The big idea
In short: power exists to serve. The one with the most authority gives his life for others, and his followers are told to do the same (10:43–45).
Mark’s question is who Jesus is. Its answer turns power upside down.
The rule underneath: Law 11 · Power serves
Authority serves the people under it and answers to God.
Keep it: People do well under their leaders.
Break it: Leaders take, and kingdoms fall.
Shows up in: Deuteronomy, 1 Kings, Ezekiel, Proverbs, 1 Peter
Other rules in this book: Love the actual person, Protect the weakest, Rest
Live it: Playbook 09 · How to lead
42But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.Mark 10:42-45 · KJV
At a glance
- What it is
- A Gospel: the story of Jesus’ public work, death, and empty tomb. 16 chapters, the shortest of the four, told in plain, fast Greek. The word “straightway” appears some forty times.
- Who wrote it
- The book names no author. A tradition from the early 100s (Papias) says Mark, Peter’s interpreter, wrote down what Peter remembered. Many scholars accept a link to a Mark; how much of Peter lies behind it is argued. debated
- When and where
- Most scholars say about AD 65–75, around the Roman destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 70. Some argue earlier. Tradition says Rome; others suggest Syria or Galilee. debated
- Why it matters
- Most scholars think Mark was the first Gospel written, and that Matthew and Luke used it. debated
- In which Bibles
- The same book in every Christian Bible.
- Read it in
- One sitting, about 90 minutes to 2 hours aloud. It was likely meant to be heard whole.
What it says
1:1–13 · The start. No birth story. John the Baptist calls people to turn; Jesus is baptized and tested in the wilderness.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;Mark 1:1 · KJV
1:14–8:21 · Galilee. Jesus’ first words: the kingdom of God is near, repent and believe (1:15). He heals, touches a leper, eats with tax collectors, and heals on the Sabbath, which starts a plot against him (3:6). He calms a storm, feeds crowds, and raises a dead girl. The disciples see it all and still don’t understand (8:17–21).
8:22–10:52 · On the way. Peter says, “Thou art the Christ” (8:29), then argues when Jesus says he will suffer. Three times Jesus predicts his death, and three times the disciples answer by arguing about who is greatest. Each time he says the first will be last. The section ends with a blind beggar who sees and follows (10:52).
11–13 · Jerusalem. Jesus overturns the temple tables and debates the authorities. Asked for the greatest commandment, he gives two: love God, love your neighbor (12:29–31). He condemns leaders who “devour widows’ houses” (12:40), then watches a poor widow give her last two coins.
14–16:8 · Death and the empty tomb. Betrayal, a trial with false witnesses, Peter’s denial, and the cry from the cross: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (15:34). The first person in the book to call him Son of God is the Roman officer at his execution. Women find the tomb empty and are told to tell the disciples “and Peter” (16:7). They run, afraid.
And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.Mark 15:39 · KJV
Go deeper
- Original words. Euangelion, good news or gospel (1:1), was a word used for announcements of an emperor’s victories. Mark uses it for a crucified servant. Euthys, “immediately,” appears over forty times and gives the book its speed.
- Structure. Two halves: Galilee, full of miracles and crowds (1–8:26), then the road to Jerusalem and the cross (8:27–16:8). Peter’s confession (8:29) is the hinge.
- How the laws interlock. Law 11 is the center (10:42–45). Law 10 is reclaimed for people (2:27), Law 4 in the widow’s coins (12:41–44), and Law 1 in the greatest commandment (12:29–30).
Hard parts
Where does it end?
What it says The two oldest complete manuscripts end at 16:8, with the women running from the empty tomb in fear. Other manuscripts add a shorter ending, a longer one (16:9–20), or both. The KJV prints 16:9–20 as normal text; most modern Bibles add a note.
The rule underneath The resurrection announcement, “he is risen” (16:6), is in every manuscript. No core law depends on the disputed verses.
What people added Most scholars think 16:9–20 was added in the 100s. Whether Mark meant to stop at 16:8 is argued. debated
How it has been used: Verses 17–18 (“They shall take up serpents”) are the basis of snake handling in some Appalachian churches. The practice is usually traced to George Went Hensley in Tennessee, around 1910. Hensley himself died of a snakebite in 1955.
“Keep it quiet”
What it says Jesus keeps telling people not to say who he is (1:34, 44; 8:30).
The rule underneath Power serves. In the story, no one can understand him apart from the cross (8:31; 10:45).
What people added Scholars have argued about the reason since William Wrede named it the “messianic secret” in 1901. The explanations are human theories.
The foreign mother (7:24–30)
What it says A non-Jewish woman begs Jesus to heal her daughter. He answers, “it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs” (7:27). She answers back, and he heals the girl (7:29).
The rule underneath Love the actual person, including the foreigner. The daughter is healed.
What people added Readers take it as a test of her faith, as Jesus voicing a common prejudice in order to overturn it, or as Jesus moved by her reply. It is often called the only argument in the Gospels that Jesus loses.
The widow’s coins
What it says Jesus condemns the scribes “which devour widows’ houses” (12:40). Next he watches a poor widow put in two small coins, “all that she had” (12:44).
The rule underneath Protect the weakest, and give from what is yours to give.
What people added The common reading is praise for sacrificial giving. Another reading, because of verse 40, is a lament over a system that takes a poor woman’s last coins. debated
Translation notes that change meaning
- 1:1 “the Son of God.” A few early manuscripts lack these words. Most Bibles keep them with a note.
- 1:41 “moved with compassion.” One early manuscript and some Latin ones read “being angry.” A few scholars think that is original, but most don’t, and the standard Greek text keeps “compassion.”
- 7:19. Many modern versions add “(Thus he declared all foods clean).” The Greek is compressed; the added words are the translators’ reading of it.
- Jesus’ own language. Mark keeps a few Aramaic words: Talitha cumi (5:41), Abba (14:36), Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani (15:34).
Where it leads
- 09 · How to lead: Mark 10:42–45 is the text.
- 02 · How to love: the two great commandments, and touching the untouchable.
- Also feeds 10 change (“repent” is the first word; Peter is invited back first), 08 rest and 12 deciding (“The sabbath was made for man,” 2:27), 11 living together (whoever does God’s will is family, 3:35), and 06 money (the rich man, the widow).
One thing to do
This week
The Mark 10:43 check
Name one place where you have more power than the people around you: authority, seniority, money. Do one act of service there that no one will credit to you, and give up one perk you take for granted. Write in your journal what it cost and who noticed.
How to read it. Read it in one sitting, aloud. Then read it again watching who understands Jesus and who doesn’t, and what happens to Peter. Stop at 16:8 the first time and sit in the silence.