Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xxi
Publisher's Preface xxiii
General Introduction to the EGGNT Series xxv
Abbreviations xxix
Mark
Introduction 3
Authorship 3
Occasion And Date 5
For Further Study 7
1 The Historical Circumstance behind Mark's Gospel 7
Outline 8
For Further Study 10
2 The Outline of Mark's Gospel 10
3 The Study of Mark's Gospel as Narrative 10
Mark's Greek Style 11
For Further Study 12
4 Mark's Greek Style 12
Homiletical Suggestions for Mark's Gospel 13
Recommended Commentaries 14
I Jesus as the Powerful Messiah (1:1-8:26) 17
A The Beginning of Jesus's Ministry: Preparation in the Wilderness (1:1-13) 17
1 Opening (1:1) 18
For Further Study 19
5 Mark's Christology 19
6 The Genre of Mark's Gospel 19
2 John the Baptist's Preaching in the Wilderness (1:2-4) 20
For Further Study 21
7 The Use of the Old Testament in Mark's Gospel 21
3 John the Baptist's Baptizing Ministry in the Jordan (1:5-8) 22
4 Jesus's Baptism in the Jordan (1:9-11) 24
5 Jesus's Temptation in the Wilderness (1:12-13) 26
For Further Study 27
8 The Prologue of Mark's Gospel 27
Homiletical Suggestions 27
Let Me Introduce You to Jesus (1:1-15) 27
Baptism and Identity (1:9-11) 27
Temptation: Jesus's and Ours (1:12-13; cf. Heb 4:15) 28
B Jesus's Initial Ministry in Galilee (1:14-3:35) 29
1 Summary and Initial Response (1:14-45) 29
(a) [Transition] Summary of Jesus's Preaching in Galilee (1:14-15) 30
Homiletical Suggestions 31
The Early Ministry in Galilee (1:14-3:35): Jesus's Authority and What to Do about It 31
(b) Calling of Disciples: The Inner Circle (1:16-20) 31
For Further Study 33
9 The Disciples in Mark's Gospel 33
Homiletical Suggestions 34
Jesus and His Followers (1:14-20) 34
Following Jesus's Call on Your Life (1:16-20) 34
(c) One Day in Capernaum (1:21-39) 34
Homiletical Suggestions 41
Authority and Mission (1:21-39) 41
(d) Healing of the Leper (1:40-45) 41
For Further Study 44
10 Miracles in Mark's Gospel 44
Homiletical Suggestions 45
Compassion and Mission (140-45) 45
2 Controversy with Religious Leaders (2:1-3:6) 45
(a) Conflict over Healing and Forgiving Sin (2:1-12) 45
For Further Study 49
11 Jesus as the Son of Man in Mark's Gospel 49
Homiletical Suggestions 49
What the Hole in the Roof Reveals (2:1-12) 49
(b) Conflict over Eating with Sinners (2:13-17) 50
Homiletical Suggestions 51
Jesus and Hypocrites (2:13-17) 51
(c) Conflict over Fasting (2:18-22) 51
Homiletical Suggestions 53
New Wineskins for New Wine (2:1-3:6) 53
(d) Conflict over Eating on the Sabbath (2:23-28) 53
(e) Conflict over Healing on the Sabbath (3:1-6) 55
For Further Study 57
12 The Religious Leaders in Mark's Gospel Homiletical Suggestions 57
Jesus and God's Commands (2:23-3:6) 57
3 Summary and Initial Decision (3:7-35) 58
(a) Summary of Jesus's Healing in Galilee (3:7-12) 58
Homiletical Suggestions 60
Coming to a Decision about Jesus (3:7-35) 60
(b) Calling of Disciples: The Twelve (3:13-19) 60
Homilctical Suggestions 62
Discipleship Training (3:13-19) 62
(c) Rejection by Jesus's Family and by the Scribes (3:20-30) 62
For Further Study 65
13 Satan and the Demons in Mark's Gospel 65
Homiletical Suggestions 66
Choosing Sides (3:20 30) 66
(d) Jesus's True Family (3:31-35) 66
Homiletical Suggestions 68
A New Family (3:31-35) 68
C Jesus's Ministry on and around the Sea of Galilee (4:1- 8:26) 69
1 Cycle 1: Calming of the Sea (4:1-5:20) 69
(a) [Transition] Jesus's Ministry to the Crowd: The Parables Discourse (4:1-34) 69
(i) The Parable of the Soils (4:1-20) 70
For Further Study 76
14 The Kingdom of God in Mark's Gospel 76
Homiletical Suggestions 77
How Different People Hear the Message of the Kingdom (4:13-20) 77
(ii) Encouragements to Listen (4:21-25) 77
Homiletical Suggestions 79
Hiddenness and Revelation (4:21-25) 79
(iii) The Parable of the Seed Growing by Itself (4:26-29) 79
(iv) The Parable of the Mustard Seed (4:30-32) 80
Homiletical Suggestions 81
Parables about the Kingdom (4:1-34) 81
(v) Summary of Jesus's Teaching through Parables (4:33-34) 81
For Further Study 82
15 The Parables Discourse 82
(b) First Boat Scene: Stilling of the Storm (4:35-41) 82
For Further Study 84
16 The Three Boat Scenes in Mark (4:35-41; 6:45-52; 8:14-21) 84
17 Divine Man Christology in Mark 85
Homiletical Suggestions 86
The Power of Jesus and People of Faith (4:35-41) 86
Three Boat Scenes and a Life of Faith (Mark 4-8) 86
(c) Healing of the Gerasene Demoniac (5:1-20) 86
Homiletical Suggestions 92
Life outside the Tombs (5:1-20) 92
(a) The Faith of the Hemorrhaging Woman and Jairus (5:21-43) 92
For Further Study 99
18 Women in Mark's Gospel 99
19 Minor Characters in Mark's Gospel 99
Homiletical Suggestions 100
Examples of Faith (5:21-43) 100
(b) Unbelief at Nazareth (6:1-6) 100
For Further Study 102
20 Faith and Unbelief in Mark's Gospel 102
Homiletical Suggestions 102
The Wonder of Unbelief (6:1-6) 102
(c) Mission of the Disciples and the Unbelief of Herod (6:7-29) 102
Homiletical Suggestions 109
The Master and the Mission (6:7-29) 109
Herod's Recipe for a Disastrous Life (6:14-29) 109
3 Cycle 2: Walking on the Sea (6:30-56) 110
(a) Jesus's Ministry to the Crowd: Feeding of the Five Thousand (6:30-44) 110
For Further Study 114
21 The Feeding Miracles 114
Homiletical Suggestions 115
The Good Shepherd (6:30-44) 115
(b) Second Boat Scene: Walking on the Water (6:45-52) 115
Homiletical Suggestions 118
Tripping over Jesus's Walk on the Water (6:45-52) 118
(c) Healing at Gennesaret (6:53-56) 118
4 Interval: Matters of the Heart (7:1-37) 119
(a) Dispute over Tradition (7:1-23) 119
For Further Study 126
22 Jesus and the Law in Mark 126
Homiletical Suggestions 126
How to Be a Hypocrite (7:1-23) 126
(b) Healing of a Gentile Woman's Daughter (7:24-30) 127
Homiletical Suggestions 129
Jesus and Gentiles (7:24-30) 129
(c) Healing of a Gentile Who Is Deaf (7:31-37) 129
5 Cycle 3: Conversation on the Sea (8:1-26) 131
(a) Jesus's Ministry to the Crowd: Feeding of the Four Thousand (8:1-9) 131
Homiletical Suggestions 134
The Two Feeding Miracles: What the Disciples Should Have Said (6:30-44; 8:1-9) 134
(b) Test from the Pharisees (8:10-13) 134
(c) Third Boat Scene: Warning about Leaven (8:14-21) 136
Homiletical Suggestions 137
Forgetful Followers (8:14-21) 137
(d) [Transition] Healing of the Blind Man of Bethsaida (8:22-26) 138
Homiletical Suggestions 140
Three Difficult Healings (7:31-8:26) 140
II Jesus as the Suffering Son of God (8:27 16:8) 141
A Jesus's Ministry on the Way to Jerusalem (8:27-10:52) 141
For Further Study 142
23 Mark's Central Section (8:27 10:52) 142
1 Cycle 1: Prediction and Response (8:27-38) 142
(a) First Passion Prediction (8:27-31) 143
For Further Study 145
24 The Messianic Secret in Mark 145
(b) Misunderstanding by the Disciples: Rebuke of Peter (8:32-33) 145
(c) Jesus's Instructions on Discipleship: Taking Up the Cross (8:34-38) 146
Homiletical Suggestions 149
The Demands and Delights of Discipleship (8:34 38) 149
2 Interval: What Followers of Jesas Can Expect (9:1-29) 149
(a) The Transfiguration (9:1-8) 149
Homiletical Suggestions 152
What Can Followers of Jesus Expect Out of Life (9:1-29)? 152
The Glory of Jesus (9:1-8) 152
(b) Teaching on Elijah (9:9-13) 152
(c) Healing of the Possessed Boy (9:14-29) 154
Homiletical Suggestions 159
Help for the Unbelief of Believers (9:14-29) 159
3 Cycle 2: Prediction and Response (9:30-50) 159
(a) Second Passion Prediction (9:30-32) 159
(b) Misunderstanding by the Disciples: Debate about the Greatest (9:33-34) 160
(c) Jesus's Instructions on Discipleship: Learning to Be Last (9:35-50) 160
Homiletical Suggestions 165
The Way Up Is Down (9:33-37) 165
But They Are Not in Our Group (9:38-40) 165
4 Interval: What Jesus Expects of His Followers (10:1-31) 165
(a) Teaching on Divorce (10:1-12) 166
For Further Study 169
25 Jesus and Divorce 169
(b) Children and the Kingdom (10:13-16) 169
(c) The Rich Man (10:17-31) 170
Homiletical Suggestions 175
What Does Jesus Expect from His Followers (10:1-31)? 175
Finding Your Way through the Eye of the Needle (10:17-31) 175
5 Cycle 3: Prediction and Response (10:32-45) 175
(a) Third Passion Prediction (10:32-34) 175
(b) Misunderstanding by the Disciples; Request of James and John (10:35-41) 176
(c) Jesus's Instructions on Discipleship: Learning to Be a Servant (10:42-45) 179
For Further Study 181
26 The Meaning of Jesus's Death in Mark 181
Homiletical Suggestions 181
Disciples of a Perfect Master (10:35-45) 181
(d) [Transition] Healing of Blind Bartimaeus (10:46-52) 181
For Further Study 184
27 Jesus as "Son of David" in Mark 184
Homiletical Suggestions 184
The King and the Beggar (10:46-52) 184
B Jesus's Ministry at the Temple (11:1-13:37) 186
1 First Trip to the Temple (11:1-11) 186
(a) Travel to the Temple: The Triumphal Entry (11:1-10) 187
(b) Observation of the Temple and Departure to Bethany (11:11) 189
Homiletical Suggestions 190
Jesus as the Messianic King (11:1-11) 190
2 Second Trip to the Temple (11:12-19) 190
(a) Travel to the Temple: Cursing of the Fig Tree (11:12-14) 190
(b) Cleansing of the Temple (11:15 18) 191
(c) Departure out of the City (11:19) 193
3 Third Trip to the Temple (11:20-13:37) 193
(a) Travel to the Temple: Cursed Fig Tree and the Prayer of Faith (11:20-26) 194
For Further Study 196
28 Jesus and the Temple 196
Homiletical Suggestions 196
The Temple and (he Fig Tree (11:12-25) 196
(b) Teaching in the Temple (11:27-12:44) 197
(i) Question and Parable about Jesus's Authority (11:27-12:12) 197
Homiletical Suggestions 202
Does Jesus Have Authority from God (11:27-12:12)? 202
(ii) Question about Taxes (12:13-17) 202
(iii) Question about the Resurrection (12:18-27) 204
(iv) Question about the Greatest Commandment (12:28-34) 207
Homiletical Suggestions 209
What Does God Care About (12:28-34)? 209
(v) Critique of the Teaching of the Scribes (12:35-37) 209
For Further Study 210
29 Jesus as Lord 210
(vi) Critique of the Behavior of the Scribes (12:38-40) 210
(vii) Commendation of Sacrificial Devotion (12:41-44) 212
Homiletical Suggestions 213
What Docs God Expect from Those Who Lead His People (12:13 44) 213
(c) [Transition] Departure out of the Temple and Prediction of Its Destruction: The Eschatological Discourse (13:1-37) 213
(i) The Prediction of the Temple's Destruction (13:1 4) 213
(ii) The Beginning of Woes (13:5-13) 214
For Further Study 217
30 Mission to the Gentiles in Mark 217
Homiletical Suggestions 218
What Will the Present Age Be Like? (13:5-13) 218
(iii) The Days of the Tribulation (13:14-23) 218
(iv) The Coming of the Son of Man (13:24-27) 222
Homiletical Suggestions 223
What Will the End of the Age Be Like? (13:14-27) 223
(v) Warnings to Be Ready (13:28-37) 224
For Further Study 227
31 The Eschatological Discourse in Mark 227
Homiletical Suggestions 228
Four Warnings to Watch Out (13:5-37) 228
Two Parables: Ready to Be Ready (13:28-37) 228
C Jesus's Death and Resurrection in Jerusalem (14:1-16:8) 229
1 Anointing at Bethany and Betrayal Plot (14:1-11) 230
For Further Study 233
32 The Passion Narrative in Mark 233
Homiletical Suggestions 234
An Extravagant Gift to Jesus (14:3-9) 234
2 The Last Supper (14:12-25) 234
For Further Study 238
33 The Last Supper in Mark 238
Homiletical Suggestions 239
The Significance of the Supper (14:22-25) 239
3 Prayer and Arrest at Gethsemane (14:26-52) 239
Homiletical Suggestions 247
Two Contrasting Scenes (4:35-41; 14:26-42): Asleep in the Storm and Alone in the Garden 247
4 Trial before the Sanhedrin and Denials by Peter (14:53-72) 247
For Further Study 254
34 Jesus's Trial in Mark 254
Homiletical Suggestions 254
The Trial of Jesus and the Trial of Peter (14:53-72) 254
The Portrait of Jesus according to Made 14 254
5 Trial before Pilate and Mocking by Soldiers (15:1-20) 255
For Further Study 261
35 Crucifixion 261
Homiletical Suggestions 261
Three Mocking Scenes: The Foolishness of Rejecting Jesus 261
6 Crucifixion and Burial (15:21-47) 261
For Further Study 270
36 Jesus as the Son of God 270
Homiletical Suggestions 271
The Identity of Jesus according to Mark 15 271
7 Resurrection (16:1-8) 271
For Further Study 276
37 The Ending of Mark's Gospel 276
Homiletical Suggestions 277
He Is Risen Indeed (16:1-8) 277
Exegetical Outline 279
Grammar Index 283
Scripture Index 287
