Death and Discipleship

The Gospel accounts are narratives communicated through an episodic structure that emphasize Jesus Christ as the central character and an intended purpose; to awaken and subsequently strengthen the faith of the reader. Specifically, the Gospel of Mark communicates the identity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God (1:1), and the responsibility of being a committed follower. The analysis of the central section (8:22-10:52) of Mark's story examines the discourse function of language that captures the significance for the reader. It serves to further define Jesus' role as the suffering and self-sacrificing Messiah, while also explicating Jesus' expectations to follow him.