Gospel of Mark: Three Revelations

Who Jesus Is • What He Came to Do • How We Follow Him

1
WHO
2
WHAT
3
HOW

First Revelation: WHO Is Jesus?

The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8)

Scripture: See Mark 9:2-8

Discussion Questions

  • What does this reveal about who Jesus is?
  • Why do Moses and Elijah appear? Why does the Father speak?

Guide Toward

  • Moses = the Law. Elijah = the Prophets. They represent the entire Old Testament.
  • They're conversing with Jesus (Luke adds: about His coming death). The whole OT points to Him.
  • The Father's voice: "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." Same words as Baptism (1:11), but now publicly declared.
  • Peter wants to build three tents—treating Jesus as equal to Moses and Elijah. The Father corrects him: "Listen to Him"—Jesus alone.

Context: Who Are Moses & Elijah?

Moses: The Giver of the Law

  • Who he is: The great liberator who led Israel out of slavery in Egypt and received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.
  • His Symbolism: He represents the Law (Torah). For a Jewish person, the Law was God's supreme revelation.
  • The Connection: In Exodus 33, Moses asked to see God's glory, but was told, "You cannot see my face and live." He was hidden in a cleft of the rock. Now, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses finally sees the Glory of God face-to-face in Jesus Christ.

Elijah: The Greatest Prophet

  • Who he is: The fiery prophet who defended the worship of the One True God against idols. He did not die a normal death but was taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2).
  • His Symbolism: He represents the Prophets. Jewish tradition held that Elijah would return to announce the coming of the Messiah.
  • The Connection: Like Moses, Elijah met God on a mountain (Horeb), hearing Him in a "still, small voice." Now, he stands on this mountain to witness that the Messiah has come.

Why They Are Together

  • The Total Witness: Together, "The Law and the Prophets" is shorthand for the entire Old Testament. Their presence signifies that all of Israel's history and scripture points to and finds fulfillment in Jesus.
  • The Conversation: They are speaking with Jesus about His "exodus" (departure) that He was to accomplish in Jerusalem—showing that the Cross is not a tragedy, but the plan of salvation foretold by the Law and Prophets.

Key Insight

The Transfiguration reveals Jesus' divine glory and strengthens the disciples for the scandal of the Cross. Moses and Elijah—representing the Law and the Prophets—show that the whole Old Covenant points to and is fulfilled in Christ. The Father's voice identifies Jesus as His beloved Son, and the overshadowing cloud signifies God's divine presence.

Catechism: See CCC 444-445, 554-556, 257-258

Application

At your Baptism, the same Trinity will claim you. The Father will say over you: "This is my beloved son/daughter." You're being adopted into the same divine family revealed here.

Catechism on Baptism: See CCC 1265-1270
Now we know WHO Jesus is—divine Son of God. Next question: WHAT did He come to do?

Second Revelation: WHAT Did Jesus Come to Do?

The Last Supper (Mark 14:22-24)

Scripture: See Mark 14:22-24
Context: See Mark 10:45

Discussion Questions

  • What does this reveal about Jesus' mission? Why did He come?
  • What does Jesus mean by 'This IS my body'? Why does He call the wine 'my blood of the covenant'?

Guide Toward

  • Context: Mark 10:45—"The Son of Man came...to give his life as a ransom for many."
  • Ransom (Greek: lytron) = price paid to free slaves or captives. We're enslaved to sin; Jesus pays the price.
  • "My blood of the covenant" echoes Exodus 24:8—Moses sealed the Old Covenant by sprinkling blood on the people. Jesus is sealing the New Covenant with His own blood.
  • "This IS my body"—not "represents," not "symbolizes." He identifies the bread with His flesh.

Key Insight

Jesus acts as both priest and victim—He offers the sacrifice, and He is the sacrifice.

The Last Supper and Calvary are one event: the bread/wine point forward to the Cross, the Cross makes present what the Supper anticipated.

The verbs (took, blessed, broke, gave) will be repeated at every Mass—making Christ's one sacrifice present again.

Catechism: See CCC 599-605, 612-614, 1362-1367, 1374

Application

Every time you receive the Eucharist, you're receiving the same Body Jesus gave on the Cross, the same Blood that sealed the New Covenant. This is why Catholics say the Mass is Calvary made present—not a re-sacrifice, but the same sacrifice entering time again.

Now we know WHAT Jesus came to do—give His life as ransom, establish New Covenant. Final question: HOW do we follow Him?

Third Revelation: HOW Do We Follow Jesus?

Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42)

Scripture: See Mark 14:32-42

Discussion Questions

  • What does this reveal about how we should pray and follow Jesus?
  • Why does Jesus pray three times? What does 'Abba' mean? What's the model here?

Guide Toward

  • "Abba" = Aramaic for "Father," an intimate term (like "Papa" or "Dad"). Jesus addresses God with shocking familiarity.
  • Yet He also says "all things are possible for you"—acknowledging God's total sovereignty.
  • The pattern: Honest human emotion ("remove this chalice from me") + Perfect surrender ("not what I will, but what you will").
  • Jesus prays three times—persistence, not giving up when the answer seems to be "no."
  • The disciples fall asleep—we fail, we're weak. But Jesus perseveres alone if necessary.

Key Insight

This is the model prayer for new Christians. You don't have to pretend everything is fine. Bring your real fears to God ("remove this chalice").

But the prayer must end where Jesus' ended: "Not my will, but Yours."

The Christian life is a Gethsemane spirituality: acknowledging the cost of discipleship while surrendering to the Father's plan.

Catechism: See CCC 2605, 2825, 618

Application

  • After Easter Vigil, you'll face trials. There will be "chalices" you don't want to drink—suffering, temptation, loss, persecution for your faith.
  • Pray like Jesus: Tell the Father honestly what you're feeling. Then add: "Not my will, but Yours."
  • Mark 8:34—"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." This is what that looks like in practice.

Bonus Connection

The disciples sleep while Jesus prays. Later (14:50), they abandon Him. Yet Jesus still saves them. This should give you hope—your failures won't disqualify you. Jesus saves weak, sleeping, failing disciples.

Final Synthesis

Mark's Gospel gives us three revelations every Christian must grasp:

  1. WHO Jesus is: Divine Son of God (Transfiguration)
  2. WHAT He came to do: Give His life as ransom, establish New Covenant in His blood (Last Supper)
  3. HOW we follow: Honest prayer + total surrender to the Father's will (Gethsemane)

These aren't just historical events—they're your story now:

  • At Baptism, you become God's beloved son/daughter (WHO you're becoming)
  • In the Eucharist, you receive the ransom that freed you (WHAT saves you)
  • In daily life, you take up your cross and pray 'not my will, but Yours' (HOW you follow)