In the Gospel of Mark, all men in the end prove incapable of recognizing who Jesus of Nazareth is, namely, the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel. The only exceptions are John the Baptist, Peter, and the Roman centurion at the foot of the Cross. Peter’s moment of brilliance is very brief and fleeting, and even John begins to question the identity of the Nazarene once he is imprisoned by Herod Antipas.
Mark has threaded this idea throughout his
gospel account to make the point: The one true Messiah who was sent by God cannot
be understood apart from his sacrificial death on a Roman cross.
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At the outset of Mark, Scripture is quoted demonstrating that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, an identification confirmed by John the Baptist and the “voice from heaven” at his baptism in the Jordan.
In
contrast, DESPITE his many miracles, men and women remained
confused about who he was. Even his family and closest associates failed to
recognize and acknowledge that he was the Son of God. Apparently, he was not
the kind of Messiah everyone expected or anyone wanted.
After
the heavens were “rent asunder” following his baptism, the voice from
heaven declared him to be the “Son of God.” The Greek verb translated as
“rent asunder” is schizō, which means to “rend asunder, cleave,
split open.” In Mark, it occurs only at his baptism and when the
veil of the Temple was “rent” at his death.
In
Capernaum, his first act was to cast out an “unclean spirit.” Unlike the
men of the village, the demon knew Jesus as the “Holy One of God.” The
men present were astounded and asked, “Who is this?” Despite his
impressive deed, he remained unrecognized by anyone from the synagogue.
Though
demonic spirits recognized the “Son of God,” human beings consistently
failed to do so, including members of his own family and inner circle. Proximity
to Jesus did not guarantee recognition of who he was - (Mark 3:11-12, Mark
5:1-7).
The
“Scribes” from Jerusalem could not deny his ability to cast
out demons and heal the sick, yet rather than acknowledge that he did so by
divine authority, they charged him with casting out demons by “Beelzebub,
the prince of demons” - (Mark 3:21-30).
By
his word, Jesus calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee. In fear, his
disciples asked one another, “Who is this, that even wind and the sea obey
him?” Even this display of power was insufficient to convince anyone about
his identity - (Mark 4:36-41).
When
he returned to his hometown and began to teach, many men began to question who
he was - “Whence has this man these things…Is this not the carpenter, the
son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not
his sisters here with us?” Rather than rejoice that the “Son of God”
was in their village, the people of Nazareth were “offended by him” – (Mark
6:1-6).
After
Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people, he went alone to pray on a
mountain. The disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee by boat,
struggling against a contrary wind. He appeared suddenly, walking on the water.
They cried out in fear until he identified himself, entered the boat, and
caused the wind to cease. Previously, they had seen him calm a great storm, yet
this miracle failed to convince them of who he was, because “their hearts
were hardened” - (Mark 6:45-52).
On
the way to Jerusalem, momentarily, Peter appeared to grasp his identity.
When Jesus asked, “Who do men say that I am,” he answered, “You are
the Christ!” He then admonished the disciples to tell no one, explaining
that “the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders
and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise
again.”
To
this, Peter objected, and his sudden revelation departed immediately. The very
idea that the Messiah would be subjected to suffering and death was beyond the
pale. Whatever insight Peter may have gained was lost when he was confronted
with the reality of the suffering Messiah - (Mark 8:27-38).
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IN JERUSALEM
When
he was tried, the High Priest demanded of him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son
of the Blessed One?” He responded, “I am he. And you will see the Son of
man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
Before the priestly leaders of Israel, he identified himself as the Messiah. There
could be no doubt, yet rather than recognizing him, the High Priest charged him
with blasphemy, and the “chief priests and the whole council” condemned
him to death - (Mark 14:60-64).
Ironically, the Roman governor confirmed his Messianic status when he had “King of the Jews” inscribed on a board that was nailed to his cross. Yet, as he was hanging on it, Jewish spectators mocked him - (Mark 15:26).
Likewise,
the chief priests and Scribes ridiculed him as he was dying despite the
testimony of God, Scripture, his miraculous deeds, and his own sworn testimony
before them. It was clear to anyone with “eyes to see” that he was the Messiah.
Paradoxically,
demons did recognize him, yet the Temple authorities refused to do so despite
the overwhelming evidence of their eyes and ears. Instead, they mockingly
challenged him - “Let him come down now from the cross, that we may see and
believe” - (Mark 15:26-32).
Only
at Calvary did a human voice declare unhesitatingly that Jesus was the “Son
of God.” As death overwhelmed him, he uttered a loud cry and died. At that
precise moment, “the veil of the temple was RENT IN TWO from the top to the bottom,” and the Roman
officer declared, “Truly, this man was the Son of God” - (Mark 15:37-39).
Just
as the “rending of the heavens” at his baptism produced a declaration
regarding his Messianic status, so the “rending” of
the Temple veil produced the same confession, only now on the lips
of the pagan centurion. Only as Jesus was crucified did a human being begin
to understand just who he was, and paradoxically, by the Gentile officer in
charge of his execution.
Thus,
only in his suffering and death are men able to grasp who Jesus is, and
consequently, what it means to “follow him wherever he goes.” As
wonderful as miracles, signs, and wonders are, the true understanding of his
identity, nature, and mission can only be realized on and through the Cross of
Calvary.
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