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The Gospel of Mark was written to be heard, not read, by those eager to experience the good news of Jesus as the Christ. And it was meant to be heard as a whole –not read silently in little pieces. On most Sundays in the coming year we will listen to selections of readings from the Gospel of Mark. This course offers an introduction to the gospel and highlights some of its main themes andcharacteristics. The course is designed to help participants read, and more importantly hear, Mark’s Gospel more perceptively and more powerfully during the Liturgy of the Word at Mass.
Week 1
Setting the Scene: Preparing for Christ’s Ministry
This session sets the scene for Mark’s account of Jesus’ ministry, through a detailed study of the prologue (Mk 1:1-13). This prologue is only thirteen verses, yet it is a crucial, densely-packed section inviting careful study as a guide to the rest of Mark’s Gospel. Each section of the prologue is examined in turn, with an eye to how the sections fit together: the opening title; the function of the OT quotations; the role of John the Baptist (the significance of his clothing, diet, and actions); the baptism of Jesus (and its anticipation of the crucifixion); Jesus’ temptation in the desert.
Week 2
The Ministry Begins: Healing, Exorcisms and Controversy
This session explores the basic outline of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, which dominates the first part of Mark’s Gospel. It focuses on two types of story prominent in the first few chapters. First, it examines the different categories of miracle story in Mark’s account. Prominence is given to the healings and exorcisms, as indicators of God’s kingdom or “reign” breaking in through the ministry of Jesus. Second, it explores the growing theme of opposition to Jesus’ message of the kingdom, through a number of “conflict stories”, and how they prepare the reader for Jesus’ passion & death.
Week 3
What Kind of Messiah? An Enigmatic Christ
This session considers Mark’s distinctive portrayal of Jesus, an attractive yet mysterious character ultimately incomprehensible even to those closest to him. It considers the very human emotions attributed to Jesus by Mark, together with those of his actions and sayings which were more readily associated with the divine. Key titles of Jesus are examined (Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man), considering both how they might have been understood in the 1st cent. Jewish world, and how Mark’s use of them stretches their meaning. The ultimate goal is to answer the question: what kind of Messiah is Jesus the Messiah that Mark portrays?
Week 4
Learning to Follow Jesus: Disciples, Apostles and The Twelve
This session examines Mark’s complex but predominantly negative depiction of Jesus’ disciples. Following a definition of discipleship, it considers the relationship between “disciples”, “apostles”, and “the Twelve” in Mark’s Gospel. It then traces the changing face of the disciples throughout Mark’s narrative, from enthusiastic following through frustrating misunderstanding to fearful abandonment, and how the story of John the Baptist’s death serves as a commentary on their vocation and failure. Finally, it identifies minor characters who seem to function positively as “hidden disciples”, who do or say what true disciples should.
Week 5
Coming to See: The Journey to Jerusalem
This session reflects on the motif of the transformative journey in classic literature, before tracing the final journey of Jesus and his disciples from Caesarea Philippi through Galilee to Jerusalem and the cross. It considers how Mark has carefully crafted chs 8-10 by bracketing the section with the healings of two blind men, which function as commentaries on the disciples’ ability or inability to “see”. The repeated pattern of passion prediction, misunderstanding and correction is examined, in this crucial section which brings the demands of discipleship to the fore.
Reading for Session 1
Read Mark 1:1-13
Outline of Mark’s Story
Peter Edmonds SJ, “The Voice of Saint Mark: Year B and the Gospel of Mark” on Thinking Faith: The Online Journal of the Jesuits in Britain Posted on 5th December 2011 and amended in December 2014 and again in November 2017 to account for differences between the beginnings of these liturgical years.
Rowan Williams, “The Beginning of the Gospel” in Meeting God in Mark, SPCK London 2014, pp. 3-25.
Brian Purfield, Mark Among the Gospels, Notes for Private Use, London Jesuit Centre, December 2023.
Further Reading
Daniel J. Harrington SJ, “The Evangelist and His Gospel” in Meeting St. Mark Today: Understanding the Man, His Mission and His Message, Loyola Press Chicago 2011, pp.3-25.
Bible Project, Gospel of Mark Summary: A Complete Animated Overview.
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/mark
Paula Gooder, Two videos on YouTubeintroducing the Gospel of Mark
(5) THE GOSPEL OF MARK PART ONE By PAULA GOODER - YouTube
THE GOSPEL OF MARK PART 2 BY PAULA GOODER (youtube.com)
Suggested Questions for Reflection
1. Why did you choose to sign up for this course? What do you hope to gain from your study of and reflection on the Gospel according to Mark?
2. What is your prior knowledge of the Gospel according to Mark? In what ways do you think of this Gospel as “good news”?
3. How do the Old Testament quotations from Malachi and Isaiah prepare the reader for what follows?
4. According to Mark, who is John the Baptist and what role does he play?
5. What questions do you have about the baptism and temptation of Jesus? Has Mark’s account raised more questions for you, or provided answers to your prior questions?
Summary of Session 1
Reading for Session 2
Read Mark Chapters 1-8 – especially Mark Chapters 1-3.
Further Reading
Peter Edmonds SJ, “Saint Mark the Pastor ”on Thinking Faith: The Online Journal of the Jesuits in Britain Posted on 22nd April 2010
Brendan Byrne SJ, “The First Signs of Opposition: 2:1-3:6” in A Costly Freedom: A Theological Reading of Mark’s Gospel, Liturgical Press, Collegeville Minnesota, 2008, pp. 52-66.
Brian Purfield, Understanding God’s Kingdom: Teaching in Parables, Notes for Private Use, London Jesuit Centre, December 2023.
Nicholas King SJ, “The Mystery of the Parables” in The Strangest Gospel: A Study of Mark, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, Buxhall, Stowmarket Suffolk, 2006, pp. 23-31.
Brian Purfield, Studying the Gospel of Mark: A Workbook for Beginners, Notes for Private Use, London Jesuit Centre, December 2023.
Suggested Questions for Reflection
1. What does the “kingdom of God” mean? Why might “reign” or “rule” of God be a better translation?
2. What different types of miracle story are found in Mark’s Gospel? What are the differences between them?
3. How should a contemporary Christian understand the stories of Jesus casting out demons?
4. Why might the message of the kingdom of God provoke such opposition, including from religious people?
5. Did you find anything unexpected, surprising or disturbing in this session? If so, explain what it was and why you found it that way.
Summary of Session 2
Reading for Session 3
Mark 1:40-45 Jesus and the leper
Further Reading
Brian Purfield, The Significance of Geography in Mark’s Gospel, Notes for Private Use, London Jesuit Centre, December 2023.
José Antonio Pagola, “Finding the right name for Jesus” in Jesus: An Historical Approximation, Convivium Press, Colombia 2012, pp. 430-439.
Suggested Questions for Reflection
1. Do you find Mark’s presentation of Jesus’ emotions reassuring or disturbing? Why?
2. What indications does Mark provide that Jesus is no ordinary human?
3. How does the Jewish concept of “Son of God” differ from our Christian belief in Christ as God the Son?
4. Which is the most important Christological title in Mark: Messiah, Son of God, or Son of Man?
5. Did you find anything unexpected, surprising or disturbing in this session? If so, explain what it was and why you found it that way.
Summary of Session 3
Reading for Session 4
Mark 1:16-20 Jesus Calls the First Disciples
Mark 3:13-19 Jesus Appoints the Twelve
Mark 6:7-13 The Mission of the Twelve
Mark 5:1-20 Jesus heals the Gerasene Demoniac
Further Reading
Niall Leahy SJ, “Faith and Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark” on Thinking Faith: The Online Journal of the Jesuits in Britain Posted on 23rd April2020
Morna D. Hooker, “If Anyone would be My Disciple…” in The Message of Mark, Epworth Press, London 1983, pp. 105-121.
David M. Stanley SJ, “The Call of and their Subsequent Mission” in The Call to Discipleship, The Spiritual Exercises with the Gospel of St. Mark, The Way Supplement, Numbers 43/44, January 1982, The Way Publications, London, pp. 58-68.
Suggested Questions for Reflection
1. What is a disciple, & what does discipleship entail?
2. How do you find yourself responding to the disciples as characters through the Gospel? Do you in any way identify with them?
3. How does the death of John the Baptist fit into the story of the mission of the Twelve in Mk 6?
4. From your reading of Mk so far, how many “hidden disciples” have you been able to identify? What characteristics of discipleship does each display?
5. Did you find anything unexpected, surprising or disturbing in this session? If so, explain what it was and why you found it that way.
Summary of Session 4
Reading for Session 5
Mark 8-10 but especially:
Mark 8:22-26 –The healing of a blind man at Bethsaida
Mark 8:27-33 –Peter seeing and not seeing.
Mark 10:46-52 –Bartimaeus the Model Disciple
Further Reading
Brian Purfield, Looking Beyond the Story: Questions about the Future (Mark 13), Notes for Private Use, London Jesuit Centre, December 2023.
Suggested Questions for Reflection
1.What books or films do you know in which a transformative journey is a key element of the plot? How might these help us understand this section of Mk?
2.What indications are there that Mk wants us to understand the healing of the blind man at Bethsaida in a symbolic way?
3.In what ways does Mk use the language of sight & blindness in this section?
4.What are the three ways in which the disciples misunderstand Jesus’ predictions of his approaching passion?
5. Did you find anything unexpected, surprising or disturbing in this session? If so, explain what it was and why you found it that way.
Summary of Session 5
We would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to provide us with feedback on your experience with our course. Please complete an evaluation form here:
Evaluation Form - Mark My Words · ChurchSuite Forms
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to this request.
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Brian is a tutor in the theology stream. Originally from Birmingham, Brian studied philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University, Rome and later gained a Masters Degree in Franciscan Studies from St. Bonaventure’s University, New York. He has given retreats and courses throughout the UK and Ireland, North America, the Far East and Australia. He taught at the International Franciscan Study, Canterbury and at Campion House, Osterley before joining the Mount Street Jesuit Team when it began in 2004. Brian also taught at Heythrop College on the Foundation Degree in Pastoral Ministry. His particular interest is in opening up the Scriptures to people, young and old, at a level that they can understand and seek to apply to their daily lives. Brian is married to Deborah who works for CAFOD. They live in Buckinghamshire.
