This truly depicts the Gospel of Mark. And no wonder. For Mark fully knew the truth that the Servant King Jesus can revive a floundering heart. Such was his heart at times. And such was that of his mentor, Peter. Well, and truth be known, all the apostles and disciples of Jesus had floundering hearts.
The gospel of Mark is believed by nearly all scholars to have been written by John Mark who was closely associated with Peter. Peter died in Rome around 54 A.D. and the gospel of Mark was written sometime before the destruction of the temple . Therefore, most believe it was written around 60 AD. A few ascribe earlier dates. That means it was written either near the death of Peter or shortly thereafter. It is known John Mark was in Rome assisting Peter in his final ministry. He had also been with him before this on various occasions. Furthermore, he kept notes. Then with the guidance of the Holy Spirit he was able to write this gospel from the firsthand accounts of Peter and his sermons.
Who was Mark?
Mark was the son of a very wealthy family in Jerusalem with a large house, where the disciples went at times. It is believed that it may have been his house where the last supper was held. If so, perhaps that would have explained why he included the story of the young man following Jesus who dropped his cloak and ran away naked.
The following is my own conjecture. But indeed, if his house was where the last supper was held, perhaps Judas took the crowd there first. John Mark may have then followed them to the Garden of Gethsemane. After all Jesus had gone to the garden other times to rest and pray. At least an intriguing thought for curious minds. I must ask him one day.
The Gospel of Mark
Mark wrote this gospel with the gentile believers in mind and particularly the roman people in his time. He wanted to show that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.
“Mark selected critical episodes and interactions from Jesus’ ministry and often arranged them in thematic order to show that Jesus is ‘the Son of God’ (1:1). The status is validated through Jesus’ breathtaking power over all of his creation. He is powerful over the wind and waves, the demonic kingdom, and even sickness and death. For Mark, there was no denying thew fact that these miracles prove Jesus is who He says He is and that all people owe Him their allegiance.”1
The Servant King Jesus Can Revive a Floundering Heart of Confusion
The Gospel of Mark is fast paced, action packed and presents the apostles as they truly are. How often were they the bumbling, floundering hearts that Jesus had to correct and revive. Even after all the miracles they had seen and all the teaching he had given them, they were a bit slow in understanding as well.
And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” Mark 7:17-23 (ESV)
He may have rebuked them at times for their slowness in learning, but always He explained gently continued teaching the truth to them.
Jesus Can Revive a Floundering Heart of Failure
John Mark knew well the taste of failure. He had a floundering heart when he went on his first missionary journey with Paul as recorded in the book of Acts. But we do know, he was restored in his ministry. Later, nearing the end of Paul’s life, from prison, he wrote of Mark.
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 2 Timothy 4:11.
Or Peter, who was one minute elevated and the next failed.
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” Mark 8:29-30 NKJV
Only immediately after that did he fail.
(Jesus) began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Mark 8:31-33 (NKJV)
Jesus Can Revive a Floundering Heart of Fear
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:35-38 NKJV
Jesus calmed the storm and what did they do?
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Mark 4:39-41 (NKJV)
Most likely we would have done the same thing. He fixes the problem and we then become afraid of His power and presence.
The Servant King Jesus Does Not Give Up In Teaching His Followers
when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. He saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out Mark 6:47-49 (ESV)
And so they panicked again in a storm.
for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. Mark 6:50-52 (ESV)
So, sometimes we have to repeat the same storm again and again until we finally understand He is Sovereign and I do not need to be afraid of anything.
What about the loaves? Oh, yes, both times they had just witnessed the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 and again the feeding of 4000 and still worried about food. Often, in the text was written, “and we had no food.”
The Servant King Jesus Can Revive the Floundering Heart of Unbelief
And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. Mark 9:14-15 NKJV
So, there was a big commotion going on.
And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them? ”Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” Mark 9:16-18 NKJV
So, why do you think they could not perform this?
19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” Mark 9:19 NKJV
This boy had convulsions since childhood and often harmed himself by falling into fires or lakes. So his father pleaded
But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. ”Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:22-24 NKJV
And So Jesus Healed Him by Reviving a Floundering Heart
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. Mark 9:25-27 (NKJV)
So, bewildered, the disciples waited until later to ask.
And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:28-29 NKJV
We sometimes must ask that our faith be strengthened. At other times we must stretch our faith through prayer and fasting. Getting alone with God, allows the Holy Spirit to do this work in us. When we separate ourselves to Bible Study, Prayer and Fasting we surrender ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Then, our desire and our prayers also begin to align with the will of God, as our hearts are transformed to understand. That is when faith grows to its maximum.
The Servant King Jesus Can Revive the Floundering Heart of Despair
Jesus told them at least 3 times, exactly what was going to happen. He was going to die, be buried and rise again. Also, He taught them of the coming trials and tribulations, attempting to prepare them for how hard it would be on this earth. Gently He told them all of this. He told them He would send a comforter to help them. For three years, He prepared them. This was part of why He was always saying, “Do not tell anyone of these miracles.” He needed time to teach and prepare them. This is why it is so important we study eschatology (the prophecies yet to come). When we know disaster is coming, we can be prepared.
Just like with Hurricane Milton, the Governor prepared the people and the agencies needed to reduce the risk. Sadly, some did perish anyway. Unfortunately, North Carolina did not receive a warning in time as the path was not clearly delineated for them. The lack of knowledge was devastating. The same can be true for us today. We must study to be prepared for all that is coming.
Furthermore, Jesus told them He would rise again, and He did. It is that power which can break through our hearts of despair. Hope is knowing we can trust Him through it all.
And what is the proof that Jesus Did revive the floundering heart of each of his disciples?
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16: 19-20 (NKJV)
He took these men who were filled with fear, doubt, despair and failures turning them into warriors willing to die to spread the gospel of Christ to the world. What about you and I? What are you willing to endure for the gospel of Christ?
Another Important point about the Gospel of Mark
Mark spoke with urgency. Perhaps this is because he had seen so much of persecution. He believed that Jesus return and the final judgement could be any moment. His most used phrase was “immediately.” This pressed the urgency of it all.
“Mark invites his readers to hear and respond to the invitation offered by the Son of God. Since Jesus is God, his words are the word of God. This message is good news for those who have ears to hear the gracious call of God through Jesus.”2
We, who know Him, should also feel the urgency to go out and declare the name of Jesus to the world.
1 The Jesus Bible, ESV version, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 2019, page 1528
2 The Jesus BIble, page 1528
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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