A Continual Unfolding

  • Reid Monaghan
  • Nov 8, 2007
  • Series: Signposts: A Journey in The Gospel of Mark

Summary

There are some high mountain peaks in every narrative, crucial plot turns which move the story to its climax.  As the story of Jesus unfolds in Mark we see some very important events go down.   First, Peter confesses Jesus to be the Christ a confession upon which the church will be built.  Second, Jesus begins to foretell what was prophesied about him long ago, that the Son of Man must suffer, be murdered and rise from death.  This was an unexpected turn of events for the disciples that he repeats with them driving home the central focus of his mission.  Third, God reveals Jesus is his glory on the top of a mountain.  His radiant beauty and manifest glory was displayed for the disciples just before they turn towards leading the mission towards a cross in Jerusalem.  The cost of following Jesus, a Jesus who would be rejected by people and die an ignoble death, was being made clear.

The Confession of Peter

The tension of the drama of Mark's gospel surrounding the true identity of Jesus is finally broken with the open realization and confession of Peter. We the readers were given his complete identity in chapter one as Jesus is given the title, Christ, the Son of God. Yet the disciples and those who lived the story were given a gradual unfolding of this reality. They saw his authority over unclean spirits. They witnessed his control of the natural world as he commanded the winds and walked upon water. They saw miracles come from his hand but yet the question of his identity lingers until this high point in the gospel where Jesus asked his disciples directly "Who do you say that I am?" At this Peter openly states "You are the Christ" and Jesus then reveals to them the true nature of his mission.

The Reality of Jesus' Mission

Rather than political domination and the forceful liberation of Jerusalem from the power of Rome, Jesus' mission on the earth had a different nature. His purpose was to be betrayed, to suffer and to die at the hands of the chief priests, the elders and the scribes. The religious and the powerful would reject God, turn him over to be crucified for the redemption of all people. This was hard for his followers to hear. How could the powerful, miracle working, authoritative Messiah be turned over to die as a common criminal on a Roman Cross? This however was the long prophesied mission of Jesus-to die for the sins of the world. This mission would be carried on by followers who joyfully take up a cross to follow this Jesus in their worlds.

Reaffirmation of the Father

Jesus' divine glory is revealed on the top of a mountain to some of the disciples. At this revealing of glory, the Father again speaks to reaffirm the mission and message of the Son sent into the world to teach, live, die and be raised from death to purchase people for God from every tribe tongue and nation.