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Chapter 7

Mark’s Portrait of Jesus: The Hidden Messiah and Eschatological Judge

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Key Topics/Themes

• Mark the earliest gospel

• Portrays Jesus as “hidden Messiah”

• Jesus’ role: to serve, suffer, and die

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Mark’s Historical Setting

• Earliest historical reference: Papias (ca. 60-130 C.E.)

• Author of Mark not an eyewitness

• May derive from variety of oral sources

• Dual emphasis on discipleship and suffering

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Historical Setting (cont’d.)

• Fits well with situation of persecuted Christians in Rome under Nero ca. 64-65 C.E.

• Palestine also possible place of origin

• Mark’s puzzling attitude toward Jesus’ close associates

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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

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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

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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

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Jerusalem Ministry (11:1-15:47)

• The triumphal entry

• Focus on the Temple

• Confrontations at the Temple

• Jesus’ prophecy of the Temple’s fall

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Apocalyptic Discourse (ch. 13)

• Longest speech by Jesus in Mark

• Predicts destruction of the Temple

• Predicts coming of heavenly Son of Man

• Seeming contradictory views on the End

• The “abomination”

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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)

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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”

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Passion Narrative (cont’d.)

• Pilate releases Barabbas; crucifies Jesus

• Jesus’ crucifixion among “thieves”

• Irony in Mark’s portrayal of the Crucifixion

• Jesus’ burial

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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?

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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