A Passion For Mark’s Gospel
I suppose every Christian has his or her favorite (Bible book, I mean). In the Gospels, it is Mark that I love. This passion has deepened and intensified over the past four years as I have preached through the Gospel on Sunday evenings. I have been staggered at the beauty of Jesus. I now see in a very minute way (for I think there are depths I probably will never know here on earth), that the purposes of God are incredible, especially with respect to his beloved Son. Mark’s gospel is about Jesus as the Son of God. It is about the gospel as Mark 1:1 makes clear. The gospel according to Mark is very clear. It is not ambiguous. We are living in days where Christians debate what the Gospel is. Many other things are now said to be the Gospel, so we are told. But not according to Mark. The Gospel is good news. Good news about Jesus Christ, and as Mark puts, “Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (vs. 1).
In Mark’s gospel, Jesus makes constant claim to being the Son of God. He demonstrates over and over again that he is the Son of God. Mark’s gospel is about revealing and portraying Jesus as the Son of God by what he does. It is the gospel of action. It is good news fleshed out.
The gospel of Mark is one of the “Synoptic Gospels” (the others being Matthew and Luke). The word “synoptic” simply means that the information provided in all three Gospels is similar. John’s Gospel on the other hand, is quite different. Mark, however, does not start his gospel as Matthew and Luke do with the birth of Jesus. He starts with the ministry of Jesus. John the Baptizer prepares the way (vv. 2, 3) for the Lord. Jesus is baptized by John and then tempted by the devil (vv. 9 – 13). John is arrested and Jesus bursts on the Galilean landscape with startling words: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). These words of Jesus are described by Mark as Jesus “proclaiming the gospel of God” (vs. 14).
Jesus immediately begins his ministry by calling four disciples (vv. 16 – 20 Peter, Andrew, James and John). From the Sea of Galilee, Jesus and these disciples enter Capernaum and on the Sabbath day, Jesus teaches with authority and casts an unclean spirit out of a man (vv. 21 – 28). The result of this is instant fame for Jesus. Jesus sets the standard for his ministry by refusing the demons to reveal who he was (vv. 24, 34). This has been referred to as part of the “Messianic Secret.” There were other occasions when Jesus commanded those healed of their diseases and even the disciples to not reveal who he was (1:34, 44; 3:12; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26, 30; 9:9). This “secret” simply allowed Jesus to have a wider influence than he otherwise might have had and also did not reveal the purposes of God.
It is not long before Jesus encounters opposition to his ministry in the form of the Jewish leadership (see 3:1 – 6). From this point on, we are aware that there are those who are opposed to Jesus. They hate Jesus and seek to discredit and destroy him. Jesus is even rejected by his hometown of Nazareth (6:1 – 6). Jesus denounces the Pharisees for teaching the traditions of men and not the commandments of God (7:1 – 13).
This element of opposition is important in Mark. First of all, the good news was not anything like what the people were hearing from their leaders. What a lesson there is there for us! Second, the plan of God takes into account the wicked plans of men. The destiny of Jesus is not in the hands of men, but in the hands of God. In his ministry, Jesus reaches beyond the borders of Israel to the Gentiles (7:24 – 31; 8:27). His ministry is not only for Israel. In fact, when Jesus speaks to the crowds, he does so in parables so that they will not understand (see Mark 4:10 – 12). It is quite remarkable how the Gentiles believe in him (see 7:28 – 30).
But it is what happens on the way to Caesarea Philippi that heightens anticipation in Mark’s gospel. Jesus delivers his first Passion Prediction in Mark 8:31. He gives two more in Mark 9:31 and 10:32 – 34. The first is given in response to Peter’s amazing declaration concerning who Jesus was: “You are the Christ” (8:29). The disciples had responded to Jesus’ question in 8:27, “who do people say that I am?” and then in vs. 29, Peter responded to Jesus’ further question to them, “but who do you say that I am?”
As remarkable as Peter’s confession was (in Matthew 16:17, Jesus said that God had revealed this to Peter), the confession is not the most important thing, because Jesus strictly charges the disciples to tell no one about him (8:30). The significant thing is what follows, beginning with the Passion Prediction in Mark 8:31. Peter refuses to believe that such things were going to happen to Jesus. He rebukes Jesus, only to have Jesus rebuke him back very sternly as setting his mind on the things of men and not on the things of God (8:33). After Peter has been rebuked, Jesus then instructs his disciples on the cost of discipleship. Following every other prediction (9:31; 10:32 – 34) Jesus teaches on discipleship. This is at the heart of Mark’s Gospel. Following Jesus has a cost to it. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus you have to take up your cross daily and follow Jesus (8:34). Follow Jesus where? You have to walk to the place of death. You have to die to yourself. You have to give up the world to save your life (8:36, 36).
If you are prepared to make a confession like Simon Peter, then you have to be prepared to lay down your life for Jesus. That’s the cost of discipleship. This is so serious, isn’t it? It is something we must constantly remember. After Mark 10, Jesus heads for Jerusalem and death. There he will encounter the Jewish leadership. He will challenge their authority directly. He will provoke them. He will point out in the parable of the wicked tenants that the kingdom of God (vineyard) will be given to others (i.e.; Gentiles – who will produce fruit – see Matt. 21:43). To oppose the cornerstone is to have that stone crush you. They (the builders) will reject the stone, but this is God’s marvelous plan. God’s true people will yield to and accept the stone. They are truly Jesus’ disciples.
By rejecting Jesus, the nation will bring God’s wrath upon it. That’s what Mark 13 is all about. The disciples are amazed at the magnificent temple in Jerusalem, but Jesus simply says to them that not one stone will be left upon another (13:2). From Mark 13:2 – 31, Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. This is much more than simply destruction. It will signal the end of Jewish religion. No more temple. No more priesthood. No more sacrifices. The entire edifice of Jewish worship will be gone. It is replaced by Jesus as the true temple with his people in him. Jesus is the sacrifice. There’s a new priesthood (Jesus is our high priest after Melchizedek’s order – Ps. 110:4). Josephus gives us a detailed description of Jerusalem’s destruction in AD 70. He was there.
This is what the gospel of Jesus in Mark is all about. There is a new people (includes Gentiles – Mark writes to Gentiles). There is a new Supper – the Lord’s Supper where we feast on Christ and are refreshed and strengthened. There is a new worship. We worship Jesus risen from the dead, and we preach Jesus crucified. What will a man give in exchange for his soul (Mark 8:37)? That’s what the Gospel answers. Mark’s Gospel is about Jesus – the Son of God.