A Few Thoughts About the Gospel of Mark

Notes: Mark deals with Jesus the Servant.

B1 Example 1: Mark 10:45 NET For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

C1 It was prophesied: Isaiah 42:1-4 ESV Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

C2 It was fulfilled: Philippians 2:6-7 WEB who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

Commenting on this passage Marvin R. Vincent, D.D writes: Taking the word ἁρπαγμὸν (A.V., robbery) to mean a highly prized possession, we understand Paul to say that Christ, being, before His incarnation, in the form of God, did not regard His divine equality as a prize which was to be grasped at and retained at all hazards, but, on the contrary, laid aside the form of God, and took upon Himself the nature of man. The emphasis in the passage is upon Christ's humiliation. The fact of His equality with God is stated as a background, in order to throw the circumstances of His incarnation into stronger relief. Hence the peculiar form of Paul's statement Christ's great object was to identify Himself with humanity; not to appear to men as divine but as human. Had He come into the world emphasizing His equality with God, the world would have been amazed, but not saved He did not grasp at this. The rather He counted humanity His prize, and so laid aside the conditions of His preexistent state, and became man.

B2 Example 2: Mark 3:1-6 NLT Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, "Come and stand in front of everyone." Then he turned to his critics and asked, "Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" But they wouldn't answer him. He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.

C1 His enemies’ solution is to kill: Psalms 37:32 WEB The wicked watches the righteous, and seeks to kill him.

C2 These Jews learned true religion, but they refused it, preferring their own teaching to God’s. Psalm 107:11 NET because they had rebelled against God's commands, and rejected the instructions of the sovereign king.

C3 They rejected God’s Laws and made God angry. This is definitely not wise. Let us beware! Isaiah 5:24-25 NLT Therefore, just as fire licks up stubble and dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will rot and their flowers wither. For they have rejected the law of the LORD of Heaven's Armies; they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. That is why the LORD's anger burns against his people, and why he has raised his fist to crush them. The mountains tremble, and the corpses of his people litter the streets like garbage. But even then the LORD's anger is not satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike!

C4 Manser (Themes 5764 ) identifies 10 evil attitudes (The following 8 points are quotes):

D1 5764 — attitudes, negative to God

D2 Scripture identifies a range of negative attitudes towards God, which believers are encouraged to avoid.

D3 Rejection: Isaiah 53:3 See also Leviticus 26:15-16; 1 Samuel 8:7; Ezekiel 5:6; 20:15-16; John 1:11

Example: John 1:11 NLT He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.

D4 Lack of faith: Mark 4:40 pp Matthew 8:26 pp Luke 8:25 See also Matthew 13:58 pp Mark 6:6

Example: Mark 6:6 NLT And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.

D5 Pride: Deuteronomy 8:14 See also Leviticus 26:19; Luke 1:51; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5; Proverbs 3:34

Example: James 4:6 NLT But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble.

D6 Stubbornness: Jeremiah 5:23 See also Psalm 78:8; Isaiah 48:4; Mark 3:5; 16:14; Romans 2:5

Example: Mark 3:5 NLT He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!

D7 Rebellion: Psalm 78:40 See also Deuteronomy 1:26; Isaiah 1:2; Jeremiah 2:29; Ezekiel 2:3; Hosea 7:13; Titus 1:10; Hebrews 3:16

Example: Hosea 7:13 NLT What sorrow awaits those who have deserted me! Let them die, for they have rebelled against me. I wanted to redeem them, but they have told lies about me.

D8 Hostility: Romans 8:7 See also Leviticus 26:21, 23-24, 27-28; Hosea 9:7

Example: Hosea 9:7 NLT The time of Israel's punishment has come; the day of payment is here. Soon Israel will know this all too well. Because of your great sin and hostility, you say, "The prophets are crazy and the inspired men are fools!

Let us beware. Let us pray to not have any of these traits. Let us encourage fellow believers to not have any of these traits. Let us repent, if we find we have these traits.