Introduction
What we know of Mark is that it was the first written gospel. This gospel really established the life of Jesus story. It actually develops a narrative from Jesus early career, all the way through to the main points of his life and culminate in his death and its actually sets the tone for the other three gospel. It is a given that Luke and Matthew used Mark, as their source and John possibly could have also, simply because of what John knew of Mark. So I don’t believe there would be any doubt to say that Mark was the one that actually sets the stage for the later Christian gospel writings. It is a given that within all four of the gospels which are known as the canonical Gospels that they each use some facts of discussing Jesus life, his death and of course the resurrection, but it is certainly done in their own unique way. Mark gives an account of Jesus life as he followed Peter, therefore the story of Jesus life according to Mark was well articulated but he did not place those accounts in the order that they happened.
It was because of the relationship Mark actually has with Peter one would say really qualified Mark to put teachings and sayings on paper. What gives Mark and Peter this unique relationship is because Mark was an interpreter of Peter. Of the four Gospels Mark’s gospel is the shortest of them all. The thesis of Mark’s Christology, I could easily pull out two, even though there are more. Jesus is in human nature the Son of Man and in Divine nature is the Son of God and truly this man was the Son of God. What we can see from Mark is that the narrative about Jesus moves quickly. In the three years of Jesus Ministry Mark alludes to the fact that Jesus was not just looking to help but the he was a servant and he has a purpose to fulfill, he did not just come for those who were well but those who were sick. He came to heal, cast out demons, deal with those who did not believe, and he gave instructions to his disciples. He came to set the captives free. He was indeed the suffering servant of God.
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The Water Baptism and the Wilderness Experiences
As we look at the opening of Mark, the author begins by featuring John the Baptist as the person who has preceded Christ; he is seen as the one that goes before Christ making the way. Now of course this is pulled from the Old Testament book of Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 40:3) when he stated 'I will send my courier/my massager in front of you, who will set up your directions', 'a voice cries. In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. (ESV) but it is also phrased (Mark 1:2-3) says As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
According to Mark, the imprinted records/recording show us of the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and as you move through one can see some illustrations on just a few of the purpose that lead up to Jesus Baptism and much more. Let’s begin with the prerequisite of Jesus being baptized; it’s demonstrated that Jesus was to be submersed by John the baptize in water, similarly as each of us are required as new believer must do. Furthermore, the presence of Jesus as the Savior, being the very one was affirmed by God Himself after the submersion when He said, “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased; (Mark 1:11 ESV). At the point when Jesus saw the sky being parted and the Spirit dropping into him was a noteworthy indication of Him at that point knowingly and willingly accepting the radiant heavenly force, that empowered Him in that manner, it was the Spirit of God that came to enable Jesus explicitly for His messianic duties to start His ministry, which started at that moment. The possibilities that Jesus isn't only a man, but He would be the one that would lead God’s people back to Him (God), were indeed affirmed. But the record of the Baptism of Jesus and the fact that Jesus was being sent quickly into the wilderness by God into the wild satisfied the word as was written in the book of Isaiah.
With Mark’s recording of Jesus quick exit into the wild offered proof to what was said in the book of the Prophet Isaiah. The depiction of Jesus the 'Son of God' being tried and tested by Satan himself shows that even the Son of God could not be exempted from being tried in the fire meaning tempted and yet keeping His Faith in His Father. Jesus was tested three times while in the wilderness, but Mark saw fit not to mention those temptations, nonetheless, let us forget about the subtleties of what the enticements were and just focus on the fact that Jesus being the Son of God, Mark would have us look at the Son of God Characteristic in this case, because it shows us that the characteristic of Jesus was more predominant in his composition. Mark was showing us that it was as much about the temptations Jesus endured but rather the presence of Jesus being enticed and yet not giving in was a demonstration of His heavenliness/ His holiness.
Jesus Begins His Ministry and Miracles
After Jesus had gone through the testing in the wild, Mark wisely accounts now for the choosing of the twelve disciples, what we also know is that Mark does not record/write on the beginning of Jesus ministry as the Son of God, not until the detainment of John the Baptist. Thusly, Mark set up for his readers to be intrigued enough to paint the image of Jesus being in His legitimate place as the Son of God. Here's Mark's record of how Jesus chose His twelve disciples, as Jesus chose the twelve He did so as humanly as could be expected under the circumstances, demonstrating the trust that Jesus held with respect to His assignment on earth and trusting the twelve men that He would call His disciples who have never looked at Him being the Son of God. Mark's account of Jesus was about Jesus preparing the twelve disciples how to be fishers of men; Jesus showed them how to serve, He showed them how important it was reestablish wellbeing to the frail and how to serve the least in the public arena, even to the point of losing their life.
When it comes to Mark's giving his account to the early teachings of Jesus, Mark, doesn’t inform us that Jesus doesn't make reference to His self as the Messiah. There were numerous times that as Jesus was healing people He (Jesus) asked them not to make mention of those healings, He wanted them to hide that He had restored their health to them. This was done so that the scriptures might be fulfilled. Jesus was making sure His Identity would not be exposed until the fitting time, so that all individuals would believe when the time had come. Mark indicated this depicted Jesus as the Son of God, anyway it was Jesus activities and humility that a massive amount of individuals would come to be healed, delivered, to be set free or to even just be taught the word of God. Jesus genuinely expressed to the people His servitude.
The two cases of taking care of the large crowed were recorded by Mark in a manner to not just show the wonders of Jesus and His authority as being the Son of God however to underline the servants heart. Jesus couldn't let those who came to hear him impart his teaching to them leave there hungry He did not want them to take the journey without eating because they could have passed out because of the absence of food. All things considered, When Jesus blessed the food and the people begin eating, that individual was blessed with a supernatural occurrence which was called a miracle, be that as it may, His (Jesus) need to take care of them demonstrated His servant heart and guidance.3
Mark's record of the visually impaired man in Mark 8:22-25 (ESV) shows that the expression of Jesus and His supernatural miracles went a long way in very short amount of time. Mark expresses 'And they came to Bethsaida. And he took the blind man by the hand and let him out of the village, and when he has spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, Do you see anything. And he looked up and said I see people, but they look like trees, walking. Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. This part in the book of Mark unmistakably connotes that despite the fact that the Scribes and Pharisees, who had a good understanding of the scriptural text, they just didn't concentrate on the importance of it, they didn't have confidence in Jesus as the Messiah, in any case, the individuals believed He was the Messiah and they needed to be a part of the miracles that were taking place. They came out in larger crowds that their sick would be heal, and that lame could walk, they wanted to see this man called Messiah, and Jesus allowed and accepted them all.
Son of God- Divine Nature
All through the Bible, Jesus is known as the Messiah or even the Son of God. Be that as it may, it is no different than how Jesus is seen in Mark. Mark writes all through his letters of how Jesus is reference to as the Messiah, the Son of God, Christ, just as the Son of Man. Jesus changed the significance of how people looked at him through his conscious actions. In Mark's letter, Jesus understood the political ramifications of His title and tried to renounce them totally, with the goal that His relationships were unworldly and not material. Mark featured a few events where Jesus quieted the people who acknowledge him as Son of God or Christ. The accompanying records in Mark's letter are instances of Jesus controlling the story.
In the book of Mark 3:11-12 (ESV) says, “And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, 'You are the Son of God.' And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. He (Jesus) provided them with a strict demand not to enlighten others regarding him.' This piece of Mark's content was so significant within itself, why? Because on that demand along affirms the Christology of Jesus to be the Son of God, in any case, it shows the lowliness of Jesus and His arrangement to keep quiet about who He truly was until the proper time.
In Mark 2 Jesus also drove out many demons and would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. In another instance Jesus instructed a man that He was healed from leprosy to “don’t tell this to anyone. It says, And said to him, See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them. in other words the leper didn't have to say a word it was in the cleansing, and that would show proof as a testimony to them”(Mark 1:44 ESV).
Despite the fact that Jesus was careful he did instruct those who knew who he was even the demons to not tell anybody who He was, but the word was already circulating out there and Mark catches the Son of God mending/ healing and instructing/teaching as the Messiah, however, Jesus never announced that until His arrived into Jerusalem. 60. And the high priest stood up in the midst and sked Jesus, 'Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you? 61. But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him.' Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62. And Jesus said, 'I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.(Mark 14:60-62 ESV).
Even when Jesus asked the Disciples in Mark 8:29-30 “And he asked them, 'But who do you say that I am? Peter answered him, 'You are the Christ.' And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. Here we see the Son of God being recognized by a few observers who were told to not share that information. Indeed, even Jesus' friends were made to stay quiet about His character. Mark, however wanted to makes sure or ensure that he would incorporated Jesus' regal attributes each opportunity that he got.
Son of Man- Human Nature
As you begin reading within the Book of Mark, Jesus starts to respond to the questions that are being asked of Him, about His identity, He says that He is the “Son of Man”. As Jesus begins to speak, he begins speaking about discipleship; He speaks to the crowd as well as his disciples. (Mark 8:34-38 ESV) he says, and calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, '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. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.' So here in verse 38 is where we clearly see Jesus identifying Himself as the Son of Man. We view this to be one of the leading Mysteries of who God is, (Colossians 2:9 ESV) states He is the “Godhead”. So we see where Jesus now gives the people alone with his disciples the chance to process and understand the association between Him as the Son of God, in human form. Jesus was, obviously, telling them that he is the Son of God. He is now, and will always be, equal with the Father, since his nature with the Father is the second piece of the trinity. Nevertheless it was through the Incarnation of Jesus being conceived of human form thus allowing him to be the Son of God/the Man of God. In this way, And when you read in (Mark 8:34-28, ESV) Jesus is clearly showing us just what the cost of discipleship and the cross and that we as believers must choose to give our life and decide to surrender out life that we may not lose ours. What’s really being said here is that we as Christians should count the cost and totally commit ourselves unto the Lord, because it is the only way that we can or will experience the true meaning of the cross.
Conclusion
It is clear from the Gospel of Mark that it was clear the Holiness of Jesus was through His Conception, His Birth, through His Baptism, His Temptations, His Messianic Titles, Through His Death and Resurrection. It is a fact that just being of human flesh that a man could do all that Christ did. It would have taken a God who was man, and a Man who was God to do all that He did. He loved us; he served us, he minister to us. Jesus was the only one who could save our sin sick souls. Mark gospel shows us the power of Jesus through his life ministry, his death and his resurrection. This gospel may have been short and fast pace, but it was direct and to the point. Mark showed us that this man called Jesus could overcome suffering and the grave, endure testing and temptation and not give into sin. Mark showed us that Jesus held divine and holy power, and that power extended over the seen and unseen and sickness and diseases. Mark shows us that God is good. Mark Christology of suffering, showing Jesus to be the Son of God divine nature and Son of Man human nature is not just showing humility but that he is the exalted glory forever and ever.
Bibliography
- Anderson, Thomas M. “Mark’s Jesus: Characterization as Narrative Christology - By Elizabeth Struthers Malbon.” Religious studies review. 37, no. 4 (December 2011): 281–281. Accessed on Sunday August 9, 2020
- Campbell, D. K. (2011). Mark's Jesus: Characterization as narrative Christology. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 54(1), 161-164. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login? Qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F1000465529%3Faccountid%3D12085: Accessed on Sunday August 9, 2020
- DeSilva, David A. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods and Ministry Formation. Westmont: Intervarsity Press, 2018. Accessed August 9, 2020. ProQuest Ebook Central.
- Elwell, Walter A., and Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological Survey, Baker Academic, 2013. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=3117266. Accessed on Sunday August 9, 2020
- Naselli, Andrew David. 'The ESV Study Bible.' Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 52, no. 2 (06, 2009): 357-9, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F211201768%3Faccountid%3D12085. Accessed on Sunday August 9, 2020
- The Holy Bible : English Standard Version Containing the Old and New Testaments. Classic pew and worship ed. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles, 2001
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