This month I have decided to start a new series of Scripture Plans on the Gospels. It was time to focus on the life and earthly ministry of Jesus and I thought The Gospel of Mark would be a good place to start. Why? Simply because it is the shortest!

But as I started reading I realised that Mark’s Gospel is a great way to be introduced to Jesus. Mark focuses on what Jesus does. It is all about action, and the action moves fast! So, let’s look at the Scripture Plan.

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Unless otherwise stated the Scripture References are taken from the Christian Standard Bible. While referring to lots of different versions in my study, I generally use the CSB Study Bible for Women on kindle.

Scripture Plan on the Gospel of Mark

This Scripture Plan takes us through the Gospel of Mark in 30 days.  I have chosen to make all my monthly plans for 30 days even though not all months are this length, so you can choose to do them at any time.  I have chosen to call this plan Follow Jesus the Servant as Mark focuses on Jesus as a servant and our response to follow him and his example.

 Use the form below to download the Follow Jesus the Servant Gospel of Mark Scripture Plan.

Introduction to the Gospel of Mark

Jesus in the Book of Mark

The Gospel of Mark begins with an introduction of who Jesus is:

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Mark 1:1 CSB

Mark identifies Jesus as the Christ, or Messiah, the anointed one and as the Son of God right from the beginning of his gospel (good news). But throughout the gospel Mark portrays Jesus as a servant, focusing on his ministry (preaching, healing, cleansing) and calls us to follow him and follow his example.

The first response to Jesus, recorded in Mark’s Gospel, is to “Follow me,” Mark 1:17

And Jesus explains that his purpose is to serve, and what that means:

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

Stories unique to The Gospel of Mark

Most of The Gospel according to Mark is repeated in Matthew and Luke’s gospels, but there are some unique elements. When you first start reading the gospel you can’t help noticing that there is nothing of Jesus’ birth or childhood. Mark starts when Jesus’ ministry begins. But, what of the sections of Mark that are not recorded elsewhere in the Bible? Here is a list of some of them, they use usually little additions to stories that are told in other gospels:

• Jesus’ family tries to restrain him (3:20-21)
• Parable of growing seed (4:26-29)
• Jesus realises that power had gone out from him when healing the woman with bleeding (5:30)
  
• Entering a house in Tyre and not wanting anyone to know he was there (7:24)
• Healing of blind man in two stages (8:22-26)
• Jesus being indignant when disciples sent children away (10:14)
• The naked young man running away at Jesus’ arrest (14:51-52)
• Women question who will roll away the stone (16:3)

You can read more on the differences between the gospels in my post Why are there four Gospels?