Mark: The Gospel of Passion

Biblical Imagination

by Michael Card

"Follow Me," Jesus told them, "and I will make you into fishers of men!" Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. --Mark 1:17-18 The Gospel of Mark is a book of action and passion. Events happen one after another, with a vivid sense of immediacy and urgency. Jesus? emotions come through strongly--at times he is angry and distressed, other times filled with compassion. In this volume, Michael Card provides a lively tour of the Gospel of Mark. As a friend and interpreter of Simon Peter, Mark gives firsthand glimpses of the life and ministry of Jesus in vibrant and energetic narration. The first Gospel to be written, Mark is a "pamphlet for hard times," encouraging Christians that all their sufferings were already endured by Jesus. Accompany Mark on his journey with Jesus. The more clearly you see Jesus here, the greater your passion will be for him.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Nonfiction, Devotional, Christian Non Fiction, Biblical Studies, Biblical

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Michael Card (born April 11, 1957) is an American Christian singer-songwriter, musician, author, and radio host from Franklin, Tennessee. He is best known for his contributions in contemporary Christian music, which couple folk-style melodies and instrumentation with lyrics that stem from intensive study of the Bible. Since his debut in 1981, he has sold more than 4 million albums and has written 19 No. 1 singles.He has also authored several books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner A Sacred Sorrow.

http://www.michaelcard.com/#/about-mi...

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: When we listen to the text of Scripture with our heart and mind fully engaged, we should almost hear the tone of the author's voice. When I listen to the opening verse of Mark, I hear an enthusiastic young man who is almost out of breath.

Premise/plot: Mark: The Gospel of Passion is a commentary written by Michael Card. He does not go through the gospel verse by verse, but he does go through it chapter by chapter, essentially paragraph by paragraph. He approaches the gospel through the lens of biblical imagination. What is the biblical imagination? An intellectually informed imagination, a balanced engagement of the heart and mind. He writes, "when the imagination is surrendered along with the heart and mind, it becomes a unifying bridge that opens the Scriptures in new and exciting ways." Mark worked closely with Peter. And Mark is thought to be written based on stories Peter told him.

My thoughts: Michael Card has written a commentary on each of the four gospels. His commentary on Mark is the first that I've read. (I own the other three, and I do plan on reading them at some point.) Mark is the shortest gospel, and I must admit it's well-paced. But it's not my favorite of the four gospels. I thought the commentary was good. His approach definitely was thought-provoking at times. For example, I'd never thought why Mark might exclude the account of Peter walking on the water. Card poses two questions: Was it pride? Was Peter ashamed that he failed to walk on water and needed rescuing? Or was it humility? Did Peter want to avoid any attention to himself and keep the glory focused on Jesus. He doesn't definitively answer because the truth is we just do not know.

[Emma.catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic eye witness account of the Gospel of Mark. Definitely one of my favourites 📖🕊️🙏🏼🥰 Thank you to my minister for giving me this powerful and engaging book 📕

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Review: I have previously read Card's commentary on Luke. And on the basis of that reading, I recommended this commentary on Mark as a book for my small group to read together. It is not designed for small group reading, but it worked well for that. We went through two or three chapters of Mark a week and found plenty to discuss.

This is a book that also would make good devotional reading. It is based on the scripture with several paragraphs (or occasionally a couple pages) of discussion about each subsection of the chapter. Most chapters of Mark have 4 or 5 subsections that are discussed. It is not an academic commentary but written for the lay reader. I have a few quibbles with some of his interpretations, but that is true of every commentary.


My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/mark/

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having the opportunity to read legendary Christian music artist and author Michael Card’s previous commentary in the Biblical Imagination Series on the Gospel of Matthew, I was quite eager to read the next work in this series by Card, Mark: The Gospel of Passion. As with Card’s commentary on Matthew, this particular book continues that element of simplistic profundity as Card aptly engages the text with the clarity and attention one would expect from noted scholarly commentaries while maintaining a presentation that all laymen will also find enjoyable and useful in their study of the Gospel of Mark.

Card rightly begins his journey through Mark by examining the author of this gospel account noting “Mark is the shortest Gospel but not necessarily because of any lack of detail. In fact, when Matthew borrows from Mark he always shortens the stories to make room for his theological agenda of portraying Jesus as the fulfillment of the Torah. Mark has no agenda besides telling the story of Jesus.” Furthermore, Mark provides us with a record of the telling of the life of Jesus through the mouth of the Apostle Peter. Card states in the Gospel of Mark “There is an urgency…Mark simply acts as a mirror for his spiritual father. His brevity demands our attention.” It is that attention which Card turns to as he explicates this exciting Gospel.

But before engaging the actual text, Card takes a moment to discuss some major themes of Mark’s Gospel, notably the so-called “Messianic Secret”, a term brought to the forefront of scholarly discussion by William Wrede in the 1960s. While this approach has lost some degree of favor among scholars in recent years, it nevertheless is an important issue to discuss and Card provides a brief yet helpful overview of why some have asserted there was a “Messianic Secret” demanded by Jesus and why that approach should be rejected. Card notes that the other Gospel accounts also include statements from Jesus regarding the sharing of his identity so it is foremost wrong to state this idea is unique to Mark’s Gospel. Additionally, the purpose of Jesus’ statements to not reveal what had taken place, in particular in regards to Jesus healing some infirmity, is stated by Card as the recognition by Jesus that some “would easily become hyper-focused on his giftedness.” Moreover, Jesus did gradually reveal who He was to His followers, but as Card rightly notes, Jesus did so “deliberately and selectively.”

As with Card’s commentary on Matthew, this commentary on the Gospel of Mark is divided into chapters that correspond with the chapters in Mark which are then further subdivided into smaller easy to read sections that begin with a short passage and that are followed with Card’s commentary on that particular pericope. This makes working through Mark to be a journey that can be taken in several steps at one sitting or the reader can read and study the smaller sections by themselves for a more in-depth look at what Mark’s Gospel is revealing. This commentary is structured in such a way as to support both types of approaches. As noted earlier, Card writes in a scholarly yet very accessible manner, sharing valuable theological insight while avoiding the overly academic approach of other commentary series.

Card is very adept at engaging valuable tidbits of information such as the meanings of various words and their impact on a particular section of Mark. For instance, in his discussion of the storm that overtook Jesus and His disciples on the Sea of Galilee, Card engages what the term “great wind” or megale anaemu means, noting this event was a “demonic attempt on their lives” further commenting that while some scholars attribute this storm as nothing more than the typical abrupt weather patterns common to the Sea of Galilee, in reality the storm recorded by Mark and experienced by the Apostle Peter “has all the hallmarks of a demonic attack” as “the violence of this storm has nothing to do with meterology.” Such an exegetical approach is rooted in looking at the surrounding context to gauge what was taking place before and after that particular event, an approach Card does marvelously throughout this commentary.

In the same manner as he did in his Matthew commentary, Card provides the reader with several appendices each providing additional insight into various elements of the Markan Gospel account. Appendix A outlines various ancient sources that show a relationship between the Apostle Peter and Mark. In Appendix B the reader will discover several references to the emotional life of Jesus throughout the various Gospels. Card provides in Appendix C historical references to the time period in which Mark’s Gospel was penned. Appendix D notes references found in the New Testament to Mark. Finally, Appendix E discusses the often disputed ending of Mark’s Gospel, noting the various textual differences that have been discovered in the ancient manuscripts.

I highly recommend Michael Card’s commentary, Mark: The Gospel of Passion for scholars and layman alike. Additionally, I recommend the accompanying music CD called Mark: The Beginning of the Gospel. The CD is quite excellent as fans of Michael Card’s music can attest. If you are new to the music ministry of Michael Card, this CD is a great place to start. I look forward to reading the next book in this series called Luke: The Gospel of Amazement.

[Mark Seeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Card encourages his readers to embrace their imaginations as they grapple with the text of Mark's gospel. What I appreciated about Card's insights is that they are grounded in the context and culture of Judaism. There are all sorts of little insights that also rise from the Old Testament. One example is the link of Amos 8:9-11 to the crucifixion scene. This commentary was an enjoyable read.

[Rivkah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book. Card's commentary is well researched and lends itself well to the visual learner. Adding relevant background details to the book of Mark, and not steering the reader to various viewpoints or conclusions but letting the facts stand on their own. A great commentary. Can't wait to read the others.

[Sarah Tummey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would strongly recommend reading this alongside the gospel of Mark; the detail in it is amazing. I tend to get Michael's books on the gospels when they're on offer because they're normally quite expensive, but they're thorough and well-researched.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved reading this book after reading through the Gospel of Mark. insightful, thought-provoking - helped me see things I hadn't seen before.

[Jonathan Wylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed being challenged to use my imagination. This was a read that helped me get out of my American culture lens of reading the bible.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written commentary that reads as a devotional. Insightful, challenging- a joy to read.

[Kimberly Purcell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just love Michael Card's commentary style. Good way to study the Gospels.

[Amy Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this book and discussing with friends. Want to read more by this author.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I read the description provided for the giveaway and was curious, but I was not quite sure what to expect since the series is titled "Biblical Imagination". I thought there might be significant extrapolation on Mark's life based on the facts of his life provided in the Bible, turning it into something like a fictionalized biography. I assumed it was not an academic commentary, which is something the author confirmed in the preface. I wanted something fact-based. As I read, I was pleased to find it is an easy-to-read, organized presentation of the facts. I started to read it earlier, but other situations intervened, so I restarted when I had time again and read through it comfortably in one sitting.

The author states his goal for the book as:
"It is an attempt to model this approach of 'engaging with the Scriptures at the level of the informed imagination.' It is not an academic commentary, although I make use of the best academic commentaries. Neither is it a devotional commentary, though I hope it leads to a deeper devotion in those who read it. I intend to take seriously the author of each of the Gospels insofar as their individual backgrounds shape the text."
He provides context - historical context, geographical context, the personal context of individuals' lives as known from the Bible - any factors that he thinks can lead to greater understanding.

When the author indulges in imagining additional details, he is clear about that. For example, he writes, "I imagine him [Peter] looking up from the parchment as he writes these words [2 Pet 1:15 verse], perhaps smiling across the room at his 'son' Mark, who might have already begun writing his Gospel." As another example, he writes, "When I listen to the opening verse of Mark, I hear an enthusiastic young man who is almost out of breath." By expressing his personal interaction with the book of Mark, he gives the book less an analytical feel and more a familiar or intimate feel.

Review to be continued.

[Dottie Parish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent and unusual commentary on the gospel of Mark. Many will recognize the author as a marvelous musician and have loved his music. I recall a devotional given by Card at a Gaither Praise gathering some years ago. It revealed his deep faith and knowledge. Reading Mark: The Gospel of Passion has further impressed me. Card is a diligent and creative student of scripture. He offers many valuable insights about the gospel of Mark.

An introduction tells us who Mark is followed by a chapter on the themes in the gospel of Mark. The rest of the book presents each chapter of Mark and Card’s commentary. This 200 page book is easy to read and insightful. I learned that Mark received his information from Peter and is simply writing everything he remembers; he doesn’t have an agenda, he just tells the story. Card gives evidence verifying the relationship between Peter and Mark. He also comments on the location of various events. For example he suggests that the Last Supper was held in Mark’s house.

In every chapter Card gives the reader a clear understanding of how Mark arranged the chapter and why. It surprised me to realize that Jesus is quite passionate in Mark’s gospel, hence the subtitle. Card documents the emotional words of Jesus. He notes also that Mark generally does not record the teachings of Jesus but rather his actions.

I like the fact that Card includes the Scripture within the book so the reader can grasp the text before he comments and without stopping to look it up. This is a book that can be read and reread and studied over and over again.

[Carl C · Rating 4 out of 5]

***** First reads alert *****

I enjoyed reading and studying this book as a bible study guide. Even though I have read the Gospel of Mark several times, Michael Card gives an insightful analysis and thorough review of each chapter of this Gospel book. I appreciated that he gives a bit of Judaic history and traditions laid out to offer reference and relevance for each chapter.

Also, the use of several other Scripture verses from the Old Testament and other Gospel books aided in understanding of this book (and parallels themes with other Gospel books) that can be misconstrued by some as an 'incomplete' gospel.

The book also highlights on the passionate character of Jesus. This text could be used as reference guide and study guide for the new believer to the mature follower. I would have liked to read more historical and archeological contextual associations in reference to the time and places where Jesus traveled during his ministry.

[Brenda Storms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently rereading this book and using it as a guide for a bible study. In this book, Mike draws the reader into the urgency of Christ's life by calling attention to all the pressures that came with the fame of his ministry and the attention it drew. We 'hear' the always passionate, here urgent voice of Peter as he is awaiting probable death while in prison. The urgency suggests Peter's desire to have his ghost writer, Mark, record all that he witnessed while with Jesus. Mike has a wonderful gift of observing Scripture from a 'birds' eye' perspective so the reader does not miss the overarching themes. He also notes for his reader everything from the historical people and events to poetic nuances and juxtapositions, the latter always being from an informed, not 'vain', imagination.

[Josiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great first commentary to read on the Bible's Gospel of Mark (followed up by William Lane's New International Commentary). It's short, readable, and packed with imaginative, accurate information that helps the reader engage with the text of "Mark" more fully. Each Scripture passage is followed by relevant notes on culture, history, language, personality, and what would have jumped out at the original readers. Even with all the information, it reads like a compelling novel.

Plot: A
Writing: A
Vocabulary: B
Level: Intermediate
Rating: PG (references to betrayal, murder, injustice, greed, adultery, hypocrisy)
Worldview: Christian

[Ronnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I found it to be an easy-to-read, well researched, presentation of the facts of The Gospel of Mark. It takes the chapters and verses of the Gospel and breaks them down in a well organized fashion and gives the reader an intimate look into the lives of Jesus and the disciples.
I would recommend this book to all who want to get familiar with the Gospel of Mark. I look forward to reading more of Michael Card's books in the Biblical Imagination series.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book followed the same format as Michael Card's treatment of Luke. I found the breakdown of short passages of Scripture followed by commentary to be helpful for on-the-go reading, but this book certainly held up to sustained reading as well. I appreciate anything that helps me to look at Christ with "new" eyes while being faithful to the Biblical text.

[Todd Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astute and accessible. Card does a great job of taking the reader into the world of Jesus and of Mark. His insistence on an 'informed imagination' in approaching scripture, draws you into the earth and sky of each scene. It opens up the gospel and invites you to live it.

[Joyce Oliver stahle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. I enjoyed learning about Mark and seeing Jesus through his eyes.
I have come way with believing isn't always about proof. You just take that step of faith, like the father who believed before his daughter was raised from the dead.

[Russ Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent treatment (even helpful Appendixes). Once again, reading this in tandem with William Barclay's New Daily Study Bible commentary quite felicitous; the two authors complement each other wonderfully. Next, Matthew.

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Jerri Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book, Mark The Gospel of Passion is a Wonderful Book. I Won the Book and it arrived fast and in Perfect Condition. It has a Very Nice Religious Cover with Good Art. Thank you , Jerri Davis

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting. I disagree with some of this, but it's still a good read. I like his approach to interpretation and enjoy his knowledge of the culture and what other commentaries say.

[Cam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Card commentates on the Gospel of Mark with depth of understanding as well as clarity.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous commentary on the Gospel of Mark. I read this with my wife in very small increments, savoring each reading.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy format, very readable. Grateful for the appendices.