Plotting Mark Chapter One

What is to be gleaned from the Gospel of Mark:

1:1)  The descriptors "Jesus Christ, the Son of God" are to be developed in the story.

1:2-3)  The quotes from Malachi and Isaiah are both inaccurate and improperly cited, and add nothing to the story.

1:4-8)  John's baptism was a ritual of repentance and confession, imparting nothing more than ritual solemnity and imparting nothing for the future.  Its universal acceptance in "all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem" is obviously not intended literally.  Johns' conclusion, "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost," is described in no theological particulars.

1:9-13)  Jesus' spiritual experience upon being baptized was a personal experience, as was his testing in the desert.

1:14-15)  Jesus preached repentance, as many others had, and Jesus also proclaimed the nearness and the imminence of the kingdom of God.

Jesus proclaimed the nearness and the imminence of the kingdom of God.

1:16-22)  Jesus told his disciples that they would enlist others.

Jesus proclaimed the nearness and the imminence of the kingdom of God.  Jesus told his disciples that they would enlist others.

 1:23-45)  As here in the synagogue, the unclean spirits addressed Jesus in such terms as "the Holy One of God."  Jesus' demand of silence from the unclean spirits would be pointless if the hearers among the crowds registered and understood what the unclean spirits and Jesus said to each other, so it must be assumed that these acclamations of Jesus' stature from the unclean spirits went unheard at the moment.  The text merely records the people remarking on Jesus' authority to command unclean spirits.  Similarly (and with a similar lack of ceremony) Jesus heals the sick.

Jesus proclaimed the nearness and the imminence of the kingdom of God.  Jesus told his disciples that they would enlist others.  Jesus drove out unclean spirits and healed the sick.

 This gets us through Chapter One.