• St Mark’s Gospel is part of the Bible’s New Testament. Along with Matthew, Luke and John it is one of the four Gospels, which tell the story of Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

The traditional view was that Mark the Evangelist wrote the Gospel in Rome, heavily influenced by the apostle Peter. However, modern thinking questions the influence of Peter, and theorises that the text may have been written in the Middle East.

• In early adulthood, Jesus is baptised by John and spends 40 days in the wilderness, tempted by Satan, whom he resists. He travels to the village of Caesarea Philippi and tells his disciples that he is the Son of God. In the Transfiguration, God conforms that that Jesus is his son.
• Jesus arrives at Jerusalem with the disciples and is greeted as a prophet. But the High Priest and the scribes plot to seize and kill Jesus so they can kill him. Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples, offers to betray Jesus to the chief priests for money.
• At the Last Supper Jesus breaks bread and takes a cup of wine, blessing both. He tells disciples that the bread and wine are his flesh and blood. This is the basis of the modern service of communion, also known as Mass and the Eucharist.

Jesus goes with Peter, James and John to the gardens at Gethsemane. Jesus tells the disciples that they will betray him. Peter protests, but Jesus answers that Peter will deny him three times before the cock crows twice. Jesus prophecy comes true.

• After his crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus gives instructions to the disciples. He tells them to go out and preach the Gospel and that believers who are baptised will be saved and non-believers will be condemned. These instructions are called the Commission.

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St Mark’s Gospel – Test it!

1. Describe how Jesus gathered the disciples.
2. What happened during Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness?
3. What was the Transfiguration?
4. What happened at the Last Supper and how do Christians celebrate this today?
5. Why did Jesus spend time with the tax collector Levi the son of Alphaeus and other sinners and outcasts?
6. How did Jesus respond when the Pharisees asked if taxes should be paid to Caesar?
7. Which of the Ten Commandments does Jesus say is the most important?
8. Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus to the Pharisees. How does Peter betray Jesus?

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Some top tips!

1. Print out the Test It! Questions – it will allow you to replicate exam conditions and also allows you to give your eyes a rest from the computer screen whilst doing your crucial revision.
2. Make a copy of the Remember It! Section and put in a place that you often look at. i.e. front of a journal, next to a mirror, on a kitchen cupboard door, etc. That way you can do some cheeky religious studies revision whilst doing those things you have to do!

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