1. Mark’s Portrait of Jesus: The Hidden Messiah and Eschatological Judge
Chapter 7
Mark’s Portrait of Jesus: The Hidden Messiah and Eschatological Judge

2. Key Topics/Themes Mark the earliest Gospel
Portrays Jesus as “hidden Messiah”
Jesus’ role: to serve, suffer, and die
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

3. Mark’s Historical Setting
Earliest historical reference: Papias (c CE)
Author of Mark not an eyewitness
May derive from variety of oral sources
Dual emphasis on discipleship and suffering
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

4. Historical Setting (continued)
Fits well with situation of persecuted Christians in Rome under Nero c CE
Palestine also possible place of origin
Mark’s puzzling attitude toward Jesus’ close associates
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

5. Mark as a Literary Narrative
Bipolar structure
First half of Gospel centered in Galilee
Second half focuses on Jesus in Jerusalem
Prelude to Jesus’ public ministry (1:1-13)
Jesus as “Christ” and “Son of God”
John the Baptist
Jesus’ sojourn in the wilderness
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

6. The Galilean Ministry (1:14-8:26)
Mark’s eschatological urgency
Mark as apocalypse
Teaching the mysteries of the kingdom
Mark’s use of literary techniques
Mark’s ironic vision
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

7. Journey to Jerusalem (8:27-10:52)
Chapter 8 the center of the Gospel
Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ
Jesus’ predictions that he must suffer and die
Addresses suffering of Roman Christian readers of Mark
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

8. Jerusalem Ministry (11:1-15:47)
The triumphal entry
Focus on the Temple
Confrontations at the Temple
Jesus’ prophecy of the Temple’s fall
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

9. Apocalyptic Discourse
Longest speech by Jesus in Mark
Predicts destruction of the Temple
Predicts coming of heavenly Son of Man
Seemingly contradictory views on the End
The “abomination”
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

10. The Last Supper and the Betrayal
Last Supper as a Passover meal
Jesus’ new interpretation
Bread as Jesus’ body
Wine as Jesus’ “blood of the [New] Covenant, shed for many” (14:24)
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

11. Mark’s Passion Narrative
Irony: Jesus’ seeming defeat and actual victory
Praying in the Garden of Gethsemane
Peter denies knowing Jesus
Jesus admits his messiahship before the council
Jesus before Pilate: Jesus as “king of the Jews”
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

12. Passion Narrative (continued)
Pilate releases Barabbas; crucifies Jesus
Jesus’ crucifixion among “thieves”
Irony in Mark’s portrayal of the Crucifixion
Jesus’ burial
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

13. Postlude: The Empty Tomb (16:1-8)
Women discover Jesus’ empty tomb
Women bewildered over the empty tomb
Original ending of Mark at 16:8
Mark’s inconclusiveness: Resurrection or Parousia?
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

14. Summary Mark focuses on Jesus’ deeds rather than his teachings
Jesus’ deeds as evidence that God’s rule has arrived; Satan defeated
Context of Roman persecution of Christians
Jesus as eschatological Son of Man
Jesus’ messiahship: his servanthood, rejection, death
© 2009 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.