Book: Mark 12 to 16

Fifteen years ago I read the Old Testament (King James Version) and blogged it as I went. I always meant to keep on trucking, but, well, I didn’t.

Now, in January and February of 2026 I am going to read all 27 books of the New Testament (I have a passing familiarity with the Gospels, thanks to secondary school, and I did read the Book of Revelations at some point (fever dream, innit?)

The plan is to read at most ten pages a day, with rest days more frequent than old “1-in-7” for the Gospels through Romans, but then, because it all gets somewhat shorter, one a day for most of February.

Crucially, am blogging as I go.

Oh, and I am going to read Gore Vidal’s 1992 “Live from Golgotha” as soon as I am done with John…

Summary

It turns out like Jesus predicted. 

Historical – when written, by whom

Earliest of the Gospels.

Most poetic bits

Xxx

Most quotable bits

14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Most “wtaf” bit(s)

The Vineyard parable at the beginning of Chapter 12. I mean…

13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 

Chapter 12

Vineyard parable

12:1-5  ¹And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. ²And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. ³And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. ⁴And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. ⁵And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. ⁶Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. ⁷But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our’s. ⁸And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. ⁹What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

Eh? Where is Health and Safety? Where is HR? Has there been no risk assessment?  Also, the employer is waaay culpable!!

Jesus is seditious, but clever

12:17  ¹⁷And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

Different people have different capacities

12: 42-4  ⁴²And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. ⁴³And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: ⁴⁴for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Chapter 13

Jesus makes predictions at the mount of olives

13:22 for false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. ²³But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Again with the timeframe

13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 

Chapter 14

The rich woman and the oils – this time a price attached

Judas gets the betrayal gig.

The Last Supper described again

14:34 – Gethsemane and misgivings

and saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 

Abba??

14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. 

14:38

Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Stol pigeons can’t keep their testimony straight. Awks

Peter’s denial again

Chapter 15: Welease Woger!

Pilate and the crowds. They say Welease Woger

We all have our crosses to bear. Simon bears someone else’s

15:21 ²¹And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

Some doubts emerge

15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

15:37  And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. ³⁸And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

Gasp, women get a mention

15:40-1 ⁴⁰There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; ⁴¹(who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

⁴²And now when the even was come, because it was the pr

Chapter 16

Last 11 verses a late addition!

First appears to Mary Magdalene

Snakes… on a (spiritual) plane.16:18 ¹⁷And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.