narrative—although there is the interesting note, unique to Mark, that Jesus was ‘with the wild beasts’! Then, lion-like, Jesus bounds off into his work—proclaiming the kingdom of God and repentance (1:14–15), forming a group of disciples (1:16–20) and engaging in a teaching and healing ministry, the man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue (1:21–28), Peter’s mother-in-law (1:29–31), many others who are sick or possessed (1:32–34), going round the towns and synagogues of Galilee (1:35–39) and