S6 DIVINITY PAPER 2

MARK’S GOSPEL
HOW JESUS IS PRESENTED AS THE MESSIAH IN MARK’S GOSPEL
The term messiah refers to a savior, redeemer, anointed one or anew leader in a
new religion especially one whom the prophets prophesied about.
He brings about new ways and saves people from difficulty. Jesus is presented
as the messiah in Mark’s gospel in the following ways;
Marks gospel begins by presenting Jesus as the son of God as prophesized by
Isaiah
John the Baptist confessed that Jesus was the messiah. He said that one who
will come after him is much greater than him.
Mark’s gospel presents Jesus preaching the gospel in different areas. His
preaching the gospel showed that he was introducing a new religion.
Jesus’ unique baptism presents him as the messiah. During his baptism, the
Holy spirit descended down on him inform of a dove then heaven opened and
gods voice declared him as a beloved son.
Jesus forgave sins. He forgave the sins of the paralyzed man and he was healed.
Jesus fed the four thousand and the five thousand people. He fed the five
thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish because the people were
hungry.
Jesus healed people for different diseases. He healed the leper, a woman who
had a bleeding for 12 years, a man with a paralyzed hand, healed the deaf mute,
and healed the blind Bartimaeus.
Jesus is presented as one who had power over nature. Jesus walked on water
and he also calmed the storm.
Jesus raised the dead to life. Jesus rose Jairus’ daughter to life.
Jesus cast evil spirits out of people and the demons recognized Jesus as the
messiah. When Jesus drew closer to a demon possessed man, the demons
recognized Jesus as the son of the most high God.
Peter’s declaration that Jesus was the messiah. When Jesus asked his disciples
who they thought he was, Peter declared that Jesus was the messiah.
Jesus always knew that the Pharisees wanted to trap him. They tried to trap him.
They tried to trap him by asking him to perform a miracle, asking him about
paying tax and divorce.
Jesus taught people while using parables. He taught people while using parables
just like the Old Testament prophets. Jesus taught the parable of the sower,
mustard seed and the growing seed.
The transfiguration event presents Jesus as the messiah. During the
transfiguration event, a cloud covered Jesus and a voice was heard from heaven.
Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The people welcomed Jesus as the
messiah and they praised God as he was on his way to Jerusalem.
Jesus chose disciples and he always moved with them as the messiah. Jesus
chose twelve disciples and he always moved with them during his ministry.
Jesus was anointed at Bethany. A woman anointed Jesus with a very expensive
perfume. The term messiah means the anointed one.
Jesus cleansed the temple of Jerusalem. He said that the temple was his father’s
house of prayer for all people of all nations.
Jesus established a perfect law. When Jesus was asked a question about
Sabbath, he said that Sabbath was made for the good of human beings not man
for the Sabbath.
Jesu prophesied his death several times in Marks gospel. He prophesied his
death in Marks gospel.
Jesus predicted Judas Iscariot’s betrayal. During the celebration of the Passover
meal and the Lords supper, he told his disciples that one of them was going to
betray him.
Jesu predicted Peter’s denial and it came to pass. Jesus told Peter that he would
deny him three times before the cock would crow.
Jesus knew that the hour of his arrest had come. He told his disciples that the
hour of his arrest had come.
Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin council and he confirmed that he was the
messiah. When Jesus was asked whether he was the messiah, he replied that he
was.
The Roman centurion confessed that Jesus was the son of God. The Army officer
who was standing in front of the cross, saw how Jesus died and he said that
Jesus was a son of God.
Jesus resurrected from the dead. Jesus rose from the dead three days after his
burial.
Jesus appeared to many people after his resurrection. Jesus appeared to many
people before he ascended to heaven.
JESUS HIDING/CONCEALING HIS MESSIAHSHIP IN MARK’S GOSPEL.
( MESSIANIC SECRECY)
OR; Examine the ways in which Mark’s gospel hides the messiahship of
Jesus.
OR; What evidence is in Mark’s gospel to show that Jesus kept his
messianic nature a secret?
Jesus healed a man with a dreaded skin disease (leper) and he ordered him not
to tell anyone about his healing.
Jesus was recognized by demons while he was in the synagogue as Gods holy
messenger. Jesus ordered the spirits to be quiet.
Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter to life and he gave strict orders to the people not
to tell anyone.
Jesu healed the deaf mute and he ordered the people not to speak of it to any
one.
Jesus healed the blind man at Bethsaida and he sent him home with the order
of not going back into the village.
The Pharisees asked Jesus to perform a miracle and he refused because he was
hiding his messiahship.
Peter confessed that Jesus was the messiah then Jesus instructed his disciples
not to tell anyone about it.
The transfiguration event presents Jesus hiding his messiahship. As Jesus was
coming down the mountain, he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone.
Jesus always referred to himself as the son of man. When Jesus was speaking
about his death, he referred to himself as the son of man.
Whenever Jesus wanted to refer to himself as the messiah, he used parables. He
told the Pharisees that the guests cannot fast when they are with the bridegroom.
Whenever the Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus, he always answered them with a
question. When he was asked about the Sabbath, he responded by asking what
does the law tell us to do on the Sabbath?
Jesus taught the message about the kingdom of God while using parables. This
was a way of concealing his messiahship.
Jesus was from a humble family background. Jesus was a son of a carpenter in
Nazareth and this was intended to hide his messiahship.
Jesus associated with all categories of people. Jesus associated with the leper, a
woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and the tax collectors.
Jesus accepted to be baptized by John the Baptist an inferior to him yet he was
sinless. This was a way of concealing his messiahship.
Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Jesus rode on a colt instead of a horse
as a way of hiding his messiahship.
Jesus accepted to suffer and die as a way of hiding his messiahship. He accepted
to die as a criminal.
Jesus was taken before Pilate and he was asked whether he was the King of the
Jews and he responded by saying” so you say”.

ACCOUNT FOR THE MESSIANIC SECRECY

Explain why the gospel of mark doesn’t directly refer to Jesus as he messiah.
Why did Jesus hide his messiahship?

Jesu his messiahship because if he declared that he was the messiah he would
be accused of blasphemy by the Jewish leaders.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he wanted to accomplish his mission.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he was a spiritual messiah yet the Jews
expected a political messiah to liberate them from the Romans.
Jesu hid his messiahship because he wanted to fulfil the Old Testament
scriptures about the suffering servant of God.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he was from a poor family background. The
Jews expected a messiah from a rich family.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he wanted to avoid direct confrontation from
the Jewish leaders who always plotted to kill him.
Jesus hid his messiahship because it was Gods divine plan.
Jesus hid his messiahship because his ministry was universal. It was for both
Jews and gentiles.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he associated with sinners and outcasts and
yet he was a teacher of the word of God.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he was baptized yet the Jews expected the
messiah to be holy and righteous.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he made all efforts to conceal his
messiahship.
Jesus hid his messiahship because his origin was well known as the son of
Joseph and Mary of Nazareth.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he was rejected by his own people of
Nazareth yet the messiah had to be popular and well known to all people.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he performed humble services in society, the
messiah was expected to be served.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he sometimes contradicted with the Jewish
laws.
Jesus hid his messiahship because Jesus associated with women and young
children, the Jews did not consider women and children as important.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he wanted to show that understanding the
kingdom of God was a gradual process.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he encouraged obedience and respect for one
another. The Jews expected the messiah who would destroy all their enemies.
Jesus hid his messiahship because he was a mere carpenter. Jesus was not
educated.

Examine the Universality of Jesus’ Messiahship according to Mark’s gospel.

Jesus preached the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. Jesus preached the gospel
in the synagogues, in the Jewish lands and Caesarea Philippi.
Jesus associated with the outcasts. Jesus healed a man who suffered from a
dreaded skin disease, a woman who had a bleeding for twelve years and he also
had a meal with tax collectors.
Jesus associated with the women. The women were not considered as important
people in the Jewish culture.
Jesus associated with the sinners, Jesus forgave the sins of the paralyzed man.
Jesus associated with the young children. When Jesus’ disciples were chasing
away the young children, Jesus said that the kingdom of God belongs to them.
Jesus associated with the humble people in society. He associated with all people
regardless of their status in society. He called the fishermen to be his disciples.
Jesus died for all people in the world. When Jesus was having the Lords supper,
he said that; “This is my blood which is poured out for many”.
Jesus sent out his disciples to spread the gospel to the whole world. He gave
them the power to preach the gospel and cast evil spirits.
Jesus taught his disciples that he came to serve and to give his life to redeem
many people. He came to serve and not to be served.
Jesus had pity and he heled all kinds of diseases. He healed the leper and the
woman who had a bleeding for twelve years.
Jesus fed multitudes of people who were hungry. He fed both Jews and gentiles
during his ministry.
Jesus taught parables that showed that he was a universal messiah. Jesus
taught the parable of the mustard seed that grows into a big tree and birds build
their nests in it.
Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan with other people from Nazareth, Judea
and Jerusalem.
Jesus was from a humble family therefore he was for both the rich and poor
people.
Jesus taught about his mother and brothers. He said that whoever does what
God wants him to do is his brother, sister and mother.
Jesus referred to himself as the son of man. This meant that he had to identify
with the people he came to save.
Jesus cleansed the temple and said that the temple would be a house of prayer
for all people of all nations.