A Chiastic Literary Structure is part of Jewish writing and is designed specifically to point to the important components or the center of the text. Each component has a mirror component. So as seen below, A and A’ are mirrored, John points to Jesus and the young man points to Jesus at the end of the Gospel text.

Following the Chiastic Structure in Mark, the passion prediction becomes the epicenter of the Gospel. I find this particularly interesting especially in light of the shorter ending of Mark where the “women flee and say nothing.”

The Gospel of Mark is a literary challenge. Have you the faith to go to ahead to Galilee. Have the faith to believe in the words of Christ, that the Son of Man must suffer and die before he is to be raised from the dead and ascend into heaven. Have you the faith to believe in the resurrection? The text for me is symbolic of the faith that is required of each Christian. It stands in place of Thomas. Can you believe without seeing?

A Beginning – John points to Jesus 1:4-8
B Jesus’ baptism – The splitting of the heavens, “You are my son,” 1:9-11
C Jesus is tested in the wilderness 1:12-13
D The parable of the sower 4:1-9
E Raising of the young girl 5:21-43
F The death of John the Baptist 6:14-29
G Stilling of the second storm (exorcism of the deep) 6:45-52
H Peter’s confession 8:27-30
I – Jesus’ first passion prediction 8:31-33
H’ Transfiguration 9:2-10
G’ Exorcism of possessed boy 9:14-29
F’ Appearance of the rich (young) man 10:17-22
E’ Raising of the young man in Secret Mark (followed Mark 10:34)
D’ Parable of the vineyard 12:1-11
C’ Jesus is tested in the temple 12:13-27
B’ Jesus dies, the temple veil is split “Truly this was God’s son.” 15:33-39
A’ The “post-runner” the young man, points to Jesus 16:1-8