<P> The Gospel According to Mark ( Greek : τὸ κατὰ Μᾶρκον εὐανγέλιον , to kata Markon euangelion ) , is one of the four canonical gospels and one of the three synoptic gospels . It tells of the ministry of Jesus from his baptism by John the Baptist to his death and burial and the discovery of the empty tomb -- there is no genealogy of Jesus or birth narrative , nor , in the original ending at chapter 16 , any post-resurrection appearances . It portrays Jesus as a heroic man of action , an exorcist , a healer , and a miracle worker . Jesus is also the Son of God , but he keeps his identity secret ( the Messianic Secret ) , concealing it in parables so that even the disciples fail to understand . All this is in keeping with prophecy , which foretold the fate of the messiah as suffering servant . The gospel ends , in its original version , with the discovery of the empty tomb , a promise to meet again in Galilee , and an unheeded instruction to spread the good news of the resurrection . </P>
the genre of the gospel according to mark is
one of the four canonical gospels one of the three synoptic gospels