Cover -- Table of Contents -- Foreword -- Introduction -- 1. The Relevance of the Theme -- 2. Status Quaestionis -- 3. Contribution of the Research -- 4. Methodology -- 4.1 Cohesion -- 4.2 Coherence -- 4.3 Pragmatic Elements -- 5. Outline of the Study -- Part 1: The Care of the Shepherd and the Incomprehension of the Disciples -- Part II: The Scandal and the New Communion -- Part I: The Care of The Shepherd and The Incomprehension of The Disciples -- Chapter I: The Care for the Shepherdless: Mark 6,30-44 -- 1. Presupposition of the Reader: 1,1-6,29 -- 1.1 The Prologue: «Way» in the Wilderness (1,1-13) -- 1.2 Way in Galilee: Followed and Opposed (1,14-3,6) -- 1.3 Way in Galilee: Those Who are Inside and Outside (3,7-6,6a) -- 1.4 Way in Galilee: The Mission of the Insiders (6,6b-6,29) -- Conclusion -- 2. Jesus, the Disciples and the Shepherdless Crowd: 6,30-44 -- 2.1 Cohesion of 6,30-44 -- 2.1.1 First Scene (6,30-33) -- a. Verse 30 -- b. Verses 31-32 -- c. Verse 33 -- 2.1.2 Second Scene (6,34-44) -- a. Verse 34 -- b. Verses 35-36 -- c. Verses 37-38 -- d. Verses 39-41 -- e. Verse 42 -- f. Verses 43-44 -- 2.2 Coherence of 6,30-44 -- 2.2.1 Stage Setting (6,30-33) -- a. The Gathering Together of the Disciples (v. 30) -- b. Jesus' Invitation to Rest and Eat in the «Wilderness» (vv. 31-32) -- c. The Gathering Together of Many (v. 33) -- 2.2.2 Jesus and his Disciples with the Crowd (6,34-44) -- a. Jesus Saw the Sheep Without a Shepherd (v. 34) -- + The «Crowd» in Mark -- + The «Compassion» of Jesus -- + «Sheep without a Shepherd» -- The Theme of Sheep without a Shepherd in the OT -- + He Began «to teach» them -- b. The Disciples Raise the Issue of Food (vv. 35-36) -- c. The Disciples are Asked to Solve the Issue themselves (vv. 37-38) -- d. Jesus Provides for the Shepherdless Crowd (vv. 39-41) -- e. The Satisfied Sheep (v. 42).

f. The Abundance (vv. 43-44) -- 2.3 Pragmatic Elements of 6,30-44 -- 2.3.1 Communicative Context -- a. Reverberating the Shepherding Activity of YHWH -- b. The Shepherdless Crowd as Israel -- 2.3.2 Communicative Strategy -- a. An Invitation to Remember and Experience the Wilderness -- b. The Crowd as a Model for the Reader -- c. An Invitation to Partake in the Shepherding Activity -- d. The Shepherd who Gathers and Feeds the Disbanded -- 3. Conclusions -- Chapter II: The Care for the Gentiles and the Uncomprehending Disciples: Mark 6,45-8,21 -- 1. The Manifestation of Jesus: 6,45-52 -- 1.1 Cohesion of 6,45-52 -- 1.1.1 First Scene (6,45-46) -- 1.1.2 Second Scene (6,47-52) -- a. Verse 47 -- b. Verse 48ab -- c. Verses 48c-51a -- d. Verse 51b -- e. Verses 51c-52 -- 1.2 Coherence of 6,45-52 -- 1.2.1 Stage Setting (6,45-46) -- 1.2.2 Manifestation and Incomprehension (6,47-52) -- a. Initial Situation (v. 47) -- b. The Disciples in Danger (v. 48ab) -- c. The Manifestation (vv. 48c-51a) -- d. The Wind Ceased (v. 51b) -- e. The Incomprehension of the Disciples (vv. 51c-52) -- 1.3 Pragmatic Elements of 6,45-52 -- 1.3.1 Communicative Context -- a. Further Revelation of the Identity of Jesus -- b. The Disciples Fail to Understand -- 1.3.2 Communicative Strategy -- a. An Invitation to Comprehend Jesus' Identity -- b. See, Hear, Think and Understand -- 2. Jesus and the Gentile Woman: 7,24-30 -- 2.1 Cohesion of 7,24-30 -- 2.1.1 Verses 24-26a -- 2.1.2 Verses 26b-28 -- 2.1.3 Verse 29 -- 2.1.4 Verse 30 -- 2.2 Coherence of 7,24-30 -- 2.2.1 The Gentile Woman Approaches Jesus (7,24-26a) -- 2.2.2 The Priority of the Children (7,26b-28) -- 2.2.3 The Children's Food offered (7,29) -- 2.2.4 The Gentile «Child» (7,30) -- 2.3 Pragmatic Elements of 7,24-30 -- 2.3.1 Communicative Context -- a. The Children's «Table», Opened Up for the Gentiles.

b. The Table Fellowship Continued and Extended -- 2.3.2 Communicative Strategy -- a. The Shepherd's Mission Manifesto -- b. Gentile Response to the Manifesto -- 3. Jesus' Feeding of the Gentiles, the Controversy with the Pharisees and the Incomprehension of the Disciples: 8,1-21 -- 3.1 Cohesion of 8,1-21 -- 3.1.1 First Scene (8,1-9) -- a. Verse 1a -- b. Verses 1b-5 -- c. Verses 6-7 -- d. Verse 8ab -- e. Verses 8c-9 -- 3.1.2 Second Scene (8,10-13) -- a. Verse 10 -- b. Verses 11-12 -- c. Verse 13 -- 3.1.3 Third Scene (8,14-21) -- a. Verse 14 -- b. Verses 15-16 -- c. Verses 17-18 -- d. Verses 19-20 -- e. Verse 21 -- 3.2 Coherence of 8,1-21 -- 3.2.1 The Shepherd of the Gentiles (8,1-9) -- a. Initial Situation (v. 1a) -- b. The Compassionate Jesus and the Disbelieving Disciples (vv. 1b-5) -- c. Jesus in Action with his Disciples (vv. 6-7) -- d. The Satisfied Sheep (v. 8ab) -- e. The Abundance (vv. 8c-9) -- 3.2.2 Jesus and the Pharisees (8,10-13) -- a. In Dalmanutha (v. 10) -- b. The Demand for a Sign and Denial (vv. 11-12) -- c. The Hinge Verse (v. 13) -- 3.2.3 The Incomprehension of the Disciples (8,14-21) -- a. The Background (v. 14) -- b. Jesus Warns his Disciples (vv. 15-16) -- c. Jesus Corrects his Disciples (vv. 17-18) -- d. The Feedings Revisited (vv. 19-20) -- e. The Concluding Admonition (v. 21) -- 3.3 Pragmatic Elements of 8,1-21 -- 3.3.1 Communicative Context -- a. The Allusions behind the Compassionate Jesus and the Faithful Crowd -- b. The Bad Shepherds of Israel -- c. The Disciples like «Outsiders» -- 3.3.2 Communicative Strategy -- a. Be with the Shepherd and Join the Banquet -- b. The Shepherd cares for the Gentile Sheep as well -- c. Beware of the Bad Shepherds -- d. See, Hear and Understand -- 4. Conclusions -- Part II: The Scandal and The New Communion -- Chapter III: The Smitten Shepherd and the Dispersion of the Sheep: Mark 14,26-31.

1. Presupposition of the Reader: 8,27-14,25 -- 1.1 The «Way» to Jerusalem: Messiah and His Way (8,27-10,52) -- 1.2 Way in Jerusalem: In the Temple (11,1-13,37) -- 1.3 The Plot to Kill, Anointing and the Table Fellowship (14,1-25) -- Conclusion -- 2. The Prophecies of Scandal, Dispersion and Denial: 14,26-31 -- 2.1 Cohesion of 14,26-31 -- a. Verse 26 -- b. Verses 27-29 -- c. Verses 30-31 -- 2.2 Coherence of 14,26-31 -- 2.2.1 The Shepherd's Prediction of Denial, Dispersal and Re-gathering (14,26-31) -- a. Introduction (v. 26) -- b. First Prediction and its Response (vv. 27-29) -- + The Prophecy of Zechariah -- + The Prophecy of Jesus -- c. Second Prediction and its Response (vv. 30-31) -- 2.3 Pragmatic Elements of 14,17-31 -- 2.3.1 Communicative Context -- a. Will be Stricken but also Will be Resurrected and Lead Forth -- 2.3.2 Communicative Strategy -- a. The Scandal, Cause to Scatter -- b. Stricken by God or by the Bad Shepherds? -- c. Promise of the Shepherd v/s Promise of the Sheep -- d. The Paradox of Denial -- 3. Conclusions -- Chapter IV: The New Beginning: Mark 16,1-8 -- 1. Presupposition of the Reader: 14,32-15,47 -- 1.1 The Betrayal and Dispersal (14,32-52) -- 1.2 The Trial, Denial, Death and Burial (14,53-15,47) -- Conclusion -- 2. The Shepherd Going Ahead of the Sheep: 16,1-8 -- 2.1 Cohesion of 16,1-8 -- 2.1.1 Verse 1 -- 2.1.2 Verses 2-4 -- 2.1.3 Verses 5-7 -- 2.1.4 Verse 8 -- 2.2 Coherence of 16,1-8 -- 2.2.1 The Women Continue Their Ministry (16,1) -- 2.2.2 The Stone at the Tomb, a hindrance to the Mission (16,2-4) -- 2.2.3 The Young Man Announces the Resurrection and Going Ahead of the Shepherd (16,5-7) -- 2.2.4 The Ministry that Ends in Silence (16,8) -- 2.3 Pragmatic Elements of 16,1-8 -- 2.3.1 Communicative Context -- a. Fulfillment of the Prophecy -- b. Image of God the Shepherd -- c. He was and is leading.

d. The Possibility of a New Vision and Beginning -- e. With Whom Shall the Reader Identify? -- 2.3.2 Communicative Strategy -- a. Mend Your Path towards the One Going Ahead -- b. Flee or Follow? -- c. See and Follow Him -- d. An Invitation for a New Beginning with the Resurrected Shepherd -- e. Announce the Resurrected Shepherd -- 3. Conclusions -- Concluding observations -- 1. The Metaphor of Shepherd in Mark -- 1.1 Jesus Christ as the Shepherd? -- 1.2 The Shepherd of Israel -- 1.2.1 The Disciples Represent the Sheepfold -- 1.2.2 Shepherdless Israel -- 1.3 The Shepherd of the Nations -- 2. Markan Strategy in Presenting Jesus as the Shepherd -- 2.1 Teaching -- 2.2 Nourishing -- 2.3 Guiding/Leading -- 3. The Metaphor of Shepherd as a Paradigm for Mission -- 3.1 A Progressive Mission -- 3.2 Preference for an Inclusive Language -- Conclusion -- Abbreviations -- Bibliography -- Author Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- V -- W -- Z.