Jesus’ Deity in Mark’s Gospel Part 3
Christian and Ahmet discuss how Mark's Gospel presents the diety of Jesus.
Christian: I’m really pleased we can keep meeting up to talk about these things. How are you getting on reading Mark’s Gospel?
Ahmet: I’ve been really enjoying it. I have lots of questions, of course. But let’s continue our discussion about who Jesus is. This has been really fascinating.
Christian: So, you said you a specific question, what would you like to talk about today?
Ahmet: We’ll the thing is, the question all my friends keep telling me to ask you is, you know the one, “where does Jesus say himself, I am God, worship me?” I know we’ve talked about this before. You’ve shown me that in John Jesus uses God’s name saying, “before Abraham was, I AM”. But what about in Mark, is there anything like that?
Christian: It’s funny you should ask that, I was just reading
Mark 14, there is an amazing verse right near the end of the chapter, but before I show you that, I want to show you a couple of verses from the Old Testament. Have a read of
Daniel 7:9-13. What do you see?
Mark 14It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might seize him by deception and kill him. For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot amongst the people.” While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard—very costly. She… read full verse
Daniel 7:9-13“I watched until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came out from before him. Thousands of thousands ministered to him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgement was set. The books were opened. “I watched at that time because of the voice… read full verse
Ahmet: Well, God is there on his throne, he sounds amazing and so does his throne, flaming with fire!
Christian: Yes, that is a picture of God’s purity, power and authority. What do you think about verses 13-14?
Ahmet: Well, there is a man, but he seems very special. In fact he kind of sounds like a man and God at the same time, especially that phrase about him being worshiped. Is it saying that there are two Gods?
Christian: It can sound a bit like that, but no, the Bible says there is only one God, but you are right that the man in
Daniel 7:14 can only be God himself. In the Bible only God “comes on the cloud” and is worshiped.
Daniel 7:14Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be destroyed.
Ahmet: That’s interesting. What is the other verse?
Christian: The other verse is this one from
Psalms 110:1. This is actually one of the most quoted verses in the New Testament. It says, “The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” What comes to your mind as you read this?
Psalms 110:1A Psalm by David. The LORD says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.”
Ahmet: Well, it sounds a little bit like
Daniel 7. There seem to be two who are called “Lord”.
Daniel 7In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea. Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another. “The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s… read full verse
Christian: That’s right. And what do we learn about the second “Lord”?
Ahmet: We’ll he seems to be seated in the same place as the first Lord, at his right hand, and he seems to have a huge amount of authority. Who could this be?
Christian: Well, it’s interesting that Jesus, although Mark says his is the Son of God, Jesus loved to call himself, the Son of Man. But have a look at
Mark 14:62. Jesus is on trial, and the high priest asks him if he is the Messiah and the Son of God…
Mark 14:62Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky.”
Psalms 110A Psalm by David. The LORD says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.” The LORD will send out the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule amongst your enemies. Your people offer themselves willingly in the day of your power, in holy array. Out of the womb of the morning, you have the dew of your youth. The LORD has sworn, and will not change his mind:… read full verse
Daniel 7In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea. Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another. “The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s… read full verse
Christian: Yes, and do you see that Jesus says, “I AM”, in Greek that is exactly the same as
John 8:58, and in context of Mark, especially with Mark drawing parallels to the Lord in Exodus (see also
Mark 6:50), he is claiming to be the LORD himself.
John 8:58Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”
Mark 6:50for they all saw him and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them and said to them, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
Ahmet: Wow, no wonder they said he is deserving of death!
Christian: Yes, they knew exactly what he was claiming…