The Gospel of Mark

by John-Peter Gernaat

​The Gospel Study has studied two of the Gospels and the Book of Revelation under the guidance of Rev. Michaël Merle after the passing of Karin von Schilling. The Gospel of Luke begins by telling the reader that the writer has discovered a path that he will lay out for the reader to follow. The Gospel of John has a very particular structure with seven signs of Christ and seven “I am” statements. As a parting gift, Michaël introduced the Gospel of Mark and a structure recognised by Rev. Hermann Beckh.

Michaël introduced the working of the Signs of the Zodiac in a cycle of talks given during the Holy Nights of 2022 into 2023, and also in the evolution of the plant and animal kingdoms during two modules of the Africa Seminary. The Spiritual Beings who connect themselves with the Signs of the Zodiac, which is the twelve portions of a circle through which the sun moves in its annual progression through the months and seasons of the year, have a very particular influence on the development on earth when the Creative Forces of the Divine work from the periphery into the centre, which is the earth. These unique signatures can be traced in the way that Mark has structured his Gospel.

Mark has created a structure that shows the progressive influence of the Zodiac three times for the three years of Christ’s Ministry. However, in each cycle through the Zodiac there is no influence of the Sign of Leo. Mark recognised that the great Deed of Sacrifice of Christ was performed under the radiant influence of Leo. This may also be one of the reasons that Mark is recognised as the Winged Lion.

After Michaël relocated to London the Gospel Study benefited from the insights that Rev. Richard Goodall brought to this Gospel. Now the group studying Mark's Gospel has developed the confidence to work on the study of this Gospel when Rev. Bridgette Siepker is in Johannesburg and also when she is visiting the Hillcrest Congregation. We have worked our way through one and a half cycles of the light of the divine shining through the signs of the Zodiac. Each week is dedicated to only one sign, and this progression has permitted us to ponder more deeply on what is being presented. It is interesting how the first review provides certain insights, but as we begin to untangle what has been written, several interpretations come to light.

Through this, it becomes clear that the Gospels were not written to provide answers to the reader, but rather to open up lines of exploration and contemplation, each one of which leads to insights on the “New Word from the Realms of the Angels”.