IN THE studies on Matthew we saw the Lord presented as the true Messiah-King to Israel, and at the same time His readiness to be a Saviour to those outside Israel as well.
Now, when we come to Mark’s account, we will find many of the same events again recorded but frequently with some variation, and some of the things the Holy Spirit gave Mark to write will not have come to our attention before at all. Mark presents the Lord as the true Servant and if we bear this in mind it will help immensely in seeing why there sometimes appears to be a difference between the records of the four gospel writers.
It is particularly happy to remember that while Mark was not actually an apostle, he was a devoted servant himself. There is, however, an unhappy failure in Mark’s service recorded in Acts 13 (where his other name John is used). In that case he left Paul and Barnabas before the work on a Mediterranean trip was finished, and this failure had a sad effect in the relations of Barnabas, Paul and himself. (See Acts 15:36-4036And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. (Acts 15:36‑40).) It is apparent that Mark was later happily restored and Paul spoke of him so nicely in 2 Timothy 4:1111Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. (2 Timothy 4:11), saying, “Mark... is profitable... for the ministry.”
In view of Mark’s experiences of his own failures, it must have delighted him to be used of the Holy Spirit to write of his Saviour as the perfect Servant. In finding the application of God’s Word to our own souls we too will be encouraged to prove His gracious ways in spite of our failures. We learn how He delights to restore those who have slipped in the pathway, whenever there is true confession and contrition. This is not to encourage carelessness, of course, which always brings dishonor to the Lord and sorrow to ourselves. But if the enemy has had a victory over us, may we who are His children immediately confess it to Him and be encouraged by David’s expression in Psalm 73:2626My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. (Psalm 73:26), “My flesh and my heart faith: but God... is my portion forever.”
We noticed in Matthew the genealogy of Jesus given according to the Jewish “legal” line, proving that Jesus was truly the Son of David so important to the Jews if they were faithfully looking for their Messiah. Again in Luke’s Gospel His genealogy is traced all the way back to Adam a remarkable reminder that if the first man Adam failed and introduced death through his sin, there was now divinely brought upon the scene “the last Adam” who would never fail, and who was to bring life to all who would receive Him. (See 1 Cor. 15:22, 4522For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)
45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45).)
But when we turn to the book of Mark, no genealogy is given at all, for in this gospel the Lord is seen as the perfect Servant, humble, obedient and fully devoted to a pathway of service. A king, or one laying claim to his inheritance, would rightly have his qualifications established through his genealogy. But this would not be looked for in a humble servant and so it is omitted by Mark. How remarkably accurate and perfect is the Word of God! It should stir us much to have this reminder of its inspired character.
May every reader search his heart to see what God finds in response to His love in providing a Saviour for our sins, and may we who truly know Him as such be exercised to follow in His blessed footsteps.
ML-04/07/1963