A structure of the Gospel according to Mark

There are several ways of grouping the various sections of the Gospel. We propose one which has the advantage of taking up the words of the evangelist expressed by his first words: "Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God". Thus, our plan is divided into two large parts, each of which takes up the two titles attributed to Jesus: Christ and Son of God; and each of its parts ends with the recognition of this title, first Peter who recognizes in Jesus the Christ (end of the first part), then the centurion who recognizes in Jesus the Son of God (end of the second part). We use the word "mystery" for each of these parts, because Mark's Gospel is a long journey to gradually discover the identity of Jesus.

   The mystery of Christ (messiah) 1: 1 – 8: 30

Preparation
  • Invitation to conversion by John the Baptist (1: 2-8)
  • Baptism of Jesus and his election by God (1: 9-13)

1: 1 – 1: 13
Jesus and the people
  • Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (1: 14-15)
  • Choice of the first disciples (1: 16-20)
  • A typical day of Jesus (1: 21-39)
  • Multiple healings and disputes, and decision of the Pharisees to kill him (1: 40 – 3: 6)

1: 14 – 3: 6
Jesus and his family
  • Summary of Jesus' activity (3: 7-12)
  • Institution of the Twelve (3: 13-19)
  • Dispute about the source of Jesus' power (3: 20-30)
  • The true parentage of Jesus (3: 31-35)
  • Teaching in parables (4: 1-34)
  • Various miracle stories (4: 35 – 5: 43)
  • Conclusion: His own people do not believe in Jesus (6: 1-6)

3: 7 – 6: 6
Jesus and his disciples
  • Sending the Twelve on mission (6: 7-13)
  • Herod and the death of John the Baptist (6: 14-29)
  • Section on bread (6: 30 – ; 8: 21)
    • 1st feeding of the crowd (6: 30-41)
    • Walking on the waters (6: 45-52)
    • Summary of the healings of Jesus (6: 53-56)
    • Dispute with the Pharisees (7: 1-23)
    • Faith of the Syro-Phoenician woman and healing (7: 24-30)
    • 2nd feeding of the crowd (8: 1-10)
    • Refusal of the signs and blindness of the disciples (8: 11-21)
  • Healing of a blind man (8: 22-26)
  • Peter recognizes in Jesus the Christ (8: 27-30)

6: 7 – 8: 30
"You are the Christ (messiah)" (8: 29)

   The mystery of the son of man (8: 31 – 16: 8)

The way of the son of man
  • 1st announcement of his death (8: 31-33)
    • Teaching on discipleship (8: 34-38)
    • Anticipation of death: the transfiguration (9: 1-13)
    • Healing of a possessed child (9: 14-29)
  • 2nd announcement of his death (9: 30-32)
    • Teaching on the Christian life (9:33 - 10:31)
      • Being great in the community (9: 33-37)
      • Be open to collaboration (9: 38-41)
      • Avoid destroying the faith of the weak (9: 42-50)
      • Respecting God's plan for marriage (10:1-12)
      • The child as model (10: 13-16)
      • Wealth as an obstacle (10: 17-31)
  • 3rd announcement of his death (10: 32-34)
    • Teaching on the servant attitude of the disciple (10: 35 - 45)
  • Healing of a blind man and the way to Jerusalem (10: 46-52)

8: 31 – 10: 52
Judgment of Jerusalem
  • Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (11: 1-11)
  • Judgment in deed and word (11: 12-26)
    • The barren fig tree (11: 12-14)
    • The sellers driven out of the temple (11: 15-19)
    • Teaching about the barren fig tree (11: 20-26)
  • Five disputes (11: 27 – 12: 44)
    • On the authority of Jesus (11: 27 – 12: 12)
    • On the tax due to Caesar (12: 13-17)
    • On the resurrection of the dead (12: 18-27)
    • On the first commandment (12: 28-34)
    • On Psalm 110 (12:35-37)
  • Final teaching: warning and the true gift (12: 38-44)
  • Apocalyptic Discourse on the Ruin of the Temple (13: 1-37)

11: 1 – 13: 37
Passion and resurrection
  • Introduction (14: 1-2)
  • The anointing of Bethany (14: 3-9)
  • Betrayal of Judas (14: 10-11)
  • The Passover meal (14:12-31)
  • Gethsemane and the arrest of Jesus (14: 32-52)
  • The trial before the Sanhedrin (14: 53-72)
  • The trial before Pilate (15: 1-20)
  • The crucifixion and death of Jesus (15: 21-41)

14: 1 – 16: 8
"This man was truly son of God!" (15: 39)

  • The burial (15: 42-47)
  • The women at the tomb (16: 1-8)

Non-Marcan addition by an author who knows the Gospel of Luke: Mk 16: 9-20