The Major Theological Themes in the Gospel of Mark.

Abstract

The Gospel of Mark contains many themes; among these is the major theme of the identity of Jesus, following, the theme of discipleship takes centre stage. After calling his disciples to follow him, Jesus defines what discipleship will mean to those that follow him and the demands that come with discipleship. Although Mark portrays the disciples both in the negative and positive, the essay is not going to focus on the disciples but rather on discipleship. The theme of discipleship is linked to denying of self, taking up the cross and following Jesus. Simply put, discipleship in Mark’s view is connected to suffering and service. The essay will give a brief background of the Gospel of Mark then explore Mark’s model of discipleship and discipleship in the contemporary world.