Markan Sandwiches: The Literary Device in the Gospel of Mark
This paper examines the literary device known as "Markan sandwiches," in which the Gospel of Mark embeds one narrative within another to create an A-B-A structure. Drawing on Edwards (1989), the paper argues that this interpolation technique is intentional and serves a theological purpose unique to Mark among the synoptic gospels. Three key examples are analyzed: the healing of the hemorrhaging woman within the story of Jairus' daughter, the martyrdom of John the Baptist framed by the mission and return of the Twelve Apostles, and the denial of Peter surrounding Jesus' declaration of his identity. In each case, the inner narrative intensifies the outer story's meaning and reinforces a common theme of faithful declaration versus doubt or denial.
- Introduction to Markan Sandwiches: Defines the A-B-A interpolation device in Mark
- The Hemorrhaging Woman and Jairus' Daughter: Faith contrasted with doubt in healing narrative
- John the Baptist and the Mission of the Twelve: Martyrdom prefigures Jesus amid apostolic mission
- The Denial of Peter: Peter's denial frames Jesus' identity declaration
- Theological Significance of the Sandwich Structure: Common theme of faithful declaration versus denial
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What makes this paper effective
- It applies a clear analytical framework—the A-B-A structure—consistently across three distinct biblical examples, making the argument easy to follow.
- Each example is briefly contextualized within the Gospel narrative before the literary analysis is applied, grounding the reader in the text.
- The conclusion synthesizes all three examples into a unifying theological theme—faithful public declaration versus doubt or denial—giving the paper argumentative cohesion.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of a single theoretical source (Edwards, 1989) as a lens through which to conduct close reading of primary religious texts. Rather than summarizing Edwards, the writer applies his framework independently to each narrative, showing how the source's thesis holds across multiple examples. This approach models how secondary scholarship can scaffold original textual analysis.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief introduction that defines the Markan sandwich device and states the central thesis. Three body sections each analyze one example of the technique in sequence. The final paragraph synthesizes the three examples, identifying the shared theological message—the contrast between faith and doubt—that the sandwich structure is designed to convey. The single reference is cited in APA format.
Introduction to Markan Sandwiches
The concept of Markan sandwiches refers to a literary device featured prominently in the Gospel of Mark in which the author interpolates one anecdote within another. According to Edwards (1989), while a number of literary scholars have remarked upon this curious structure, few have agreed as to why Mark relies upon this technique. Edwards advances the thesis that the sandwiching technique is intentional and is used to reinforce the theological purpose of the Gospel's author. Mark's favoring of the sandwich technique far exceeds that of the other synoptic gospel authors, Luke and Matthew.
The Hemorrhaging Woman and Jairus' Daughter
One sandwich involves a woman with a hemorrhage who approaches Jesus mid-narrative within the story of the healing of Jairus' daughter. If an interpolation can be described as having an A-B-A structure, the "A" narrative details a resurrection story that is less famous than the raising of Lazarus. In Mark's narrative, Jesus is asked to come to the house of Jairus—the patron or head of the synagogue—because his daughter is ill. Once Jesus arrives, he is told that the girl has died, but he responds that she is only sleeping; she then rises when he commands her to wake. The story is rendered more explicitly as a resurrection narrative in both Matthew and Luke.
On the way to Jairus' house, however, a bleeding woman approaches Jesus. She touches his cloak, secure in her belief that she will be healed. Jesus tells her that she is healed because of her faith, yet her healing precedes his words. The woman's strength of faith stands in sharp contrast to the doubt expressed elsewhere that Jesus can help Jairus' daughter, and it highlights the narrative's larger point: the necessity of surrendering to faith before receiving verbal reassurance.
John the Baptist and the Mission of the Twelve
Another sandwich is formed by the mission of the Twelve Apostles and their return, into which is interspersed the martyrdom of John the Baptist. John's martyrdom prefigures that of Jesus. By locating it within the narrative of the Apostles' departure and return, Mark affirms the complex nature of the relationship between Jesus and his Apostles, as well as their attitude toward his coming crucifixion. Although the Apostles follow Jesus, there is much they do not yet understand about his mission and teaching. John understands the true nature of Jesus far better than the Apostles—particularly in Mark's version—and their survival and lack of comprehension is set in deliberate contrast with John's immediate recognition of who Jesus is.
Reference
Edwards, J. (1989). Markan sandwiches: The significance of interpolations in Markan narratives. Novum Testamentum, XXXI(3), 193–216.
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