MARK'S PORTRAYAL OF JESUS
During the writing of Mark’s Gospel, Mark reminds the audience constantly that he is writing a religious message about the teachings of Jesus and what kind of man he was. This can be seen through Jesus’ portrayal throughout the text.
During the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is portrayed by Mark as an IMPORTANT figure, known as The Son of God. Evidence supporting that Jesus was an important figure is present when Mark states that ‘he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit’ (Mk 1:8) and when God himself starts to speak to Jesus saying ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’ (Mk 1:11). Obviously this paints Jesus an important as not many people were spoken to by God at the time and also shows that he is truly the Son of God.
Mark also portrays Jesus as a HEALER. There are many times throughout the text in which Mark described miracles that are performed by Jesus in order to heal those around him who are in need. This is present through the story of A Man with an Evil Spirit (Mk 1:21-28). When Jesus says ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ (Mk 1:25) and with that command, ‘the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him’ (Mk 1:26). Other examples of Jesus healing is during stories such as Jesus Heals a Man (Mk 1:40-45), Jesus Heals a Paralysed Man (Mk 2:1-12) and The Man with the Paralysed Hand (Mk 3:1-6).
Another portrayal of Jesus is that he is a TEACHER. Jesus did many things throughout the Gospel which taught and influenced others positively. During the story of A Man with an Evil Spirit (Mk 1:21-28), Mark states that the crowd around Jesus ‘were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes’. This point of Jesus being a teacher to those around him is furthered when the people surrounding him begin to say ‘What is this? A new teaching!’ (Mk 1:27).
Mark portrayed Jesus as a SAVIOUR as he performed many miracles like walking on water, and feeding many people and for his last week took on the punishment of the people, and died for us so we could enter heaven therefore making him the saviour that the people had been waiting for.
Jesus was also portrayed as a SUFFERER, throughout the final years of Jesus’ life, he wandered, preaching to as many people as possible until his final days in which he was betrayed and ultimately crucified. Jesus was forced to carry his cross to the place he would have to face his crucifixion. “It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him”. (Mark 15:25) All of this was for the sake of man and to save man from his sins. Jesus suffered for the good of all of man.