Quizzing the New Testament: Mark

Answer: John the Baptist

"And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Mark 1 v. 4)

Mark attributes both of these quotes to Isaiah but the first is actually taken from Malachi.

The opening to Mark's gospel is characteristically action-packed. Matthew and Luke choose to begin with the birth of Jesus. John has a reflective prologue. By the end of the first chapter of Mark, on the other hand, so much has happened. John the Baptist appears and is imprisoned. Jesus takes up John's mantle of preaching repentance. He is baptized and tempted. He calls disciples and preaches in the synagogue where he impresses with his authority. He eats a meal. He exorcises, heals, plans for strategic expansion and still has time to pray on his own. All this in the first chapter!

Answer: He makes errors about the local geography.

"Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis." (Mark 7 v. 31)

The Sea of Galilee and the Decapolis lie to the south-east of Tyre yet Sidon is considerably to its north.

Whilst it's true that Mark did write substantially in Greek, this would not have precluded him from originating in Israel as many people there would have been versed in the language.

Answer: He didn't want people to know that he was the Messiah.

The term was first used by German theologian, W. Wrede, in 1901. It stems from the fact that, several times in Mark, Jesus forbids people to talk about him. One such example comes in the gospel's opening chapter:
"Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 'See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.'" (Mark 1 v. 43-44)

Answer: Pontius Pilate

We, the readers, are told in the very first verse that Jesus is the Son of God but, within the gospel, Mark uses an unfolding pattern of recognition. Firstly, at Jesus' baptism, we hear God affirming him. Subsequently, he is recognised by the forces of evil and by his own disciples (although Peter uses the term Christ rather than Son of God - Mark 8). Finally, even the Gentile centurion acknowledges him.

"And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."" (Mark 1 v. 11)

"He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was." (Mark 1 v. 34)

"And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"" (Mark 15 v. 39)

Answer: Peter

It had all been going so well. Shortly before, Peter had acknowledged Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah, but he completely failed to understand why Jesus was speaking of the need to suffer. He tried to rebuke Jesus but only ended up being rebuked himself in the words, "Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (Mark 8 v. 33).

Answer: Six

The word synoptic, meaning "seeing together", is used of the first three gospels because of the amount of common material they share. The entry into Jerusalem on "Palm Sunday" comes at the beginning of chapter 11. By contrast, Matthew allocates 8 out of 28 chapters; Luke 5.5 out of 24. John has 10 of his 21 chapters set during this time.

In Mark's mind is the idea that you cannot see Jesus for who he truly is except in the light of his passion and suffering.

Answer: The Father

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mark 13 v. 32)

Many have speculated that Mark's gospel, in its present form, appeared soon after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD. They suggest that many Christians were disillusioned, having expected this to be a sign that the end was imminent. Mark uses his material to reassure his readers, encouraging them to stay expectant and vigilant but to realise that only God knows when it will happen.

Answer: He is naked.

"A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind." (Mark 14 v. 51-52)

The incident occurs in the garden of Gethsemane. No other gospel writer records the fact and it's argued that this is a strange detail to include unless Mark wants us to understand that he is that man.

The gospel itself does not identify its writer. Church tradition attributed it to Mark from statements made by the third century historian Eusebius, himself quoting an earlier writer named Papias. Mark was said to have written an account of the life of Jesus derived from his conversations with the apostle, Peter.

Answer: Women witnessing the resurrection but too afraid to pass on the news

"Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid." (Mark 16 v. 8)

The additional verses are a brief summary of some of the post-resurrection stories from the other gospels.

Answer: Snake handling

"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."" (Mark 16 v. 17-18)

Snake-handling churches take these words literally and incorporate into their worship, on occasions, the handling of venomous snakes. This is sometimes accompanied by the drinking of poison. The movement dates from the early twentieth century and, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, comprised 40 churches in America and 4 in Canada. (Source: Wikipedia)

One of the movement's pioneers was George Went Hensley who died in 1955 - of a snake bite.