"Who is Jesus?" - Mark

Mark 1:1 CSB

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

INTRO—

Mark 1.1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

[Likely source for Mark’s material is Peter.]

SON OF GOD

Mark sets out to introduce Jesus to a primarily Gentile audience, beginning with the fact that Jesus is “The Son of God.”

Mark 1.1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Mark 3.11 “Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, 'You are the Son of God!'”

Mark 15.39 “When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!'”

Son of God = Truly God [even so far as to affirm the ONE and ONLY God]

[What Mark asserts at the opening of his Gospel account, he shows confirmed by a member of his target audience near the conclusion.]

POWERFUL SERVICE

The concept of selfless service might have been a bit challenging to the Gentile culture of Mark’s day. He shows that Jesus, The Son of God, intentionally served others (all across the board!)…and it proves a point!

Mark 2.1-12.

Mark 2.5 “Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'”

Mark 2.9-11 “‘Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Get up, take your mat, and walk?” But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins'—he told the paralytic—'I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.'”

Mark 10.42-45.

Mark 10.42 “Jesus called them over and said to them, 'You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them.’”

Mark 10.45 “‘For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'”

“Powerful Service” = This Son of Man is The Son of God and has come to serve…to save ALL who will repent and trust him.

CLARIFYING CONTENT

Mark took deliberate steps to be sure he connected with his audience of primary focus—the Gentiles (specifically Roman citizens).

Explaining Aramaic Expressions.

Mark 5.41 “Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, 'Talitha koum' (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up”).” [Context, vv. 21-23; 39-42]

Mark 7.34 “Looking up to heaven, he sighed deeply and said to him, 'Ephphatha!' (that is, “Be opened!”).” [Context, vv. 31-37]

Using Latin Words.

Mark 12.42 “Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little.” [Context, vv. 41-44]

“Worth very little” = κοδράντης (kodrantes); quadrans (Lat.) = the lowest value coin in Roman Empire.

Mark 15.39 “When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!'” [Context, vv. 37-45]

“Centurion” = κεντυρίων (kenturion; not ekatontarxes, commander of hundreds) = centurion (Lat.) = commander of a hundred. [Mark is the only Gospel writer to use this word for this class of Roman soldier.]

“Clarifying Content” = Mark likely wrote in Rome or to those from a western Roman Empire background.

CONCL—

Mark 1.1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Mark 15.39 “When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!'”

Jesus is The Son of God who literally walked this Earth to serve others, especially by dying for our sin and rising from the dead as Savior and Lord…(and, Mark says, “I want to do everything I can to help you understand this important truth.”)

We should celebrate and share this message, too!

Mark 15:39 CSB

When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”