the Gospels as a passion story with an extended introduction. This assessment downplays too much the importance of the first thirteen chapters of Mark’s Gospel for one’s understanding of the Gospel as a whole. It does, however, underscore the prominence of the death of Jesus in the message of the Gospel. For Mark, we have not understood Jesus if we have not plumbed the depths of his passion. Clearly, Mark believes that authentic discipleship must be oriented to the cross, and that followers of Jesus