The Gospel states Mark,  but the name was added later by editors,  also the very first Gospel to be written -- around 65-70 C.E. The letter is written decades after Jesus was said to have resurrected,  It is written in the third person, the witness is not an eyewitness to the accounts narrated.  Scholars say these are oral traditions that had been in circulation for decades, stories could have got changed over time as oral traditions do.  We want to look at Marks narrative of Jesus with no other letter influences, again this is ONLY looking at Marks view of Jesus. 




Jesus very own family thinks he is nuts, and disciples do not understand who he is or what he is doing.

 
 

Mark 6:1-6Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB)

6  And he went out from there and came into his own country, and his disciples followed him.

2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue; and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From where has this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him and such mighty works that are wrought by his hands?

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and of Juda and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not dishonoured except in his own country and among his own kin and in his own house.

 Even though they grew up with him; they do not understand him at all, here we can see explicitly where his disciples do not understand what he is doing. 

 Mark 6:51-52Modern English Version (MEV)

51 Then He went up to them in the boat and the wind ceased. They were greatly astonished in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they had not comprehended the miracle of the loaves, for their hearts were hardened.
 

Mark 8:18-21Modern English Version (MEV)
 

18 Having eyes, do you not see? Having ears, do you not hear?[a] And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?”

They said to Him, “Twelve.”

20 “And the seven among the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?”

They said, “Seven.”

21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

The first 1/2 of the Gospel and no one appears to know who Jesus is but God, Mark the narrator, you reading, and Jesus. Mark 1:11 "And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  

  We see a shift, people start to get a grasp on who Jesus is. Here is where we see a healing that is not instantly but takes a process, the only healing we see that is not instantly. 

  Mark 8:23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

Jesus Just did this after his disciples did not know who he was, or understood him.  Now Jesus asks them point blank! 

 Mark 8:27-30

27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

  Jesus also wanted to keep the healing and his ID unknown, he did not want his ID spread all over town and make a public display of him. This is very different than what we see in Johns Gospel, as we stay into Marks account we see another view of Jesus. But it is good that finally, the disciples kinda understand who Jesus is 1/2 way into the gospel, but still miss it.  Jesus must suffer and die in marks account, no matter who understands it, we see this in his rebuke of Peter. 

  Mark 8:31-33

"31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

 Jesus makes three predictions of his "passion" and in all three instances, the disciples do not know what Jesus is saying. Mark 8:31,9:31,10:33,34. Each time the disciples talk about who is going to be greatest and most powerful in the coming Kingdom. The disciples thought Jesus was going to overthrow the Romans and place his kingdom here on earth, not get crushed by them.  Often times Marks gospel is called a passion narrative with a long introduction. The disciples are having trouble understanding who he is, and we can see Jesus is having issues with the suffering. It is the suffering of the cup.  

 Mark 14:36 
"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

During his passion, we see he is silent, and everyone has mocked him. 
The Soldiers Mock Jesus Mark 15:16-20Modern English Version

16 The soldiers led Him away to Praetorium Hall, and they called together the entire battalion. 17 They clothed Him with a purple robe. And they wove a crown of thorns and put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 They struck His head with a staff and spit on Him. And bowing their knees, they worshipped Him. 20 When they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off of Him and put His own garments on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

At the End of the passion narrative, we see...  

Mark 15:34 King James Bible
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Jesus is thinking God left him in that verse, in this next verse we see why the Narrator of Marks account focus in on Jesus death. The curtain of the holy of holies is ripped in 1/2, The separation of gods people is over through the son of God and his suffering death. 

 

Mark 15:38-39Modern English Version (MEV)

38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion who stood facing Him saw that He cried out and gave up the spirit, he said, “Truly, this Man was the Son of God.”


Finally, someone understands Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, and it took his death to give salvation unto mankind. Not a disciple or a Jew, not even his own villagers knew, but a Pagan that just killed Jesus realizes; He had to suffer and die, he was the son of God. No one in this entire gospel understood that until now.