Mark allows for no heroes in his account
of the gospel other than Jesus, the Son of God. Throughout the book the
Pharisees come out as antagonists, the disciples look like dunderheads, and
even John the Baptist questions his own testimony. No one understands the Gospel,
no one understands Jesus is the son of God. And when the chief priest asks are
you the Christ, and Jesus says, “I am,” they condemn Him for it.
We have a habit of making heroes of the
saints who went before us. Sometimes we say things like, “If only I had faith
like the disciples.” Well, see the
disciples’ faith on display here. They slept. They ran away. Even Peter, who
boasted that he was the most loyal and would never betray Jesus, fell away and
ended utterly disgraced.
What should we make of this?
First, it should be noted that some
scholars have argued that Mark was written to Christians in Rome who were
wishing they could have been there and seen Jesus. They felt that it would be
easier to believe had they walked with the disciples and heard Jesus speak to
them directly. Mark is disabusing them (and us) of this idea. Faith is a gift
given by the Holy Spirit, and it is not easier or harder to believe according
to your proximity to the events of salvation. It is always a miracle. So,
thanks be to God that we believe in Jesus as our savior!
Second, the center of our faith is
Jesus, and the moment it becomes about us (our commitment, performance,
courage, decisions, etc.) all is lost. Peter serves as a great example of this.
Despite his determination to be the one who would always stand by Jesus’ side,
even to defend Him to the death, when he saw what he actually did, he broke
down and wept. Our efforts will leave us in the same boat.
This is the beginning of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is not about you. It is about Jesus. He is the
one who gives His life in order to redeem us, and it is only in that redemption
– relying only on Jesus’ merit – that we find that we are able to live
faithfully. That is because it is no longer about us and our will, but about
Jesus’ salvation at work in us; and He gets the glory.
Lord Jesus, help me to not romanticize my
faith or overestimate my ability. Help me always trust You alone for my
salvation and life. Amen.
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