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Daily Journey

Read the Gospel of Mark

A guided walk through the shortest Gospel in 28 short steps, from its first words to the empty tomb.

Overview

Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels and moves quickly. This guide walks through 28 key scenes, one step at a time. Each step gives you a short passage from Mark, a plain reflection that explains what is happening, a prayer, and one small thing to try. You choose 5, 10, or 15 minutes. If you miss a day, you pick up at the next scene.

  • 28 steps
  • 5, 10, or 15 minutes a day
  • Free sample of 3 steps
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Who this is for

This guide is for you if you have never read Mark straight through, or if you have read it but never slowed down. You do not need any background. Each step explains what you need to know and links to the full chapter if you want to read on.

Step 1 in full: The beginning

Here is the first step in full, so you can see what each day is like.

Read

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Mark 1:1-8 King James Version
Read the full chapter

Reflect

Mark does not begin with a birth story or a family tree. His first line is like a headline. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”. The word gospel simply means good news. Mark wants you to know right away that this is a story worth telling.

The first person you meet is John, a strange preacher by the Jordan River. He wears camel's hair and a leather belt. He eats locusts and wild honey. He calls people to turn back to God, and large crowds go out to hear him. They confess their sins and are baptized in the river.

John knows his place. He says someone greater is coming. “And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”

That sets the pace for the whole book. Mark moves fast. In a few lines, you go from a preacher in the desert to the arrival of Jesus. Over the next four weeks, you will walk beside him.

What do you hope to see in Jesus over the next 28 steps?

Pray

Lord Jesus, I want to know you better. As I begin to read Mark, open my eyes and my heart. Help me hear the good news as if for the first time. Make me ready for you. Amen.

Practice

Write one sentence that begins with the words: To me, good news is. Then write one sentence about what you hope to find as you read Mark over the next four weeks.

All 28 steps

Week 1: The beginning: who is Jesus?

Mark starts with Jesus already on the move. You meet John the Baptist, see Jesus baptized, hear him call his first followers, and watch him heal.

  1. The beginning Mark 1:1-8 Meet John the Baptist and the good news that starts the book.
  2. A voice from heaven Mark 1:9-13 See Jesus baptized, named, and tested.
  3. Come and follow Mark 1:14-20 Hear Jesus call four fishermen to leave their nets.
  4. A teacher with authority Mark 1:21-28 Notice why people were amazed by how Jesus spoke.
  5. Jesus makes time to pray Mark 1:32-39 See that even Jesus went to a quiet place to pray.
  6. Jesus touches the untouchable Mark 1:40-45 Watch Jesus reach out to a man everyone avoided.
  7. Four friends and a roof Mark 2:3-12 See what friends will do to bring someone to Jesus, and look back on your first week.
Week 2: Authority, mercy, and the crowd

Jesus eats with people others avoid, teaches in stories, calms a storm, and heals a woman and a young girl. People keep asking who he really is.

  1. A meal with sinners Mark 2:13-17 See who Jesus chooses to eat with, and why.
  2. Made for people Mark 2:23-28 Hear Jesus say what the Sabbath is for. Christian traditions differ on how Christians keep the Sabbath or Sunday.
  3. Who is my family? Mark 3:31-35 Hear how Jesus describes the people who follow him.
  4. Seeds and soil Mark 4:1-9 Think about the kind of soil your heart is.
  5. Peace in the storm Mark 4:35-41 Ask what Jesus does when the disciples are afraid.
  6. Reaching out in need Mark 5:25-34 See a woman who dared to touch Jesus, and how he answered.
  7. Do not be afraid Mark 5:35-43 Hear Jesus speak to a worried father, and look back on your second week.
Week 3: Following the way

Jesus feeds a crowd, asks his friends who they think he is, and tells them what following him will cost. You see a glimpse of his glory and hear a father's honest prayer.

  1. Giving what you have Mark 6:35-44 See how Jesus uses a small gift to feed many.
  2. Take heart Mark 6:45-52 Hear Jesus say "It is I; do not be afraid."
  3. Who do you say I am? Mark 8:27-33 Answer the question Jesus asks his friends.
  4. The costly way Mark 8:34-38 Hear what Jesus says following him will involve.
  5. A glimpse of glory Mark 9:2-8 Stand with three disciples on the mountain.
  6. Help my unbelief Mark 9:21-27 Pray a father's honest prayer.
  7. To serve Mark 10:42-45 Hear how Jesus describes greatness, and look back on your third week. Christian traditions explain the cross, and the words "a ransom for many," in different ways.
Week 4: Jerusalem, the cross, and the empty tomb

Jesus enters Jerusalem, shares a last meal, prays in a garden, dies, and rises. The week ends where Mark ends: with an empty tomb and a surprise.

  1. The king arrives Mark 11:1-10 Watch Jesus enter Jerusalem as the crowd shouts.
  2. The greatest commandment Mark 12:28-34 Hear what matters most to God.
  3. A small gift, fully given Mark 12:41-44 See what Jesus notices in a poor widow.
  4. Bread and cup Mark 14:22-26 Sit at the table with Jesus on his last night. Christian traditions differ on how Christ is present in Communion and on what to call it.
  5. The garden Mark 14:32-38 Stay awake with Jesus as he prays.
  6. At the cross Mark 15:33-39 Stand quietly where a Roman officer made his confession.
  7. He is not here Mark 16:1-8 Come to the empty tomb, and look back on all 28 steps. Some early copies of Mark end at verse 8; many Bibles add a longer ending.
How this journey adapts to your tradition

Every step is written for a broad Christian reader first. On passages where Christians read differently, such as the Last Supper, the guide gives a fair summary of other views.

Baptist
Steps emphasize reading the text for yourself, and mention baptism and the Lord's Supper as acts of obedience and remembrance.
Catholic
Steps can note where a scene is used in the Church's Sunday readings, and give the Catholic understanding of the Last Supper in plain words.
Lutheran
Steps keep the focus on Christ's promise in the Word, and give the Lutheran understanding of the Lord's Supper in plain words.
Methodist
Steps point to the practical call to follow Jesus, and mention the Methodist understanding of Communion as a means of grace.
Non-denominational
Steps keep to the text and to everyday application, without assuming a church background.
Orthodox
Steps can note how the Gospel readings are used in the Church's worship, and give the Orthodox understanding of the Holy Communion in plain words.
Pentecostal
Steps highlight healing and the power of Jesus, with room to pray for what you read.
Reformed
Steps follow how Mark presents the identity of Jesus as King, and give the Reformed understanding of the Lord's Supper in plain words.

Included with membership

All 28 steps are included with an active membership, along with your saved reflections and progress window. The first three steps are free to try.

Try the free sample See membership options

Common questions

Does this cover all of Mark?
No. Each step covers one short scene, and together the 28 steps follow the main movements of the book. Every passage links to its full chapter so you can read on.
Do I need to read Mark first?
No. You can begin at step 1 with no background. Each step explains what is happening in plain words.
How long does each step take?
You choose 5, 10, or 15 minutes. The 5-minute version keeps the passage, a short reflection, the prayer, and one action. The longer versions add background and questions to think about.
What about the ending of Mark?
Some early copies of Mark end at chapter 16, verse 8, and many Bibles add a longer ending. The last step follows the shorter ending and explains the difference.
Who writes the steps?
BibleGuided writes the steps with AI help and checks them before they are published. The Bible text comes from the Bible edition you choose, never from AI.

Bible text shown on this page: King James Version.

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Reviewed Oct. 4, 2026

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