WIWO: Mark – Episode 4: Ministry and Solitude

Reading: Mark 1:35-2:12 Context: Why does Jesus withdraw to solitary places for prayer, especially after successful ministry times? Jesus withdrawal is about knowing when to be in the crowd and when to be alone with God. It’s a breathing pattern. He breathes in the quality time with the Father to receive all there is to […]

WIWO: Mark – Episode 3: The Call to Discipleship

Reading: Mark 1:16-34 Context: What does the immediate response of the fishermen tell us about Jesus’ authority and their recognition of it? Is this a recognition by the men of the authority of Jesus? Did they respond to a command or an invitation? The fishermen’s immediate response speaks more to the appeal of Jesus than […]

WIWO: Mark – Episode 2: The Forerunner’s Preparation

Reading: Mark 1:1-15 Context: Why was John the Baptist’s ministry of preparation necessary before Jesus began His public work? There’s the importance of fulfilling prophecy – a crucial element in terms of ensuring we know that what’s going on has been spoken by God well in advance. Then there’s the nature of what John the […]

WIWO: Mark – Episode 1: Introduction and Overview

Reading: Complete overview of Mark’s Gospel (skim through all 16 chapters) Context: What do you know about the author Mark and the circumstances surrounding this Gospel’s composition? Mark’s Gospel is traditionally attributed to John Mark, a close associate of the apostle Peter, who served as Mark’s primary source for the Gospel content. Early church tradition […]