For a long time, the Gospel of Mark was the least popular of the Gospels, both among scholars and general readers. Mark's literary style is somewhat dull—for example, he begins a great number of sentences with the word "then." Luke and Matthew both contain the same story of Jesus' life, but in more sophisticated prose. Mark also leaves out accounts of Jesus' birth, the Sermon on the Mount, and several of the most well known parables. Mark became more popular, however, when biblical scholars discovered it was the earliest written of the four Gospels, and was probably the primary source of information for the writers of Luke and Matthew. Moreover, because neither Jesus nor his original disciples left any writings behind, the Gospel of Mark is the closest document to an original source on Jesus' life that currently exists. The presumed author of the Gospel of Mark, John Mark, was familiar with Peter, Jesus' closest disciple. Indeed, Mark is the New Testament historian who comes closest to witnessing the actual life of Jesus. Though Mark's Gospel certainly comes to us through his own personal lens, scholars are fairly confident that Mark is a reliable source of information for un

The final meal of Jesus with his followers has been reenacted ever since by Christian communities in the ceremony of the Eucharist, or Lord's Supper. In the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican traditions, it is the central act of worship. Many Christian churches teach that the words of Jesus should be taken literally- that Jesus makes his own body and blood really present in, or under the appearance of, the bread and wine. Other Christians interpret the Eucharist as a symbol. In any case, the practice signifies the intimate relationship between Christians and Jesus, their dependence on him (as on food) for life. Don't forget that the Last Supper takes place at Passover, when Jews celebrate their redemption from slavery in Egypt. All devout Jews, sitting down to "eat the passover" (14:12), would have been prayerfully remembering God's great redemptive acts.

He met a man with an unclean spirit. The man worshiped him and Jesus cleansed him. Many spread the word of Jesus. A woman believed with all her heart that if she touched Jesus' robe she would be healed. Her belief was true. Jesus healed the leader of the Synagogue.

The disciples were to go and preach these events to the world. Jesus appeared to two of them and told them to go into the world. They went and preached everywhere.

Why does the author of Mark put so much stress on miracles? One explanation is, simply, that many of the stories circulating about Jesus were miracle stories, and that the Gospel author believed the stories were true. But it has often been suggested that the miracles have a deeper meaning. Some readers think the miracles are proofs that Jesus is the Christ, although in fact Jesus refuses to perform miracles when asked for a sign (8:11-12). The miracles have been explained as fulfillments of Old Testament prophecy (see Isaiah 35:4-6, 26:19). They have been interpreted as symbolic acts, for example the healing of the blind as symbolizing the overcoming of spiritual blindness, the raising of the dead as symbolizing the overcoming of spiritual death, the healing of Gentiles as showing that the mission of Jesus is to Gentiles as well as Jews. They have also been seen as acts by which the Kingdom of God is established in place of rule by demons, disease, and death. There's no reason why more than one of these ideas shouldn't have been in the author's mind.

Jesus travels to Galilee, the northern region of Israel. He gathers his first disciples, Simon and Andrew, two Jewish brothers who are both fishermen. Jesus asks them to follow him, saying that he will show them how to fish for people rather than for fish. Simon and Andrew, as well as James and John, drop their nets and follow him. Jesus exhibits his authority in Galilee, where he cleanses a leper (1:40–45). Mark reports that Jesus heals a paralytic, Simon's sick mother-in-law, and a man with a withered hand. The miracles cause the crowds that gather to watch Jesus to become bewildered, fearful, and antagonistic. The Pharisees and followers of Herod begin plotting to kill Jesus. Jesus stays focused on his ministry.

After the following Sabbath, Mary and James' mother went to his tomb and found that he was gone. Only an angel remained. He said: " Be not affrighted: ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him." Mark, 16:6

Some topics in this essay:
Gospel Mark, John Baptist, Baptist Jesus, JESUS JERUSALEM, Jerusalem Jesus, Mark's Gospel, Christ Jesus, Son God, James John, God Jesus, gospel mark, john baptist, son god, kingdom god, christ son, mary magdalene, chief priests, author mark, jesus christ, jesus told, gospel according mark, jesus christ son, christ son god, caesar caesar's god, peter told jesus,