The Central Themes of Mark
Who is this man?
Teaching with authority
They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, He was teaching them as one having authority
Authority over demons
“What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
Recognized by demons
"I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
- Crosswalk: KJV with Study Tools 1:34 3:11-12
- Crosswalk: NASB with Study Tools 1:34 3:11-12
- StudyLight: NIV with Study Tools 1:34 3:11-12
Authority to forgive sins
"Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
The "bridegroom"
“The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they?"
Lord of the Sabbath
"Therefore the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Thought out of his mind by His family
"...they said, 'He’s out of His mind.'"
- Crosswalk: KJV with Study Tools 3:31-34
- Crosswalk: NASB with Study Tools 3:31-34
- StudyLight: NIV with Study Tools 3:31-34
Controlling the weather and the seas
“Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Disbelieved in by His home town
“What is this wisdom given to Him, and how are these miracles performed by His hands? Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary..."
People speculated on His identity, even Herod
"When Herod heard of it, he said, 'John, the one I beheaded, has been raised!'”
Disciples not getting it due to hardness of heart
"Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, because they had not understood"
- Crosswalk: KJV with Study Tools 8:11-21
- Crosswalk: NASB with Study Tools 8:11-21
- StudyLight: NIV with Study Tools 8:11-21
People astonished at all He did
"They were extremely astonished and said, 'He has done everything well! He even makes deaf people hear, and people unable to speak, talk!'”
The Climactic Confession
“'But you,' He asked them again, 'who do you say that I am?'”
Affirmed
"This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!"
Jesus' identity determines our response
"'Why do you call Me good?' Jesus asked him. 'No one is good but One—God.'"
His identity determines His authority
“By what authority are You doing these things?"
The son from the Father rejected, the rejected cornerstone
“He still had one to send, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’"
Amazing answers when tested
"And they were amazed at Him"
Fulfillment of prophecy
"David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how then can the Messiah be his Son?”
Answering the High Priest
“Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
Answering Pilate
So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
His Identity Mocked
"Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe.”
The centurion confesses a difference
“This man really was God’s Son!”
Why did He Come Here?
Turning Point: Immediately after His identity if confessed by Peter, Jesus begins to explain His approaching Death
"Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days."
"...they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him.”
For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise three days later.”
“Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death."
She has done what she could; she has anointed My body in advance for burial.
How Do I Respond to Him?
"If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me."
“If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
“Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
“You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
Does it pay to make such an absolute response to such an absolute Person making such absolute demands?
And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name,since you belong to the Messiah—I assure you: He will never lose his reward.
“...there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children, or fields because of Me and the gospel, who will not receive 100 times more, now at this time—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and eternal life in the age to come"
They answered Him, “Allow us to sit at Your right and at Your left in Your glory.”
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