The Gospel of Mark
Introduction
To begin a study of Mark, read the entire Gospel as a story in one or several settings close together. If you read the book silently, it may only take you about an hour to complete the entire reading. Others may prefer reading out loud in a group, or use of an audio track available from YouTube or Bible Gateway, which will take about 1 1/2 hours total.
As you read/listen, pay attention to and note in your journal:
- Settings;
- Characters;
- Key words and phrases;
- Sequences and Repeated actions;
- Responses of those present.
Ponder Mark’s description of Jesus during this series, using first your own thoughts, emotions and imagination, along with that of your partner or group in the study. Only then, if you desire to explore other’s words and study, you might find the resources below useful to consider.
Mark was the first written account of Jesus’ life that we have in the Bible, likely written about 65 AD when persecution against Christians was common in the Roman Empire. The general consensus is that Mark was a cousin of Barnabas, accompaning him on some of the early journeys to believers in Asia Minor. It is also thought that Mark was a companion of the disciple Peter. Peter refers to Mark as ”son” in his letters, I Peter 1:13; II Peter 1:15. Mark often quotes Jesus’ words in the Aramaic that Jesus would have used in his daily life and teaching. Listen to Jesus as you read.
Commentaries and Resources for further study
Myers, Chad, Dennis, Marie, Nangle, Joseph, Moe-Lobeda, Cynthia & Taylor, Stuart, “Say to This Mountain”: Mark’s Story of Discipleship, Ed. Karen Lattea, Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY, 1996.
Myers, Chad, Binding the Strong Man: A political reading of Mark’s story of Jesus, Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY, 1988
Steward, Sonja M., Following Jesus: More about Young Children and Worship, Geneva Press, Louisville, KY, 2000.
Card, Michael, Mark: The Gospel of Passion, Biblical Imagination Series, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 2012.
Carillo Alday, Salvador, El Evangelio Según San Marcos, Espana, Editorial Verbo Divino, 2008.
Aguirre Monaaterio, Rafael, Cernabé, Carmen, Gil, Carlos, Guía de Lectura de los Evangelios de Mateo, Marcos y Lucas, Editorial Eva.
INDEX FOR ENTIRE SERIES – EN ENGLISH – EN ESPAÑOL
Sojourners y Peregrinas 
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