Book of Mark Summary and Overview [Free pdf with Study Notes]

Each of the Gospels begin with a theme, and the Gospel of Mark is no different. It directly addresses Jesus Christ as the Son of God in the very first verse. We also see the readiness of Jesus to proclaim the Gospel, which runs throughout the entire book, and ends in the Great Commission in Chapter 16.

Read our in-depth Bible study on the Book of Matthew, which is the first Gospel in the New Testament. Certain stories are covered more in-depth in the Matthew Bible Study found here.

You can use any Bible translation you have, to work your way through this Book of Mark Summary, which is intended to be a visual guide to help you study the Bible easier.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45 (ESV)

*Note the Bible verses in this page are taken from the ESV translation.

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Prayers for boldness to preach the Gospel

Gospel of Mark Summary (Set 1 – Free Printable)

If you are a just starting to read your Bible and need help understanding and learning the Book of Mark, this free pdf download may be helpful. It covers major events and teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark along with verses that require a bit more learning to understand the true meaning of its context.

Download your free copy here. No need to sign up with your email. Simple click the button below to save these Bible notes to your device and print.

Gospel of Mark Summary (Set 2 – Free Download)

If you are looking for a floral themed printable, feel free to download the same Book of Mark printable summary as above – only with a different color and theme.

Jesus Begins and Continues His Ministry

At the beginning of the book, in Mark 1:14, we see Jesus enters Galilee and begins to preach the Gospel of God, and starts gathering His disciples.

The book ends in Chapter 16 in which Jesus continues to teach the proclamation of the Gospel to the world.

Jesus said, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:17

And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed these messages with accompanying signs. Mark 16:20

Book of Mark Bible Summary

1. Jesus Starts His Ministry

After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan, and He led into the wildness by the Spirit. He was tempted by Satan after 40 days of praying and fasting, and then begins His ministry.

This statement found in Mark 1:17 summarises the book in the very first Chapter. Here Jesus says, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Jesus is looking for disciples to preach the word of God, even today.

Authority Over Unclean Spirits:

In Chapter 1:23, a man with an unclean spirit comes before Jesus saying, what do you have to do with us? Are you here to destroy us? I know you are the Holy One of God.

Jesus rebuked him and the unclean spirit came out of the man immediately.

Everyone on seeing this were amazed with the power and authority Jesus had over unclean spirits.

Healed Many:

• Jesus heals Simon Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:30)
• The whole city gathered to be healed by Jesus (Mark 1:34)
• Jesus cleanses a leper (Mark 1:44)

How Jesus Prayed:

This can be found in Mark 1:35

Jesus said, Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out. Mark 1:38

2. Faith, Fasting & Forgiveness of Sins

In Chapter 2, Jesus was preaching the word at home to a crowd that left no room for anyone to enter.

Four men who wanted a paralytic to be healed, removed the roof above Jesus and let down the paralytic on a bed.

Jesus seeing their faith healed him, saying your sins are forgiven (Mark 2:5).

Jesus said, But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. Mark 2:10

Jesus was asked why His disciples were not fasting like the Pharisees and the disciple of John the Baptist. Jesus gives an answer to them in Mark 2:19-22.

3. Lord of the Sabbath – Parables

Jesus explains He is Lord of the Sabbath (Chapter 3:28).

Jesus also heals a man with a withered hand on Sabbath (Mark 3:3-5)

The unforgivable sin: Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29)

Parables of Jesus:

• Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1)
• Parable of the Lamp under a Basket (Mark 4:21)
• Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26)
• Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30)
• Parable of the Tenants (Mark 12:1)

Jesus has authority over a storm when they were at sea – even the wind and the sea obey Him!

4. The Possessed and The Pigs

Jesus met a man who was being tormented by an unclean spirit and lived among the tombs.

Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, My name is Legion, for we are many.” Mark 5:9

Important Points to Study on this Topic:

• The man with the unclean spirit, begged Jesus not to send him out of the country, but to the herd of pigs nearby.
• So they entered into around 2,000 pigs which drowned into the sea
• The herdsmen told of this to the people in the city
• The people begged Jesus to leave their region – why?

5. The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith

Jesus heals the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:34) and raises Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:41).

The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith (Mark 7:25-29)

An often misunderstood story in the New testament is of the Syrophoenician woman. A Gentile woman who approaches Jesus to cast out a demon from her daughter.

Understanding the metaphor of the Gentile woman:

• What did Jesus mean?
• Did Jesus do this to test her intentions?
• What is the lesson to be learnt?
• The Amplified Study Bible or any study Bible can be used to understand the deeper meaning behind this story.

Reason behind the death of John the Baptist – Mark 6:14-29.

What defiles a person?

In other words, what is it that can make someone impure? Jesus explains this in great detail.

Mark 7:14-19 – Jesus tells us what does not make someone impure, contrary to what some may believe.

Mark 7:20 – Here Jesus explains what are the acts that defile a person.

6. Jesus is the Christ

Jesus feeds the multitudes:

• With 5 loaves and 2 fish, Jesus multiplied their food to feed five thousand people gathered to hear His teachings. After they had all eaten, there was 12 basketful of left overs. (Mark 6:30-42)
• Again, with 7 loaves and some small fish, Jesus feeds a crowd of four thousand, who had gathered to hear His teachings. This time again they 7 basketful left over (Mark 8:1-9)

Peter Confesses Jesus is the Christ:

Jesus asks Peter who He thinks He is. Peter answers that Jesus is the Christ to which Jesus charged him to tell no one. Mark 8:29

Blind man healed at Bethsaida.

Study Topic:

• Why did Jesus say take up your cross and follow me? What does this mean? (Mark 8:34)

For whoever is ashamed of Me and of my words in this adulterous generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in glory of His Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:38

7. All Things are Possible with God

A father brought his possessed son to Jesus’ disciples who were not able to cast out the spirit. When the father asks Jesus If He can do anything to help, this is how Jesus replies:

And Jesus said to him, “If I can! All things are possible for one who believes – Mark 9:23

This is a powerful statement to remind us about the power and authority of Jesus Christ. We see that following His statement, Jesus sets the boy free.

Temptation to Sin – Powerful explanations by Jesus on the importance of not falling into the sin, which is explained in Mark 9:42-40.

The Story of the Rich Young Man (Mark 10:17):

• How do we inherit eternal life?
• Is following the Commandments sufficient?

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him. “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; come and follow me.” Mark 10:21

Deity of Jesus:

Jesus conveyed most of His messages in parables. In Mark 4:11, Jesus tells us that the mystery of the Kingdom of God is revealed to those who are ready to receive the message. To the rest of the listeners, His parables may not be easily understood because of their unbelief.

For example in Mark 10:18, when Jesus is called a Good Teacher by a young rich man, Jesus asks this question that is often misunderstood,

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”

While one may argue that this statement of Jesus tells us that He is not God. It is quite the opposite. With Jesus telling the young man that no one is good except God, He is in fact showing the man His true deity – the oneness with God.

8. Jesus Came to Serve Not to be Served

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many – Mark 10:45

Study Points on Mark 10:45:

• Philippians 2:7 – Born as a man He took the form of a servant
• John 13:13-15 – He came to set an example
• 1 Timothy 2:6 – Came to save us from the penalty of sin
• John 10:15 – Willing gave himself as a sacrifice
• Matthew 22:36-40 – Taught us the first most important commandment is to love God and second to love one another
• Read this full list of Old Testament prophesies about Jesus

Powerful Lessons:

• Mark 10:23 – Entering Kingdom of God
• Mark 10:25 – Easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle
• Mark 10:27 – All things are possible with God!

Story of Blind Bartimaeus and his powerful faith in Jesus – Mark 10:46-52.

9. Jesus Foretells Death and Resurrection 3 Times

Jesus talks about His death and resurrection to His disciples three times in the Book of Mark:

• The First: Mark 8:31
• The Second: Mark 9:31
• The Third: Mark 10:33.

10. My House is a House of Prayer

Mark 11:15, we see Jesus enters the temple of Jerusalem and is visibly unhappy with the money-changers and the business conducted. He drove out those who were selling, and overturned tables of the money changers.

And Jesus said, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” Mark 11:17

11. Story of the Fig Tree

Faith – Prayer – Forgiveness

Have Faith in God: Lesson of the Fig tree explains the power of true faith (Mark 11:20-25).

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

12. First and Second Important Commandment

Jesus’ lesson about the resurrection in Mark 12:25.

Jesus further explains that our God is a God of the living and not the dead!

The Greatest of All Commandments: Mark 12:29-31

Keep an Eye Out: Mark 12:38-40

Jesus compares the contributions made by the rich and the poor – The Poor Widows High Contribution: Mark 12:41-44

13. Things that are to Happen

Signs (Mark 13:2-13):

Here are some signs that Jesus talks about, regarding the last days:

• Watch out for false leaders
• Nation will rise against nation
• Earthquakes – Famines
• Be on guard and do not be anxious

Abomination of Desolation: Mark 12:14-23

Signs of Jesus’ second coming: Mark 13:24-27

Truly I say to you, these things will not pass away until all these things take place. Mark 12:30

14. The Lord’s Supper

Mark 14:22-24

Jesus’ last Passover supper with His disciples, where He broke the bread and gave them wine. This represented the body and blood of Jesus Christ, that would be sacrificed for our sins.

15. The Garden of Gethsemane

Mark 14:32-42

Jesus and His disciples then came to a place called Gethsemane. Taking Peter, James and John with Him, Jesus became deeply stressed.

Lessons to learn:

• What is the real reason for Jesus being troubled?
• Why did He ask the Father: To take this cup away from Me?

Useful tip: A Study Bible may be helpful when doing a deeper Bible study of the passage and understanding the context of the scriptures, so that it is not taken in the wrong meaning.

16. Death and Resurrection

Mark 15 & 16

Jesus is then betrayed by Judas Iscariot and taken to the High Priest. They then take Jesus to Pilate and is led to be crucified among the robbers.

Events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion:

• Jesus is taken to the palace with the entire Roman battalion.
• They keep beating Him and spitting on Him
• In mockery, place a purple robe and bowing and kneeling as if paying homage to Him
• Led Him to Golgotha to crucify Him

Bible verse for deeper study: Mark 15:34

And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Mark 15:36-38

Resulting Signs of Jesus’ death:

• Darkness covered the land (Mark 15:33)
• Temple was torn (Mark 15:38)
• Centurion says, truly this is the Son of God (Mark 15:39)

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin, went to Pilate and asked to take the body of Jesus, which he wrapped in fine linen and buried in a tomb.

After the Sabbath, Mary of Magdalene, Mary and Salome were on the way to the tomb to anoint Jesus with special spices. On entering the tomb they saw an angel who told them that Jesus is risen.

It is noted in this book that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene, followed by many other appearances of Jesus, confirming His resurrection.

But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you. Mark 16:7

The angel calls for the 12 disciples including Peter to go and meet the risen Jesus at Galilee. This is incredible passage that shows us the forgiving and compassionate nature of Christ, calling Peter even though he had denied Jesus three times (Mark 14:72) before His crucifixion.

17. The Great Commission

Jesus appears to the eleven disciples who had not believed those who saw the risen Jesus.

Main Message:

Mark 16:15 – And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.