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Online learning has its challenges for all of us and we would like to begin by reminding ourselves
of a few of the rules and guidelines set down to help us achieve our goals and make the most of
this opportunity.

1. Respect for each other at all times. Be polite and listen to each other patiently. You will all find
yourselves ahead of others and behind others at different times.

2. If you are struggling with distractions or the discipline required for following the online process
please let us know. We are here to help support and encourage you in your efforts.

3. Please look after your both your textbooks from the school and your gadgets provided by your
parents to facilitate the learning process. Do not eat or drink while you are working. Accidents
happen with costly consequences so please do take care and be good stewards of all your
possessions. Your parents will appreciate the care you take of your gadgets. Your textbooks have
been issued to you with a personal number and they are currently covered to help you keep them in
good condition. The recorded number effectively holds you accountable for the book and it will be
marked off when the book is returned. You have each received a book entitled “The Gospel
according to St Mark” which will be used in our studies this year. We hope that you all have a Bible
and would be grateful if you would confirm that you do have one.

4. We remind you that the taking of recordings, photographs etc are violations and will be dealt with
when discovered.

5 Please submit your work as PDF converted by CAM and we will try to mark and return as quickly as
we can.

6.We expect you to shoe diligence in your studies by attending classes, submitting assignments and
studying for your tests. We hope that online will not last for too long and wish you every success in
your endeavors.
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The aims and objectives of our study this year, which we hope to achieve through the study of the
Gospel of St Mark, are outlined as follows:

1. To gain knowledge, understanding of the religious, cultural and social background of the Bible

2. Understand the moral lessons taught by selected passages and their relevance to our present day
situations

3. To explore questions about the meaning of life, moral responses to life’s questions and

4. The overall importance of Family, Church and Community

As a foundational principle for the year we would like to establish a definition regarding our purpose
in life. It is....

“To know, love and serve Our Lord in this life and be happy with Him in the next (eternal life)”

Another foundational principle to establish is the following:

We are told by Augustine, the philosopher, that man holds citizenship in two realms, one temporal
or earthly, the other spiritual or heavenly. The first realm is finite and perishable and the other is
infinite and eternal. Both realms need to be referred to in interpreting historical events for that
interpretation to be adequate. The affairs or history of man exists on two levels: on the level of the
events themselves and on the level of their meanings. God is therefore unquestionably the Lord of
History. Although events may seem to be arbitrary and without explanation, they are part of a
destiny/plan known to God and attached by Him to His creation through revelation. What He
chooses not to reveal or explain remains hidden. Christian man may not be better able to explain
human events than pagan man, but he is secure in the knowledge that those events are well within
the framework of God’s will. On earth Christians experience the same joys, sorrows and problems as
pagans; but these have only a temporary significance because the Christian’s destiny is Heaven for
eternity.

Following on from the above Augustine states that the purposeful view of history identifies an event
which gives history its purpose. All history prior to that event looks forward to it, and all history
subsequent to it reflects back to it. Christ’s redeeming life, death and resurrection is that event. The
CROSS of CHRIST is the centre of history.

The theme of all history is human salvation. The providence of God in human affairs allows the
events and gives historical purpose. Furthermore, we can conclude that each action of ours is
significant because it takes us one step closer to (or away from) our God who will at some stage call
all of us to judgement.
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In order to help set the stage for our study of St Mark’s Gospel we need to know a little about the
times. We are told by Scripture in Hebrews that “the time was ripe for the coming of Jesus”. Why
was this so.....

The spread of Greek culture and the fact that many Jews were dispersed in other lands set part of
the scene and a key factor was Roman rule which unified the ancient world politically just as Greek
Hellenism had unified it culturally. Jews from many countries could travel to Jerusalem because of
Roman peace. Roman roads facilitated travel. The religions of classical antiquity had become
bankrupt. Many non Jews were attracted to the Jewish faith and became “God fearing”. Jews living
abroad had laid a foundation of belief in God and a knowledge of the Law. In Israel the Jewish
council kept peace with the Roman rulers but corruption was rife amongst many of the citizens ie
leaders and tax collectors. The regular Jewish people looked to the promise of deliverance. The
Messiah was promised and people hoped......However a spirit of resistance had developed among
some Jews known as the Zealots. A growing number began to look to rebellion and a political
Messiah. The time was “ripe” for Jesus.......

After the death and resurrection of Jesus it was made plain to His followers that the new kingdom
was not just for Jews but for all who believed in him. It offered a new start for all. It was to mean
liberation from sin and guilt and from the legalism of Jewish law. Jew and Gentile could begin a new
life filled with God’s spirit. The dynamic of this message was to turn the Empire upside down and
change the world. This is the essence of the “Good News” of the Gospels.

The Gospels are contained in the New Testament. The New Testament is the name given to the
second half of the Bible. The name comes from the Latin “ Novum Testamentum” which is generally
used to mean a last will or testament. The word testament means an arrangement made by one
party which can be accepted or rejected by another party, but once accepted cannot be altered or
changed and binds both parties by its terms.

The New Testament is the record of the character and establishment of a new dealing of God with
men through Christ.

God sets the terms which man can reject or accept, but cannot alter, and when man accepts both he
and God are obligated to fulfil their requirements.

The four Gospels sketch from different viewpoints the life and work of Jesus. They cover the lifetime
of Christ from approximately 6bc to AD 29. The Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are known
as the Gospels. We need all four books to give the full picture of Christ and to deliver the “Good
News”. The four Gospels have an individuality which is intended to complement each other.
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Why did God will four Gospels?

To enhance the interest in the subject matter

To give us a heart satisfying portrait of the historical Christ and

To allow us to see one in the four as so beautifully put by a writer....

We have four records, but one Gospel

We have four biographies, but one life

We have four witnesses, but one person

We have four histories, but one hero

We have four sketches, but one portrait

In Matthew we see the king, in Mark we see the servant, in Luke we see the Son of Man and in John
we see the Son of God.

We stop here today. Assignment essay “about me” we want to get to know you...your family,
dreams, pets, hopes, beliefs, worries, fears, joys, passions, and plans. All about you so we can start
to know you.