After studying this section you should:

• know the most important aspect of Mark’s Gospel is the message he conveys about what is necessary to be a follower of Jesus, i.e. to be a disciple
• know that it is from these passages that you can find much evidence to support Christian teachings on attitudes to contemporary moral issues

The section on discipleship is mainly contained in Mark 8:22–10:52. It begins with the curing of the blind man at Bethsaida and ends with the curing of Blind Bartimaeus. These episodes can be seen as symbolic. Until people recognise the way of discipleship they are blind. Only when they understand the cost of being a follower of Jesus can they be considered to have seen the new way and become enlightened.