The Beginnings of Jesus’ Ministry (1:1–13)
His Forerunner (1:1–8)
- John the Baptist’s Ministry: John prepares the way for Jesus, preaching repentance and baptizing people in the Jordan River.
His Baptism (1:9–11)
- Jesus’ Baptism: Jesus is baptized by John, and the Holy Spirit descends on him, marking the beginning of his public ministry.
His Temptation (1:12–13)
- Jesus in the Wilderness: Jesus is led into the wilderness where he is tempted by Satan for forty days, but he does not sin.
Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee (1:14—6:29)
Early Galilean Ministry (1:14—3:12)
- Call of the First Disciples (1:14–20): Jesus calls Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow him, initiating the formation of his inner circle.
- Miracles in Capernaum (1:21–34): Jesus performs healings and drives out demons in Capernaum, establishing his authority.
- Preaching and Healing in Galilee (1:35–45): Jesus continues his ministry in Galilee, preaching and healing, despite increasing opposition.
Ministry in Capernaum (2:1–22)
- Healing of the Paralytic: Jesus heals a paralyzed man, demonstrating his authority to forgive sins, which causes controversy among the religious leaders.
Sabbath Controversy (2:23—3:12)
- Jesus and the Sabbath: Jesus defends his disciples against accusations of breaking the Sabbath and teaches about mercy over sacrifice.
Later Galilean Ministry (3:13—6:29)
- Choosing the 12 Apostles (3:13–19): Jesus selects twelve apostles to be his closest followers.
- Teachings in Capernaum (3:20–35): Jesus teaches about the family of God and defines true kinship as being those who do God’s will.
- Parables of the Kingdom (4:1–34): Jesus uses parables to teach about the Kingdom of God, emphasizing how it grows and the importance of hearing and understanding the word.
- Calming the Sea of Galilee (4:35–41): Jesus calms a storm, showing his power over nature and deepening his disciples’ faith.
- Healing a Demon-Possessed Man (5:1–20): Jesus heals a man possessed by a legion of demons, demonstrating his authority over evil.
- More Galilean Miracles (5:21–43): Jesus heals a woman suffering from bleeding and raises a young girl from the dead, showing his power over both disease and death.
- Unbelief in Jesus’ Hometown (6:1–6): Jesus is rejected in Nazareth, and he teaches that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown.
- Six Apostolic Teams Preach and Heal in Galilee (6:7–13): Jesus sends out his disciples in pairs to preach and heal, continuing the spread of his ministry.
- King Herod’s Reaction to Jesus’ Ministry (6:14–29): Herod hears about Jesus’ miracles and believes he may be John the Baptist raised from the dead, leading to a flashback of John’s beheading.
Strategic Withdrawals from Galilee (6:30—9:29)
To the Eastern Shore of the Sea of Galilee (6:30–52)
- Walking on Water: Jesus walks on water to reach his disciples in a boat, teaching them about faith.
To the Western Shore of the Sea (6:53—7:23)
- Teaching on Purity: Jesus confronts the Pharisees over their traditions and teaches that true purity comes from the heart, not external rituals.
To Syrian Phoenicia (7:24–30)
- Healing a Gentile Woman’s Daughter: Jesus heals the daughter of a Syrophoenician woman, demonstrating his ministry’s reach beyond Israel.
To the Region of the Decapolis (7:31—8:10)
- Healing a Deaf-Mute Man: Jesus heals a man who is deaf and mute, further displaying his authority over physical disabilities.
To the Vicinity of Caesarea Philippi (8:11–30)
- Peter’s Confession of Christ: Peter declares Jesus as the Messiah, and Jesus predicts his suffering, death, and resurrection.
To the Mount of Transfiguration (8:31—9:29)
- Transfiguration: Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John, and they hear God’s voice affirming Jesus as his Son.
Final Ministry in Galilee (9:30–50)
- Teaching on Humility and Service: Jesus teaches his disciples about humility, the danger of causing others to stumble, and the need for childlike faith.
Jesus’ Ministry in Judea and Perea (ch. 10)
Teaching Concerning Divorce (10:1–12)
- Jesus on Divorce: Jesus teaches on the sanctity of marriage and the wrongness of divorce, emphasizing the original creation intent.
Teaching Concerning Children (10:13–16)
- Jesus Blesses the Children: Jesus rebukes his disciples for hindering children and affirms the importance of receiving the Kingdom of God with childlike faith.
The Rich Young Man (10:17–31)
- Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler: A rich young man asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life, and Jesus challenges him to sell his possessions, teaching about the difficulty for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.
A Request of Two Brothers (10:32–45)
- The Request of James and John: The brothers ask for positions of honor in Jesus’ kingdom, and Jesus teaches them about servant leadership.
Restoration of Bartimaeus’s Sight (10:46–52)
- Healing of Blind Bartimaeus: Jesus heals a blind beggar, demonstrating his compassion and power to heal.
The Passion of Jesus (chs. 11–15)
The Triumphal Entry (11:1–11)
- Jesus’ Entry into Jerusalem: Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy and being hailed as the King.
The Clearing of the Temple (11:12–19)
- Jesus Cleanses the Temple: Jesus drives out the money changers and merchants from the temple, accusing them of turning it into a den of thieves.
Concluding Controversies with Jewish Leaders (11:20—12:44)
- Jesus’ Final Teachings: Jesus debates with the Jewish leaders, warning them about their hypocrisy and the coming judgment.
Signs of the End of the Age (ch. 13)
- Jesus’ Olivet Discourse: Jesus speaks to his disciples about the signs of the end times, urging them to remain vigilant.
The Anointing of Jesus (14:1–11)
- The Woman’s Anointing: A woman anoints Jesus with expensive perfume, an act Jesus defends as preparation for his burial.
The Lord’s Supper (14:12–26)
- The Last Supper: Jesus institutes the Eucharist, breaking bread and sharing wine with his disciples as symbols of his body and blood.
The Arrest, Trial, and Death of Jesus (14:27—15:47)
- Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest: Jesus is betrayed by Judas, arrested, and tried before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, and Herod.
- The Crucifixion: Jesus is crucified, mocked, and dies for the sins of humanity.
The Resurrection of Jesus (16:1–8)
- The Empty Tomb: The women discover that Jesus’ body is missing, and an angel tells them that he has risen.