Outline of Mark

Dr. Gail E. Terrell
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Hamilton, Ohio

  1. The preparation of the Servant (1:1-13).
    1. Ministry of the John, the first Baptist and forerunner of Jesus (1:1-8).
      1. John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord (1:1-3).
      2. John the Baptist preached repentance from sin (1:4).
      3. John’s message was widely heard and seen (1:5).
      4. Baptism follows repentance (1:5).
        1. Baptism shows symbolically that the repentance involves the death and burial (immersion) of sin and self righteousness (1:5).
        2. Although later to be revealed and not initially understood by John the Baptist, baptism shows the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the promised Messiah (Romans 6:3-5).
      5. Humility of John the Baptist (1:6-7).
      6. John the Baptist baptized Jesus (1:9-11).
        1. John’s baptism was from heaven (11:30-33).
        2. Jesus walked from Nazareth of Galilee to the Jordan River, a distance of sixty miles, to receive Scriptural baptism (1:9).
        3. Jesus honored baptism and was Himself marvelously honored (1:10-11).
          1. First time in recorded history the three Persons of the Godhead were heard and observed together (1:10-11)!
          2. Holy Spirit in the form of a dove came visibly upon Christ the Son, and God the Father spoke as a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (1:10-11).
    2. The temptation of Jesus (1:12-13).

  2. The Great Galilean Ministry of Jesus (1:14-7:23).
    1. The message of Jesus: 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
    2. Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be His disciples and become fishers of men (1:16-20).   They had been baptized disciples of John the Baptist (Acts 1:22).   Jesus was the Pastor (John 10:11,14) of this first church made up of the Apostles (I Corinthians 12:28).
    3. The ministry of the Servant, Jesus Christ our Lord (1:21-5:43).
      1. Jesus healed a man with an unclean spirit in Capernaum (1:21-28).
      2. Jesus healed Simon’s wife’s mother of a fever (1:29-31).
      3. Jesus healed multitudes (1:32-34) and preached throughout Galilee (1:35-39).
      4. Jesus healed a leper (1:40-45) and a palsied (paralytic) man (2:1-12).
      5. Jesus called Levi, known as Matthew (2:13-17).
      6. Jesus instructs concerning fasting (2:21-22).
      7. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath (2:23-3:5).
        1. Jesus restored the withered hand on the Sabbath (3:1-3).
        2. Jesus rebukes hypocritical Sabbath keepers (3:4-5).
      8. Jesus healed the multitudes (3:6-12).
      9. Jesus called, ordained, and sent forth the members of His first church to preach the gospel (3:13-21)
        1. Jesus called the apostles unto Himself and assembled them as the first church members (3:13).   Called is the translation of the Greek word proskalesamenos, the root kaleo is also the root of ekklesia, the Greek word translated church.
        2. Jesus empowered them for His work and sent them forth to preach the gospel (3:14).
        3. Churches have false professors such as Judas amongst them who are unknown to the true membership of the church, but known to God (3:19).
        4. Jesus empowered with evidences of authenticity (miracles – healing the sick, casting out devils) these members of His church so they could preach the gospel (3:14-15).
      10. Jesus warns against blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (3:22-30).
      11. Jesus contrasts the natural family (His mother and half-brothers) with the new relationships in the family of God (3:31-35).
      12. Jesus teaches using parables (4:1-34).
        1. Parable of the sower (4:1-9), explained (4:13-20).
        2. Purpose of parables (4:10-12).
        3. Parable of the candle (4:21-25).
        4. Parable of the seed growing in secret (4:26-29).
        5. Parable of the mustard seed (4:30-32).
        6. Christ used many parables (4:33-34).
      13. Jesus calmed the storm (4:35-41), and healed maniac of Gadara (5:1-20).
      14. Jesus healed woman with issue of blood and raised Jarius’ daughter (5:21-43).
      15. Jesus teaches in unbelieving Nazareth and villages of Galilee (6:1-6).
    4. Jesus sends out members of His first church to preach the gospel (6:7-13).
      1. The twelve Apostles went out two by two, and preached that men should repent (6:12).
      2. Repent means a change of mind, heart, and will.   This church preached the same message of repentance that the Lord’s churches preach today.
      3. Before the Bible was complete, God empowered certain preachers with the ability to perform miracles in order to demonstrate that they truly spoke the message of God (6:13; I Corinthians 13:8-10).
    5. John the Baptist is martyred for the faith (6:14-20).
    6. The Lord’s church shares blessings, burdens, and ministers to others (6:30-44).
      1. After marvelous ministry, the first church members assembled, reported to Jesus, and then rested (6:30-31).
      2. The first church helped feed 5000 people.   This example encourages churches to minister and provide for those who come to hear Jesus (6:32-44).
    7. Jesus walked on Sea of Galilee (6:45-52) and heals at Gennesaret (6:53-56).
    8. Jesus rebukes the hypocritical traditions of the Pharisees (7:1-23).

  3. The ministry of withdrawal and the Perean ministries:   instructions for the Lord’s church (7:24-10:52).
    1. Jesus withdraws with His church to Phoenicia and heals the Phoenician woman’s daughter (7:24-30).
    2. Jesus heals a deaf and dumb man (7:31-37).
    3. Jesus and His church feed 4000 people who come to hear God’s Word (8:1-9)
    4. Jesus warns concerning the leaven of the Pharisees (8:10-21).
    5. Jesus heals the blind man (8:22-26).
    6. Peter’s confession of faith in Christ (8:27-32).
    7. Jesus’ first announcement of His suffering, death, and resurrection (8:33).
    8. Jesus instructs concerning the true use of life and the value of a soul (8:34-38).
    9. The transfiguration of Jesus on a high mountain (9:1-13).
    10. The necessity of faith, healing of the epileptic (9:14-20).
    11. The second prediction of the suffering of Jesus and the resurrection (9:30-32).
    12. Necessity of humility (9:33-37), and proper judgment (9:38-41).
    13. Severity and reality of hell (9:42-50).
    14. Jesus teaches about marriage and divorce (10:1-12).
    15. Jesus and the children (10:13-14).
    16. The rich young ruler: Jesus instructs concerning the perils of wealth and the reward of sacrifice (10:17-31).
    17. The third announcement of the death and resurrection of Jesus (10:32-34).
    18. Jesus rebukes selfish ambition (10:35-45), heals blind Bartimaeus (10:46-52).

  4. The climax and conclusion of the ministry of Jesus (chapters 11-16).
    1. Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (11:1-11), cursing unfaithful fig tree (11:12-14).
    2. Cleansing of the temple (11:15-19).
    3. Jesus instructs concerning prayer and faith (11:20-25).
    4. Christ’s authority proclaimed against opposition (11:27-33).
    5. Parable of the vineyard and husbandmen (12:1-12).
    6. Questions and answers about tribute, law, and resurrection (12:13-37).
    7. The Deity of Christ (12:35-40).
    8. The widow’s mite (12:41-44).

  5. The prophecy of the Servant (13:1-37).
    1. The temple’s destruction foretold (13:1-4).
    2. Signs of the coming of Jesus (13:5-13).
    3. The Great Tribulation (13:14-23).
    4. Second Coming of Christ described (13:24-27).
    5. Parable of the fig tree (13:28-31).
    6. The necessity of being ready always in view of the unknown day and hour of Christ’s coming (13:32-37).

  6. Death and resurrection of Jesus, the suffering Servant (14:1-15:47).
    1. Conspiracy against Christ (14:1-2).
    2. Anointing of Jesus at Bethany by Mary (14:3-9).
    3. Betrayal by Judas (14:10-11).
    4. Jesus keeps the last Passover with His church (14:12-25).
      1. After the Passover meal, the traitor Judas departs immediately (John 13:30).
        1. Note that Judas never addressed Jesus as Lord at any time.
        2. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 12:3).
      2. After Judas departed the church body, Jesus observed the first Lord’s Supper in His church (14:22-25).
        1. Jesus gave to each of the disciples a portion of the bread to eat which He described as symbolic of His body (14:22).
        2. Jesus gave to each of the disciples a portion of the cup to drink which He described as symbolic of His blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins (14:24, Matthew 26:28).
        3. Churches continue this church ordinance as a special time for the membership of the church body to remember the Lord’s death until He comes again.   For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come (I Corinthians 11:26).
        4. After Jesus instituted the church ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives (14:26).
          1. Hebrews 2:12 with Psalm 22:22 shows that when the disciples and Christ sang after the first Lord’s Supper, that assembly was a true church of the Lord Jesus Christ in which they sang.
      3. The agony and prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane (14:32-42).
      4. The arrest of Jesus (14:43-52).
      5. The trials of Jesus (14:57-15:20).
      6. The crucifixion of Jesus (15:21-41).
      7. The burial of Jesus (15:42-47).
      8. Christ’s great resurrection day was Sunday, the first day of the week (16:1-20).
        1. The resurrection of Christ demonstrated with power that Jesus was all that He claimed to be (Romans 1:4).
        2. This resurrection day was the end of the Old Testament Sabbaths, which symbolized the end of the Mosaic dispensation.   Our Lord and King, Jesus Christ, was in the grave on the Old Testament Sabbath; therefore, Jesus has the right to displace the Old Testament Sabbath with a far better day, the first day of the week, the great day of the resurrection!   (Matthew 12:8; Revelation 1:10).
      9. Jesus gave to His church His Great Commission (Mark 16:14-18).   This commission was not given to individuals, for they all died and any commission given to them died with them.   The first church gathered together (16:14), then the Great Commission was given to this first church as an institution (16:15-18) which would then beget other churches, and this resulted in succeeding churches until now.   The age long Great Commission is still active and obeyed by the Lord’s churches.

  7. Honor Christ!   To honor Christ, we must honor the church as an institution which Jesus continues to build.   Christ means for all of His people to do all of His work in all of the centuries through all of His churches in all of the world (Hebrews 10:25)!