The Gospel of Mark
This winter, we will turn together to the heart of Mark’s Gospel—chapters 7 through 10—in an eleven-week journey through a section many New Testament scholars describe as a “discipleship intensive.” These chapters mark a turning point in Jesus’ ministry: the widening conflict with religious authorities and the unveiling of Jesus’ identity not merely as a miracle worker but as the suffering Messiah. Here, boundaries are crossed—ethnic, social, and spiritual—as Jesus heals Gentiles, challenges traditions, feeds multitudes, and reveals a kingdom far more expansive and demanding than anyone expected.
Yet this portion of Mark is not only about who Jesus is; it is also about who we are called to be. In these chapters, the disciples are confronted again and again with their misunderstanding, fear, and ambition. Jesus leads them on the road toward Jerusalem, teaching that true greatness is found in servanthood, that the way of the kingdom is the way of the cross, and that seeing clearly requires humility and surrender. As we walk through these eleven weeks, we will invite Jesus to expose our assumptions, expand our vision, and invite us deeper into the transforming journey of following Jesus.
