important to research and highlight the parts of the world, both locally and globally that

are suffering due to injustice and intolerance. It is not hard to find groups of people or

individuals who are experiencing injustice due to racism, religious intolerance, poverty,

or illness in the news today. Even the circumstances of the Markan community who was

writing to encourage the Christians in Syria and Palestine who were experiencing

persecution has some direct connections to contemporary news in the media today].

2. Use Appendix B as an example.

(30 minutes)

Task 3: Questions for Reflection.

1. After dividing students into groups to review the selected news articles that either the

instructor or the students choose from the media, the following reflection questions

could be asked:

a. What is the news story about? [Locate the part of the world geographically].

b. Identify the persons or groups of persons who are suffering in this story.

c. What do you think is(are) the causes of this suffering for the person(s) in this news story?

d. What are some of the responses by the leaders of today to these kinds of problems?

e. How are Christians called to respond in these situations?

(15 minutes)

Task 4: Scriptural Selections from Mark’s Gospel

[In the following activity, Students are directed to the predominant genre in Mark’s gospel, the

miracles. They will be asked to read some or all of these stories (perhaps divided in groups),

followed by reflection questions that will parallel some of the questions in Activity 2 about

suffering, injustice and the response of Jesus.]

Preparation for Activity.

Introduction: There are four different types of miracles in the gospels:

a. Healings

b. Restoration

c. Nature

d. Exorcisms

Divide up the following list of miracle stories in Mark’s gospel: [Ignore any colours in chart]

a. Healings:

Mark

Healing Simon Peter's Mother-in-law 1:29-31

Cleansing a Leper 1:40-45

Healing a Paralytic 2:1-12

Restoring a Man's Withered Hand 3:1-6

Healing a Woman's Hemorrhage 5:25-34

Healing a Syro-Phoenician Woman's

Daughter 7:24-30

Healing a Deaf Mute 7:31-37

Giving Sight to a Blind Man at Bethsaida 8:22-26

Giving Sight to a Blind Man (or 2 Men) at

Jericho

10:46-

52

Healing a Slave's Severed Ear 14:47

a. Restoration Miracles:

Mark

Raising from the Dead the Daughter of

Jairus

5:21-24,35-

43

c. Nature Miracles:

Mark

Stilling a Storm on the Sea of Galilee 4:35-41

Feeding Five Thousand People 6:32-44

Walking on the Water 6:45-52

Feeding Four Thousand People 8:1-10

Cursing a Fig Tree near Bethany 11:12-14

d. Exorcisms:

Mark

Jesus is tempted/tested in the desert by the

Devil/Satan Mark 1:12-13

Unclean Spirit/Demon in Synagogue at

Capernaum Mark 1:23-28

Beelzebul Controversy: What power does Jesus

use? Mark 3:22-30

Gerasene/Gadarene Demoniac possessed by

"Legion" Mark 5:1-20

Syro-Phoenician Woman's Daughter Mark 7:24-30

Boy with an Epileptic Spirit Mark 9:14-29

Another Exorcist Mark 9:38-41

(30 minutes)

Task 5: Fill in the Following Chart

In the NT, most miracles are narrated according to a fairly regular pattern that typically consists

of five stages:

1. Introduction - A geographical/temporal setting is given; the condition of the sick

person(s) is described; the healer encounters the sick person(s), or they are brought to

the healer, or at least someone tells the healer about them.

2. Conflict/Delay - Often the healer investigates what the sick person wants or needs;

sometimes the healer hesitates or tests the sick person's readiness to be healed;

sometimes other persons intervene or delay the healing.

3. Healing Action - The healing itself might be brought about verbally, or through a simple

touch, or through more elaborate therapeutic means (using spittle, oil, etc.). Sometimes

the healing action is only implied, but not explicitly described.

4. Confirmation - The fact that the healing has taken place is either asserted by the narrator

or demonstrated through some action performed by the person who has been healed

(standing up, walking, speaking, etc.).

5. Reaction - Usually some reaction from those who witnessed the event is reported. In the

Gospels, this response is often positive (giving praise to God), but sometimes there are

negative reactions from some opponents.

Miracles in

Mark’s gospel

Stage 1

Introduction

Stage 2

Conflict/Delay

Stage 3

Healing

Action

Stage 4

Confirmation

Stage 5

Reaction

Mark 2:1-12 . . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .

Lesson 4 Continued Gospel of Mark

Task 6: Questions for Reflection.

a. Choose one of the miracles that you read and analyzed with the chart in Activity 3. How

was this person(s) in distress or suffering?

b. What was the nature of the healing action on the part of Jesus?

c. What was the reaction by the person(s) who was healed?

d. What was the reaction by others who witnessed this miracle?

e. How would you translate the circumstances of this miracle in a contemporary context?

For example, in the story of the calming of the storm Mk 4: 35-41, the disciples are afraid,

what are the fears that many people have (fear of unknown, fear of challenges, fear of

others who are different, fear of loss, etc). How is Jesus asking his followers to respond in

these difficult times?

(15 minutes)

Task 7: Discussion.

What is the purpose of these miracle stories in Mark?

The miracle stories underline the true nature of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah of the Hebrew

scriptures, the Son of Man (which confirms Jesus’ humanity and compassion, and as the Suffering

Servant who is willing to suffer with others and to share his divine love as transformative love and

healing.

How do Activity 2 and 3 intersect? In other words, how are we as Christians called to respond to

the suffering we witness and to the injustice of our brothers and sisters in the world?

(10 minutes)

Task 8: PowerPoint on the Gospel of Mark.

The following PowerPoint from Chapter 4 of Encountering Jesus in the New Testament Textbook is

an excellent resource for explaining in more detail the framework of Mark’s gospel which

provides the general outline for Matthew and Luke’s version of the Good News.

See Appendix A. PowerPoint on Mark’s Gospel. PDF and Word Document.

See also Felix Just, S.J.,Ph.D. http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Miracles.htm

(30 minutes)

Task 9: Summary Chart for Mark’s Gospel

Summary Table for Gospel of Mark

Background of gospel writer John Mark, travelling companion of Paul and

Peter

When and Why it was written 65-70 C.E. in Rome during persecution of

Gentile Christians

Titles for Jesus Messiah, Son of Man

Portrait of Jesus Healer and Miracle Worker, Suffering Servant

Kind of Discipleship Servant leadership

Predominant Genre Miracles

Singularity of gospel Messianic secret

Meaning of P,D, R Jesus is the New Adam. Jesus’ L, P,D, & R is for

all humanity

Contemporary Relevance God’s peace and justice enters into our lives

through our relationship with a messiah who is

compassionate and who suffers on behalf of

humanity.

Question for Christians today Will you follow me?

(10 minutes)

Task 10: Definitions.

The students will copy the following terms:

Miracle: A powerful sign of God’s kingdom

Exorcism: The public and authoritative act of the Church to protect or liberate a person or

object from the power of the devil in the name of Christ

Paschal Mystery: God’s love and salvation revealed to us through the life, Passion, Death, and

Resurrection of his Son Jesus Christ.

Son of Man: A title Jesus uses to refer to himself. It emphasizes both Jesus’ humanity and divinity.

Testament

Messianic secret: A phrase that refers to certain passages in the Gospels where Jesus tells his

disciples not to reveal his true identity.

Testament: A word meaning “covenant,” the open-ended contract of love between God and

human beings. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection sealed God’s New Covenant of love for all time.

Scriptural connection:

Mk 8: 29-30 “He asked them. ‘But who do you say that I am?’ peter answered him, ‘You are the

Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.”

(10 minutes)

Thought Provoker

Did you know that the Evangelist Mark was actually named John Mark?

Assessment Assignment

Adaptations for ESL or students with IEPs:

a. The PowerPoint for this Lesson should be saved as a digital version that could be given to

the student with appropriate blanks in a few places so they can learn vocabulary.

Extensions (for gifted students):

a. Research why the gospel of Mark uses the messianic secret in his gospel.

Appendix A

PowerPoint on the Gospel of Mark

Gospel of Mark: Jesus the

Suffering Servant

CHAPTER

FOUR

Appendix B.

Contemporary News Items:

Iraqi Christians Weigh Taking Up Arms Against the Islamic State

For full article see http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140827-iraq-dahuk-

islamic-state-assyrian-christians-peshmerga-nineveh-kurdistan/

Some Christian Groups in Northern Iraq are Newly Determined to Defend their Ancient

Homeland.

After an Islamic State (IS) advance into Kurdish-controlled territory, some 500 Christian families in

Erbil took shelter at the Mar Tshmony church, where a mother gives her son a

Published August 27, 2014

DAHUK, Iraq—Of all the many ancient peoples who once lived in the land between the Tigris

and the Euphrates, Iraq's Assyrian Christians pride themselves on having persisted in their

traditional homeland for millennia, even as other civilizations thrived then disappeared, as

languages and cultures died out, as ethnic groups melted into the ways and genetic pools of

their conquerors.

But today Iraq's Assyrians, and its Christians in general, fear that their place in this multiethnic,

multisectarian mosaic society is shrinking, under severe threat from the ultraconservative Islamist

group the Islamic State (IS).

It isn't the first time that Iraq's Christians have faced such a foe. The IS's earlier incarnation, al

Qaeda in Iraq—a group that formed after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003—also menaced

Christians, and others, prompting tens of thousands to flee into exile. (Read more about Arab

Christians in "The Forgotten Faithful," a National Geographic feature story published in 2009.)

Now, the particularly harsh nature of the IS's assault on Christians, Yazidis, Shiite Muslims, and

others who do not share allegiance to the IS's brand of ultraconservative Sunni Islam has led

some of Iraq's Christians to take the unusual step of shedding their historical passivity and

consider taking up arms to defend and eventually govern themselves. (Related: "Iraq Crisis:

Ancient Hatreds Turning Into Modern Realities")

Kurdish Peshmerga troops were on high alert around Badriyah on August 19, after the Mosul

Dam was recaptured from IS forces. Some Christians are beginning to align themselves with the

Peshmerga.

Photograph by Gail Orenstein, NurPhoto/Sipa USA/AP

The Assyrian Patriotic Party, one of several Assyrian political organizations, has armed and

dispatched a symbolic, rather than an active, force of some 40 members to join the Kurdish

Peshmerga fighting the IS in the northwest of Iraq, according to party official Henry Sarkis.

The Peshmerga are the official forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government. It is the first such

action by Iraqi Christians since some Christians fought briefly alongside the Kurds against

Saddam Hussein.

Sarkis, 44, is the newly appointed branch chief of the party's office in Dahuk, a northern

governorate in the semiautonomous Kurdish region that borders Syria and Turkey.

The 40 men constitute what Sarkis calls the "first wave," and the unit has adopted the name

Dukha, an Assyrian word that means "sacrifice."

"We keep talking about Jesus and peace, and now we've reached the point where it's not

enough," he said in an interview at his party's headquarters in Dahuk. "The age of waiting for the

Peshmerga to take back territory while we sit is over. We took the decision that, with our limited

abilities, we will try to participate."

The party bought weapons with money donated by members in the diaspora, Sarkis said, and is

looking to raise more funds through donations to increase its stockpile.

Sarkis's men are mainly behind the front line, around the town of Sharfiyah, not so much fighting

alongside the Peshmerga as holding territory the Kurdish forces have gained or are pushing

forward from.

Carved into a mountainside, the seventh-century Rabban Hormizd monastery overlooks the

Nineveh Plains. Christians have lived in the area continuously since the first century, but in the

past decade more than two-thirds of Iraq’s estimated 1.5 million have fled.

Photograph by J.B. Russell, Panos

A Perilous Shift

Still, it marks a significant shift in the attitude of Iraq's Christians, a shift that's fraught with peril.

Since 2003, Iraq's Christian community has been viewed by other Iraqis as a passive victim of the

country's many conflicts, not an active aggressor.

Taking up arms will make the Christians direct participants, armed targets who pose military

rather than just ideological opposition to ultraconservative Islamist groups.

Sarkis acknowledges this but said his party is prepared to accept the consequences. "We're

being killed in our homes, so why not defend ourselves? Then even if we die, we die with dignity,"

he said. "We didn't want to reach this point—we just want to live in our areas."

Before 2003, Iraq held about 1.5 million Christians. The number today is fewer than 500,000, say

community leaders, the majority having been driven out by war and all the trouble it inflicts and

breeds, including corruption and insecurity.

Juan José Valdés, Daniela Santamarina, NG Staff.

Source: INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WARS; ATLAS OF GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY 1910-2010, CENTER

FOR THE STUDY OF CHRISTIANITY, 2009

According to the CIA's World Factbook, Shiites now make up 60 to 65 percent of Iraq's

population, Sunnis 32 to 37 percent, and Christians just 0.8 percent. Most remaining Christians live

on the Nineveh Plains, an area that is also home to other ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq,

including the Yazidis and the Turkomans. (Related: "Iraq: 1,200 Years of Turbulent History in Five

Maps")

Fall of Mosul

On June 10, Mosul, the capital of the Nineveh governorate, in northern Iraq, fell to IS-led militants

in a blitzkrieg advance. The IS was ruthless with its enemies, uploading videos of mass executions

of soldiers and security forces they'd captured. The Iraqi Army melted away, rather than try to

repel the incursion.

Weeks later, the Kurdish Peshmerga also retreated from some areas in the face of an IS-led

onslaught. Kurdish troops are now fighting, with the aid of limited U.S. air strikes, to regain territory.

The IS gave Mosul's estimated 8,000 to 10,000 Christians three options: convert to Islam, pay a

tax, or die. Instead they fled en masse to villages on the Nineveh Plains, as well as farther north

into the Kurdish heartland.

As few as 40 Christians remain in Mosul, according to Duraid Tobiya, 53, an Assyrian from the city

and an adviser on minority affairs to the governor of Nineveh.

He said that the few who stayed were too sick, too old, or too poor to leave—so much so that

the IS exempted them from paying the jizya, a tax on non-Muslims.

"I'm from Mosul—this is the first time I've been displaced," Tobiya said. "I lived through everything

else that happened in Mosul, but it's all very different from what's happening now."

Iraq's Christians, like all of the country's sectarian communities, do not speak with one voice.

There are numerous political parties with varying platforms.

The solution as Tobiya saw it, was one of two options: "either mass emigration or an

internationally protected safe zone. We have no other options. We are against emigration,

because we are not only the sons of this country but its original inhabitants."

All dozen or so Christians interviewed by National Geographic adamantly shared the demand

for a safe zone, akin to the two no-fly zones the West established in 1992 to protect Kurds in the

north and Shiite Muslims in the south from the forces of former leader Saddam Hussein.

But 1992 was a long time ago in terms of Western resources and commitment to the region—

especially at a time when President Barack Obama's administration is trying to pivot away from

the troubles of the Middle East. Still, Tobiya and others insisted it's a viable option.

"We must protect ourselves—and also have international protection," he said.