Mark 1:1 1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark’s Gospel begins with a series of connected words. Verse 1 functions more as the title for the whole book. This book will be about the gospel, meaning “good message,” or as is often translated, the “good news.” The message that Mark will give in his writing is special, important, and badly needed in the world. The focus of this message is Jesus. Mark does not elaborate about the meaning of the name Jesus like Matthew 1:21, but the name simply means “Savior.” We easily miss the significance of the name because of our familiarity with it.
The Savior is the Christ, which is the Greek translation for the Hebrew “Messiah.” The Jews looked forward to the time when God would sent the special “Anointed One” to restore Israel and bring about the last days. Many Jews expected a political messiah and missed the saving Messiah who humbly preached the way of love and peace. Jesus did not come to throw off the yoke of the Romans but to save them from their sins.
Mark is very clear right at the beginning about the identity of Savior Anointed One by calling him the Son of God. The key confession of faith stated clearly. The identity of Jesus as divine will be one of Mark’s key points. Will people see Jesus’ divinity and put their faith in him, or will they ignore or even reject him and the salvation he offers? Mark’s Gospel will demand a response from the readers. The central theme of the Gospel is the identity of Jesus. The key question of the Gospel is what to do with Jesus.
Jesus is the focus of the message of the gospel and of this book. God promised the Messiah, but people must respond in faith. Conflict in Mark arises because of unbelief. Jesus appears to lose with his death on the cross, but he comes out victorious in the end. Those who accept his salvation in faith will repent of their sins and follow the path of discipleship. People reject Jesus because they either do not see who he is or reject what they see because of pre-conceived ideas and deceit that have hardened their hearts.
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