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.