Mark and the Son of Man

Stephen Russell

Preaching Through the Bible • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Introduction

The gospel of Mark is by far the shortest of the four gospel accounts.

As I have said on many other occasions, each gospel has it’s own focus and purpose that sets it apart from the others.

One particularly unique thing about Mark is wrapped up in its brevity.

It is much more focused on action than teaching.

There are considerably fewer parables here.

There is no sermon on the mount type passage.

We do not have the upper room discourse here.

This is not to say that there is no teaching, but that it is not given in lengthy form.

Additionally, we find the language itself urges us along in this already brief account.

The word “immediately” is one to watch for as it is used 42 times in this book. Mark uses it constantly as a transition from one even to the next (Mk. 1:18-31).

There is also a frequent usage of the “historical present” which is a device hidden by translation but one that kind of draws you more into the story.

Some people ask what the best gospel to use for evangelism is.

The answer is to familiarize yourself with all of them and then know your audience.

I think Mark possibly provides the best presentation of Jesus for the person who has very little background with the Bible and with Jesus. It is the shortest and most direct sketch.

John, on the other hand, is making a very theological case about the deity of Christ.

Matthew is making the case of his Kingship (and making it to a Jewish audience).

Luke gives us verified historical account of Jesus rooted in time and place.

Just one more thing by way of introduction to the book, there is considerable tradition making Mark the scribe of Peter so that this ends up being the record from Peter.

There are places where this may add some depth to the text but we won’t have time to explore that this morning.

It is worthy of note that the way the book starts in verse 1 is a proclamation much like the one made by Peter in Matt. 16:16.

Let’s try and notice some things that Mark emphasizes about Jesus.

Straight Paths

Mark jumps straight into the work of John by way of prophecy (Mk. 1:2).

That prophecy contains the word that Mark will use more frequently than any other writer.

This seems to mean that Mark’s usage of immediate is more than a mere literary device.

There is the likely idea of determination and purpose each step of the way in all that Jesus is doing.

With this word Mark verse by verse blasts away the notion of a man who was carried along by circumstances to an unfortunate happenstance.

Rather we have a picture of one who came into the world with a path set and He went right along that path all the way to the end that was prepared.

Even those who are around Jesus are part of that path whether they want to be or not (Mk. 1:18; 3:6).

The baptism of Jesus points to that straight path (Mk. 1:10; 15:38).

Son of Man

Mark is not unique in using this phrase but it is the phrase most frequently used to describe Jesus in Mark.

The first time we find it in scripture, it is to distinguish man from God (Num. 23:19; cf. Job 25:6).

The phrase is most often used in the book of Ezekiel.

The work of Ezekiel coincides with the work of Jesus.

The messages overlap a great deal.

In Psalm 8 there is a blending of this idea with something greater (cf. Heb. 2:6-8).

I believe the phrase gets applied to Jesus in a way that Jesus represents THE son of man.

He represents the highest ideal of what God desires for man.

He is the perfect man.

The book of Daniel is more pointed with the phrase (Dan. 7:13).

Jesus certainly meant to point back to this usage as He used the term (Jn. 12:23-34).

Jesus uses it particularly to refer to His betrayal, suffering, and resurrection in the latter half of Mark (Mk. 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34).

If you were to imagine someone coming with claims of being the Messiah God of the world, what words would YOU imagine Him saying?

I must suffer?

It doesn’t make sense to the people or even Peter his close friend.

He Came to Serve

Mark 10:45 offers a great theme verse to the gospel of Mark.

Consider the context of this verse.

Jesus is asked about conferring honors in His glory.

He responds by telling them that the path to glory isn’t what they think.

Further, he tells the disciples that the greatness and authority He wields comes through service and not mere exercise of authority.

Again, He came to do this rather than being put to this.

Servants and slaves are often made so by circumstances.

Jesus needs to be the servant of no man yet offers Himself to everyman.

The perfect man does not put us all under His thumb, He offers to put us all on His back.

The path to glory is via a cross and not a crown (Mk. 8:34; 10:21).

Please understand that I don’t think this means that if you serve now, you can leave off all that drudgery later.

The idea is that service is greatness.

It IS more blessed to give than to recieve.

That will always be true.

We will finally know the full glory of service when we serve God for all eternity.

Not when we finally arrive at a place where we sit back and are served.

Conclusion

This book was likely written to a Roman audience.

There are many Latin words or descriptions given. Even Mark’s name is Roman.

It is interesting that the last person to confess Jesus in this gospel is a Roman centurion and he does so right at the moment when most would have been certain that he WASN’T the son of God (Mk. 15:39).

He defies all expectation in almost everything He does including in the way He calls men to follow Him.

Adam and we all have failed to be the son of man we were created to be.

So Jesus has come and shown us the picture of what we should have been.

He has born the consequences of our failure to be that.

And now invites us to join in the privileges of glory that come from that path that He has tread before.