Week 3 Story: The Gospel of Mark

This week, I read the Gospel of Mark for the Biblical unit. I chose this story because of faith being an important factor in my life. I was familiar with the story, but reading it for a second time allowed to me to understand the story as a whole far better I also picked up on details I didn't pick up on the first time. For this storytelling assignment, I wanted to retell the Gospel of Mark and challenge myself by doing a 100-word story! I feel like this could be a great tool for other fellow Christians like myself to evangelize and share the gospel. Here I go!

100-Word Gospel of Mark

The story begins with Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist. Then Jesus travels to Galilee to gather his first disciples. Immediately, Jesus begins preaching and performing miracles. These miracles reach King Herod, leading him to behead John the Baptist. While this is occurring, Jesus feeds the 5,000 and continues performing miracles. Also, Jesus foreshadows his death to his disciples three times on his journey. Finally, at Passover, Jesus reveals one disciple will betray him. Judas Iscariot tips off the high priests who arrest Jesus. Jesus is crucified on the cross, but on the third day he had risen. 

100-Word The First Disciples

As Jesus continued on his mission to Galilee, he came across two brothers, Simon and Peter. The two brothers were skilled fisherman. Jesus waved his arm for the brothers to approach him. When they saw Jesus they said, “We will follow you” and they left their fishing nets behind. Jesus said, “Let me teach you how to fish for people.” After that, the brothers and Jesus continued along on their mission to spread the Gospel. Halfway through, they approached James son of Zebedee and his brother John in their boat. Jesus said “Come follow me” and they followed him immediately. 

100-Word A Woman Healed

Jesus arrived in a town by boat where a large crowd had gathered to watch him perform miracles. There was a young woman who had suffered from bleeding for many years and had spent all her money trying to find a cure. She had heard of Jesus’s miracles and knew it was her last chance. As Jesus approached the crowd she cried out “Let me touch him so I can be healed.” At once she felt the blood stop. Jesus called out “Who had touched my robe?” The woman came forward exclaiming the good news of being healed and saved. 

Author's Notes:

I wrote an abridged 100-word version of the Gospel of Mark. I simply just condensed the entire gospel into a few words to allow readers to truly grasp the message. I wanted to provide a tool for other Christians to feel confident sharing the gospel in a few short words. I kept all the characters and plot line the same. I left out many details but I included the major details/events that are relevant in telling the story. The Gospel of Mark is the second of the four New Testament Gospels which retell the life and death of Jesus Christ. The four Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Gospel of Mark was written by St. Mark the Evangelist who was a close disciple of St. Peter. It is the shortest and earliest Gospel written with translations dating back to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. This Gospel focuses primarily on Jesus's ministry. 

Bibliography:

Title: The Gospel of Mark

Author: John Mark or St. Mark who is a close interpreter of Peter

(Andrea Mantegna 's St. Mark 1448: Wikipedia)