Outline of Mark

 I.        Introduction: the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ (1:1–13)

A.      The beginning of Jesus’s gospel (1–8)

1.      The beginning of the gospel concerns Jesus (1).

2.      The beginning of the gospel fulfills OT texts (2–3).

3.      The beginning of the gospel involves John the Baptist in the wilderness (4–8).

a.       John baptizing (4a)

b.      John preaching (4b–8)

1)      He preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (4b–5).

2)      He preached the arrival of one greater than himself (6–8).

B.      The baptism of John (9–11)

1.      The baptism itself (9)

2.      The results of his baptism (10–11)

C.      The temptation of Jesus (12–13)

II.      Body: the gospel of Jesus Christ (1:14–16:8)

A.      Early ministry in Galilee (1:14–5:43)

1.      His unrivaled authority (1:14–3:35)

a.       Jesus declares authority by announcing the kingdom and demanding a response (1:14–15).

b.      Jesus demonstrates authority by gathering disciples (1:16–20).

1)      The calling of Peter and Andrew (16–18)

2)      The calling of James and John (19–20)

c.       Jesus displays authority with his teaching and actions (1:21–28).

1)      The authoritative teaching of Jesus (21–22)

2)      The authoritative actions of Jesus (23–28)

d.      Jesus shows authority by healing diseases and casting out demons (1:29–34).

e.      Jesus reveals authority by preaching the gospel of God beyond Capernaum (1:35–39).

f.       Jesus demonstrates authority by overcoming uncleanness and growing in popularity (1:40–45).

g.      Jesus uncovers his authority by forgiving sin (2:1–12).

h.      Jesus demonstrates authority by breaking scribal rules (2:13–17).

i.       Jesus reveals authority by silencing his critics (2:18–22).

j.        Jesus declares his authority by rejecting Sabbath regulations (2:23–3:6).

1)      Rejecting sabbath regulations because of hunger (2:23–28)

2)     Rejecting sabbath regulations for a healing (3:1–6)

2.      His growing popularity with outsiders (3:7–35)

a.       Large groups from the surrounding areas were following Christ (7–10).

b.      Unclean spirits were also present (11–12).

c.       The twelve disciples are appointed to be with him (13–20).

d.      The scribes came from Jerusalem to see him (22–30).

e.      Jesus’s family come to see him (21, 31–35).

3.      His teaching in parables (4:1–34)

a.      The parable of the soils (1–20)

b.      The lamp and measure parables (21–25)

c.       The seed parables (26–34)

4.      His authority demonstrated through miracles (4:35–5:43)

a.       Authority over nature (4:35–41)

b.      Authority over demons (5:1–20)

c.       Authority over death and disease (5:21–43)

B.      Intermediate ministry in Galilee and beyond (6:1–8:30)

1.      Rejection (6:1–56)

a.       Rejection in his hometown (1–6a)

b.      Rejection of the disciples (6b–13, 30)

c.       Rejection of John the Baptist (14–29)

d.      Rejection of Jesus (30–56)

1)      The feeding of the 5,000 (30–44)

2)      Jesus walks on the water (45–52)

3)      A summary of Jesus’ healings (53–56)

2.      Confrontation (7:1–23)

a.       An encounter between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees (1–13)

1)      The Pharisees observe a problem (1–5)

2)      Jesus challenges them back (6–13)

b.      An opportunity for teaching (14–23)

1)      Teaching to the crowds (14–15)

2)      Teaching to the disciples (16–23)

3.      Acceptance (7:24–8:9)

a.       The story of a girl from Tyre (7:24–30)

b.      The story of a man from Decapolis (7:31–37)

c.       A feeding story (8:1–9)

1)      The concern of Jesus (1–3)

2)      The dullness of the disciples (4)

3)      The patience and provision of Jesus (5–9)

4.      Controversy & Unbelief (8:10–21)

a.       The nature of skepticism: an exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees (10–13)

b.      The danger of unbelief: an exchange between Jesus and the disciples (14–21)

5.      Clarity (8:22–30)

a.       The healing of a blind man in Bethsaida (22–26)

b.      The partial healing of the disciples’ blindness (27–30)

C.      Approaching (“advancing”) ministry: from beyond to Jerusalem (8:31–10:52)

1.      1st passion prediction (8:31–9:29)

a.       Three-fold account of death, failure, and discipleship (8:31–9:1)

b.      Further stories of the disciples’ failures (9:2–29)

1)      Failure at the Transfiguration (2–13)

2)      Failure with the exorcism of a young boy (14–29)

a)      The chaotic scene (14–18)

b)      The initial response (19–20)

c)       The important discussion (21–24)

d)      The powerful miracle (25–27)

e)      The private instruction (28–29)

2.      2nd passion prediction (9:30–10:31)

a.       Prediction of death (9:30–31)

b.      Failure of disciples (9:32–34)

c.       Cost of discipleship (9:35–10:31)

1)      Jesus speaks about community relationships (9:35–50).

a)      You must be last and servant of all (35–37).

b)      You must not reject those who lack proper credentials (38–41).

c)       You must not abuse those who seem insignificant (42–48)

d)      You must endure the refining fires of trials and persecutions together (49–50).

2)      Jesus teaches about marriage (10:1–12).

a)      The Pharisees’ question about divorce (1–2)

b)      Jesus’s principles regarding marriage (3–12)

3)      Jesus speaks about children (10:13–16).

4)      Jesus teaches about wealth (10:17–31).

a)      A discussion with a rich man about eternal life (17–22)

b)      A discussion with the disciples about entering the kingdom of God (23–27)

c)      A discussion with Peter about the value of following him (28–31)

3.      3rd passion prediction (10:32–52)

a.       Three-fold account of death, failure, and discipleship (32–45)

1)      Prediction of death (32–34)

2)      Failure of disciples (35–41)

3)      Cost of following (42–45)

b.      Supplementary material: the healing of Blind Bartimaeus (46–52)

D.     Final ministry in the precincts of Jerusalem (11:1–16:8)

1.      Events in and around the Temple (11:1–13:37)

a.       The triumphal entry: Jesus greeted as a king (11:1–11)

b.      The Temple cleansing: Jesus cares for the nations and provides a way for their prayers to be heard (11:12–25)

c.       The controversy stories (11:27–12:44)

1)      A challenge regarding authority (11:27–33)

2)      A parable about bad leaders (12:1–12)

3)      Controversies regarding taxes and resurrections (12:13–27)

4)      Controversies with the scribes (12:28–44)

d.      The end of the Temple and Age (13:1–37)

1)      The setting (1–2)

2)      The questions (3–4)

3)      The answers (5–37)

a)      Answering with plain instructions (5–27)

·       Teaching about the destruction of the Temple (5–13)

·       Teaching about the return of the Lord (14–27)

b)      Answering with parables (28–37)

·       A parable about the destruction of the Temple (28–31)

·       A parable about the return of the Lord (32–37)

2.      Christ’s arrest, death, and resurrection (14:1–16:8)

a.       Events preceding His arrest (14:1–52)

1)      His anointing (1–11)

2)      The Last Supper (12–31)

3)      Gethsemane (32–52)

b.      His passion (14:53–15:47)

1)      The trial of Jesus (14:53–15:15)

2)      The mockery of Jesus (15:16–20)

3)      The death of Jesus (15:21–41)

4)      The burial of Jesus (15:42–47)

c.       His resurrection (16:1–8)

1)      The women’s journey (1–4)

2)      The angel’s journey (5–7)

3)      The women’s silence (8)