Mark – Christ the Servant
“… For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Contrasted with the Gospel of Matthew which has a distinctly Jewish emphasis establishing Jesus as Christ the King, Mark portray’s Jesus as Christ the Servant.
Mark was not one of the twelve disciples, but he apparently grew up observing Jesus and the twelve, and later served Paul and Barnabas on a Missionary Journey, and became an assistant to Peter, one who Peter called ‘my son’ in 1 Peter 5:13.
The Gospel of Mark is said to be written based on Peter’s eye-witness testimony of walking with Jesus, with some unique observations included from Mark’s perspective as well, who would have been a boy, or young man at the time, watching, listening, and taking it all in.
Boys and girls are so important to Jesus. Their minds are fresh and relatively unmarred by an enemy who will soon come against them in every direction. If they meet Jesus while they are still young and can hear Him and see how He serves, they will inherit His servant heart and change the world. Mark is an example of this.
There is no genealogy of Jesus in Mark, while there are genealogy’s in Matthew and Luke. In the context of Christ as Servant, though, a genealogy is not as important as good references. So Mark’s Gospel begins with John the Baptist preparing the way, speaking of the one who would come after him. Then, when Jesus is baptized by John, He received the witness (or reference, if you will) of God the Father who spoke as Jesus came up from the water, “This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.” and God the Holy Spirit who descended upon Jesus as a dove. Pretty solid references for Christ the servant.
The key phrase in Matthew was the ‘kingdom of heaven’ used over thirty times. In Mark, the word we see repeated is ‘immediately’ or ‘straight away’, and this, again, is in keeping with servanthood. When the boss wants something done when are you expected to do it? Right away, immediately! Immediately, or some form of this same Greek word, is used over 30 times in the book of Mark, a full third of it’s use in the whole Bible.
Throughout the sixteen chapters of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is on the move, teaching, serving, explaining the kingdom of heaven, and demonstrating the love of God to each person He encounters.
Watching Jesus through the Book we learn how our own lives should flow. How we should live sensitively to the needs of others, taking every opportunity to bless, serve, love, encourage, and help. To lead from the bottom, to succeed through servanthood.
“So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45
Oh how far I have to go… I am selfish and condescending, sarcastic and judgmental. How can such a haughty man be a servant of all? I can only pray…
Make me like you, Lord. Make me like you.
You are a servant, make me one too.
Lord, I am willing, do what you must do.
To make me like you, Lord. Make me like you.*
Sincerely,
*Make me like you Lord. Author unknown
