Journey with Jesus: Nuggets from the Gospel of Mark

Journey with Jesus

NUGGETS FROM THE GOSPEL OF MARK

Who is this? (Mark 1:9-11, NIV)

written by Lisa Morrison

Have you ever felt like you should know someone who seems famous and is drawing a crowd? Do you find yourself wondering, “Who is this?” Is she a movie star, a pro athlete, a musician?

In the Gospel of Mark, the author is seeking to answer the question “Who is this Jesus?” for his readers. This is the driving force throughout the Gospel. Behind every story and teaching, the question Mark is seeking to help us answer is, “Who is this Jesus?” Is Jesus just another human being among the crowd? Is He sent from God? Is He a great teacher? Is He a prophet? Is He the promised Messiah? Who is this Jesus?

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus arrives on the scene out of nowhere in chapter 1, verse 9. We have no birth narrative. We have no story of when He was young or growing up. He just arrives as an adult at the Jordan River where John the Baptist has been preaching a message of repentance of sins so the people could be prepared to receive their promised Messiah. Is this Jesus their promised Messiah? John says He is. But, who do you say He is?

“Just as Jesus was coming out of the water, He saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” (v. 10) John had baptized many others before he baptized Jesus, but none had experienced heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on them like a dove. Who is this Jesus?

After heaven had been torn open and the Spirit descended, verse 11 states, “A voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’” Whoa! Who is this Jesus?!? Is this God the Father declaring that this Jesus is His Son? This is a dramatic declaration. All the words spoken are scriptural. This language from Psalm 2 is of the messianic king, and it is stating that Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of Israel from Isaiah 42:1. Who is this Jesus?

We all have to answer this question for ourselves. It is not a question we can avoid. Who is this Jesus? Is he just a human being who lived 2000 years ago who received a lot of attention? Is he just a great teacher? Is he just a great miracle worker? Is he a prophet sent by God? Or is He the promised One sent by God? How we answer this question has eternal ramifications for each of us. If He is the promised one sent by God, then we need to accept Him into our lives as our Lord and spend eternity with Him. If we decide that He is anything but the promised One sent by God, then we will spend eternity separated from Him. Which is it for you? How do you answer the question, “Who is this Jesus?”