Bible Chapter 7
What does the centurion at the foot of the cross say? How does this illustrate an important theme in Mark's Gospel?
"Surely this man was the Son of God!" The important theme is that through Jesus' suffering and death he confirms his role as the Messiah and Son of God. The irony of a Roman soldier recognizing who Jesus was points to the fact that the gospel will eventually go to the Gentiles.
Describe the three cycles of passion predictions and responses. What verse serves as a key theme verse for Mark's Gospel?
Each time Jesus predicts that he will suffer, the disciples demonstrate some act of pride or self-centeredness. Each time following their response, Jesus teaches on servant leadership and the suffering role of a true disciple. Mark 10:45- "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to be served, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
From where and under what historical circumstances was Mark's Gospel likely written?
From Rome during a time of persecution
What does the "kingdom of God" mean in Mark's Gospel?
God's sovereign rule. It is both a present reality and a future reign.
What do we know about John Mark from the New Testament? According to church tradition, whose version of the Gospel did Mark record?
He was the son of Mary in whose house the Jerusalem church met Peter
What are the 3 common Markan literary devices
Intercalation, Triads, Irony
What is the relationship between the Beelzbul controversy in 3:22-30, and the 2 incidents related to Jesus' family in 3:20-21 and 3:31-35? What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
Jesus family thought he was out of his mind and the teaches of the law ascribes his action to being possessed by Satan. The point is that Jesus' own poeple are rejecting Him, so that Jesus says that his true family are those who do the will of His father. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit ascribes the actions of the Spirit to Satan instead of God
Describe Mark's literary style.
Mark has a fast moving narrative style with vivid descriptions of persons and events
What is the key turning point in Mark's narrative, the "hinge" on which the Gospel story turns?
Peter as the chief representative of the disciples confesses that Jesus is "the Christ," but Jesus defines the Messiah's role as one of suffering and sacrifice.
What Messianic title does Jesus most often use for himself in Mark's Gospel?
Son of Man. It identifies him as a true human being, but also as the exalted Messiah of Daniel 7:13-14.
What impression of Jesus' crucifixion is given in Mark's narrative?
The crowds try to humiliate him; the disciples desert him; Jesus feels deserted by the Father. From a merely worldly perspective, Jesus' mission has been a failure.
What significance does the first passion prediction have coming immediately after Peter's confession?
The disciples are confronted with the idea that the Christ will suffer, which in their minds means he will be defeated.
Why is Mark's resurrection account so unusual? What textual problem occurs at the end of Mark's Gospel?
The gospel ends with an angel speaking to the women telling them to go and tell others that Jesus had risen. Instead they run away in fear and tell no one. Verses 16:9-20 are not in the earliest and most reliable manuscripts.
What is allegorized in the parable of the wicked tenant farmers? What does each character represent? To what Old Testament passage does this parable allude?
The history of God's dealings with Israel is allegorized. The religious are the tenant farmers over God's vineyard; the prophets are the owner's messengers; Jesus is the owner's son Isaiah 5, the Song of the Vineyard
How is Jesus presented in the first half of the Gospel? In what ways does he demonstrate his authority?
The mighty Messiah. Miracles, healings, exorcisms, and calling the disciples
Mark places great emphasis on the disciples in his Gospel. What role do they play and how does this relate to Mark's theme of discipleship?
They are more often examples of failure than success. They present the negative model, while Jesus presents the positive one.
What role do the "minor character" in Mark's Gospel play?
They tend to demonstrate faith
How is Jesus' identity gradually revealed in Mark's Gospel? Describe its gradual recognition.
Though the reader knows who Jesus is from the first line, his identity is only gradually revealed. At his baptism God identifies him as his Son.
What is Mark's three-fold narrative purpose according to the textbook?
To confirm that Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah and Son of God To show that he fulfills these promises in a surprising way, not through conquest, but through servanthood and suffering To call believers to follow in the suffering path of their Messiah and Lord
Why does Jesus teach in parables, according to Mark 4:10-12?
To reveal the secrets of the kingdom of God to the disciples, but to conceal them to those who have rejected Jesus' kingdom preaching
Triads
he likes to present his events or scenes in sets of 3s
Irony
he presents many situations that are ironic
Intercalation
he sandwiches one event between the beginning and end of another