Mark's Christ

Why Study Mark?

Mark adds very little content that Matthew and Luke don’t already have

Mark offers almost no insight about Jesus’s identity or origin

John stresses that Jesus is the literal embodiment of the God of Israel (and the world), and that he has always existed as the logos

Matthew and Luke give us insight on where he came from, his virgin birth, his ancestry back to David and Abraham, his family and upbringing

Mark doesn’t seem to care as much about those things

Mark doesn’t do much “clean up on ale 9” (correct popular misunderstandings)

John does this in Jn 21 (about John’s death)

Matthew works hard to convince his readers that Jesus was factually a descendent from both Abraham and David and how Jesus fulfills the Jewish Scriptures

Luke is really concerned about historical accuracy and certainty, and he explains Jesus’s Olivet discourse more literally (Lk 21.20 comp. w/Matt 24.15)

Mark simply tells his story; and leaves the reader to reflect on it

Mark gives little theological commentary in his telling of Jesus’s death (Mk 15)

Matthew, Luke, and John all give more commentary to how Jesus’s experience on the cross fulfills prophecy, or how his words while hanging on the cross give meaning to his death (eg, ), or obviously point to particular theological themes

Luke’s telling spotlights justice and Jesus’s innocence, social status and humility, worship and lament, creation and Sabbath, the temple and Jesus’s messianic kingdom, mercy and salvation, Lk 23)

Mark merely explains what happened; and the only thing he reports Jesus said was, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mk 15.34)

Key Themes in Mark’s Gospel

Action-packed display of Jesus (“immediately”) — miracles

Stresses “What does Jesus do?” (as opposed to who is Jesus)

Power, authority, and nature of the Kingdom of God

More cryptic than the other Gospels — tends to give less help to the reader on the meaning than the other Gospels (Mk 4 good example)

“Messianic Secret” — Who does Jesus think he is?

“Seeing” and “hearing” — Key verbs throughout

Servanthood discipleship — What does following Jesus mean?

Everyone fails to understand Jesus (crowd, leaders, & disciples)

Fear of the disciples emphasized

Mk 14.50, 51-52,

Big Idea of the Gospel of Mark

What is the nature of the Christ? (Mk 1.1)

Not who is the Christ (John stresses that, Jn 20.30-31), but what is the Christ

What does it mean when we say Jesus is the Christ?

This was especially important for Roman Christians.

Some of the reasons it’s assumed Mark had a Roman audience in mind was because Mark ended up in Rome, as a side kick to Peter (according to the available records), and also because Mark is constantly translating or explaining Jewish terms, Jewish customs, and Jewish lingo for the readers (eg., Mk 7.3-4; 15.42)

Romans valued, above all else, power, strength, authority, law and order, force, and greatness. How does Jesus’s role compare and fit into that value system?

What Is the Christ?

Mark’s telling of Jesus’s death stresses his kingship identity

Mk 15.2,