The Gospel Challenge: the book of Mark

We're now starting book 2, Mark, in our Gospel Challenge!

The completion date set for Mark is May 10th (3 weeks)

Now, before we get into the reading, here's some information on Mark:

Mark is the shortest of the 4 Gospels:

·         16 chapters

·         678 verses

·         42 verses a chapter

·         11,304 words

Mark, or “John Mark”, was only a teenager the first time he would have heard Jesus speak (at his mother’s house which was a haven for the apostles).  He later traveled with Paul for a bit before becoming Peter’s disciple – he served as Peter’s translator (oral and written).  Mark’s book could almost be known as “The Gospel according to Peter” and it focuses on Jesus being for the Gentiles-for Everyone.

Where Matthew started out with genealogy and then went into the birth of Jesus, Mark jumps right to when John and Jesus would have been about 30 years old and Jesus is preparing to kick off his ministry (in Mark 1:9).

Mark was, more than likely, penned first of the four Gospels and (presumably therefore) over 90% of what's found in Mark is also referenced in at least 1 of the other Gospels.  

So, with that in mind, here's a little bonus challenge, just for fun:

There are 3 things/events in Mark that are not mentioned in any of the other Gospels - can you find what they are?

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For those looking for a reading plan, here are a few things to think about:

If you started April 19th, you have 21 days to read only 16 chapters.  

For a 33 "moments" reading plan (so Fri, Sat, Sun would have 1 reading and Mon-Thurs would have a morning and an evening reading) would look like this:
1:1-1:34, 1:35-2:12, 2:13-2:22, 2:23-3.19, 3:20-3:35, 4:1-4:34, 4:35-5:43, 6:1-6:13, 6:14-6:29, 6:30-6:56, 7:1-7:23, 7:24-7:30, 7:31-8:21, 8:22-8:33, 8:34-9:13, 9:14, 9:37, 9:38-9:50, 10:1-10:34, 10:35-10:52, 11:1-11:11, 11:12-11:33, 12:1-12:12, 12:13-12:27, 12:28-12:44, 13:1-13:37, 14:1-14:26, 14:27-14:42, 14:43-14:65, 14:66-15:15, 15:16-15:41, 15:42-16:8, 16:9-16:20

For a 21 day reading plan: 

1:1-1:34, 1:35-2:12, 2:13-3:19, 3:20-3:35, 4:1-4:34, 4:35-5:43, 6:1-6:29, 6:30-6:56, 7:1-7:30, 7:31-8:21, 8:22-9:37, 9:38-9:50, 10:1-10:34, 10:35-10:52, 11:1-11:35, 12:1-12:27, 12:28-12:44, 13:1-14:26, 14:27-14:65, 14:66-15:41, 15:42-16:20 

For a 16 day reading plan:  

Pick any 16 days and read 1 chapter each of those days

Example of a 16 day reading plan:  

Read Chapter 1 on April 19th then you could simply read 1 chapter a day, Monday-Friday, taking Sat. & Sun "off" and be done in time.

For a 10 day reading plan:  

1, 2-3, 4, 5-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12, 13-14, 15, 16

For a 6 day reading plan:  

1-3, 4-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-14, 15-16

For a 3 day reading plan:

1-3, 4-10, 11-16

For a 2 day reading plan:

1-10, 11-16