The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Israel expected the Messiah to be a conquering hero who would liberate the Jews from their Roman servitude. Instead, Christ came as a suffering servant to liberate all mankind from slavery to sin. The Gospel of Mark records Christ’s public ministry as both a journey to the cross and a time of vigorous action, when his miracles astounded the multitudes and his boldness infuriated his foes. In The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant, Farley works from a literal translation of the original Greek and examines Mark section by section, explaining its meaning in contemporary language.
Top Highlights
“The first miracle Mark relates is one of exorcism. That is significant, for Christ’s ministry in general is seen as one large exorcism—as the overthrow of Satan, prince of this world (see John 12:31), and the liberation of men from his fatal grasp.” (Page 28)
“Jesus was baptized in the Jordan to reveal to John His identity as the designated Messiah.” (Page 22)
“Why, some have asked, did the Lord first speak this word of forgiveness, when the obvious request was for healing? The insight of those days was that healing for the body is bound up with forgiveness for the soul, since man is a single compound of soul and body. It may not be the case in every instance that a specific sickness is caused by a specific sin; but, in general, sickness has afflicted our race because of sin and, to be completely whole, a person needs both healing and forgiveness.” (Page 38)
“Though all are not necessarily required to leave their jobs and families behind as these apostles did, all of His followers are required to make that inner psychological break with the world. After baptism, they now no longer belong to the world. Their heart’s first loyalty and their destiny now lie with Christ.” (Page 27)
“Once again, Mark relates the story simply, to show Christ’s absolute sovereignty. Demons and disease are as nothing before His authority. He has only to speak and to take hold, and the powers of death give way.” (Page 31)