THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM (Part7)

With this pericope the gospel is divided into almost two equal parts in a carefully structured narrative to throw some of the issues and needs confronting his community into sharper focus.

The first part describes Jesus’s ministry in Galilee.

· Galilee was more than a geographical designation; Mark invested it with theological meaning. It stood for the disclosure of Jesus as the end-time agent of God. It also represented the inauguration of the mission to the Gentiles (Healing of the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman). It was this stage in the expansion of Christianity which extended to include Mark’s own community.

· In this first part, also, Mark placed strong emphasis upon the powerful deeds of Jesus who confronted both the hostile civil and religious leaders and the demons with the invincible authority of the hidden Messiah. We find that he taught and preached with an authority that far exceeded that of the Pharisees and he also subdued the supernatural forces that were opposed to God.

· The disciples, after they had been chosen, were intimately associated with Jesus throughout this period. Though they were attracted to Jesus and fascinated by his deeds, they were unable to understand comprehend the real meaning of all that they were experiencing. At this stage they simply could not believe who he was disclosed to be or what he was about.
 

OUTLINE OF THE GOSPEL OF MARK

I.  Introduction 1: 1 - 13

A. The message of John the Baptist 1: 1 - 8
B. Baptism of Jesus 1: 9 - 11
C. Temptation 1: 12 - 13

II The ministry of Jesus in and around Galilee 1: 14 - 8: 26.

A. In Galilee 1: 14 - 5: 43

1. Ministry of teaching and miracles 1: 14 - 45
a. The preaching of Jesus 1: 14 - 15
b. Call of the first disciples 1: 16 - 20
c. Summary:  teaching with authority 1: 21 - 22
d. Exorcism and healings 1: 23 - 38
e. Summary: preaching and teaching 1: 39
f: Healing of the leper 1: 40 - 45

2. Conflicts and controversies 2: 1 - 3: 35
a. Healing of the paralytic 2: 1 - 12
b. Call of Levi 2: 13 - 14
c. Criticism of table-fellowship 2: 15 - 17
d. Question of fasting 2: 18 - 22
e.. Controversies over Sabbath observance 2: 23 - 3: 6
f. Withdrawal and appointment of the Twelve 3: 7 - 19
g. Controversies over the source of Jesus’ power 3: 20 - 30
h. True relatives of Jesus 3: 31 - 35.

3. Teaching by the sea 4: 1 - 34
a. Parable of the soils 4: 1 - 9
b. Theory of parable confusion 4: 10 - 12
c. Allegorical interpretation 4: 13 - 20
d. Parables of the kingdom 4: 21 - 32

2. Summary: a private explanation of parables 4: 33 - 34

4. Miracles by the sea 4: 35 - 5: 43
a. Subduing the storm 4: 35 - 41
b. The Gerasene demoniac 5: 1 - 20
d. Healing of woman with haemorrhage 5: 25 - 34
e. Resuscitation of Jairus’ daughter 5: 35 - 43

B. Around the Galilean region 6: 1- 8:26

1. Opposition stimulates expansion of mission 6: 1 - 29
a. Rejection in Nazareth 6: 1 - 6
b. The Twelve sent out 6: 7 - 13
c. John the Baptist killed by Herod 6: 14 - 29

2. Clear signs for those who and see 6: 30 - 8: 26
a. Feeding of five thousand 6: 30 - 44
b. Jesus walks on the water 6: 45 - 52
c. Summary: enthusiasm for Jesus 6: 53 - 56
d. Controversy over cultic defilement 7: 1 - 23
e. Exorcism: the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter 7: 24 - 30
f. Healing of deaf-mute 7: 31 - 37
g. Feeding of four thousand 8: 11 - 13
h. Refusal of sign to Pharisees 8: 11 - 13
I. Mystery of the miraculous feedings 8: 14 - 21
j. Healing of blind man at Bethsaida 8: 22 - 26

III  The Confession of Peter at Caesarea Philippi 8: 27 - 30
 

(to be continued)