Although the briefest of the four gospels, Mark is tied as the fifth largest New Testament book both in terms of chapters and verses.
The book's largest chapter is Mark 14 with 72 verses, making it the third largest in the New Testament. Mark's gospel belongs to the fourth of the Bible's seven major divisions. This division includes the other gospels as well as the book of Acts.
Date Written, Location
The gospel of Mark was written in Israel in 42 A.D., just twelve years after Jesus' ascension into heaven. It is tied with the majority of John's gospel as the third earliest New Testament writing.
The Author
Mark (Marcus in the KJV), also known as John Mark, was a Jewish convert to Christianity. His uncle was the Apostle Barnabas who traveled with the Apostle Paul during his first missionary journey.
Both Mark and Luke are two of the four gospel writers who did not personally witness Jesus' ministry. It is believed the Apostle Peter helped Mark write his gospel when they were together (1Peter 5:13).
Time Period
Mark begins with John's the Baptist's ministry which began in the spring of 26 A.D. His book ends with Jesus' ascension into heaven on May 18 in 30 A.D.
Mark Chapter Outline
Chpt. 1: Mark begins his gospel by declaring John the Baptist's ministry was a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy (see Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3).
John the Baptist preaches repentance and heralds the coming of the Messiah who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Jesus, after he is baptized in the Jordan, is tempted by the devil for 40 days. The Lord, after John is thrown into prison, begins proclaiming the gospel of God's kingdom in Galilee.
[Is the Holy Spirit a Person?]
[Is the Kingdom of God within Us?]
Andrew, Peter, James and John are called to be a disciple. In Capernaum Jesus casts out a demon. While visiting Peter's mother-in-law the Lord heals her fever and then heals all those brought to him!
Chpt. 2: While in Capernaum Jesus heals a paraplegic man who is let down in front of him through a hole in the roof! Some of the religious leaders who witness the healing believe the Lord is blaspheming by forgiving the person's sins. Jesus, who can read the minds of people, corrects those who think he is sinning and asserts his authority to forgive sins.
Matthew, after he is called, invites Jesus to dine with him and other tax collectors. He then tells the disciples of John and of the Pharisees that his disciples are not fasting since he is with them. To illustrate his point he gives the parable of the new wine in old wineskins.
[Who Were John the Baptist's Disciples?]
[New Wine into Old Wineskins Parable]
Sometime later the Pharisees see the disciples picking grain on the Sabbath and accuse them of sinning. Jesus uses the example of David eating showbread to show the righteous judgment with a merciful heart is needed to keep Sabbath.
Chpt. 3: Jesus, at a synagogue on the Sabbath, has a man with a withered hand stand in the middle of the room. He then asks the Pharisees in attendance if it is lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath. Their unwillingness to respond angers the Lord and he heals the man. The Pharisees, after the healing, begin to plot with others on how they might get rid of Christ.
Great crowds begin to follow Jesus. The twelve disciples are officially chosen and ordained to both heal and preach the gospel.
Jesus rebukes the foolish logic of certain religious leaders who claim he is casting out demons by Satan's power. He then warns of the unpardonable sin and additionally states that those who do God's will are his true family.
[What is the Unpardonable Sin?]
Chpt. 4: Jesus gives the parable of the sower and then explains it privately to his disciples. He then discusses how God's kingdom is like a seed planted in the earth or like a mustard seed that greatly expands.
[Parable of the Sower Meaning]
Jesus and the disciples get on a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. After the Lord falls asleep a violent windstorm rocks the ship. He quells the turbulent sea after the disciples wake him.
[Location of the Sea of Galilee]
Chpt. 5: Jesus meets a demon-possessed man who is living among tombs in the Gadarene region. The multiple demons call themselves "legion." He casts out the demons, allowing them to possess a huge herd of pigs which immediately kill themselves!
[Where is the Gadarenes Located?]
Jesus heals a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years then resurrects from the dead the twelve- year-old daughter of a synagogue ruler named Jairus.
Chpt. 6: Those in Nazareth, upon hearing Jesus preach, openly wonder where he got his wisdom and the power to perform many miracles. Even though they know his mother and his half-brothers and sisters, they reject him and his message.
Jesus sends the disciples out in pairs on an evangelistic training mission where they are given the power to heal, cast out demons and so on.
[Why Did the Disciples Preach in Pairs?]
Herod Antipas, prior to the events described in Mark 6, had arrested and thrown John the Baptist in prison. Herod, on his birthday, has John beheaded to fulfill a promise he made to his wife's daughter.
Jesus miraculously feeds 5,000 men (plus women and children) on only five loaves of bread and two fish!
The Lord miraculously walks on water, in the middle of the night, to a ship carrying his disciples.
Chpt. 7: Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for criticizing his disciples for eating with unwashed hands. He then delineates several of their teachings and practices that nullify the law of God. One of these traditions, called Corban, nullifies helping one's parents.
Jesus and the disciples travel to Tyre and Sidon where he makes a Gentile woman prove her faith before casting a demon out of her daughter. Traveling back to Galilee, he heals a deaf man.
[Where Was Ancient Tyre Located?]
Chpt. 8: Jesus feeds 4,000 men (plus women and children) with only seven loaves of bread and a few fish. After the Pharisees ask the Lord for a sign, he warns his disciples to be wary of the leaven (false teachings) of the Pharisees and Herod.
[What Did the Pharisees Believe?]
A man outside Bethsaida is healed of blindness. Jesus and the disciples travel to Caesarea Philippi where Peter professes Jesus is the Messiah. In an amazing turn around, he then rebukes the Lord only to have him command the devil get out of his way!
[Where Was Bethsaida Located?]
Chpt. 9: Jesus' transfiguration takes place. He then verifies that John the Baptist was the "Elijah" that was to come to restore all things.
[Location of Jesus' Transfiguration]
Jesus casts a demon out of a person whom the disciples tried to cast out but could not. While the group travels toward Capernaum the disciples argue amongst themselves as to who will be the greatest in God's kingdom. The Lord then teaches not to forbid someone who casts out demons in his name and to immediately deal with things that lead us away from God.
[Can Any Christian Cast Out Demons?]
Chpt. 10: Jesus teaches that God never intended for married couples to divorce. He then blesses little children brought to him by their parents. Jesus reveals to a rich young ruler what he must do inherit eternal life then warns the disciples about riches.
After giving the parable of the camel through a needle's eye he reveals all those who give up everything to follow him will be rewarded. As the group walks to Jerusalem, the Lord's determination to suffer and die in the city causes fear in the disciples.
[Best Bible Verses About Children!]
James and John (it was actually their mother, Matthew 20:20 - 21) ask Christ if they can sit next to him in his kingdom. As the group enters Jericho a blind man is healed after crying out to the Lord.
Chpt. 11: Jesus makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a colt. The next day he curses a fig tree. He then proceeds, as he did near the start of his ministry, to throw out the moneychangers from the temple.
[Where Was the Temple Located?]
Jesus admonishes his disciples to have faith in God. He also encourages them to forgive others. Jewish religious leaders, once again, question the Lord's authority to do what he has done.
Chpt. 12: Jesus gives the parable of the vineyard. The Pharisees and Herodians try to entrap Christ by first flattering him and then asking about paying Roman taxes.
The Sadducees, who don't believe in a resurrection, then try to trip up the Lord by asking about relationships in a resurrection! The scribes then take their turn by asking Jesus about the greatest commandment.
The Lord then warns the crowd in Jerusalem's temple of the vanity-filled hypocritical behavior of religious leaders.
Jesus then uses the example of a widow contributing to the temple to underscore how God values commitment and quality over strict quantity.
Chpt. 13: Jesus gives what is called his Olivet discourse or prophecies concerning the end time and his Second Coming. He reveals the signs to appear in the end time including the manifestation of Satan the devil on earth. Great deception will come upon the earth even after it seems the universe is falling apart!
[When Will All Prophecy Be Fulfilled?]
The Lord closes his discourse by warning Christians to always be doing God's will and not letting their guard down.
Chpt. 14: Jesus, while staying in Bethany, has a woman anoint his head with an expensive ointment. Judas arranges to be paid for betraying Christ.
The disciples prepare for and partake of Jesus' last Passover. The yearly memorable of unleavened bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord's death, is instituted.
Peter, after the group leaves for the Garden of Gethsemane, is told he will deny Jesus three times. The disciples then fall asleep as the Lord prays for strength in what he is about to endure.
[What Does Gethsemane Look Like?]
Chpt. 15: Jesus is led away to go before Pilate as a prisoner. Pilate, after he hears multiple accusations, is amazed Jesus does not respond. The crowd in Jerusalem picks to release Barabbas and not the Lord.
[Meaning of Temple Veil Splitting]
Jesus is mocked and tortured by Roman soldiers, then led away to Golgotha to be crucified. After suffering for six hours he dies after which the veil in the temple covering the entrance to the Holy of Holies is split in two.
Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin, requests and receives Jesus' body from Pilate. His body is then wrapped in linen and placed in a nearby tomb.
Chpt. 16: According to Mark, early on Sunday a group of women visit Jesus' tomb. At the tomb an angel informs them that Christ had already risen (the previous day near sunset) and that they should tell the other disciples.
[Where Did Jesus Ascend to Heaven?]
Jesus, after his resurrection, first appears alive to Mary Magdalene. He then appears alive to two men leaving Jerusalem. The disciples are given what is called the Great Commission.