33. The Gospel of Mark: Jesus, Mystery, and the Messianic Secret

Dr. Kristofer Phan Coffman explores the Gospel of Mark's mystery, humor, and message on The Bible in a Year.

The Gospel of Mark takes center stage in this episode of The Bible in a Year. Dr. Kristofer Phan Coffman joins the hosts to explore this short, mysterious gospel. He serves as Assistant Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary. First, he unpacks the messianic secret and Mark’s surprising humor. Then, he traces Mark’s deep connections to the writings of Paul. Along the way, listeners hear about the Gerasene demoniac and the demon named Legion. They also learn about the cosmic battle between Jesus and demonic powers that drives Mark’s story forward.

Next, Dr. Coffman addresses the puzzling multiple endings of Mark 16. He explains why the earliest manuscripts leave the women fleeing the tomb in fear. After that, the conversation turns to why scholars have often overlooked the Gospel of Mark next to Matthew and Luke. In fact, most modern scholars believe Mark served as a source for both later gospels. Finally, Dr. Coffman shares his take on Mark’s central message. He points to Jesus’ power over Satan, revealed through his self giving love on the cross.

Resources Mentioned:

The Book of Acts — Referenced for the account of John Mark and Barnabas as traveling companions of the Apostle Paul.
Romans (Letter of Paul) — Discussed as a fruitful companion text to read alongside the Gospel of Mark.
Galatians (Letter of Paul) — Mentioned alongside Romans as a text that pairs well with Mark.
The Iliad and The Odyssey — Referenced as comparison points for ancient narrative pacing, used to contextualize Mark’s sense of “immediacy.”
Augustine — The early Christian theologian whose view that Mark was a summary of Matthew shaped centuries of Western Church tradition regarding Mark’s status.

Featuring

Kristofer Phan Coffman

Kristofer Phan Coffman is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Religion and Cultures at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Kristofer is, to the best of his knowledge, the first Cambodian to receive a doctoral degree in any aspect of biblical studies or the study of the ancient world. He brings his own experience as a first generation Cambodian-American to his readings of the biblical text in an effort to help readers reframe their reading of ancient texts as a cross-cultural interaction, hoping to build skills both for the reading of the biblical text as well as the modern task of relating to people from cultures different than their own. In addition to his work in the New Testament, Kristofer writes on food, farming and sustainability. His first book, Harrowing the Gospels: A Cambodian (American) Rereading of Agriculture in Mark and Matthew will be published in the Brill Biblical Interpretation Series in Fall 2025, and he is currently writing a book on reading the Bible with cultural sensitivity for Baker Academic.

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Hosted By

Kathryn Schifferdecker

Kathryn M Schifferdecker is Professor and Elva B. Lovell Chair of Old Testament at Luther Seminary. Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2001, Schifferdecker was associate pastor for five years at Trinity Lutheran Church, Arkdale, Wisconsin, before coming to Luther in 2006. Schifferdecker is a frequent contributor to Working Preacher, Word & World, and the author of "Out of the Whirlwind: Creation Theology in the Book of Job" (Harvard University Press, 2008). She is currently writing a commentary on the book of Esther.

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Katie Langston

Katie Langston is a doubter by nature and a believer by grace. She grew up Mormon in a small Utah town and still isn't sure she fits in anywhere sophisticated enough to have a Target. She's the author of Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace, an acclaimed spiritual memoir about her conversion to orthodox Christianity. Katie is Pastor of Mission and Outreach at New Promise Lutheran Church in St. George, Utah. From 2020-2025, she was the director of digital strategy for Luther Seminary's innovation team, where she oversaw digital projects aimed at cultivating vibrant Christian spirituality in a post-modern, post-Christian cultural context.

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About The Bible in a Year Podcast

This podcast guides you on a journey through the books of the Bible, providing insights on how Scripture can shape your life today. Each episode focuses on one or two books of the Bible in fun, engaging, and authentic conversations between Luther Seminary faculty and guest Bible scholars who are experts on the book(s) in question. Join us as we make our way through the Bible in a year — new episodes drop every Wednesday in 2026!