Foundations: New Testament - MarkSample

Mark began his Gospel by referring to it as “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (1:1). From chapter 14 to the end of the book, we clearly see Jesus’ purpose in leaving His place with the Father in heaven and coming to earth. Mark helps us understand that Jesus came as a humble servant whose singular focus was to pay the sacrifice for humanity’s sin and restore their relationship with God. To do this, He had to face the suffering awaiting Him at Calvary. 

As the cross drew closer, Jesus had a few teachable moments left with His disciples, giving Him opportunities to prepare them for what was about to unfold. The first came when a woman interrupted dinner to anoint Jesus with expensive perfume. The disciples were shocked by the waste of expensive oil, but Jesus praised her action as a sacrifice for God and as preparation for His coming burial. The following verses contrast this woman’s generosity with Judas’s selfishness and greed. 

The second teaching opportunity came during the celebration of the Passover meal, when Jesus gave new meaning to this significant moment in Jewish history. Through His description of the bread and the cup as his body and blood, respectively, Jesus helped His disciples see that He was the ultimate Passover Lamb who would be sacrificed for their sins once and for all. Jesus’ sacrifice wouldn’t come without great personal agony, as His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane revealed. The humanity and vulnerability Jesus showed in the garden give even greater weight to the cross, further revealing the depths of Jesus’ love for us.