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An Alliterated Outline for the Chapters of the A Guide to the Systematic Study of the Bible
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5-2018

The Chapters of Mark

Harold Willmington
Liberty University, hwillmington@liberty.edu

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Willmington, Harold, "The Chapters of Mark" (2018). An Alliterated Outline for the Chapters of the Bible.
62.
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 Mark
SECTION OUTLINE ONE (MARK 1)
John the Baptist preaches the coming of the Messiah. John baptizes Jesus, and Jesus is tempted for
40 days by Satan in the wilderness. Jesus calls his first four disciples and begins his ministry of
teaching and healing.

I. EVENTS PRIOR TO JESUS' MINISTRY (1:1-13)

A. The witnesses of the Old Testament (1:1-3): Mark begins his account by quoting from two Old
Testament prophets.
1. Malachi, who spoke of God's messenger (Mal. 3:1) (1:1-2): The messenger is John the
Baptist.
2. Isaiah, who spoke of God's message (Isa. 40:3) (Mark 1:3): The message is, "Prepare a
pathway for the Lord's coming!"
B. The work of the Baptist (1:4-11)
1. John baptizes the Jewish multitudes (1:4-8): People confess their sins and are baptized.
2. John baptizes the Jewish Messiah (1:9-11): The Holy Spirit lights on Jesus, and there is a
voice from heaven, announcing God's pleasure with him.
C. The wrath of the Devil (1:12-13): Jesus is tempted by Satan for forty days.

II. EVENTS EARLY IN JESUS' MINISTRY (1:14-45)

A. The promise of the Savior (1:16-20): Jesus calls Andrew, Peter, James, and John, promising to
make them fishers of men!
B. The preaching of the Savior (1:14-15, 38-39)
1. What he preaches (1:14-15): He preaches the Good News that the Kingdom of God is near.
2. Where he preaches (1:38-39): He travels throughout all Galilee.
C. The praying of the Savior (1:35-37): Jesus goes out into the wilderness early one morning to
pray.
D. The power of the Savior (1:21-34, 40-45): Jesus heals many sick and demon-possessed
people.
1. Individual healings (1:21-31, 40-45)
a. A demon-possessed man (1:21-28)
(1) The torment of the man (1:21-23): He is possessed by an evil spirit.
(2) The acknowledgment by the demon (1:24): The evil spirit immediately recognizes Jesus
as the Son of God!
(3) The commandment of the Lord (1:25-26): He orders the demon to leave the man, and it
does.
(4) The amazement of the crowd (1:27-28): They are overcome by the power and message
of Jesus!
b. Peter's mother-in-law (1:29-31)
(1) The suffering woman (1:29-30): She is in bed with a high fever.
(2) The serving woman (1:31): Jesus heals her, and immediately she begins to wait upon
him and the disciples.
c. A man with leprosy (1:40-45)
(1) The tears (1:40): The leper falls to his knees, begging Jesus to heal him.
(2) The touch (1:41-42): Filled with compassion, Jesus reaches out and restores him.
(3) The testimony (1:43-45)
(a) What Jesus tells the man not to do (1:43-44): "Don't talk to anyone."
(b) What the man does (1:45): He tells everybody what has happened to him!
2. Corporate healings (1:32-34): Multitudes now flock to Jesus for healing and deliverance.

1
SECTION OUTLINE TWO (MARK 2)
Jesus' enemies criticize him on four separate occasions: two for doing what they think he should not do,
and two for not doing what they think he should do!

I. THE FIRST TWO CRITICISMS (2:1-17): What the Pharisees think Jesus should not be doing.
A. Jesus and a man on a bed (2:1-12)
1. Some helpful friends (2:1-5, 11-17)
a. The helplessness of the paralytic (2:1-4): He is totally immobile, confined to a stretcher.
(1) The intervening by his friends (2:1-3): Four men carry him to Jesus.
(2) The ingenuity of his friends (2:4): Unable to get in the front door because of the crowd,
they cut a hole in the roof and lower him into the room!
b. The healing of the paralytic (2:5, 11-12)
(1) His spiritual healing (2:5): Jesus says, "My son, your sins are forgiven."
(2) His physical healing (2:11-12): Jesus says, "Stand up, take your mat, and go on home,
because you are healed!"
2. Some hostile foes (2:6-10)
a. The denunciation by the scribes (2:6-7): They accuse him of blasphemy for forgiving sin.
b. The defense by the Savior (2:8-10): He says his authority to forgive sin is seen by his
power to heal!
B. Jesus and a man in a booth (2:13-17)
1. The conversion of Levi (2:13-14): Jesus finds Levi sitting at his tax-collection booth and invites
him to become a disciple.
2. The celebration by Levi (2:15-17): He invites many friends to dinner so that they might meet
Jesus.
a. The background of these guests (2:15): Many are notorious sinners in the community.
b. The bitterness against these guests (2:16): The Pharisees are outraged at this, demanding
to know why Jesus associates with such sinners!
c. The basis for these guests (2:17): Jesus explains that he has not come to call the righteous
to repentance but sinners!

II. THE FINAL TWO CRITICISMS (2:18-28) What the Pharisees think Jesus should be doing.
A. They say he is not observing fasting (2:18-22)
1. Their rebuke (2:18): They want to know why Jesus' disciples don't fast when their disciples do.
2. His response (2:19-22)
a. Wedding guests do not fast while the bridegroom is with them (2:19-20).
b. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment (2:21).
c. No one puts new wine into old wineskins (2:22).
B. They say he is not observing the Sabbath (2:23-28).
1. Their rebuke (2:23-24): He is allowing his disciples to break off heads of wheat and eat the
grain on the Sabbath.
2. His response (2:25-28)
a. David was given consecrated bread, which was lawful only for priests to eat (2:25-26).
b. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath, and Jesus is master of the
Sabbath (2:27-28).

SECTION OUTLINE THREE (MARK 3)

Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath, provoking the Pharisees' rage. Crowds continue to follow him, and
he heals the sick and demon-possessed among them. He chooses his twelve disciples and talks about
the source of his power and about his true family.

I. THE COURAGE OF JESUS (3:1-6)

A. The miracle (3:1-5): Jesus heals a man of a withered hand on the Sabbath in the presence of
the wicked Pharisees.
B. The malice (3:6): Outraged by the act, the Pharisees plot with the Herodians how to kill Jesus.

II. THE COMPASSION OF JESUS (3:7-12)

2
 A. What he does (3:7-11)
1. He restores those who are sick (3:7-10).
2. He releases those who are possessed (3:11).
B. What he says (3:12): He warns those possessed by demons not to say who he is.

Ill. THE CALL OF JESUS (3:13-19): He invites a group of men to become his disciples.
A. The number (3:13-14): Twelve men are called.
B. The nature (3:15): They are to preach and cast out demons.
C. The names (3:16-19): Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas,
James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot.

IV. THE CRITICS OF JESUS (3:20-30)

A. Criticism from his family (3:20-21): They fear that his zeal for God has affected his mind!
B. Criticism from his foes (3:22-30)
1. The accusation by the Jewish leaders (3:22): They say he is casting out demons by Satan, the
prince of demons.
2. The answer by the Savior (3:23-30)
a. His words of wisdom (3:23-27): "How can Satan cast out Satan?"
b. His words of warning (3:28-30): He warns his wicked enemies that blasphemy against the
Holy Spirit-which they are committing-is the unpardonable sin!

V. THE CLARIFICATION OF JESUS (3:31-35)

A. The desire of his earthly kin (3:31-32): Jesus' family members want to see him!
B. The description of his eternal kin (3:33-35): Jesus explains all who do God's will are part of his
family!

SECTION OUTLINE FOUR (MARK 4)

Jesus teaches about the Kingdom by telling the parables of a farmer and his seed, a lamp on a stand,
growing seeds, and a mustard seed. He amazes his disciples by calming a fierce storm.

I. JESUS RELATES HIS PARABLES (4:1-34)

A. Parable of the sower and the seed (4:1-20)
1. Information in the parable (4:1-9): A farmer sows grain which falls on four kinds of soil,
producing four different results.
a. Roadside soil (4:1-4): This seed is soon devoured by the birds.
b. Shallow, rocky soil (4:5-6): This seed springs up quickly, but soon withers, scorched by the
sun.
c. Thorn-infested soil (4:7): This seed is quickly choked by the thorns.
d. Fertile soil (4:8-9): This seed produces a thirty, sixty, or even hundredfold crop.
2. Isaiah and the parables (4:10-12): This Old Testament prophet predicted that the wise would
understand God's parables, but not the foolish.
3. Interpretation of the parable (4:13-20)
a. Roadside soil (4:13-15): This soil represents those who hear the message but do not
understand it, thus allowing Satan to steal it from them.
b. Shallow, rocky soil (4:16-17): This soil represents those who have no depth and thus drop
out when encountering persecution.
c. Thorn-infested soil (4:18-19): This soil represents those who allow the deceitfulness of
riches to snuff out the seed.
d. Fertile soil (4:20): This soil represents those who both hear and understand, permitting the
seed to produce abundantly.
B. Parable of the lamp on a stand (4:21-25): Jesus says the more one allows his or her light to
shine, the clearer the truths in the parable will become!
C. Parable of the growing seed (4:26-29): God's word, once it takes root in the heart of a believer,
will in and by itself bring forth much fruit!
D. Parable of the mustard seed (4:30-34): God's kingdom is like a mustard seed, so small when it
is planted, yet eventually it becomes one of the largest plants!

3
 II. JESUS REVEALS HIS POWER (4:35-41)
A. The crisis (4:35-38a)
1. The stormy sea (4:35-37): Jesus and the disciples suddenly encounter a furious squall while
crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat.
2. The sleeping Savior (4:38a): Jesus is asleep at the back of the boat.
B. The cry (4:38b): Filled with fear, they shout to him: "Don't you even care that we are going to
drown?"
C. The calm (4:39-41)
1. The rebuke (4:39): He rebukes the wind and sea, saying, "Quiet down!"
2. The reproof (4:40): Jesus chides the disciples for their lack of faith.
3. The reaction (4:41): They are filled with awe at his power!

SECTION OUTLINE FIVE (MARK 5)

Jesus heals a man possessed by many evil spirits by sending the demons into a herd of pigs. When a
woman touches Jesus' robe, Jesus rewards her faith and heals her. He also rewards the faith of a
synagogue leader by bringing his dead daughter back to life.

I. JESUS RELEASES A DEMON-POSSESSED MAN (5:1-20)

A. The despair (5:1-5): This man is continuously tormented by a large number of demons.
1. The man lives among the tombs (5:1-3a).
2. No one can keep him chained (5:3b-4).
3. He constantly screams out and hits himself with stones (5:5).
B. The deliverance (5:6-13): Jesus speaks to the evil spirits within the man.
1. The panic of these demons (5:6-7): In great fear they beg Jesus not to torment them before
their time.
2. The plea of these demons (5:8-13)
a. The request (5:9-12): The demons ask for permission to enter a large herd of pigs nearby.
b. The results (5:13): Jesus allows it, and the possessed pigs run into the lake and drown.
c. The release (5:8): The man is set free!
C. The disbelief (5:14-17): The pig owners and townspeople come running out to see what has
happened.
1. What they see (5:14-16): They see the former madman now sitting, clothed, and in his right
mind!
2. What they say (5:17): They all urge Jesus to go away and leave them alone!
D. The desire (5:18-20)
1. The request by the man (5:18): He begs to be allowed to go with Jesus.
2. The reply by the Messiah (5:19-20): The Savior declines, asking the man to share his
testimony with others.

II. JESUS RESTORES A SUFFERING WOMAN (5:25-34)

A. Her disease (5:25-26)
1. The description (5:25): For twelve years she has suffered from internal bleeding.
2. The deterioration (5:26): Her condition is worsening.
B. Her determination (5:27-28): She fights her way through a crowd and touches Jesus' cloak,
believing this will heal her!
C. Her deliverance (5:29-34)
1. The cure (5:29): Immediately her bleeding stops.
2. The concern (5:30-32): Turning around, Jesus wants to know who has touched him.
3. The confession (5:33): The woman acknowledges to Jesus that she touched him.
4. The commendation (5:34): Jesus reassures the woman that her faith has brought about her
healing!

III. JESUS RESURRECTS A DEAD GIRL (5:21-24, 35-43)

A. The request (5:21-24)
1. The person (5:21-22): A synagogue leader named Jairus approaches Jesus.
2. The problem (5:23-24): He begs the Savior to come and heal his dying daughter.

4
 B. The report (5:35): Jairus receives word that his daughter has just died.
C. The reassurance (5:36): Jesus says to Jairus: "Don't be afraid. Just trust me."
D. The restriction (5:37): Jesus allows only Peter, James, and John to accompany him to Jairus's
home.
E. The ridicule (5:38-40a)
1. The confusion (5:38): Jesus encounters uncontrolled weeping and wailing upon entering
Jairus's home.
2. The contempt (5:39-40a): The Savior is ridiculed when he says the child is simply asleep.
F. The resurrection (5:40b-43)
1. His order (5:40b-41): "Getup, little girl!"
2. Her obedience (5:42): She does, to the amazement of her parents!
G. The restraint (5:43): Jesus commands the girl's parents not to tell anyone what has happened
and to give their daughter something to eat.

SECTION OUTLINE SIX (MARK 6)

The people of Jesus' hometown reject him. Jesus sends out his disciples on a mission of preaching and
healing. Herod has John the Baptist beheaded. Jesus feeds the 5,000 and walks on water.

I. THE MALICE OF THE NAZARENES (6:1-6a): Jesus visits his hometown but is rejected by the
people of Nazareth.
A. Their hostility (6:1-3): They resent the fact that this hometown boy has somehow acquired so
much wisdom and power.
B. His helplessness (6:4-6a): Because of their unbelief, he can do few miracles among them.

II. THE MISSIONS OF THE TWELVE (6:6b-13): Jesus sends his disciples out two by two.
A. Their assignments (6:6b-11)
1. To cast out demons (6:6b-7)
2. To take no food, money, or extra clothes (6:8-10)
3. To condemn unbelieving cities (6:11)
B. Their accomplishments (6:12-13)
1. They cast out demons (6:13a).
2. They preach the gospel (6:12).
3. They heal the sick (6:13b).

Ill. THE MARTYRDOM OF THE BAPTIST (6:14-29)

A. John is mistreated by Herod Antipas (6:17-20).
1. What Herod does (6:17): He orders John arrested, bound, and imprisoned!
2. Why Herod does it (6:18-20): John condemned the adulterous marriage between the king and
his wife, thus invoking the wrath of Queen Herodias.
B. John is murdered by Herod Antipas (6:21-29).
1. The party (6:21): Herod hosts a banquet to celebrate his birthday.
2. The performance (6:22a): Herodias's daughter gives a dance that greatly pleases the king.
3. The promise (6:22b-23): As a sign of his pleasure, Herod promises to grant any favor the girl
desires!
4. The plot (6:24-29): At the urging of wicked Queen Herodias, the daughter asks for John's
head on a platter, and the favor is quickly granted!
C. Jesus is misunderstood by Herod Antipas (6:14-16): At first Herod thinks Jesus is the
reincarnation of John!

IV. THE MIRACLES OF JESUS (6:30-56): Jesus feeds the 5,000, walks on water, and heals many
people.
A. Feeding the Five Thousand (6:30-44)
1. Events preceding this miracle (6:30-38)
a. The consideration of Jesus (6:30-31): Realizing the exhaustion of his disciples, Jesus
leads them to a quiet place where they can rest.
b. The compassion of Jesus (6:32-34): A large crowd of people soon arrives upon the scene,

5
 however, and Jesus is filled with compassion for them because they are like sheep without
a shepherd.
c. The command of Jesus (6:35-38)
(1) The disciples' despair (6:35-36): Realizing that there is no food, they advise Jesus to
send the hungry crowd away.
(2) The Savior's directive (6:37-38): At his order the disciples search the crowd for food and
locate five loaves of bread and two fish among the people.
2. Events accompanying this miracle (6:39-42)
a. The arrangement (6:39-40): Jesus has the people sit down in groups of 50 or 100.
b. The acknowledgment (6:41): He thanks his heavenly Father for the food about to be
received.
c. The abundance (6:42): All eat their fill!
3. Events following this miracle (6:43-44)
a. The meals (6:43): Twelve basketfuls of bread and fish are picked up by the disciples.
b. The men (6:44): Five thousand men are fed!
B. Walking on the water (6:45-52)
1. The awareness (6:45-48a): Standing on a hillside, Jesus sees his disciples struggling for their
lives in a boat during a terrible storm on the Sea of Galilee.
2. The approach (6:48b): He comes walking on the water to them in the middle of the night.
3. The alarm (6:49-50a): The disciples are terrified, thinking he is a ghost!
4. The assurance (6:50b-51a): He reassures them and climbs into their boat, and the storm
immediately dies!
5. The amazement (6:51b-52): They are astonished at his mighty power.
C. Healing the multitudes (6:53-56): Upon landing at Gennesaret, the Savior heals many.

SECTION OUTLINE SEVEN (MARK 7)

Jesus teaches about inner purity and rewards the faith of a Gentile woman by healing her demon-
possessed daughter. He also heals a deaf-mute, to the amazement of the onlookers.

I. THE HOLINESS MESSAGE PREACHED BY JESUS (7:1-23)

A. The reason for the message (7:1-5): The godless Pharisees demand to know why Jesus does
not always observe their laws and regulations for outer cleansing.
B. The rebuke in the message (7:6-23)
1. The prophecy (7:6-7): He reminds them of Isaiah's prediction that God's people would honor
the Messiah with their lips but hate him in their hearts (Isa. 29:13)!
2. The parental example (7:8-13): Jesus says the Pharisees twist God's laws to avoid the
responsibility of financially supporting their own parents!
3. The preaching (7:14-23)
a. Proclaiming the message (7:14-16): Jesus says defilement has nothing to do with what one
eats but rather with what one says and does.
b. Explaining the message (7:17-23)
(1) The intake of supposedly unclean food does not cause defilement (7:17-19).
(2) The output of an unclean thought-life-including lust, theft, murder, adultery, deceit,
envy, slander, and pride-does cause defilement (7:20-23).

II. THE HEALING MIRACLES PERFORMED BY JESUS (7:24-37)

A. The healing of a demon-possessed daughter (7:24-30)
1. The brokenhearted mother (7:24-26)
a. The place (7:24): The region of Tyre.
b. The problem (7:25): A Gentile girl is possessed by an evil spirit.
c. The plea (7:26): The girl's desperate mother begs Jesus to heal her daughter.
2. The kindhearted Messiah (7:27-30)
a. His reminder (7:27): He says he has come to help the Jewish people and that "it isn't right
to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs."
b. Her response (7:28-30)
(1) The reasoning (7:28): She replies: "True, but even the dogs under the table are given

6
 some crumbs from the children's plates."
(2) The reward (7:29-30): For this reply Jesus heals the woman's daughter!
B. The healing of a deaf and dumb man (7:31-37)
1. The desperation of the man (7:31-32): The people bring the man to Jesus and beg the Savior
to heal him.
2. The declaration of the Messiah (7:33-37)
a. What he does: (7:33): Jesus touches both the man's ears and tongue.
b. What he says (7:34-37)
(1) To the deaf ears (7:34-35): Jesus says, "Be opened!" And the man can hear and speak
perfectly!
(2) To the crowd (7:36-37): Jesus tells the people not to tell anyone. But they do!

SECTION OUTLINE EIGHT (MARK 8)

Jesus feeds the 4,000. The Pharisees demand a miraculous sign from Jesus, but he refuses. He heals
a blind man and predicts his own death. Jesus asks his disciples who they think he is, and Peter
correctly identifies Jesus as the Messiah.

I. THE PROVISION BY THE SAVIOR (8:1-10)

A. His concern (8:1-4, 9-10)
1. The problem he faces (8:1, 9-10): A crowd of 4,000 men has assembled to hear him preach
when the food runs out.
2. The pity he feels (8:2-3): Jesus' heart is moved. He knows the people are hungry.
3. The pessimism he finds (8:4): The disciples conclude that nothing can be done.
B. His command (8:5-8)
1. The amount of food (8:5-7): Only seven loaves and a few small fish can be found among the
crowd.
2. The abundance of food (8:8)
a. All eat until full! (8:8a)
b. Seven basketfuls remain! (8:8b)

II. THE PROVOKING OF THE SAVIOR (8:11-13)

A. The Pharisees' demand (8:11): "Give us a miraculous sign."
B. The Messiah's denial (8:12-13): "I will not give this generation any such sign."

III. THE PATIENCE OF THE SAVIOR (8:14-21)

A. The caution (8:14-15): Jesus warns the disciples to "beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of
Herod."
B. The confusion (8:16): They think he is referring to actual bread.
C. The clarification (8:17-21): Jesus asks the disciples why they think he would be worried about
bread when they have seen him feed 5,000 and then 4,000 people, starting with next to nothing.

IV. THE POWER OF THE SAVIOR (8:22-26) Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida.
A. Jesus' first touch (8:22-24): This causes the blind man to see people as walking trees.
B. Jesus' second touch (8:25-26): This causes the blind man to see everything clearly.

V. THE PROMPTING BY THE SAVIOR (8:27-30) Jesus asks his disciples two questions.
A. First question (8:27-28)
1. Jesus' question (8:27): "Who do people say I am?"
2. The disciples' answer (8:28): "Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say
you are one of the other prophets."
B. Second question (8:29-30)
1. Jesus' question (8:29a): "Who do you say I am?"
2. Peter's answer (8:29b): "You are the Messiah."
3. Jesus' warning (8:30): Jesus warns them not to telI anyone about him.

VI. THE PREDICTION BY THE SAVIOR (8:31-38)

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 A. The revelation (8:31): Jesus predicts his rejection, death, and resurrection.
B. The rebukes (8:32-33)
1. Peter rebukes Jesus (8:32).
2. Jesus rebukes Peter (8:33).
C. The requirements (8:34): To be Jesus' disciple, a person must take up his or her cross and
follow Christ!
D. The rewards (8:35-38): To lose one's life for Christ is to gain it!

SECTION OUTLINE NINE (MARK 9)

Peter, James, and John witness Jesus' transfiguration on a mountaintop. Jesus heals a demon-
possessed boy and again predicts his own death and resurrection.

I. TRANSFIGURATION (9:1-13)
A. Ascending the Mount of Transfiguration (9:1-2a)
1. The prophecy (9:1): Jesus tells his disciples that some of them will see God's Kingdom in its
glory.
2. The people (9:2a): Jesus chooses Peter, James, and John to accompany him.
B. On the Mount of Transfiguration (9:2b-8)
1. The appearance by Moses and Elijah (9:2b-4)
2. The assumption by Peter (9:5-6): He wrongly places Jesus, Moses, and Elijah on the same
level!
3. The approval by the Father (9:7-8): "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
C. Descending the Mount of Transfiguration (9:9-13)
1. The command (9:9-10): Jesus warns them to keep silent concerning his transfiguration.
2. The confusion (9:11): They ask him why the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must
return before the Messiah comes.
3. The clarification (9:12-13): Jesus tells them that Elijah has already come, in the person of
John the Baptist.

II. RESTORATION (9:14-32) Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy.

A. The preliminaries (9:14-16): Jesus finds nine of his disciples arguing with some teachers of
religious law.
B. The particulars (9:17-29)
1. The victim (9:17-22)
a. The helpless father (9:17a): A desperate father tells Jesus that the disciples were unable to
cast out an evil spirit from his son.
b. The hopeless son (9:17b-1 8a, 20-22)
(1) The source of his problem (9:17b): He is demon-possessed!
(2) The symptoms of his problem (9:18a): The evil spirit throws the boy into violent fits.
(3) The span of his problem (9:20-22): He has been possessed since childhood!
c. The hapless disciples (9:18b-19): They are powerless to help.
2. The victor (9:23-29)
a. Jesus reassures the father (9:23-24)
(1) The strength of faith (9:23): The Savior says, "Anything is possible if a person believes."
(2) The struggle for faith (9:24): The father says, "I do believe, but help me not to doubt!"
b. Jesus rebukes the demon (9:25-26).
c. Jesus restores the son (9:27).
d. Jesus reveals the secret (9:28-29).
(1) The disciples (9:28): "Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?"
(2) The Savior (9:29): "This kind can be cast out only by prayer."
C. The prophecy (9:30-32): Jesus again predicts his betrayal, death, and resurrection.

Ill. CLARIFICATION (9:33-50) Jesus now addresses three subjects.

A. He speaks concerning humility (9:33-37): Humility is the secret of greatness!
B. He speaks concerning harmony (9:38-41): We are to fellowship with all Christ's followers.
C. He speaks concerning hell (9:42-50): Do what must be done to avoid hell!

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SECTION OUTLINE TEN (MARK 10)
Jesus blesses some children and teaches about childlike faith. He talks about divorce and the difficulty
of having both worldly and heavenly riches. He predicts his death. James and John ask for glory in the
Kingdom. Jesus heals a blind man.

I. JESUS AND THE SUBJECT OF DIVORCE (10:1-12) He is confronted by two groups regarding the
divorce issue.
A. The insincere group (10:1-9)
1. What Moses said (10:1-4): The Pharisees tell Jesus that Moses permitted divorce.
2. Why Moses said it (10:5-9): Jesus telIs the Pharisees that:
a. Divorce was only God's permissive plan (10:5): He allowed it only because of the hard-
hearted wickedness of people!
b. Divorce is not God's perfect plan (10:6-9): He made man and woman to be joined together
permanently in marriage.
B. The sincere group (10:10-12): In a private meeting, Jesus explains his comments to the
confused disciples.
1. To divorce one's wife and marry another is to commit adultery (10:10-11).
2. To divorce one's husband and marry another is to commit adultery (10:12).

II. JESUS AND SOME LITTLE CHILDREN (10:13-16): Jesus rebukes his disciples and receives some
children.
A. He rebukes his disciples for attempting to prevent some children from seeing him (10:13-
14).
B. He receives the children and blesses them (10:15-16).

Ill. JESUS AND THE RICH YOUNG RULER (10:17-22)

A. The seeking ruler (10:17-21)
1. What he longs for (10:17): He desires eternal life.
2. What he lacks (10:18-21)
a. He says he has observed all God's precepts (10:18-20).
b. Jesus says he must abandon all his possessions (10:21).
B. The sorrowing ruler (10:22): He goes away sadly, for he is very rich!

IV. JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES (10:23-31): After the departure of the rich man, Jesus discusses the
subject of riches.
A. The allegory (10:23-25): Jesus says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!
B. The amazement (10:26): The stunned disciples then ask who can possibly be saved!
C. The assurance (10:27-31)
1. He assures them in regard to redemption (10:27): With God all things are possible.
2. He assures them in regard to rewards (10:28-31): All who follow Jesus will be amply
rewarded!

V. JESUS AND THE CROSS (10:32-34): Once again he predicts his betrayal, death, and resurrection.

VI. JESUS AND TWO BROTHERS (10:35-45): James and John ask a favor from Jesus.
A. The request (10:35-37): "In your glorious Kingdom, we want to sit in places of honor next to
you."
B. The refusal (10:38-39): Jesus says they don't know what they are asking.
C. The restriction (10:40): He then says that the Father, not the Son, will determine future seating
arrangements!
D. The resentment (10:41): Upon learning of all this, the other ten apostles become upset with
James and John.
E. The review (10:42-45): Jesus uses this tense situation to set forth the conditions for true
greatness.

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VII. JESUS AND THE BLIND MAN (10:46-52)
A. The request by the blind man (10:46-47)
1. Who he is (10:46): His name is Bartimaeus.
2. What he wants (10:47): He cries out for Jesus to have mercy on him.
B. The response by the crowd (10:48-50)
1. First they rebuke hire (10:48): "Be quiet!" they say.
2. Then they reassure him (10:49-50): "Cheer up," they say. "Come on, he's calling you!"
C. The restoration by the Savior (10:51-52): Jesus restores Bartimaeus's sight!

SECTION OUTLINE ELEVEN (MARK 11)

Jesus fulfills prophecy by riding triumphantly into Jerusalem on a donkey. He drives the corrupt
merchants from the Temple and declines to answer a challenge to his authority by his enemies when
they can't answer a question he asks them.

I. THE CELEBRATION (11:1-11) Mark describes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
A. The preparation (11:1-7)
1. The mountain (11:1a): Jesus stands on the Mount of Olives.
2. The two men (11:1b): He speaks to two of his disciples.
3. The mission (11:2-7)
a. Their orders (11:2-3): The two men are to bring back to the Savior an unridden colt, upon
which he will ride into Jerusalem.
b. Their obedience (11:4-7): They do as they are commanded.
B. The parade (11:8-11)
1. The crowd prepares his path (11:8): They spread their coats and branches in the road in front
of the colt on which Jesus is riding.
2. The crowd proclaims his praises (11:9-11): "Bless the one who comes in the name of the
Lord!"

II. THE CLEANSING (11:15-19)

A. Jesus removes the money tables from the Temple (11: 15-16).
B. Jesus rebukes the money takers in the Temple (11:17-19).
1. The prophecy (11:17): Jesus says that Jeremiah predicted this event (Jer. 7:11).
2. The plot (11:18-19): The Pharisees meet and plan to kill Jesus.

III. THE CURSING (11:12-14, 20-26): Jesus pronounces judgment on a fig tree.
A. The reason for this judgment (11:12-14): The tree has no fruit!
B. The results of this judgment (11:20-21): Overnight the fruitless fig tree withers.
C. The reflection on this judgment (11:22-26): Jesus uses this event to stress the power of faith
and prayer!

IV. THE CONFLICT (11:27-33): The wicked Jewish leaders now confront Jesus.
A. Their demand (11:27-28): They ask Jesus what authority he has to drive the merchants out of
the Temple and from where this authority has come.
B. His defense (11:29-30): In return, Jesus asks them from where the authority of John the Baptist
came-was it heavenly authority or human authority?
C. Their dilemma (11:31-32): They realize whatever answer they give will trap them!
D. Their defeat (11:33)
1. Their response (11:33a): "We don't know."
2. He says (11:33b): "Then I won't answer your question either."

SECTION OUTLINE TWELVE (MARK 12)

Jesus tells a parable and answers questions about paying taxes and about the resurrection. He
identifies the two most important commandments, talks about the Messiah's divine identity, and
commends a poor widow for her offering.

I. ILLUSTRATION (12:1-12): Jesus relates the parable of the vineyard tenants to illustrate his

10
 rejection by the nation of Israel.
A. The workman (12:1)
1. The labor (12:1a): A man plants a vineyard, builds a wall around it, digs a pit for the
winepress, and constructs a watchtower.
2. The lease (12:1b): He then rents it out and goes away on a journey.
B. The wickedness (12:2-12): At harvest time the man sends some servants back to his vineyard.
1. Their mission (12:2, 4a, 5a, 6): They are to collect his share of the crop.
2. Their mistreatment (12:3, 4b, 5b, 7-12)
a. The wicked tenants ridicule, beat, and even kill some of the owner's servants (12:3, 4b,
5b).
b. The wicked tenants finally murder the owner's son (12:7-8).
c. The wrath (12:9): The furious owner returns, kills the godless tenants, and leases the
vineyard to others!
d. The witness (12:10-12): Jesus reminds his listeners that David predicted Israel's rejection
and murder of God's Son (Ps. 118:22-23).

II. CONFRONTATION (12:13-37): The Jewish leaders confront Jesus in regard to four issues.
A. Concerning the paying of tribute (12:13-17)
1. Their deceit (12:13-15a): In derision they ask: "As a man of great integrity, we ask you: Is it
right to pay taxes to Caesar?"
2. Their defeat (12:15b-17): He answers: "Give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything
that belongs to God must be given to God."
B. Concerning marriage in the resurrection (12:18-27)
1. Their silly example (12:18-23): They demand to know to which husband a wife will be married
in heaven if she has been married seven times while on earth!
2. The Savior's education (12:24-27)
a. Concerning the resurrection (12:24-25): There will be a resurrection!
b. Concerning marriage (12:26-27): There will be no marriage in the resurrection!
C. Concerning the greatest commandment (12:28-34)
1. Jesus and a Jewish teacher: Round one (12:28-31)
a. The question asked of Jesus (12:28): "Of all the commandments, which is the most
important?"
b. The question answered by Jesus (12:29-31)
(1) "The most important commandment is this: 'Hear, 0 Israel! ... You must love the Lord
your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (12:29-
30).
(2) "The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (12:31).
2. Jesus and a Jewish teacher: Round two (12:32-34)
a. The teacher (12:32-33): "You have spoken the truth."
b. The master (12:34): "You are not far from the Kingdom of God."
D. Concerning the Son of David (12:35-37): Jesus points out two facts about the Messiah.
1. He is David's son, thus affirming his humanity (12:35-36).
2. He is David's Lord, thus affirming his deity (12:37).

III. CONDEMNATION (12:38-40): Jesus warns against the teachers of religious law.
A. Haughtiness (12:38-39): They strut about in fine robes and expect the best places at banquets.
B. Cheating (12:40): They cheat widows out of their property.

IV. DONATION (12:41-44): Jesus compares the small offering of a poor widow to the large offerings of
the rich.
A. The ones who give much, amounting to little (12:41): Jesus watches some rich people putting
great sums of money into the Temple treasury.
B. The one who gives little, amounting to much (12:42-44): Jesus says a poor widow who drops
in two small coins has given the most, for it is all she has!

SECTION OUTLINE THIRTEEN (MARK 13)

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Jesus teaches about events of the end times.

I. THE TWO PROPHECIES OF JESUS (13:1-27)

A. In regard to the Temple (13:1-2): He predicts the total destruction of the Jewish Temple!
B. In regard to the Tribulation (13:3-27): Jesus describes the events that will transpire during the
first and final halves of the future Great Tribulation.
1. Events during the first half of the Tribulation (13:4-13)
a. The appearance of false Messiahs (13:4-6)
b. Worldwide wars (13:7-8a)
c. Earthquakes and famines (13:8b)
d. Persecution of the godly (13:9, 12-13)
(1) Political and religious persecution (13:9)
(2) Family persecution (13:12-13)
e. Universal preaching of the Gospel (13:10)
f. Ministry of the Holy Spirit (13:11)
2. Events during the final half of the Tribulation (13:14-27)
a. Desecration of the third Temple (13:14-16)
b. Unprecedented horror (13:17-20)
c. False rumors of Christ's return (13:21-23)
d. Fearful happenings concerning the sun, moon, and stars (13:24-25)
e. The second coming of Christ (13:26)
f. The gathering of Israel (13:27)

II. THE TWO PARABLES OF JESUS (13:28-37)

A. Parable of the fig tree (13:28-31): Jesus talks about observing signs.
1. The sign (13:28): "When [the fig tree's] buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout,
you know without being told that summer is near."
2. The significance (13:29-30): "Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to
happen, you can be sure that [my] return is very near, right at the door."
3. The surety (13:31): "Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever."
B. Parable of the alert servants (13:32-37): Jesus urges his servants to be watchful, giving two
reasons for this.
1. Because of the task (13:34-35): God has assigned each believer a specific task to accomplish.
2. Because of the time (13:32-33, 36-37): No servant knows when the Master will return, thus
constant watchfulness is required!

SECTION OUTLINE FOURTEEN (MARK 14)

This chapter records events before, during, and after Jesus' agony in Gethsemane.

I. EVENTS PRECEDING GETHSEMANE (14:1-31)

A. The plots (14:1-2, 10-11): Wicked plans are laid on two occasions to kill Jesus.
1. The plot by the chief priests (14:1-2)
2. The plot by Judas Iscariot (14:10-11): He agrees to betray Jesus.
B. The preparation (14:3-9): A woman pours expensive perfume over Jesus' head, to which Jesus
responds by saying that she has prepared his body for burial.
1. The place (14:3a): It occurs in Bethany.
2. The person (14:3b): A woman anoints Jesus.
3. The perfume (14:3c): She pours out an alabaster jar of very costly perfume on Jesus.
4. The protest (14:4-9)
a. The woman is denounced by some of the guests (14:4-5): "Why was this expensive
perfume wasted? She could have sold it for a small fortune and given the money to the
poor!"
b. The woman is defended by the Savior (14:6-9).
(1) Concerning the poor (14:6-7): "You will always have the poor among you, and you can
help them whenever you want to. But I will not be here with you much longer."
(2) Concerning the perfume (14:8-9): "Wherever the Good News is preached throughout

12
 the world, this woman's deed will be talked about in her memory."
C. The Passover meal (14:12-26)
1. The instructions (14:12-16): Jesus sends two of his disciples to Jerusalem to secure an upper
room where the Passover supper can be observed, and they obey.
2. The indictment (14:17-20)
a. The betrayal (14:17-18): In the upper room, Jesus announces that one of the disciples will
betray him!
b. The baffled (14:19): One by one they ask him, "I'm not the one, am I?"
c. The betrayer (14:20-21): Jesus says of the one who will betray him, "Far better for him if he
had never been born!"
3. The institution (14:22-26)
a. The supper (14:22-25): Jesus institutes the first Christian Communion service.
(1) The bread (14:22): "This is my body."
(2) The wine (14:23-25): "This is my blood."
b. The song (14:26): They now sing a hymn and depart the upper room.
D. The predictions (14:27-31): Jesus warns:
1. That he will be deserted by all (14:27-28)
2. That he will be denied by one (14:29-31)

II. EVENTS OCCURRING IN GETHSEMANE (14:32-52)

A. The agony of Jesus (14:32-42)
1. His first prayer (14:32-38)
a. The struggle (14:32-35): Feeling his soul crushed with sorrow, he prays that, if possible, his
terrible cup of suffering might be removed.
b. The submission (14:36): He emphasizes that he desires his Father's will above his own.
c. The sleepers (14:37-38): Upon returning to where he left them, Jesus finds Peter, James,
and John asleep!
(1) He awakens them (14:37).
(2) He admonishes them (14:38): "Keep alert and pray."
2. His second prayer (14:39-40): Jesus again leaves his disciples and prays alone, and again he
returns to find them sleeping.
3. His third prayer (14:41-42): Yet a third time he finds the disciples asleep.
B. The arrest of Jesus (14:43-49)
1. Jesus and Judas (14:43-45): Judas betrays Jesus into the hands of a mob with a deceitful
kiss.
2. Jesus and Peter (14:46-49): Jesus rebukes Peter's act of cutting off the ear of the high priest's
servant (see also John 18:10).
C. The abandonment of Jesus (14:50-52)
1. He is forsaken by the eleven (14:50).
2. He is forsaken by a young man (14:51-52).

III. EVENTS FOLLOWING GETHSEMANE (14:53-72)

A. Jesus is denounced by his foes (14:55-65).
1. He is arraigned before the Sanhedrin (14:55-64).
a. The attempts involved (14:55-59)
(1) The frantic efforts to indict him (14:55-56): False witnesses are assembled to testify
against him.
(2) The futile efforts to indict him (14:57-59): None of the witnesses get their stories
straight.
b. The affirmation (14:60-62): When asked, Jesus affirms that he is indeed the Messiah!
c. The agreement (14:63-64): The Sanhedrin now agrees that Jesus should be put to death
as a blasphemer.
2. He is assaulted by the Sanhedrin (14:65): Jesus is blindfolded, spit upon, struck, and ridiculed!
B. Jesus is denied by his follower (14:53-54, 66-72)
1. The person (14:53-54a): Simon Peter denies Jesus on three occasions.
2. The place (14:54b): It occurs beside a fire in the courtyard of the Sanhedrin.

13
 3. The particulars (14:66-72)
a. First occasion (14:66-68): A servant girl accuses him of being a disciple of Jesus.
b. Second occasion (14:69-70a): This charge is repeated by the same girl.
c. Third occasion (14:70b-72)
(1) Several others now accuse Peter, causing him to curse out his denials (14:70b-71).
(2) The rooster crows (14:72a).
(3) Peter breaks down and weeps bitterly (14:72b).

SECTION OUTLINE FIFTEEN (MARK 15)

Jesus is put on trial, sentenced to death, crucified, and buried, taking upon himself the sins of the entire
world!

I. EVENTS PRECEDING THE CRUCIFIXION (15:1-21)

A. The conspiracy (15:1): The Sanhedrin binds Jesus and brings him before Pilate to be crucified.
B. The confusion (15:2)
1. Pilate (15:2a): "Are you the King of the Jews?"
2. Jesus (15:2b): "It is as you say."
C. The charges (15:3-5)
1. The slander against Jesus (15:3-4): The Pharisees accuse him of many crimes.
2. The silence of Jesus (15:5): He makes no reply!
D. The custom (15:6): It is Pilate's custom to release one Jewish prisoner each year at Passover.
E. The choice (15:7-14)
1. The crowd demands the deliverance of Barabbas the murderer (15:7-11).
2. The crowd demands the death of Jesus the Messiah (15:12-14).
F. The chastening (15:15): Pilate now orders Jesus flogged.
G. The contempt (15:16-20): Jesus is handed over to the Roman soldiers.
1. He is mocked (15:16-18): "Hail, King of the Jews!"
2. He is mistreated (15:19-20): They spit on him and strike him!
H. The crossbearer (15:21): Simon of Cyrene is pressed into service by the Romans to carry
Jesus' cross.

II. EVENTS DURING THE CRUCIFIXION (15:22-37)

A. The cup for the cross (15:22-23): Jesus refuses the cup of wine drugged with bitter herbs
offered him.
B. The clothing below the cross (15:24-25)
1. What is done (15:24): The soldiers throw dice for his clothes.
2. When it is done (15:25): He is crucified at 9 A.M.
C. The citation on the cross (15:26): The sign reads, "The King of the Jews."
D. The criminals alongside the cross (15:27-28): Jesus is crucified between two robbers.
E. The contempt toward the cross (15:29-32)
1. Where it comes from (15:29a, 31, 32b)
a. Those passing by (15:29a)
b. The Jewish religious leaders (15:31)
c. The two robbers (15:32b)
2. What it consists of (15:29b-30, 32a)
a. "You can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, can you? Well then, save
yourself and come down from the cross!" (15:29b-30).
b. "He saved others, but he can't save himself!" (15:32a).
F. The cloud covering the cross (15:33): Darkness covers the cross from noon till 3 P.M.
G. The cry from the cross (15:34): Jesus shouts, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" ("My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?")
H. The confusion around the cross (15:35-36): Some people who hear his cry think Jesus is
calling for Elijah to help him.
I. The consummation of the cross (15:37): At 3 P.M. Jesus dies.

III. EVENTS FOLLOWING THE CRUCIFIXION (15:38-47)

14
 A. Regarding the tearing of the veil (15:38): The Temple curtain is torn in two from top to bottom.
B. Regarding the tribute by the centurion (15:39): As he watches Jesus die, the Roman officer in
charge cries out, "Truly, this was the Son of God!"
C. Regarding the testimony of the women (15:40-41): A number of faithful women are at the
cross when Jesus dies.
D. Regarding the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (15:42-47)
1. The mission of Joseph (15:42-45): He requests and receives from Pilate the lifeless body of
Jesus.
2. The ministry of Joseph (15:46-47): He wraps the body of Jesus in a linen cloth and places it in
his own personal tomb.

SECTION OUTLINE SIXTEEN (MARK 16)

Jesus rises from the grave, defeating death for all time, and ascends to heaven after giving his disciples
the command to preach the Good News throughout the whole world.

I. HE ARISES (16:1-18)
A. The resurrection announcement (16:1-8)
1. The grief (16:1-3): Three heavyhearted women come to the tomb, wondering how they might
roll aside the huge stone from the entrance.
2. The glory (16:4-8): An angel announces Jesus' resurrection to the startled women.
B. The resurrection appearances (16:9-18)
1. First appearance, to Mary Magdalene (16:9-11)
2. Second appearance, to two believers (16:12-13)
3. Third appearance, to the disciples as they are eating (16:14-18)
a. The command (16:14-15): They are to preach the gospel to all nations.
b. The confirmation (16:16-18): Supernatural signs will accompany them!

II. HE ASCENDS (16:19-20): Jesus is taken up into heaven and sits down at God's right hand!

15