The Gospel of the Suffering Servant
(Mark 10:45)
INTRODUCTION TO MARK
“The Gospel of Mark is just the book for busy people who want to use every opportunity to serve God. It presents our Lord ‘on the move,’ meeting the physical and spiritual needs of all kinds of people (Warren Wiersbe).
Matthew who wrote to Jews and presented Christ as King.
Luke who wrote to Gentiles and presented Christ as the Son on Man.
John who wrote to the whole world and presented Christ as the Son of God.
Mark who wrote to the Romans and presented Christ as the Servant (10:45)
1. The Servant to the Multitudes (1-7) in Galilee (for 2 ½ years)
A. Early Galilean Ministry (1:14-3:6) (5 conflicts with Scribes and Pharisees: 2:1-3:6)
B. Later Galilean Ministry (3:7-6:6)
C. Jesus withdrawal from Galilean Ministry (6:6b-8:21)
2. The Servant to His Disciples (8-10) Six months before His death (8:31) on the road to Jerusalem (Three predictions of Christ’s death: 8:31-9:1; 9:30-37; 10:32-45)
3. The Servant to the World (11-16) in Jerusalem (Jesus’ last 8 days in Jerusalem climaxing in His death and resurrection)
I. The Author
A. Mark was closely associated with two apostles (Peter and Paul)
B. Mark 14:47-52; Acts 12:12; 12:25; 13:5; 13:13; 15:36; Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:10; 1 Peter 5:13
II. The Recipients (Romans)
A. No references to Jewish Law
B. Mark explains Jewish terms and customs (1:5; 3:17; 15:12)
C. Mark used Latin terms (5:9; 6:27; 12:14, 42; 15:15, 16, 39)
D. Mark uses the word “straightway” or “immediately” 42 times or “and”
E. Mark stresses the actions of Christ not His words (in contrast with Matthew)
1. Mark only records two sermons of Christ (4:1-34; 13:37)
2. Mark records 18 miracles of Christ
F. Mark wrote to comfort his readers who were being persecuted (13:9-13).
G. Mark mentions Roman centurion proclaiming Christ’s deity (15:39)
III. The Purpose
A. Convince the Roman reader Jesus is the Son of God (1:1)
B. Convince the Roman reader Jesus died for them and would save them (10:45)
C. Convince the Roman believer that following their suffering Servant meant suffering (8:34)
OUTLINE OF MARK
1. The Servant to the Multitudes (1:14-8:21) (for 2 ½ years)
A. Early Galilean Ministry (1:14-3:6)
1. Priorities of Jesus (1:16-45)
1) Calling disciples (1:16-20)
2) Going to the place of worship (1:21 and 39)
3) Teaching and preaching (1:22)
4) Helping the Needy (1:23-34)
5) Spending time alone with God (1:35)
6) Obeying God (1:36-39)
7) Showing compassion on the needy (1:40-43)
8) Witnessing to the lost (1:44-45)
2. Conflicts of Jesus with His Enemies (2:1-3:6)
1) Conflict over healing and forgiveness (2:1-12). Jesus who is God forgives sins.
2) Conflict over associating with tax collectors and sinners (2:13-17). Jesus who is God forgives sinners not self-righteous people.
3) Conflict over fasting (2:18-22)
4) Conflict over working on the Sabbath (2:23-28)
5) Conflict over healing on the Sabbath (3:1-6)
a. Jesus served when hated (3:7) b. imperfect people (3:7-10) c. in difficult ministries (3:11-35)
B. Later Galilean Ministry (3:7-6:6)
1. Introductory Summary: Jesus’ Activity in Galilee (3:7-12)
2. Appointment of the Twelve Disciples (3:13-19)
3. Accusation regarding Beelzebub, the Prince of Demons (3:20-30)
4. Invitation to Join Jesus’ Family (3:31-35)
5. Invitation to Enter the Kingdom (Parables) (4:1-34)
6. Miraculous Demonstration of Jesus’ Authority (4:35–5:43)
7. Conclusion: Jesus’ Rejection in his Hometown (6:1-6a)
C. Jesus withdrawal from Galilean Ministry (6:6b-8:21) for 1 year
1. The Catalyst: The News about Jesus Spreading (6:6b-29)
1) By Jesus’ Activities (6:6b)
2) By Jesus’ Disciples (6:7-13)
3) As far as Herod (6:14-29)
2. The Withdrawals (6:30–8:21)
1) To a Deserted place (6:30–7:23)
2) To the Vicinity of Tyre: The Healing of the Syrophoenician Woman’s Daughter (7:24-30)
3) To the Region of Decapolis: The Healing of a Deaf-Mute (7:31-37)
4) To the Sea of Galilee: The Feeding of the Four Thousand (8:1-9)
5) To Dalmanutha (= Magadan) (8:10-21)
2. The Servant to His Dull Disciples (8:22-10) (For 6 months)
(This division covers the 6-month journey to Jerusalem to die on the cross i.e., to fulfill His messianic mission of dying for the sins of the world. Jesus is no longer going in and out of Galilee but He travels “on the way” (8:27) to Jerusalem in the south from Galilee in the north. He is also on a journey to disciples his spiritually imperceptive disciples concerning His death and their necessary identification with His death to be disciples (6:52; 8:14-21).
MacArthur calls this the Continental Divide in Mark.
1) In the 1st division, Jesus focused on the multitudes; in the 2nd on the disciples.
2) In the 1st division, Jesus preformed many miracles (1:34); in the 2nd only three and two of them were opening blinded eyes which begins and ends this section.
3) In the 1st division Jesus focused on many subjects: in the 2nd on the discipleship the twelve dull disciples (9:30-31) and particularly a new emphasis on the necessity of his passion as seen in the three predictions listed below. The second division is dominated by this threefold prediction, the disciples’ dull response, and Jesus’ correction of their dull response with discipleship lessons.
4) In the 1st division Jesus was veiled in much of his teaching (2:20; 4:33) but now He speaks openly and plainly about His mission to His disciples (8:31) and others (8:34). He is no longer telling people not to proclaim His deeds. He is open about His going to Jerusalem to die and then in Jerusalem He will hang publically on the cross before all. No more “secret Messiah” commands to the crowds (1:43-44; 5:43 7:36; 8:26). He places a temporary “gagging order” in 8:30 on His disciples after Peter’s watershed confession in 8:29 because as subsequent events (8:32) show the Disciples still did not comprehend who Jesus was. Jesus’ command in 8:30 is not to be a Christian’s life verse. After the resurrection, Jesus will send out His disciples to tell the world. He does tell His disciples in 9:9 not to make known His transfiguration because they still do not comprehend the significance of His death and resurrection and could not correctly explain it to the world. After the resurrection when the disciples fully understand the gospel of His death, burial, and resurrection, He will send them out to proclaim it.
5) Jesus slows His pace and sets his face like a flint to go to Jerusalem to not only die but help His disciples understand His mission to die for the sins of the world. The word “immediately” appeared 32 times in the first division as Jesus hurried about all of Palestine ministering to the multitudes. In the second division as He travels discipling his disciples “immediately” is used only three times (9:15, 20, 24).
Introduction: The healing of the blind man (8:22-26) in two stages
A. First Prediction of Christ’s death (8:31)
1. Disciples’ dull response (8:32)
2. Jesus’ correction (8:33-9:1)
B. Second Prediction of Christ’s death (9:30-31)
1. Disciples’ dull response (9:32-34)
2. Jesus’ correction (9:35-37)
C. Third Prediction of Christ’s death (10:32-34)
1. Disciples’ dull response (10:35-41)
2. Jesus’ correction (10:42-45)
Conclusion: The healing of blind Bartimaeus (10:46-52)
The phrase “in the way” is used in 8:27; 9:33-34; 10:17, 32, 46, 52; Acts 9:2. The disciples were on a journey (not just from Galilee in the north to Jerusalem in the south) but from dullness to maturity and understanding who Jesus is and what He has done. Christianity will be referred to as a movement known as “the way” in Acts 9:2; 16:17; 18:25-26; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). The disciples were on a journey of discipleship in Christianity as they traveled on their way to Jerusalem.
Here are TEN lessons Jesus teaches His disciples “on the way” to Jerusalem and discipleship! (by MacArthur)
1. The first lesson (9:14-29) the power of faith.
2. Then there’s a lesson (9:30-37) on humility.
3. And then there’s a lesson (9:38-41) on offenses.
4. And then there’s a lesson (9:42-50) on the seriousness of sin.
5. And then there’s a lesson (10:1-12) on marriage and divorce.
6. And then there’s a lesson (10:13-16) on the place of children in the Kingdom.
7. And then there’s a lesson (10:17-22) on earthly riches.
8. And then there’s a lesson (10:23-34) on true wealth.
9. And then there’s a lesson (10:35-45) on leadership and sacrificial service.
10. And then there’s a final lesson (10:46-52) on faith again.
3. The Servant to the World (11-16) (Jesus’ last 8 days in Jerusalem climaxing in His death and resurrection)