In the early chapters of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is seen to have authority over the demonic (Mark 1:21-28; 5:1-20), disease and death (1:40-45; 5:21-43), storms (4:35-41) and the authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:1-12). His authority is challenged by the religious leadership of Israel, especially the officials from Jerusalem. They challenge Jesus because they are challenged by him. Jesus is forgiving sins apart from the Jerusalem Temple sacrificial system and he is doing it directly, like he’s God (Mk. 2:7).

The Undeniable Power Of Jesus

The religious leaders cannot deny Jesus’ power to heal and exorcise demons, so they attribute Jesus’ power to Satan (Mk. 3:22-30). The proud and unrepentant leaders keep resisting the Holy Spirit’s convicting work, and so they are in danger of dying in their unbelief. This sin of persistent unbelief is the eternal sin that Jesus is talking of in Mk. 3:29. This is the only unforgivable sin.

Jesus goes up a mountain and chooses twelve disciples in Mark 3:13-19, just like Moses received the 10 commandments on a mountain and gave them to the twelve tribes of Israel (Exodus 20). Jesus is portrayed as a greater Moses and will be also shown to be a greater David. He is the promised Messianic king of the David’s family line. He will not only lead believing Jews but also believing Gentiles to possess the promised kingdom of God through a new covenant. No wonder Mark’s Book is called Gospel. It truly is Good News.

The Bread Of Life

The feeding miracle of feeding 5,000 men, plus women and children (Mark 6:30-44), also has echoes of a greater Moses is before our very eyes. God led the Israelites in the desert for 40 years, under Moses’ leadership, feeding them manna from heaven each day. In the fullness of time, the Living Bread, Jesus, has come down  from heaven to satisfy both the physical and spiritual hunger of God’s people (Jo. 6:32-51).

In Mark 8:1-13, Jesus feeds 4,000 men, plus women and children, in an area that has many Gentiles. The greater Moses, Jesus, will not only lead the believing Jewish people to the Promised Land, he will lead believing Gentiles as well. The long-expected Jewish Messiah is the King of kings, the Lord of the universe.

QOTD: Have you learned to receive daily spiritual nourishment from the Bread of Life, Jesus?