The gospel can be divided into two main parts, I :1-8:26 and 8:27-16:8. The dividing point comes when Peter says that Jesus is the expected Messiah, when Jesus and the disciples have gone away from Galilee to the territory of Ituraea and are near the Greek city of Caesarea Philippi. From that time onwards Jesus tries to prepare the disciples to accept that he must suffer and die, and the narrative moves on dramatically to his death and Resurrection.

1:1-13   Introduction (i) the theme of the gospel, 1: 1

(ii) John the Baptist, 1:2-8

(iii) The Baptism of Jesus, 1:9-11

(iv) the Temptation of Jesus, 1 :12-13

 

1:14-8:26     Ministry in (i) Jesus' proclamation, 1 :14-15

Galilee and  (ii) first disciples, 1 : 16-20

adjacent areas (iii) Capernaum, I :21-34

(iv) a leper, 1:35-45

(v) first controversies, 2:1-3:6

(vi) responses to Jesus, 3:7-12 (vii) the Twelve disciples, 3 :13-19

(viii) Controversy and conflict,

3:20-35

(ix) parables, 4:1-34

(x) the storm, 4:35-41

 (xi) a demoniac, 5: 1-20

(xii) Jairus' daughter, 5 :21-43

(xiii) rejection at Nazareth, 6:1-6

(xiv) the mission of the Twelve, 6:7-13

(xv) the Baptist's death, 6 :14-29

(xvi) feeding five thousand, 6 :30-44

(xvii) walking on water, 6 :45-52

(xviii) more healings, 6 :53 -56

(xix) the Pharisees, 7: 1-23

              (xx) Phoenicia, 7 :24-30

(xxi) a deaf and dumb man, 7 :31-37

(xxii) feeding four thousand, 8: 1-10

                           (xxiii) the Pharisees, 8: 11-21

              (xxiv) a blind man, 8 :22-26

 

 

8:27-10:52 Towards Jerusalem  (i)' You are the Messiah' 8:27 -30

(ii) the suffering Messiah, 8 :31-9 : I

(iii)Jesus' Transfiguration, 9 :2-13

(iv) a possessed boy, 9:14-29

(v) second prophecy of death, 9:30-32

(vi) teaching on the way, 9:33-10:16

(vii)a rich man, 10:17-31

(viii) third prophecy of death, 10:32-34

(ix) James and John. 10:35-45

(x) blind Bartimaeus, 10:46-52

11:1-13:37   Ministry in (i) Messianic entry, 11:1-11 Jerusalem       (ii) a fig-tree, 11: 12-14 and 20-25       (iii) cleansing the Temple, 11: 15-19

 (iv) teaching in Jerusalem,

11 :27-12:44

(v) the coming Judgement, 13: 1- 37

    14:1-15:47  The final days  (i) Bethany, 14:3-9

(ii) Judas, 14:1-2 and 10-1

(iii)the Last Supper, 14:12-31

(iv) Gethsemane, 14:32-42

(v)betrayal and arrest, 14:43-52

(vi) the Sanhedrin, 14:53-65

(vii) Peter's denial, 14:66-72

(viii) Pilate, 15:1-15

 

(ix) crucifixion, 15: 16-41

                                                (x) burial, 15:42-47

16:1-8          The Resurrection

(16:9-20)      (A summary of appearances after the Resurrection, possibly added by another writer.)