THIS CHAPTER marks an important division in the Gospel of Mark, for it is the time of the final presenting of Jesus to Israel as their Messiah. Note particularly the expression (v. 32): “And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them.” It is true that from the very beginning of His ministry Jesus had the cross in view, but there was much work and testimony to show in the three years of His gracious pathway. In our present chapter the pathway is nearing completion, and while He continued to show love for all and compassion on individuals on this last journey, He was actually now openly fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 50:5-75The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 6I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 7For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. (Isaiah 50:5‑7): “The LORD God hath opened Mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.... I hid not My face from shame and spitting.... Therefore have I set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.”
The prospect of going to Jerusalem to expose themselves to the hand of their enemies, filled the disciples with fear. They neither wanted to see their Lord in danger, nor to put themselves under such circumstances. True, they had been obedient disciples and had faced many hardships and privations with the Lord, but they still did not readily give up their hope that somehow He would still be accepted as the Messiah by the Jewish people and that they would then have a place with Him in administering that kingdom.
The Lord takes His twelve aside and tells them plainly: “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles: and they shall mock Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him; and the third day He shall rise again.” vv. 33-34. In spite of this plain language, they still did not understand His words until after His death and resurrection.
In view of their fears and uncertainty as to the future, it was a real test for the disciples to go to Jerusalem, but we are happy to see them continue with Jesus. In later years the early Christians too had many severe tests — even unto cruel deaths in their testimony for their Saviour; nor is it an entirely strange thing for His people to know tribulation and martyrdom today. But this was part of what was just brought to our attention in Jesus’ own words: " ... he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time... with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
How encouraging it is to see, binning with the disciples and through all the years since then, it is recorded: “And Jesus went before them.” Christian friend, this is the marvelous way of the Lord Jesus with His own. There may be trials, testings, and even death in the pathway of Christian testimony, but in all of this we are “following His steps” and He never allows an unbearable trial, nor one in which He has not already endured. When confronted with a test of faith, it will ever be helpful to remember, “We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted [tested] like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:1515For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15).
ML-12/22/1963