Day 233 – Mark: Introduction
“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 NLT
Proclamations such as “We are the greatest/strongest/prettiest/best” boldly assert claims of supremacy every day. Everyone wants to be associated with a winner. Losers are those who finish anything but first. In direct contrast are the words of Jesus: “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”. This doesn’t fit in the picture we have of winning, does it? But Jesus is the greatest – God incarnate, our Messiah – but He entered history as a servant.
This is the message of Mark. Written to encourage Roman Christians and to prove beyond a doubt that Jesus is the Messiah, Mark presents a rapid succession of vivid pictures of Jesus in action, revealing His true identity by what He does, not necessarily by what He says. It is Jesus on the move in action through servanthood.
Instead of the birth of Jesus, Mark begins with John the Baptist’s preaching, moving quickly past Jesus’ baptism, temptation, and calling of the disciples directly into Jesus’ public ministry. He concentrates most of the Gospel of Jesus humbly serving humanity and not expecting anything in return.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the Gospel of Mark, focusing on the servanthood of Christ Jesus, who sets an example for us to serve for the Kingdom. May we all aspire to serve as followers of Jesus instead of our own selves. Amen.
