Catholic Bible Study (Augustine Institute)

Episode: Lectio Mark: Jesus's Suffering, Death and Resurrection
Date: August 28, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode offers an in-depth Catholic study of the climax and conclusion of the Gospel of Mark: Jesus’s suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. The host illuminates the rich Scriptural connections between Mark’s Gospel and Old Testament prophecies, especially Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, while drawing out profound implications for discipleship, faith, and the nature of Christ’s kingship. The discussion is aimed at deepening listener devotion and understanding of these central Christian events.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jesus Carries the Cross & Fulfills Prophecy

(00:06–05:00)

• Jesus, already mocked and scourged, now carries his cross. Simon of Cyrene is conscripted to help, linking to legends and symbolism about Adam, the curse of thorns, and Christ bearing humanity’s curse.
• Jesus refuses the narcotic wine, choosing to fully endure suffering.
• Roman soldiers divide Jesus’s garments—a direct fulfillment of Psalm 22.

Notable Quote:
“He is going to suffer fully and freely for you and for me.” (A, 00:50)

2. The Crucifixion Scene: Divine Kingship and Mockery

(05:00–13:30)

• The inscription on the cross, “King of the Jews,” differentiates titles used by Romans (“Jews”) and Jewish leaders (“King of Israel”), reflecting the narrative's historical reliability.
• Allusions to James and John’s request to be on Jesus’s right and left are contrasted with the reality of two thieves crucified alongside him.
• Bystanders and chief priests mock Jesus, invoking themes of “seeing and believing,” but it is ironically a Gentile centurion who truly sees and believes.

Notable Quote:
“What they should see and… believe is right before them. And ironically, it'll be a Roman centurion who will see and believe.” (A, 08:00)

3. Jesus’ Cry from the Cross & the Depth of Psalm 22

(13:30–31:10)

• Jesus cries, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34), the opening of Psalm 22.
• Explains how, by quoting the opening verse, Jesus invokes the entire psalm—a psalm of suffering, trust in God, and ultimate vindication.
• Highlights the Psalm’s remarkable details: mockery, bones out of joint, pierced hands and feet, casting lots for garments—all seen in Jesus’s crucifixion.
• Psalm 22 is not just a prophecy of suffering but also of resurrection and universal praise, culminating in a vision where all nations and generations will worship God because of the vindication of the righteous sufferer.

Notable Quotes:
“No one can fake this prophecy being fulfilled. Who wants to be crucified to claim that they have fulfilled this psalm? No phony would ever try to fulfill this psalm. Only God is foolish enough to be faithful and to die for us.” (A, 24:55)
“Psalm 22… is the most amazing prayer of the Old Testament of abandonment to divine providence.” (A, 28:10)

4. Jesus’ Death, the Torn Temple Veil, and Baptism Imagery

(31:10–42:10)

• Upon Jesus’s death, the temple curtain is torn from top to bottom—a sign of divine intervention, symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and humanity.
• The same verb “to tear” (schizo) is used at Jesus’s baptism (heavens torn open), directly connecting baptism (signifying death and rebirth) with crucifixion.
• Jesus’s crucifixion is the fulfillment of his “ultimate baptism,” as foreshadowed in his earlier words to James and John.

Notable Quote:
“The good news for the Gospel of Mark is that God is with his people. The barrier between heaven and earth has been rent aside by Jesus.” (A, 41:45)

5. The Roman Centurion’s Confession & Discipleship

(42:10–47:00)

• Unlike the mocking Jewish leaders, the Roman centurion, a Gentile, declares, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” This fulfills Isaiah 6’s prophecy and shows the faith that emerges from suffering.
• Joseph of Arimathea, another model disciple, courageously asks for Jesus’s body, fulfilling Isaiah 53’s prophecy that the suffering servant would be buried with the rich.

6. Resurrection, the Abrupt Ending of Mark, and New Creation

(47:00–56:10)

• Women come to the tomb on the “first day of the week”—the “new creation,” referencing Genesis's language (“arche,” “in the beginning”).
• Jesus’s resurrection is the “first fruits” of the new creation, an inaugurated but not yet completed renewal.
• The original ending of Mark (16:8) is abrupt (“for…”). The host suggests this open ending invites readers into the story and reflects, perhaps, Mark’s own hurried circumstances under persecution.

Notable Quote:
“It’s hard to end when you’re telling the story of Jesus… there’s such beauty and depth to the story.” (A, 54:00)

7. Discipleship: From Failure to Fruitfulness

(56:10–61:00)

• The call to follow Christ (“opiso mu”) means not simply admiring from afar but embracing suffering and trusting God’s will as Jesus did.
• Even the disciples’ failures are not final; like Peter, forgiven and restored, every believer can hope for mercy and fruitfulness.

Notable Quote:
“He doesn’t die so that we don’t have to. He dies so that we’ll have the grace and strength to follow God’s will and to be faithful to him; that we can die with faith.” (A, 58:05)

8. Tradition, Mark’s End, and the Call to Courageous Witness

(61:00–end)

• Shares the story of St. Mark’s later ministry and tradition (Alexandria, Venice) and the symbolic lion.
• Recounts the Quo Vadis legend of Peter, who at first flees persecution but is turned back by a vision of Christ carrying his cross—highlighting the call to courage and faithfulness in difficult times.
• Ends with a pastoral encouragement: no failure is too great for God’s mercy, and the enthroned Christ welcomes all who trust in him.

Notable Quote:
“If he could forgive Peter and make him the head of his church again and again, if he could forgive the 12, he can forgive you and I. And that is the mercy of his love. And that is the Lord who’s worthy of worship. That’s the king who is enthroned on a cross to rule over our hearts. Amen.” (A, 67:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “No one can fake this prophecy being fulfilled… Only God is foolish enough to be faithful and to die for us.” (A, 24:55)
• “The good news for the Gospel of Mark is that God is with his people. The barrier between heaven and earth has been rent aside by Jesus.” (A, 41:45)
• “He doesn’t die so that we don’t have to. He dies so that we’ll have the grace and strength to follow God’s will and to be faithful to him.” (A, 58:05)
• “If he could forgive Peter… he can forgive you and I. And that is the mercy of his love.” (A, 67:35)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------|---------------| | Jesus carries the cross & fulfills prophecy | 00:06–05:00 | | Crucifixion scene: Kingship & mockery | 05:00–13:30 | | Psalm 22 & the meaning of Jesus’ cry | 13:30–31:10 | | Death, torn veil, baptism imagery | 31:10–42:10 | | Centurion’s confession & Joseph of Arimathea | 42:10–47:00 | | Resurrection and new creation | 47:00–56:10 | | Discipleship and fruitfulness | 56:10–61:00 | | Tradition, Mark’s end, call to courage | 61:00–end |

Conclusion

This episode artfully interweaves rich Old Testament background with Mark’s Gospel narrative, exploring how Jesus’s passion is the climax of salvation history and the launching point of new creation. Above all, listeners are encouraged to not only understand but participate in the path of trusting, courageous discipleship—even amid suffering and failure—through the enduring mercy and victory of the crucified and risen Christ.