Theme of Mark Part 2

The Theme of Mark part 2

The New Testament has a very powerful start.  Right away Jesus is declared to be the promised King.  And we are given the example of the wise men who show us that the King is worthy of acknowledging and giving to and worship.

From the very beginning of the book of Matthew we are encouraged to make Jesus our king and to treat Him accordingly.  The theme and the purpose of the book of Matthew is very easy to see and right from the start.  And it has a purpose that should affect our lives.

The book of Mark also has a powerful purpose that should affect our lives.

Last week we saw that the theme of Mark is to focus on Jesus as a Servant.

The first 30 years of the life of Jesus on earth are passed over in silence.  Mark immediately introduces Christ at the beginning of His public ministry.  Mark presents Christ serving.

From the very beginning you can notice something different about the language in the book of Mark.

You will find the words Straightway, forthwith, and immediately over and over in the book of Mark.

I took a highlighter and highlighted those in my Bible just in chapter one. Vs 10 straightway. Vs 12 immediately.  Vs 18 straightway.  Vs 20 and 21 straightway.  Vs 28 immediately.  Vs 29 forthwith.  Vs. 31 and 42 immediately.

And in verse 35.  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

There was no tardiness in Christ service.  But straightway He was always about His father’s business.

Right away you see Christ serving.  In the first chapter Jesus was baptized, was tempted of the Devil, preached in Galilee, called Simon, Andrew, James, and John.

Jesus then went into Capernaum and straightway taught in the synagogue and cast an unclean spirit out of a man.  Jesus then heals Simon’s wife’s mother who was sick of a fever.

Mar 1:32  And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

Mar 1:33  And all the city was gathered together at the door.

Mar 1:34  And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

Jesus worked all day.  After the sun set they kept bringing Jesus all that were diseased and Jesus kept healing.  He kept serving.  And we already read verse 35 Jesus got up very early the next morning.

Mark is focusing on Jesus being a servant.

This theme’s purpose is not only for teachings sake.  It exists also to have a change upon us.  We are also to be servants.

Mar 10:35  And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

Mar 10:36  And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

Mar 10:37  They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

Mar 10:38  But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

Mar 10:39  And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

Mar 10:40  But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

Mar 10:41  And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

Mar 10:42  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

Mar 10:43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

Mar 10:44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Mar 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

In Mark it is recorded that Jesus says that He came not to be ministered unto but to minister.

We are not greater than our Lord.  We are to do likewise.  Jesus was not pleased with James and John when they asked to sit on His right hand and the other on the left in glory.

They thought that greatness is in position.  They thought greatness is getting to sit next to the throne.

Jesus corrects them.  Jesus says greatness is found in being a servant.

Mar 10:43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

Mar 10:44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Jesus is our example.  We should strive to be more like Him.  We can learn a lot from the book of Mark by taking notice of how Christ served.  If you want to become a better servant of Christ, then study how He served and then follow His example.

He served without wanting praise.

When He was told that all men seek for thee, Jesus said Let us go into the next towns.

Mar 1:36  And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

Mar 1:37  And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

Mar 1:38  And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

He served with great tenderness and compassion.  Jesus took people by the hand.

Mar_1:41  And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

Mark 1:30-31, 9:27, 9:36, 10:13-16

He served even with great opposition

Mar 2:7  Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

Mar 2:8  And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Mar 2:9  Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

Mar 2:10  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

Mar 2:11  I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

Mar 2:12  And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Mark 2:16, 2:24, 3:2, 3:6, 3:22, 5:17, 5:40, 6:3, 6:5, 7:1-2, 8:11, 11:27-28, 12:13, 12:18, 12:28, 14:1

He served with Self-Sacrifice

Mar 6:30  And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

Mar 6:31  And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

He served in an Orderly manner.

Mar 6:39  And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

Mar 6:40  And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

His service was prompted by Love

Mar 6:34  And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

His service was preceded by prayer.

Mar 1:35  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

And the book of Mark concludes with Jesus working with them.

Mar 16:20  And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

I think the key verse to Mark is

Mar 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Jesus came to minister.  All through Mark you see Him serving and caring and giving and in the end He gave it all so we could be saved.

He is to be our example in all things.  In Mark He gives the example of serving.  We only looked at a few of them.

Jesus served with without wanting praise.  He served with tenderness and compassion.  He never let fierce opposition stop His service.

He served with self-sacrifice, and in an orderly way that was prompted by love, and the service of Jesus was filled with prayer.

We should do likewise in all of those areas.

See more lessons from the Gospels