• About
  • Sermons
  • Teachings
  • Contact
  • 4TR
  • Extras
  • Love First Sarnia
  Jeremy Hoover's Ministry Website

Mark 15 and Recognizing Jesus

2/12/2018

0 Comments

 
It is rare in Mark that someone recognizes who Jesus is in terms of his identity and authority! In fact, there are only four times I can recall in this gospel where Jesus is recognized. Of course, the fourth time Jesus' identity and authority is recognized is by a Gentile soldier who was posted to ensure that Jesus would die. Yet, after the events of the crucifixion, he cries out, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

This recognition bookends Mark with two recognitions of Jesus. Do you remember the first? All the way back in chapter one, Jesus is recognized by...a demon! The demon said, "I know you are -- the Holy One of God!" (1:24). Mark is letting us know that demons and Gentiles recognize Jesus, so we should, too.

In between these two recognitions are two others -- first, God recognizes Jesus as his Son (9:7, with a call to "Hear him"); then, a blind man recognizes Jesus by faith (10:46-52).

So, we already knew that the spiritual realm knew who Jesus was (God and the demons). Now, Mark shows us not only that faith enables us to recognize Jesus (blind man), but the power of the crucifixion also enables us to recognize Jesus (centurion).

In a sense, this represents the apostolic mission. To the Jews, Jesus was the Son of David (10:46-56) whose messianic authority was grounded in mercy (not strength). To the Gentiles, the message of Jesus was accompanied by signs and wonders. The result of both was that people came to faith in Jesus and recognized him.

The scarcity of recognitions of Jesus also says something to us. If, across this long of a gospel, Jesus was recognized so few times, we may be diligent to observe how he taught us to be able to recognize him -- in his authority and in his identity, by prayer, fasting and repentance with watchfulness.
​
Are you finding yourself like the masses who missed Jesus? Or are you "hearing him" (9:7) through spiritual practices? May I suggest something? The liturgical season of Lent begins this Wednesday. We are not a liturgical church, but there is nothing wrong with borrowing from practices that are designed to help folks move closer to Jesus. One of the hallmark practices of those who observe Lent is fasting. I wonder, during that time (roughly mid-February through March), if you would consider incorporating a time of fasting into your life, in order to be drawn deeper into prayer and repentance, to come to recognize Jesus more fully.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    This blog is for articles and book reviews. I post my sermons at my Sermons page, where you can listen to sermons online or download them in MP3 format.

    Although I work for the Otisville Church of Christ in Otisville, Michigan, this blog represents my own thoughts and does not necessarily correspond to the views and workings of the Otisville Church of Christ.

    Categories

    All
    1 Corinthians
    1 John
    1 Kings
    1 Peter
    1 Samuel
    1 Thessalonians
    1 Timothy
    2 Chronicles
    2 Corinthians
    2 Kings
    2 Peter
    2 Samuel
    2 Timothy
    Abundance
    Acts
    Amos
    Audio
    Baptism
    Believers
    Bible
    Bible Meditation
    Bible Memorization
    Bible Reading
    Bible Study
    Bible Study Guides
    Bookmarks
    Books
    Character
    Christianity
    Christmas
    Church
    Church Leadership
    Collection
    Colossians
    Commitment
    Compassion
    Complaining
    Conflict
    Conflict Resolution
    Covenant
    Criticizing
    Daniel
    David
    Deacons
    Decision Making
    Deeds
    Deuteronomy
    Devotional Guides
    Dig Deeper
    Discernment
    Discipleship
    Division
    Ecclesiastes
    Elders
    Elisha
    Encouragement
    Ephesians
    Evangelism
    Exodus
    Ezekiel
    Facebook
    Faith
    Faithfulness
    Family
    Family Devotional Guides
    Family Discipleship
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Funerals
    Galatians
    Genesis
    Giving
    Glory
    Goals
    God
    Gospel
    Gospel Of John
    Gospel Of Luke
    Gospel Of Mark
    Gospel Of Matthew
    Gossip
    Grace
    Hannah
    Hebrews
    Hezekiah
    Holiness
    Holy Spirit
    Home Devotional Guides
    Hospitality
    Household
    Humility
    Hypocrisy
    Integrity
    Intercessory Prayer
    Isaiah
    James
    Jesus
    Joel
    John The Baptist
    John Woolman
    Jonah
    Joshua
    Jude
    Judges
    Judgment
    Justice
    Kingdom Of God
    Leadership
    Leviticus
    Love
    Making Disciples
    Malachi
    Martin Luther King Jr.
    Maturity
    Mentoring
    Mercy
    Ministry
    Mission
    Money
    Myth Of A Christian Nation
    Nehemiah
    Neighbor
    New Testament
    Numbers
    Obedience
    Opinions
    Peace
    Perseverance
    Philippians
    Poem
    Politics
    Possessions
    Prayer
    Prayers
    Preaching
    Proverbs
    Psalms
    Puritans
    Purity
    Quotes
    Racism
    Reading
    Redemption
    Renewal
    Repentance
    Romans
    Salvation
    Sermon
    Sermon On The Mount
    Sermons
    Servant
    Service
    Serving
    Shepherding
    Sin
    Slides
    Social Justice
    Social Networking
    Spiritual Gifts
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Leadership
    Stewardship
    Stranger
    Study Notes
    Teaching
    Temptation
    Thanksgiving
    Theology
    Titus
    Transformation
    Trust
    Twitter
    Unity
    Video
    Widows
    Wisdom
    Women
    Women In The Bible
    Worry
    Worship
    Zephaniah

    Archives

    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009


    Creative Commons License
    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.