The Gospel of Mark

Mark is written to communicate that Jesus is the Son of God and the Suffering Servant.  As the Son of God, He fulfills the expectations of a coming Lord who will inaugurate the kingdom of God.  As the Suffering Servant, He reveals Himself to be the Son of Man who by His death and resurrection gives His life as a ransom for many.  Both Jews and Gentiles are blinded to these realities and need the miracle working Christ to heal them of their spiritual deficiency.  Those for whom Jesus removes this blindness take up their cross and follow Him and prove to be in the family of God.  And those for whom the blindness is not removed seek signs, care nothing for the substance of Jesus and His call, and will receive judgment when the kingdom will be consummated.

The first half of the book (1-8) emphasizes Jesus equal status with God and emphasizes the preaching and message behind the miracles.  By working miracles and healing, He demonstrates His power, all the while calling for belief.  By providing bread, Jesus shows that He is the chief shepherd who is the Son of David.  Jesus is the One who ushers in the kingdom of God and only an embrace of Jesus provides entrance into the kingdom of God.  This kingdom is initiated not through the Jewish expectation of immediate and full justice, nor does it come to any one individual based on heritage.  The Son of God has become the Son of Man to suffer for sinners so that an embrace of His authority and Lordship will ransom the lost.  They will enjoy the blessing of being in the family of God, whereas those who reject Him will be rejected at the close of the age.