Mark Study – Set 1 (Chapters 1–4)
Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry and the Power of the Kingdom
1. Summary of the Chapters
- Chapter 1: John the Baptist prepares the way. Jesus is baptised and affirmed as God’s Son, then tempted in the wilderness. He begins preaching, calling disciples, healing the sick, and casting out demons—His authority is evident.
- Chapter 2: Jesus heals a paralytic, declaring forgiveness of sins, which angers religious leaders. He calls Levi (Matthew), dines with sinners, and teaches about new wine in new wineskins.
- Chapter 3: Opposition increases as religious leaders plot against Him. Jesus heals on the Sabbath, appoints twelve apostles, and teaches about the true family of God—those who do His will.
- Chapter 4: Jesus teaches in parables: the sower, lamp, growing seed, and mustard seed. He calms a storm, revealing His authority over nature.
2. Key Themes and Lessons
| Theme | Lesson |
|---|---|
| Authority of Jesus | His power is evident in preaching, healing, forgiving sins, and calming storms. |
| Kingdom of God | The Kingdom grows mysteriously yet powerfully, like seed that multiplies. |
| Opposition and Faith | Religious leaders resist, but disciples are called to trust. |
| New Life | Jesus brings something radically new—new wineskins for a new covenant. |
| True Family | Belonging to God is based on obedience, not bloodline. |
3. Encouragement
Mark starts fast—Jesus bursts onto the scene healing, forgiving, calling, restoring. Do you see it?
The Kingdom is not talk—it is power!
And He did not just calm storms on Galilee, He calms the storms in your life too.
The paralytic was lowered through the roof, forgiven before he was healed—that is the heart of God!
He calls ordinary people, even tax collectors, to follow Him.
Sister, you are not disqualified.
The world may resist, religion may question, but the Kingdom is here, and you are part of His family.
4. Reflection Questions
- How do I see the authority of Jesus revealed in my life?
- Where am I still trying to fit “new wine” into “old wineskins”?
- What does it mean for me to belong to God’s family, defined by obedience to Him?
- How can I live with faith in the face of storms and opposition?
- What step of faith is Jesus calling me to take, like the disciples who left everything to follow?
Mark Study – Set 2 (Chapters 5–8)
Miracles, Teaching, and the Revelation of Christ
1. Summary of the Chapters
- Chapter 5: Jesus delivers a man possessed by many demons (Legion), heals a bleeding woman, and raises Jairus’ daughter from the dead—demonstrating power over demons, disease, and death.
- Chapter 6: In His hometown, Jesus is rejected. He sends out the twelve to preach and heal. John the Baptist is executed by Herod. Jesus feeds 5,000, walks on water, and heals many who touch His cloak.
- Chapter 7: Jesus teaches that true defilement comes from within, not from external rituals. He heals a Gentile woman’s daughter and a deaf-mute man, showing His compassion extends beyond Israel.
- Chapter 8: Jesus feeds 4,000, warns against the “yeast” of the Pharisees, and heals a blind man in stages. Peter declares, “You are the Christ.” Jesus foretells His death and calls disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him.
2. Key Themes and Lessons
| Theme | Lesson |
|---|---|
| Authority Over All | Jesus reigns over demons, sickness, storms, and even death. |
| Faith and Rejection | Some believe with great faith, while others reject Him—even close to home. |
| True Purity | Holiness flows from the heart, not traditions or outward rituals. |
| Revelation of Christ | Peter’s confession is central—Jesus is Messiah, but His path is the cross. |
| Cost of Discipleship | Following Jesus means self-denial and taking up the cross. |
3. Encouragement
Think about it—Legion, thousands of demons, gone with one word.
A desperate father, a bleeding woman, both restored by faith.
That is the Jesus who lives in you!
He is not intimidated by storms, sickness, or rejection.
And when Peter said, ‘You are the Christ,’ Jesus revealed what that meant:
not a throne first, but a cross.
Sister, that is the life He invites you into—not comfort, but transformation.
You do not lose when you lay down your life—you find who you truly are in Him.
The Kingdom is not in theory, it is alive in you today.
4. Reflection Questions
- Where do I need to trust Jesus’ authority over the storms, sickness, or struggles in my life?
- How does the rejection Jesus faced encourage me when I feel misunderstood or opposed?
- What “traditions” or outward habits might distract me from true heart purity?
- Who do I say Jesus is—and how does that confession shape my life?
- What does it practically look like for me to “take up my cross” each day?
Mark Study – Set 3 (Chapters 9–12)
Transfiguration, Teachings, and Confrontations in Jerusalem
1. Summary of the Chapters
- Chapter 9: Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John—His glory revealed alongside Moses and Elijah. He heals a boy with an unclean spirit, foretells His death, and teaches on humility, service, and dealing radically with sin.
- Chapter 10: Jesus teaches about marriage and divorce, blesses children, and challenges the rich young ruler to give up everything and follow Him. He again predicts His death. James and John ask for greatness, but Jesus teaches true greatness is serving. He heals blind Bartimaeus, who calls Him “Son of David.”
- Chapter 11: Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey—welcomed as King with shouts of “Hosanna!” He curses a fig tree, cleanses the temple, and teaches about faith in prayer. Religious leaders begin challenging His authority.
- Chapter 12: Jesus tells the parable of the tenants, exposing the leaders’ rejection of God’s Son. He answers questions about taxes, resurrection, and the greatest commandment—love God and love neighbour. He warns against hypocritical teachers and praises the widow’s offering.
2. Key Themes and Lessons
| Theme | Lesson |
|---|---|
| Jesus’ Glory | The Transfiguration affirms Him as God’s Son, the fulfilment of the Law and Prophets. |
| True Greatness | Greatness in the Kingdom comes through humility and service. |
| Faith and Sacrifice | Following Jesus means surrendering everything and trusting Him fully. |
| Authority of Christ | His teaching, actions, and entry into Jerusalem declare Him King. |
| Love as Fulfilment | Loving God and neighbour is the heart of Kingdom life. |
3. Encouragement
On the mountain, the Father said again: ‘This is My beloved Son—listen to Him.’
That is still the call today. Do you see Him?
He is not just a teacher—He is the radiance of God’s glory.
And when Bartimaeus cried out, Jesus stopped for him. He always stops for faith!
Sister, greatness is not in climbing ladders—it is in washing feet.
That is who you are now: a servant who shines His love.
The widow’s small coin meant more than riches—why?
Because God looks at the heart. Live from that place.
See His glory, love with His heart, and serve with His life.
4. Reflection Questions
- How does the Transfiguration shape the way I see Jesus and my own walk with Him?
- In what ways can I embrace humility and servant-heartedness in daily life?
- What “riches” or attachments might Jesus be asking me to surrender to follow Him more fully?
- How do I respond to Jesus’ authority in areas where I tend to resist?
- How can I make love for God and neighbour the foundation of everything I do?
Mark Study – Set 4 (Chapters 13–16)
The Cross, Resurrection, and the Great Commission
1. Summary of the Chapters
- Chapter 13: Jesus gives a prophetic teaching on the destruction of the temple, end-time signs, and His second coming. He warns of false messiahs, persecution, and urges watchfulness.
- Chapter 14: Religious leaders plot to kill Jesus. A woman anoints Him with costly perfume, foreshadowing His burial. Judas agrees to betray Him. Jesus shares the Last Supper, predicting Peter’s denial. In Gethsemane, He prays in anguish, is arrested, and brought before the Sanhedrin. Peter denies Him three times.
- Chapter 15: Jesus is handed to Pilate, mocked, scourged, and crucified. Darkness falls, and the temple curtain is torn when He dies. Joseph of Arimathea buries Him in a tomb.
- Chapter 16: Women discover the empty tomb. An angel proclaims Jesus is risen. He appears to His followers, commissioning them to preach the gospel to all creation, promising signs will follow those who believe.
2. Key Themes and Lessons
| Theme | Lesson |
|---|---|
| Watchfulness | Believers are called to live alert, ready for Christ’s return. |
| Sacrificial Love | Jesus’ death is the ultimate act of love, bringing salvation. |
| The Cross and the Curtain | His sacrifice opened the way to God’s presence. |
| Resurrection Hope | The empty tomb proves victory over death and sin. |
| Global Mission | The gospel is for all nations, accompanied by the Spirit’s power. |
3. Encouragement
“See Him in Gethsemane—sweating drops of blood—yet saying, ‘Not My will, but Yours.’ That is love.
At the cross, the world thought it won, but the veil tore—access to the Father was wide open!
And when the angel said, ‘He is risen,’ it changed everything.
Sister, you are not defined by sin, shame, or death—Jesus conquered them all.
And now He says, ‘Go, preach the gospel to all creation.’
This is not a heavy command—it is an invitation to live what He paid for.
The risen Christ is in you. You are the evidence of His victory.
4. Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for me to live watchful and ready for Jesus’ return?
- How does Gethsemane challenge me to surrender my will more fully to the Father?
- What does the torn temple curtain mean for my access to God today?
- How does the resurrection shape my daily hope and confidence?
- In what ways am I actively living out the Great Commission where God has placed me?
Overall Summary of Mark
1. Big-Picture Summary
The Gospel of Mark is the shortest and most fast-paced of the four Gospels. It portrays Jesus as the Servant-King, full of power and authority, yet marked by humility and sacrifice. Mark often uses the word “immediately,” showing the urgency of Jesus’ mission and the action-filled nature of His ministry.
From the opening declaration, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,” to the resurrection, Mark shows Jesus as the Messiah who demonstrates His authority through preaching, healing, deliverance, and miracles. The Gospel climaxes with the cross and resurrection—revealing that the path to true glory is through suffering and servanthood.
2. Major Movements
- Preparation and Early Ministry (Chs. 1–4): John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, calling disciples, teaching in parables, and calming the storm.
- Authority in Action (Chs. 5–8): Miracles of healing and deliverance, feeding multitudes, Peter’s confession, and the call to take up the cross.
- Glory and Opposition (Chs. 9–12): Transfiguration, teachings on humility and service, entry into Jerusalem, confrontations with religious leaders.
- The Cross and Resurrection (Chs. 13–16): End-time teaching, betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection, and the Great Commission.
3. Key Themes and Lessons
| Theme | Lesson |
|---|---|
| Jesus’ Authority | His words and works reveal Him as the Son of God. |
| Servant Leadership | True greatness comes through humility and serving others. |
| Faith and Discipleship | Following Jesus means trust, surrender, and carrying the cross. |
| Suffering and Glory | The Messiah’s path—and ours—leads through sacrifice to victory. |
| Gospel Mission | The good news of Jesus is for all creation, empowered by His Spirit. |
4. Encouragement
Mark moves quick—miracle after miracle, showing us the Kingdom is here and now.
But notice: Jesus, the Son of God, came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
That is our model.
You were not born again to live for yourself—you were born to shine His life.
The cross is not a tragedy—it is triumph.
And the empty tomb is your proof: sin and death have no hold on you.
Sister, your life is not ordinary—you carry the Servant-King within you.
So live sent, live bold, and let the gospel flow through you everywhere you go.”
5. Reflection Questions
- How does Mark’s focus on Jesus’ authority encourage me to trust Him in my own struggles?
- What does it mean for me to embrace servant leadership like Jesus?
- Where is God calling me to deeper faith and surrender in following Christ?
- How does the cross challenge and inspire me to live sacrificially?
- What role do I play in carrying the good news of Jesus to the people around me and beyond?