Mark

Mark presents Jesus as the Servant of the Lord who came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. This gospel, likely the earliest written, moves with urgent pace, frequently using 'immediately' as Jesus moves from one mighty work to another. Mark omits Jesus' birth narrative, beginning instead with John the Baptist's wilderness ministry preparing the way. Jesus' baptism and temptation quickly lead to His Galilean ministry.

Jesus proclaims that the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, requiring repentance and faith. He calls fishermen to become fishers of men and immediately they follow. Jesus demonstrates extraordinary authority—teaching with authority unlike the scribes, commanding unclean spirits who obey Him, healing all manner of diseases including leprosy, forgiving sins which only God can do, and claiming to be Lord of the Sabbath. His fame spreads rapidly throughout Galilee.

Jesus appoints twelve apostles to be with Him and to preach with authority to cast out demons. When He returns home, crowds are so intense His family thinks He's beside Himself. Religious leaders accuse Him of casting out demons by Beelzebub, but Jesus exposes their illogic and warns against blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Jesus teaches through parables about the kingdom's mysteries.

He demonstrates power over nature by calming a storm with a word, over demons by casting out a legion into swine, over disease by healing a woman who touched His garment, and over death by raising Jairus's daughter. When Jesus sends out the twelve, they preach repentance and perform miracles. Mark records Jesus feeding five thousand, walking on water, and healing many. Controversies with Pharisees over traditions lead Jesus to teach that defilement comes from within, not external things.

Jesus predicts His death and resurrection repeatedly, but disciples don't understand. The transfiguration reveals Jesus' glory. Jesus teaches about faith, causing stumbling, divorce, receiving the kingdom like a child, and the difficulty of the wealthy entering God's kingdom. The final week in Jerusalem includes triumphal entry, cursing a fig tree, cleansing the temple, parables against religious leaders, teachings about the greatest commandment, warnings about scribes, commending the widow's offering, predicting the temple's destruction and His return.

After the Last Supper, Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried, denied by Peter, condemned, mocked, crucified, and buried. Women discover the empty tomb and receive the angel's message that Jesus is risen.