Jesus in the Gospel of Mark

I’m reading through the gospel of Mark. Through my reading, I’ve observed several qualities about Jesus. After reading chapters one and two with Nikki, I was greatly encouraged. There’s always something to learn from God’s word.

First: I saw the Authority of Jesus. Mark 2:4-5 says, “Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.” In Mark 2:10-12, Jesus said, “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ – He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.’ And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone…” Jesus had the authority to forgive sins. The scribes were correct when they said, “…Who can forgive sins but God alone…?” Jesus, the Son of Man is Deity. He was God in the flesh! He has the authority to forgive sins! As His disciples, let us continue to submit to His authority in all we do.

Second: I saw the Compassion of Jesus. Mark 1:40-42 says, “And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, ‘If you are willing, You can make me clean.’ Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.” Unlike other kings and rulers, Jesus demonstrated great compassion. We should be grateful for His compassion toward us. We are not deserving of His love, and yet He loves us! As His disciples, let us be compassionate toward others.

Third: I saw the focus of Jesus. Mark 1:36-38: “Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’ He said to them, ‘Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” Some may question Jesus and what He did. We just read about His compassion. So why did He not heal those who were looking for Him? It’s because He needed to preach repentance and the coming of the kingdom, Mark 1:14-15. Jesus didn’t come to heal the world of physical sickness, but rather to deliver the world from sin. We may not always be delivered from our physical ailments. But we can be confident Jesus will and has delivered us from our sins. Let us focus on as well sharing the good news of salvation through Christ.