Mark: The Sufferering Servant

Introduction

Continue in our series on the birth narratives of Jesus.

We’ve already saw that the time was right for Jesus to appear when He did.

Last week, we looked at the Gospel of Matthew and saw how he presented Jesus as the King of the Jews.

Today we will look at Mark.

We are all familiar with the story of the birth of Jesus from Matthew and Luke.

John starts at the beginning before creation as we’ll see in a couple of weeks.

Mark is not your go-to book for the story of the first incarnation.

In fact, you probably wouldn’t even consider Mark , since he doesn’t have the genealogies, the angels, the trip to Bethlehem, or even a manger.

There is no story, but it is implied.

Some have said that since Mark skips the birth that means it didn’t happen as Matthew and Luke describe it.

Mark does not appear to be ignorant of the “virgin conception”.

Note, for example,that Mark uses an unusual expression related to Jesus’ parentage: Mark 6:1-3, “He left there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.  When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands?  Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended by him.”

It is highly unusual to describe Jesus as the“son of Mary” rather than the “son of Joseph”.

Who is Mark?

Tradition holds that Mark is the author of this Gospel.

He was born in Jerusalem, probably from a well-to-do family.

His mother, Mary, had a large house that was a meeting place for believers and they had servants (Acts 12:12–16).

He was Barnabas’s cousin, and he went on the first missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas.

Mark deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey.

Restored by Barnabas’s not going with Paul on the second missionary journey.

Fully restored to service because Paul, nearing the end of his life, said Mark was useful for service and asked Mark to come see him.

Very close to the apostle Peter, who may have been the one who led Mark to Christ.

The early church affirmed Mark as the recorder of Peter’s experiences with Jesus as well as his interpreter.

Why Does Mark Leave Out The Birth Story?

Mark is writing to Gentile believers in Rome.

He wrote the gospel soon after Peter was executed making it the first of the four written.

Rome was very pagan culture with strong allegiance to the state while the Christians had their allegiance to God.

As a result, they were undergoing persecution.

Mark may have felt led by the Holy Spirit to give Peter’s eyewitness account of Christ, geared to the Roman people among whom they were ministering.

The believers needed assurance and hope.

Mark’s gospel gave them a close and personal look at Jesus, their Savior and Lord.

They could be assured that the faith they were living and for which they were giving their lives was true and reliable.

In is interesting that today we live in a secular society whose predominant values are far from Christian.

We not face the violent persecution that the early Christians in Rome did, we still are pressured to forget Christ and are ridiculed for our faith.

It is easy to get discouraged, dismayed and doubtful as a result.

However, as you read Mark you will get a fresh look at Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, our Lord.

You will see Jesus for who He is, God in the flesh, the suffering servant, your Savior and model for how to live.

Again, Mark is writing to the Romans and telling them that Jesus is the Suffering Servant who actively ministers on our behalf and gives His life a ransom for many.

As a result the gospel is fast moving and hard-hitting.

He recorded, in a rapid fire succession, specific events from the life and ministry of Jesus to prove to a Roman audience that He is the Christ, the Son of God, who served suffered, died, and rose again.

In fact Mark uses the word “immediately” over 40 times showing action.

Remember, the Romans like fast paced action.

Being Gentiles, the fulfillment to prophecy isn’t as meaningful to them as to the Jews Matthew wrote to.

They also didn’t need the birth story, just the actions of Jesus as He ministered.

The Beginning Mark 1:1

Mark 1:1 CSB

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

God had promised to send a Deliverer or a Messiah

Mark begins by telling his readers that the time has arrived.

In addition to the appearance of Jesus, Mark shows how God prepared the way for Jesus’ arrival with the coming of John the Baptist on the scene.

John was the one prophesied to come before the Messiah, or Jesus, to prepare the people for the message Jesus would be proclaiming.

The word “beginning” recalls Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1, “In the beginning....”

Something new and exciting has occurred.

The word gospel, if you remember, means a message of good news.

The speaks of the the coming Savior who would provide salvation promised by the prophets.

The time of God’s salvation has arrived!

God has kept His promise to send a Messiah!

“Jesus” is the Greek name for the Hebrew Joshua: Yahweh is Salvation.

“Christ” is the Greek equivalent of the the Hebrew Messiah.

Which means the “Anointed one.”

“Son of God” is a crucial title for the promised deliverer since it shows that Jesus is truly divine as the Son of God.

Mark takes Christology, or the study of Jesus, to a higher level.

He reveals Jesus’ unique and unparalleled relationship with God.

It is a favorite title of Mark for identifying Jesus.

Let’s skip down to verses 14-15

Mark 1:14–15 CSB

14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God: 15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

The Kingdom of God

We see in these verses that John is taken out of the picture so Jesus can become the central figure in the story of redemption.

John is arrested and that signals the beginning for the ministry of Jesus into Galilee, his home region.

He goes to Capernaum to base His ministry since it was a large city and a trading center with lots of visitors.

This is also to fulfill prophecy that He would come from the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.

What is the good news of God?

These first words spoken by Jesus in Mark give the core of his teaching: the long-awaited Messiah had come to break the power of sin and begin God’s personal reign on earth.

This was indeed good news from God because most of the people who heard this message were oppressed, poor, and without hope.

Jesus’ words were good news because they offered freedom, justice, and hope.

Though at first the listeners thought he referred to political freedom and civil justice, true disciples would learn after his crucifixion that the freedom was from sin, the mercy was from God and not people, and the hope was for new life with him.

His message breaks down into four components:

The time is fulfilled.

As we’ve mentioned a couple weeks ago, God timing is perfect.

The OT prophets often spoke of the future kingdom, ruled by a descendant of King David, that would be established on earth and exist for eternity.

Jesus spoke of the “time” and presences of the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is near.

Jesus taught both a present and future dimensions of the Kingdom.

The best interpretation is that the kingdom had been inaugurated through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection but awaits consummation in the future.

Jesus proclaimed the kingdom as both present and future, as “already” but also “not yet.”

Repent

Those who are confronted with the kingdom of God must repent, that is, “change their minds leading to a change in behavior.

This is the same message that we see Peter preach in Acts 2.

Believe

When one encounters the kingdom of God, repentance is complemented by belief in the gospel.

Repentance notes that we turn from our sin.

Belief highlights what (or whom) we turn toward.

Both repent and believe are present imperatives.

This is not a momentary, one-time decision that has little if any lasting effect.

This is a life-altering change.

A radical transformation of our life orientation!

Mark does not give us a birth story, but he gives us the reason for the birth right at the beginning.

Christmas Gifts From Mark

Good News (Gospel)

I found these four gifts by Kathy Howard in an article she wrote for Christianity Today.

We’ve been talking about the greatest gift from Mark and simply is the good news.

Like the angels announced the good news of Christ’s birth to the shepherds outside Bethlehem, Mark’s Gospel announces the good news of Jesus’ arrival and testifies to the eternal salvation Jesus gives.

And this is that most excellent news: Christ died for our sins; He was buried, and rose again on the third day defeating sin, death, and the grave; and all who receive this gift will experience new life in Him.

Mark’s first century readers needed some good news.

And we sure need some today.

Most days bad news is all we hear. Stories of death, disaster, and deceit flow from every corner of the globe.

Bad news often dominates our own lives too. Loss, grief, illness, financial difficulties, relationship struggles, and more weigh heavy on our hearts and minds.

Yes, bad news still makes headlines.

But for those who belong to Jesus, His gospel decidedly trumps any bad news the world can deliver.

Have you ever received the good news of Jesus’ eternal salvation?

The gospel of Christ.

Life conquers death.

Hope pushes out despair.

Joy overwhelms grief.

Truly the best news ever.

Sense of Urgency

In many ways this Christmas season, our lives may be on hold.

We spend a lot of time waiting.

Waiting for health.

Waiting to work.

Waiting for a change in our circumstances.

It’s easy to let those feelings of stagnation from the things we can’t control flow into every area of our lives.

But Jesus set an example of purposeful activity.

Although the shortest Gospel, Mark is also the most action-packed.

This Gospel writer used the adverb “immediately” 42 times to emphasize that Jesus lived with a sense of urgency.

Each event moves quickly into the next showing that Jesus never lagged in fulfilling the Father’s purposes for Him.

Jesus knew His time on earth was limited and He did not want to waste a single moment God had given Him.

God still has good works for us to do even when life is put on hold.

We can join Jesus in his mission to share salvation.

Power & Authority

Perhaps this Christmas you may feel a bit powerless.

The Gospel of Mark gives us an acute awareness of Jesus’ power and authority by recording more miracles than any of the other Gospels.

Over half of the recorded miracles of Jesus are recorded in Mark.

These miracles include His power over nature - calming the sea

Power over demons - healing the demoniac

Power over illness - healing the woman with the blood issue

Power over death - raising the young girl.

Power over sin - forgiving the lame man of his sins

He certainly can help you with whatever you are facing.

Compassion

This year, many of us have felt isolated, cut off from friends, family, and co-workers.

We desperately need connection.

Once again, the Gospel of Mark holds out the gift we need—our friend Jesus, beautifully wrapped in love and compassion.

Mark’s Gospel repeatedly shines a spotlight on the strong, but tender hand of Jesus.

Ten times Mark specifically relates that Jesus touched those who came to Him.

A touch to heal.

A touch to welcome.

A touch to comfort.

Jesus gathered the children, those the disciples tried to shoo away. “And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them”.

Jesus touched the leper, an outcast no one else dared to touch. “Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him...” (Mark 1:41.)

And Jesus grasped the hand of a lifeless girl to restore her to her family.

The tender touch of our compassionate Savior is a precious gift.

Reach out and take His loving hand today.

Be Jesus this season and share what He has done for you as a gift to others.

Pray