Journey Through the Gospel of MarkSample

The Three-Stage Life of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark

Another way of outlining Mark is by dividing it into three sections that map Jesus’ path to the crucifixion in Jerusalem (that is, the beginning of the answer to why Jesus has come).

After the book’s introduction, Jesus grows up in Galilee before traveling to Jerusalem and arriving for the last sequence of his story. The book climaxes with the crucifixion and resurrection, and for the first time in the story a character in Mark refers to Jesus as the “Son of God.”

And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:39 (NIV)

Jesus arrives at his final destination—resurrection. People only now begin to understand that he is truly the Son of God. This second outline of the three stages isn’t necessarily an alternative to the first one with the central pivot point. The two views complement each other and help us locate individual scenes within this book. To the degree that either is (or both are) helpful, keep them in mind as you read the Gospel of Mark.