The Suffering Messiah of Mark


Yesterday we began a whirlwind tour of Old Testament messianic themes and how they’re presented in the Gospels. We started with the theme of a kingly Messiah and we looked at how this theme is presented in the Gospel of Matthew. Today we’ll look at the messianic theme of suffering and serving and how this theme is presented in the Gospel of Mark.

Though a King, the Messiah was prophesied to be rejected. He’s despised, rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief and one who was to be despised in Isaiah 53:1-3. He is a sanctuary for some but a stone of stumbling for others in Isaiah 8:14.

The Messiah was also to be a sacrifice. He was to be cut off (or killed), but not for Himself, Daniel 9:26 tells us. He’s wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, His soul a sin offering, the Lord lays our sin on Him, and He makes intercession on our behalf in Isaiah 53.

This is the Suffering Messiah presented to us in the Gospel of Mark.

The Gospel of Mark can be divided into two sections: The Service of the Servant (Chapters 1-13), and the Sacrifice of the Servant (Chapters14-16).

Mark focuses more on what Jesus did rather than what He said. We find more miracles than parables. Three times in the first chapter alone we find Jesus healing people. Overall, Mark records nineteen miracles in only sixteen chapters. Most of these miracles involve Jesus feeding the poor and healing the sick. “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,” Mark 10:45 tells us.

In chapter 11 we find Jesus willingly entering Jerusalem knowing He would be crucified there. Judas plots to betray Him and the Apostles forsake Him in chapter 14. Jesus is alone as He is tried, beaten and sent to the cross in chapters 15.

In chapter 16, after He is resurrected, Jesus seeks out those who left Him, restores their faith, and sends them out into the world to tell about the Servant Messiah who suffered and died for those He loved.

Tomorrow: The Pure Gospel Of Luke

Read Part 1 of this series: The Royal Messiah of Matthew

More: Read Past Studies

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