The Gospel According To Mark: Jesus the Servant    

This book was written by John Mark. Seen in Acts as going with Paul and Barnabus to Pamphylia but left them and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Later Barnabus took him to Cyprus (Acts 15:37-38) when Paul was afraid he would go back again. Paul later wanted Mark and called him profitable (2Tim 4:11).

      The way Jesus is portrayed in Mark is not quite as clear as in Matthew where he is clearly declared the one born king of the Jews. Mark begins differently than the other Gospels. There is no genealogy offered, no record of his birth, no hint of his childhood.  The birth of a servant and his genealogy is not important enough to record. This is usually the evidence given to support the teaching that Mark portrays Jesus Christ as the servant, the suffering servant. (Php 2:7; Isa 42:1, 52:13)

The Holy Spirit used Mark to record events over statements.

·       Purpose of His works: John 10:25,32, 37-38; 14:11

A servant must be about his masters business. A servant has no time to waste. Note:

·       Straightway seen in 19 verses * Immediately in 17 verses

**Note all the events recorded Chapter 1

·       Vs2-8   preaching of John the Baptist

·       Vs9-11 Jesus was baptized

·       Vs12-13 tempted of the devil

·       Vs14-15 preached in Galilee

·       Vs16-22 called Peter, Andrew, James, and John,

·       Vs23-28 healed one possessed of an unclean spirit

·       Vs29-31 healed Simeon's mother-in-law

·       Vs32-34 healed many of divers diseased  

·       Vs35-39 prayed alone, and preached again in Galilee

·       Vs40-45 cleansed a leper

·       Straightway in four verses * Immediately in 4 Verses

V1:1 beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

·       “Gospel” is seen in 8 verses of Mark, (5 in Matthew, 4 in Luke, 0 in John). 

·       The gospel of Jesus Christ did not begin with his birth, or his genealogy. It began by identifying him as, the Son of God.

·        V1:2 leaves the Son of God and immediately goes into prophesy concerning John the Baptist, his ministry and the baptism of Jesus.

·       Vs7 & 8 The ministry of John the Baptist announced the arrival of the One the Jews had been looking for.

Ø    Mark does not record John’s objection to baptizing Jesus as does Matthew. (Mat 3:14)

V12 begins with immediately being “driven” by the Spirit into the wilderness.

·       In Matthew and Luke the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Mat 4:1, Luke 4:1

·       The servant is ordered to go not helped along.

·       V13 the forty days are summed up in only 24 words. A servant is not offered the kingdoms, a servant has no angels to call upon, a servant has no power to do miracles

Mr 10:44-45 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Also stated in Matthew)

Father is seen in only five verses of Mark. “my Father” is not seen in Mark at all [Compare to Matthew (15), Like (4), John (35)]. 

As the servant Jesus does not call God Father.

Compare Mark 8:38 (his Father) with Mat 10:33 (My Father)

·       Mark ashamed -  Matthew deny

·       Compare Mk 8:27 with Mat 16:27 In Mark Jesus talks about the Son of man. In Matthew He declares He is the Son of man.

Only in Mark does the servant cry “Abba, Father” (14:36) in the garden of Gethsemane.

·       The full weight of the sins of the world had begun to come upon Him. He was coming under the bondage of our sin. 

·       Note how the “Abba, Father” that we now may cry is tied to the ending of our bondage and servitude to sin in Rom 8:15 and Gal 4:6-7.

·       We cry Abba Father because we go from being in bondage and servants to sin to be sons of God.

·       Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cried Abba Father as the servant who becoming under the bondage of our sin. 

The “Lord’s prayer” is not given in Mark. Who would ask a servant to teach them as they would a king in Matthew or the perfect man in Luke. (Mat 6:9, Like 11:2)

The ‘beatitudes” seen in Mat 5 and Luke 6 are not seen in Mark.

·       Mat 5:11 & Luke 6:22 blessed are those who are persecuted for Christ sake. No one suffers in the name of a servant.

In Matthew and Luke and John A robe is put upon Christ as he was taken to the cross. (Mat 27:28; Luke 23:11; John 19:2). A robe is a special garment for people of privilege.

·       In Mark Jesus was just clothed in purple (Mark 15:17). No robe for the servant just purple cloths.