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Mark
Modern Christians often start reading the Bible in the New Testament. New converts are often told to read one of the Gospels. There is good reason for this; the New Testament believer needs to understand the New Testament! But there is a major deficit when this happens. Since the New Testament is
Mark 1
The New Adam
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).
The first verse says it all! The King and the Kingdom have come! The rest of the Gospel unpacks that declaration. The first chapter proclaims that Jesus is the Second Adam, Son of God incarnate, in fulfillment of the
Mark 2:1-3:12
The Lord of the Sabbath
“the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28).
This second section (Mark 2:1-3:6) of the Gospel focuses on the coming of the eschatological Kingdom of God. The unit is characterized by five conflicts with the scribes and Pharisees. Mark arranges the five conflicts in
Mark 3:13-6:29
The Conquering Kingdom
“they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold” (Mark 4:8).
The third and central section of the Gospel (Mark 3:7-6:29) sets forth the conquering Kingdom of God. The first section (Mark 1) ended with the crowds of Jews coming to Jesus for healing. The second
Mark 6:30-8:30
The New Exodus
“… it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (Mark 7:27).
Jesus said the most provocative things! But they were not the provocations of a lunatic. They were the words of One with authority from God. Throughout the first three sections, it is not just Jesus’ words that
Mark 8:31-10:52
Following the King
“Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road” (Mark 10:52).
The last section of the book (Mark 8:31-16:8) centers on the cross. Here is the culmination of Jesus’ obedience to the Pactum Salutis. At the cross Jesus took the death sanction of the redeemed fallen in Adam, and
Mark 11-13
What the Law Could Not Do
“A man planted a vineyard and put a wall around it, and dug a vat under the wine press and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey" (Mark 12:1).
The fifth section (I’; Mark 8:31-16:8) brings the reader to the climactic conclusion. It mirrors the first section (I).
Mark 14-16
The New Covenant
"They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid” (Mark 16:8).
The (C) part of the fifth section of Mark ends the Gospel with the obedient vassal King going to the cross. In the biblical theological