FOUR THINGS MARK WANTED US TO LEARN ABOUT JESUS

About ten years ago, we decided to start a missional group in Running Springs with the goal of reaching out only to those who did not know or walk with the Lord. One of our initial conversations dealt with the reality of the spiritual warfare we could face as we shed light into the darkness of our community. Some in our group were skeptical about this warfare and others were afraid of it. 

This led us to the opportunity to read the Gospel of Mark together. We found that Jesus literally had conversations with demons as he preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Demonic activity is a reality. Next, we found that Jesus had absolute authority over these demons. But the best part is, he gave his disciples that same authority! We have the power and authority to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in our communities!

Our church, Living Water Foursquare Chapel, is presently considering what it would look like to love Yucca Valley like Jesus loves Yucca Valley. In preparation for this, we are studying the Gospel of Mark together in a series that I have titled Son of God—Servant to Man. In this series we will be examining this often forgotten portrait of Jesus in hope that it will revolutionize how we follow him.

The Gospel of Mark was written by John Mark, who was a cousin to Barnabas and a disciple of Peter. The early church nicknamed this the Gospel of Peter, because Mark was his interpreter. As we read this Gospel, it will be easy to see the eyewitness accounts of Peter. (Hint: if you also read 1Peter you will see even more). For insight read “7 Insights for Reading Mark. 

FOUR THINGS MARK WANTED US TO LEARN ABOUT JESUS:

Today we are going to consider four things that Mark wanted his readers to learn about Jesus. To do this we will look at his opening announcement, his primary truth, his primary application and confession . 

1. JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD

This is Mark’s opening announcement, 

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk1:1).

Mark opens with a familiar phrase, ‘The beginning,' this was used in Genesis to announce the creation of the world and all the life it contains from God’s verbal command. To Mark, the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ announces the Son of Man, in flesh, bringing new life to all who would believe this Gospel.

‘The Gospel’ is a familiar term which means, ‘Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.’ But Mark was the first of these writers to use the term. It means, ‘good news’. A gospel was a military report of victory from the front lines of battle. And that is what Mark is announcing, Jesus’ victory over sin and death!

This gospel is of, ‘Jesus Christ, the Son of God.’ Jesus was the long awaited Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one sent by God, who was prophesied by the prophets. But not only that, he is the Son of God. We are culturally used to hearing this title for Jesus today, though our culture is unaffected by it. But the original readers of this gospel would have understood that Mark was intending to proclaim Jesus’ deity—God himself! Sent to save men! 

While Mark begins with this proclamation, he in no way sets out to suggest that Israel, or even his own disciples for that matter, understood Jesus’ identity from the start. Much of the gospel is based upon the disciples difficulty to understand Jesus and the religious leaders refusal to acknowledge him. It seems that only John the Baptist, through direct revelation and the demons truly understood who he was until the very end. In this study, we will begin to recognize the complexities of human reason understanding the divine nature of Jesus.

2. JESUS IS THE SERVANT TO MAN

This is the key verse and primary truth that Mark wanted us to understand about the identity of Jesus. Matthew presents him as King, Luke presents him as the Perfect Man, and John presents him as the Divine Son God. Mark presents him as the Suffering Servant to man. This theme was first prophesied of him over 500 years prior to Jesus’ incarnation by Isaiah (Isa 53).

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45). 

‘The Son of Man came not to be served’ — He did not come to conquer earthly kingdoms, establish political reign or force his rule upon man. This was a mind-blowing revelation to his disciples and all the people of Israel. They were expecting their Messiah to rule as political king who would free them from the Roman oppression that they were under. Kings were anointed to rule!

But, Jesus came, ‘To serve…to give his life as ransom for many.’ He came as the servant who would give his own life as a sacrifice for all mankind. Only he was spotless, without sin. Only he could be the perfect sacrifice that would pay off the debt for all sin forever. He was our substitution, he laid it down for us!

Jesus did not come to condemn, or to dominate the world! Instead, he came to give himself! He paid our ransom.

3. JESUS CALLS US TO SERVE MAN 

The primary application of Mark’s Gospel is that we would follow Jesus’ example in the world, even if it means that we would have to deny ourselves and suffer to live it out. 

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mk 8:34-35). 

I was at a Christian bookstore recently looking at jewelry case full of crosses. It is like a right of passage to wear a cross today. But to Israel the cross was an instrument of cruelty, pain, dehumanization and shame! For Jesus to say these words would have seemed mad to his disciples. I imagine that it would be the same as asking Jews of this century to wear swastikas.

Jesus called his disciples to be willing to follow his example as a servant. This was not a request, but rather it was a requirement, those who were not willing to do it were not really following him. This meant, if necessary, their willingness to carry their own cross to follow him to their own death. 

In this gospel we are going to see the disciples struggle to live as servants of God to man. We will see Peter even fail at first—but we know that he eventually did follow Jesus by carrying his own cross.

We live different lives in the Untied States than the disciples did under the Jewish-Roman tension. It could be easy for us to dismiss this verse too easily…except for the following statement… ‘Whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel will save it”. Though we might not face threat for our lives, we are still not to live primarily for ourselves. This means that we are not to allow ourselves to become distracted by the media culture from following Jesus and living for his Gospel.

4. JESUS CALLS US TO REVEAL HIS GOSPEL TO THE WORLD (Confession)

Living for the Gospel should result for a desire to hear our neighbors confess that Jesus is the Son of God! The first confession in this gospel is given by Peter who confessed, “You are the Christ”(8:29). But compared to Peter’s confession recorded in Matthew, it seems that Mark has down played this confession, in order to highlight this confession made at the foot of the cross,

“And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mk 15:39). 

This soldier was given the task of guarding the crosses that day. After witnessing the events of this crucifixion that made the ultimate confession—Jesus is the Son of God!

If we can catch the heart of this gospel, we will be forever changed. May we hear our own neighbors make this same confession as a result of our willingness to follow the example Jesus, the Suffering Servant to man.

This is the first article in a series in the Gospel of Mark entitled Son of God—Servant to Man that will follow the sermon series given each Sunday at Living Water Chapel. Also, consider reading, ‘7 Insights for Reading Mark’.