Mark's Gospel is first and foremost the good news about Jesus Christ. In order to inform his readers and help them understand about Jesus, his teachings, and what is required to be a follower of Jesus, Mark centres his writing on various themes.
             One theme that is extremely evident in Marks's writing and would have had great significance to his readers was that of discipleship. In fact while it could be said that the "Gospel is the good news about Christ, it is also a story about discipleship" (Hooker, M.D, 1983, p, 105).
             In its broadest sense, to be a disciple means to be a follower. This definition has clear links to Mark's first mention of the disciples where in 1:17 Jesus calls his first four disciples; Simon, Andrew, James and John by saying
             "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
             While there are references throughout Mark's Gospel to groups of followers, it is a group of twelve men that are chosen by Jesus to be his closest followers or disciples. It is they who have been chosen to be with Jesus and to preach his word...
             'And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach'(3:13-19)
             and who were to receive Jesus' own special teaching...
             'and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples' (4:10:34)
             While Mark presents the call of the disciples as positive, his theme on discipleship moves to a negative commentary, focusing in on their weaknesses and chronic inability to understand the essential revelation and message of Jesus. These failings are seen in 4:13 when the disciples do not understand the parable of the sower and the seed. In 6:52 the disciples fail when after the miracle of the loaves, the disciples still didn't understand 'for their hearts were hardened.' Their selfish attitudes and greed for position are depicted in 10:35 where ...