Markan Sandwiches

Markan Sandwiches

Sandwich #1
a. Healing of Paralytic 2:1-5a
b. Authority to Forgive Sin 2:5b-10a
c. Healing of the Paralytic 2:10b-12

Toothpick: “he says to the paralytic” 2:5b
“he says to the paralytic” 2:10b

Sandwich #2
a. Withered Hand Miracle 3:1-3a
b. Sabbath Controversy 3:4-5a
c. Withered Hand Miracle 3:5b-6

Toothpick: “he says to the man” 3:3
“he says to the man” 3:5

Sandwich #3
a. Rejection by Jesus’ Family 3:20-21
b. Rejection by Jewish Leaders 3:22-30
c. Rejection by Jesus’ Family 3:31-35

Toothpick: “his family went” 3:21
“his mother…went” 3:31

Sandwich #4
a. Jairus’ Daughter 5:21-24a
b. Issue of Blood 5:22-30
c. Jairus’ Daughter 5:35-43

Toothpick: “the girl is twelve years old” 5:42
“the woman has been ill twelve years” 5:25

Sandwich #5
a. Sending Out the Twelve 6:6b-13
b. Death of John the Baptizer 6:14-29
c. Sending Out the Twelve 6:30-31

Toothpick: “he instructed them” 6:8
“the apostles instructed him” 6:30

Sandwich #6
a. Unwashed Hands 7:1-5
b. Corban Controversy 7:6-13
c. Unwashed Hands 7:14-23

Toothpick: “defile” 7:2
“defile” 7:15

Sandwich #7
a. Blessing Children 9:36-50
b. Teaching on Divorce 10:1-12
c. Blessing Children 10:13-16

Toothpick: “child” 9:36
“children” 10:13

Sandwich #8
a. Cursing of the Fig Tree 11:12-14
b. Cleansing of the Temple 11:15-19
c. Cursing of the Fig Tree 11:20-25

Toothpick: “fig tree in leaf” 11:13
“fig tree withered” 11:20

Sandwich #9
a. False Christs 13:5-6
b. Jerusalem/Temple Destroyed 13:7-20
c. False Christs 13:21-23

Toothpick: “will lead astray” 13:6
“to lead astray” 13:22

Sandwich #10
a. Plot to Kill Jesus 14:1-2
b. Anointing at Bethany 14:3-9
c. Plot to Kill Jesus 14:10-11

Toothpick: “were seeking to kill” 14:1
“was seeking to betray” 14:11

Sandwich #11
a. Peter’s Denial 14:53-54
b. Jesus’ Trial 14:55-65
c. Peter’s Denial 14:66-72

Toothpick: “Peter had followed” 14:53
“Peter was below” 14:66

Sandwich #12
a. Women 15:40-41
b. Burial of Jesus 15:42-46
c. Women 15:47-16:1

Toothpick: “Mary Magdalene” 15:40
“Mary Magdalene” 16:1

Markan Controversy Stories

The Gospel of Mark
Markan Controversy Stories

First Cycle
A. Forgiving Sinners 2:1-12
(opponents: Scribes)

B. Eating With Sinners 2:13-17
(opponents: Scribes of Pharisees)

C. Fasting 2:18-22
(opponents: Disciples of John & Pharisees)

D. Plucking Grain On Sabbath 2:23-28
(opponents: Pharisees)

E. Healing Withered Hand 3;1-6
(opponents: Pharisees and Herodians)

A and E deal with Jesus healing people; B and D concern themselves with legal questions about eating; C has to do with fasting which constitutes the central story. The fasting story C emphasizes the newness and power of Jesus which established him as Lord of the sabbath, and one who can interpret laws about eating and feeding.

Second Cycle

A. Jesus and Beelzebul 3:20-28
(opponents: Scribes)

B. Eating With Unclean Hands 7:1-23
(opponents: Pharisees and Scribes)

C. Questions About Divorce 10:1-12
(opponents: Pharisees)

Third Cycle

A. Questions of Authority 11:27-33
(opponents: chief priests, Scribes, Elders)

B. Question of Taxes to Caesar 12:13-17
(opponents: Pharisees and Herodians)

C. Healing Withered Hand 3;1-6
(opponents: Pharisees and Herodians)

D. Questions of Greatest Commandment 12:28-34
(opponents: one Scribe)

E. Question of David’s Son 12:35-37
(opponents: Scribes)

Cycle 3 has a concentric pattern. A and E deal with judgments against authorities. B and C concern legal disputes over God and neighbor, and God and Caesar. The central episode is the controversy over the resurrection. What it says about it establishes the power of Jesus evident in the other controversies.

Introduction To Mark

Welcome to a very, Veritasian study of Mark. Here are a few tidbits to get you started and to help you along.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE

• Read the selection before the discussion time
• Mark down questions/observations as you read.....write them in your Bible (God will let you)
• Reflect on what you read, insert yourself into the story and try reading as if you've never read Mark before
• Bring your study Bible

SOME POINTS TO CONSIDER

Mark is indeed a Gospel with a uniqueness of its own......

• Often ignored
• Shortest Gospel
• Date written: around 64-74 AD....Mark adds the phrase "with persecutions" in 10:30, which might reflect the persecution of Christians by Nero following the disastrous fire that destroyed half the city of Rome during AD 64......this phrase is not found in the Matthean or Lucan parallels
• "Maverick" Gospel
• No beginning or ending
• No Christmas story
• Tells "it" like it is
• First "Gospel"
• Gospel of ACTION.....("immediately" or "at once" or "then" occurs nearly 40 times in 16 chapters)
• Mark records fewer words of Jesus than the other Gospels
• Respected disciples appear dull and dense
• "Epitimao"- Greek word that appears 9 times....meaning to physically censor or "rap on the knuckles" or to rebuke......happens to: demoniacs; ocean; sea; disciples (including Peter) and even Jesus
• Includes a unique literary device called a Markan Sandwich where one story is split apart and another story is inserted as the "meat".....the outer stories interpret the inner ones.....most often a "toothpick" to connect them
• There are 6 mini gospels in Mark's one Gospel
• Mark is the only place where Jesus calls someone Satan
• Insiders are outsiders and outsiders are insiders
• There are 13 Controversy stories
• A theme called the Messianic Secret runs throughout, wherein Jesus refuses to disclose His identity
• "in the house" theme
• Role of the Sea: place of wilderness, separation and the abode of evil spirits......each time Jesus goes to Gentiles, a storm arises and He rebukes it......he comes back across after the feeding and has 1 basket left, signifying the unity of the Jews and Gentiles
• Many eating and feeding themes..."eat" 14 times; "bread" 15 times; "fasting" occurs one time
• There are no sermons in Mark

KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING MARK

1.We need to know the Story of Mark

• From beginning to end
• We rely too heavily on the stories of Mark and not Mark as Story
• Observe the characters and their behaviors or lack of them
• Mark gives clues regarding the plot and its development
• Identify scenes of crisis and recognition and see the story's resolution in light of its logic

2. AVOID injecting MATTHEAN, LUKAN and JOHANNINE elements into Mark's Gospel

• There are differences....but these differences are what led Mark and the others into the canon
• Each Gospel was written by a different author in a different historical setting for a different audience. There are different cultural attachments, literary conventions and distinct social and political and religious conditions.
• Purpose: not present an historically accurate account but to present Jesus in a relevant way

Mark will give us a greater appreciation for the Suffering Servant of Jesus Christ and allow us to readily identify with the disciples in some rather unconventional ways. Strap yourself in and hold on...