The Messianic Secret

The Messianic Secret:

John Mark, or just Mark, uses the Greek word εὐθέως, frequently translated “immediately” throughout his gospel account, in order to convey, impart, transmit, and depict a sense of absolute URGENCY for the audience/reader.

In addition to using εὐθέως frequently throughout his gospel, Mark also uses verbs in what is referred to the “historical present.” This usage of εὐθέως along with strong geographical markers and the “historical present” gives Mark’s gospel an incredibly authentic and strikingly sober aura of reality - as if the audience were actually present for the events being described!

Mark Strauss’ book, Four Portraits - One Jesus, does a fantastic job of describing the differences between each of the four different gospel accounts. I agree with Strauss’ analysis of the central theme of Mark’s gospel: “Jesus, the mighty Messiah and Son of God, obediently suffers as the Servant of the Lord to pay the ransom price for sin, and as a model of suffering and sacrifice for his disciples to follow” (p. 172).

In addition to the relentless, dauntless, and unyielding forward-driving Jesus in Mark’s gospel, we also find another interesting theme, which is frequently referred to as the “Messianic Secret.”

People frequently think of the term “Messiah” as synonymous with “Savior,” but that’s not accurate. Messiah throughout the Old Testament is more accurately depicted as “King.” One of the first places we see this idea of who the Messiah will be comes in Genesis 49:10. “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes to whom all tribute belongs and the obedience of the nations shall be his.”

From that point on the reader recognizes the need to track/follow the tribe of Judah for the Messiah/King to whom all tribute and obedience belongs. The only one who fills that criteria (to whom all tribute and obedience belongs) is God Himself. Therefore, from Genesis 49:10 we see 1) the fulfillment of God’s promise (Gen 3:15) to crush the head of the serpent and thus redeem humanity from our sin; and 2) the fulfillment of God’s promise (Gen 22:8) to provide “the lamb” as the offering for humanity’s sin.

Following the fall of the Northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC to the Assyrians, and the fall of the Southern kingdom of Judah in 586 to the Babylonians, it looked as though God’s plan had fizzled and failed. In that 400 year period of time (from the close of the Old Testament and the opening of the New Testament) things appeared to be grim indeed. Then Jesus (name means “The Lord Saves!) was born in a manger from someone who could trace their heritage back to the line of King David (to fulfill another of God’s promises from 2 Samuel 7:16), which lined up with all of God’s promises.

The Jews were expecting a Messiah/King who would come as strictly a military king to wipe out the Romans and restore the nation of Israel to its former glory. The Jewish people never fully understood that the Messiah/King would not come to simply deliver Israel from Roman occupation and provide earthly prosperity, but that God Himself would come to deliver ALL OF HUMANITY from Satan’s occupation and to provide eternal prosperity.

Throughout Mark’s gospel we read passages like:

1:44 ““See that you don’t tell this to anyone.”

7:36 “Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone.”

8:30 “Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.”

Consider the major characteristics of Mark’s gospel we’ve discussed thus far:

-John Mark deserted his friends in the middle of a mission journey.

-John Mark uses the Greek term εὐθέως more than all the other N.T. writers combined.

-John Mark places a HUGE emphasis on Jesus as the suffering Messiah.

-John Mark incorporates the “Messianic Secret” into his gospel

As you reflect on these historical and literary facts it is important to recognize that God had/has a reason to choose and inspire John Mark to write this particular gospel account.

We’ll pick up again tomorrow and look at how those historical and literary features impact us - the audience - and what God is still accomplishing TODAY through this divinely inspired book of Scripture!

Blessings,

Kevin M. Kelley

#KMKelley1968

amostunlikelydisciple.com