Back to Course

The Gospel of Mark

  1. Lesson One
    Servant of God, Servant of All (Mark 2–7)
    18 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Good News and the Son of God (Mark 1, 8–9, 11–12, 15, 16:1–8)
    14 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    Second Exodus (Isa 40–41, 61, Jer 31)
    15 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    Prophet and Son of Man (Deut 18:18, Dan 7:13–14, Mark 10, 13–14)
    14 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    Author and Audience
    14 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

Participants 61

Show more
Lesson Progress
0% Complete

The Pharisees are opponents of Jesus, but they are not the ones who drive the agenda of His persecution and murder. That will be done by the chief priests and the elders, Jesus’ most dangerous rivals among the people. The presence of the elders is relatively limited throughout the book, but increasing encounters with the chief priests, in place of the Pharisees, spells trouble for Jesus. 

The chief priests were the highest religious authorities in Jerusalem. Beyond their religious authority they held enormous social and political power and were capable of shaping public opinion and applying pressure on Roman government.