When reading the Gospel of Mark, have you ever found that he interrupted himself mid-story to tell a different one? If so, you have tasted what’s known as a Markan Sandwich, also known as intercalation.

Any good commentary should point these out and explain their significance, but here is a good academic article on the subject.

* Markan Sandwiches: The Significance of Interpolations in Markan Narratives by James Edwards (Novum Testamentum)

Here is a list of some Markan Sandwiches. If you find some more, comment below!

* Mark 3:20-35
* Mark 4:1-20
* Mark 5:21-43
* Mark 6:7-30
* Mark 11:12-21
* Mark 14:1-11
* Mark 14:53-72
* Mark 15:40-16:8

As an interesting exercise, find the parallel passages in Matthew and Luke and see if the Markan Sandwich has been preserved, or separated. One example would be comparing Mark and Matthew’s account of Jesus cursing the fig tree.