Echoing the Word > Member's Section

If you are not a member you can subscribe now. Existing members may login.

	Echoing the Word	06-02-2006
	Vol. 5 No. 1, 2006 The Gospel of Mark	Liturgies & Activities

Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark

Nicola Edghill

Did you know? The Gospel of Mark was written between 65-75 CE. Throughout history many scholars assumed that this Gospel was an abbreviation of the longer Gospels of Matthew and Luke, but in the last 150 years this idea has been reversed. Most scholars now believe that Mark’s Gospel formed the foundations for the later synoptic Gospels. Why is it important to know which Gospel came first?

ACTIVITY 1

Read the opening of the Gospel of Mark – Chapter 1:1-11 – and answer the following questions.

a) What event does Mark begin his narrative with?

b) Why do you think the author chose to begin the gospel with this event?

c) The Gospel of Luke begins with the births of John the Baptist and of Jesus. Matthew’s gospel also begins with Jesus’ birth. How is the gospel of Mark different? Can you suggest any reasons for this difference?

Thinking about Discipleship

We’ve all heard about the disciples – those people in the gospels who chose to follow

Jesus, to listen to His teachings, and to try to spread His message. But what does discipleship really mean? The gospel of Mark is filled with lessons that can help us to understand what being a disciple is all about.

ACTIVITY 2

a) Draw a table in your book with three columns and five rows. Use the headings Reference, Summary, and Message for the columns. Leave yourself enough space to add information as you work.

b) Now read the following references from the Gospel of Mark and complete the table by adding a short summary of the action and a description of what you think is the message
of the passage.

Use these references:

Mark 1:16-20 The first four disciples are called.

Mark 4:35-41 The calming of the storm.

Mark 8: 34-35 The condition of following Christ.

Mark 9:33-37 Who is the greatest?

Mark 10:13-16 Jesus and the children.

c) What requirements is Mark outlining for true discipleship? Make a list of these qualities and then rank them in order of importance. Compare your list with a partner. Did you rank the qualities of a disciple in the same order? Or are your lists different? Why might different people have different ideas about what it takes to be a disciple?