part 3

[Virtual Presenter] In this section, we will examine the main purposes of Mark's Gospel - to portray Christ as the Suffering Servant and to provide encouragement to believers who are facing suffering, particularly those in Rome. Mark's intention to depict Christ as the Suffering Servant is evident throughout his Gospel. However, there is another underlying purpose that is closely intertwined with this. Mark also sought to uplift suffering believers. The suffering of Christ for their sake would serve as a source of encouragement for them. If the Son of God, who was perfect and blameless, had to endure such intense suffering, then surely the Roman believers were not alone in their struggles. But what does this mean for us? How can we find strength in Christ's suffering? Firstly, we must recognize that true greatness comes from serving others, just as Jesus did. This is illustrated in His second and third predictions of His coming Passion. However, even after hearing these clear warnings, the disciples still did not fully grasp the concept. They were more concerned with their own status and position in Christ's Kingdom, rather than the true cost of discipleship. Mark highlights this by recounting two specific events. In chapter 9, the disciples are caught arguing amongst themselves about who would be the greatest in Christ's Kingdom. And in chapter 10, James and John boldly ask to sit at Jesus' right and left hand in His Kingdom. These power struggles demonstrate that the disciples still had not fully comprehended the true meaning of Christ's suffering. However, for the Roman Christians who were facing persecution and hardship for their faith, the meaning was clear. They understood that following Christ meant enduring suffering and persecution, just as He did. And this understanding would have given them the courage and motivation to continue living faithfully for Christ, despite their circumstances. Mark further emphasizes this theme by recording Jesus' teachings on bearing one's cross, not once, but twice. In chapter 8, Jesus tells His disciples that whoever wants to follow Him must deny themselves and carry their cross. And in chapter 10, we see the account of the rich young ruler who ultimately decides that he is not willing to sacrifice and suffer for Christ. Peter, who was both Mark's close companion and a fellow sufferer for the faith, also wrote about Christ's suffering. He knew firsthand the cost of discipleship and the value of Christ's suffering..

[Audio] Today, we will be discussing the second purpose of Mark's Gospel, which is to encourage the suffering believers in Rome. Mark desired to present Christ as the Suffering Servant in order to uplift those who were enduring persecution for their faith. In our reading, we saw Jesus make two predictions of his coming Passion, which were followed by his disciples' attempts at power grabs. This shows that they did not fully understand what would happen to Jesus in Jerusalem. However, the Roman Christians would have immediately grasped the significance of Jesus' suffering and how it related to their own discipleship. They understood that their suffering in Rome was to be expected as part of following Christ. To further emphasize this message, Mark includes Jesus' teachings on bearing one's cross, a recurring theme in his Gospel. This is seen in the rich young ruler's decision to keep his wealth and comfortable lifestyle instead of sacrificing and suffering for Christ. It is also evident in the life of Peter, who wrote about Christ's suffering at the same time as Mark. Peter experienced both moments of failure and standing strong for Christ, enduring imprisonment and beatings. Through Christ, we see both the example of suffering and the ultimate hope in the face of death. He cares for each believer like a faithful shepherd cares for their sheep. The message to the Roman Christians was clear: living obediently for Christ may mean suffering or even death, but he is the powerful leader, the ultimate example, and the one who will never leave or forsake them. Thank you for joining us for this presentation. Please stay tuned for the next part of our discussion on the Gospel of Mark..

[Audio] Slide 3 of the presentation focuses on the two main purposes of Mark's Gospel. The first is to present Jesus Christ as the Suffering Servant. The second purpose, which will be discussed today, is to encourage the believers in Rome who were undergoing persecution and suffering. Mark's intention to depict Jesus as the Suffering Servant was closely linked to his desire to inspire and uplift the suffering believers in Rome. As they saw Jesus enduring suffering on their behalf, they would find comfort in knowing that they were not alone in their struggles. After all, even the Son of God endured great suffering. In order to convey this theme, Mark included two instances where Jesus spoke about bearing one's cross. Both times, Jesus emphasized that following Him would come with sacrifice and suffering. However, the disciples did not fully grasp this concept, as seen in their disagreements about who would be the greatest in Christ's Kingdom, and James and John's request to sit at His right and left hand. The Roman believers, on the other hand, would have immediately understood the significance of Jesus' suffering. They knew that suffering for their faith in Rome was to be expected. To further emphasize this point, the writer Peter, who was a close friend of Mark, also wrote about Jesus' suffering in his own epistle. Having personally experienced both failure and triumph for the sake of Christ, Peter understood the meaning of standing up for one's faith. Ultimately, Jesus not only serves as an example of suffering, but also as the source of hope in the face of death. He cares for His followers just as a faithful shepherd cares for each of his sheep. His message to the Christians in Rome was clear: living faithfully for Christ may involve suffering and even death, but in the end, He is the ultimate source of hope and strength..

[Audio] Mark's gospel has a fourth purpose, which is to encourage the Roman Christians. Along with presenting Christ as the Suffering Servant, Mark wanted to strengthen and uplift those who were facing suffering for their faith. The fact that these two purposes go hand in hand is evident. The believers would have found comfort and encouragement in the suffering of Christ, knowing that he endured it for them. This also meant that they were in good company, as the Son of God himself was willing to suffer for them. However, Mark also aimed to teach the believers that true greatness in the kingdom of God comes through serving, rather than seeking power or status. This can be seen in the disciples' disputes and attempts at power grabs, as shown in 9:33-35 and 10:35-44. It is clear that they did not fully understand Jesus' predictions of his coming Passion. However, the Roman Christians would have understood the significance of Jesus' suffering and how it related to discipleship. Living in a city where suffering for one's faith was expected, Mark wanted to remind them that true service to Christ involves bearing one's own cross. To further emphasize this theme, Mark records Jesus' teaching about bearing one's cross in 8:34-38 and 10:21-22. In contrast to the rich young ruler who chose to hold onto his wealth and comfortable life, Peter, who was a close associate of Mark, understood the cost of following Christ. He later wrote about Christ's suffering and how it applies to our own lives as believers. Jesus not only serves as an example of suffering, but also as our ultimate hope in the face of death. He cares for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep. This message would have been especially powerful and meaningful for the Christians in Rome, who were facing persecution and possibly death for their faith. Mark wanted to remind them that living obediently for Christ may mean unjust suffering, but our hope and ultimate reward are found in him..

[Audio] Christ suffered in order to bring us encouragement and hope in him. Mark's Gospel has 14 slides, and we are currently on the 5th slide. Along with presenting Christ as the Suffering Servant, Mark also aimed to encourage believers who were facing persecution and hardship for their faith in Rome. He wanted to remind them that they were not alone in their suffering, as Jesus himself had also endured great suffering. This idea of serving others and following in the footsteps of Christ is what leads to true greatness, rather than seeking power or recognition. Mark emphasizes this by recording Jesus' teachings on bearing one's cross in both chapter 8 and 10. It is important to note that discipleship includes suffering for Christ, as demonstrated by Peter's writing on Christ's suffering and his own experiences of failure and courage. Not only was Jesus an example of suffering, but he also offers believers the ultimate hope in the face of death. Just as a caring shepherd takes care of his sheep, Jesus cares for us and we can find encouragement and hope in him even in the midst of suffering. In conclusion, Mark's Gospel serves a double purpose of presenting Christ as the Suffering Servant and encouraging believers in their own suffering. As we continue to explore the remaining slides, we will see how these two purposes are intertwined..

[Audio] The second purpose of this presentation is to focus on Mark's desire to encourage believers who are facing suffering. This aligns with his main goal of presenting Christ as the Suffering Servant. The Roman Christians would have found comfort and strength in knowing that Christ, the Son of God, also suffered for their sake. This served as a reminder that they were not alone in their suffering. Mark emphasizes the theme of service in his gospel, particularly the idea that true greatness comes from serving others. This is demonstrated by the disciples' lack of understanding when Jesus predicts his coming suffering and they respond with attempts at gaining power. This shows that they did not fully grasp what would happen to Christ in Jerusalem. In one instance, they argue amongst themselves about who will be the greatest in Christ's Kingdom. In another, James and John boldly ask to sit at Jesus' right and left hands in his Kingdom. However, the Roman believers would have immediately understood that as followers of Christ, they too were called to bear their own crosses and endure suffering. To reinforce this message, Mark records Jesus teaching on bearing one's cross twice. One example is when a rich young ruler is faced with the choice of sacrificing and suffering for Christ or choosing a comfortable life and keeping his wealth. He ultimately chooses the latter. On the other hand, Peter, who was close to Mark, truly understood the true meaning of bearing one's cross as he himself had both failed and stood for Christ. He had denied Christ but later endured imprisonment and beatings for his faith. Christ serves as an example and a source of hope for believers in the face of suffering and death. Just as a shepherd cares for each of his sheep, Christ cares for each and every believer. The message for the Roman Christians was clear - living for Christ may lead to suffering and persecution, but it is all for the sake of the gospel. This is our second purpose - to encourage and strengthen the believers in Rome.".

[Audio] Mark's Gospel not only presents Christ as the Suffering Servant, but also seeks to encourage suffering believers among the Roman Christians. This is because they would find comfort in the fact that they are not alone in their suffering. If the Son of God was willing to suffer for them, then surely they were in good company. Jesus taught that true greatness comes from serving others. However, his disciples had a different understanding, as seen in their attempts to secure positions of power in his Kingdom. This shows their lack of understanding of Jesus' impending suffering in Jerusalem. This lack of understanding is evident again when James and John ask to sit at Jesus' right and left hands in his Kingdom. The Roman Christians, on the other hand, would have immediately understood the implications of Jesus' suffering for their own discipleship. They would have realized that suffering for Christ was to be expected in their lives. In fact, Mark highlights Jesus' teachings on bearing one's cross twice, which is a powerful message for the believers in Rome who were facing persecution and suffering for their faith. Just as Jesus willingly suffered for them, they too must be willing to bear their own crosses for him. This is in contrast to the rich young ruler, who was not willing to sacrifice and suffer for Christ and chose instead to hold onto his riches and comfortable life. But Peter, the author's close associate, wrote about Christ's suffering and even experienced it firsthand through his own imprisonment and beatings. He knew the importance of standing firm for Christ, even after failing him. Jesus, as both the example and the ultimate hope in the face of death, cares for his believers like a faithful shepherd cares for his sheep. This message would have been clear to the Roman Christians - that living obediently for Christ may sometimes mean enduring suffering or even death. But in the end, their faithfulness will not go unnoticed by their loving and caring Savior. Therefore, Mark's second purpose in writing his Gospel was to encourage the suffering believers in Rome, and this is a message that still holds relevance for us today..

[Audio] great things come to those who serve" and ultimately, the ultimate example and hope for suffering and service is found in Christ. As we continue to explore the purpose of Mark's gospel, we come to the second reason - to encourage the suffering believers in Rome. This purpose is closely tied to Mark's desire to present Christ as the Suffering Servant. Jesus' predictions of his coming Passion serve as a source of encouragement for those facing trials and persecution. Despite knowing that he would suffer and die, Jesus continued to serve and teach his disciples. However, the disciples did not fully understand the significance of his suffering in Jerusalem. This is made evident by their attempts to seize power and seek positions of greatness in Christ's Kingdom. However, the Roman Christians would have understood the true meaning behind Jesus' suffering. They would have seen that their own suffering for Christ was to be expected and that they were in good company with the suffering Jesus. This would have given them hope and encouragement to continue living for Christ, even in the midst of trials and persecution. Mark further emphasizes this theme by recording Jesus' teaching about bearing one's cross - a concept familiar to the Romans who were all too familiar with the image of criminals carrying their own crosses to their execution. Through this imagery, Jesus emphasizes the idea of self-sacrifice and enduring suffering for the sake of the gospel. On the other hand, the story of the rich young ruler serves as a cautionary tale of someone who failed to understand this concept, ultimately rejecting Christ for the sake of his wealth and comfort. In contrast, Peter - Mark's close associate - serves as an example of someone who understood the true meaning of suffering and serving Christ. He had denied Christ, but later endured imprisonment and beatings for the sake of the gospel. It is important to note that in both suffering and service, Christ is our ultimate example and hope. He laid down his life for us, just as a faithful shepherd cares for his sheep. This message would have been clear to the Romans - that living obediently for Christ may bring suffering and even death, but in the end, "great things come to those who serve." Ultimately, Mark's twofold purpose in writing his gospel is to present Christ as the Suffering Servant and to encourage the suffering believers in Rome. Through his teachings and examples, Jesus shows us that "great things come to those who serve," and in the end, the ultimate example and hope for suffering and service is found in Christ..

[Audio] Christ suffered on behalf of believers as an example for them to follow. Along with Mark's portrayal of Christ as the Suffering Servant, his intention was also to encourage believers who were facing suffering. The suffering of Christ on their behalf would serve as a source of encouragement to them. It showed that they were not alone in their suffering, as even the Son of God experienced it. As Jesus continued to teach about the nature of greatness in His Kingdom, His disciples were struggling to understand His upcoming suffering and death. Instead, they were focused on their own ambition and desire for power, as seen in their dispute over who would be the greatest in Christ's Kingdom. Even James and John boldly asked to have positions of power in His Kingdom. However, Jesus emphasized that true greatness comes not from seeking power and status, but from serving others. This theme was also reinforced by Jesus' teachings about bearing one's cross, as recorded twice by Mark. In the first instance, Jesus explains that following Him requires denying oneself, taking up one's cross, and following Him. In the second instance, a rich young ruler is faced with the choice between keeping his wealth and comfort or sacrificing and suffering for Christ. It is worth noting that Mark's associate, Peter, also wrote about Christ's suffering during this time. As someone who had both failed and stood for Christ, Peter understood the call to suffer for Him. And ultimately, Jesus Himself is the perfect example of suffering and the ultimate hope in the face of death. He cares for each believer as a faithful shepherd cares for his sheep. The message for the Christians in Rome would have been clear: living obediently for Christ may involve suffering and even death. But as Christ suffered for them and left them an example to follow, they are called to follow in His footsteps. True service to Christ involves bearing one's cross..

[Audio] Mark's Gospel has a second purpose, which is to encourage Roman Christians who are facing persecution for their faith in Christ. This purpose aligns with Mark's goal of presenting Jesus as the Suffering Servant. The Roman believers would have found solace in knowing that Jesus himself endured immense suffering for their sake, giving them the strength to continue living for Christ despite persecution. Mark also emphasizes the importance of service in the Christian life, as Jesus taught about the greatness that comes from serving others rather than seeking power and recognition. This is evident in Jesus' predictions of his upcoming Passion, which were followed by his disciples' attempts to assert their positions of power. Though they did not fully understand at the time, the Roman Christians would have immediately grasped the significance of Jesus' suffering for their own discipleship. They understood that suffering for Christ was not only expected, but also essential for living obediently to him. Mark further reinforces this message by including two passages where Jesus teaches about bearing one's cross, meaning being willing to sacrifice and endure suffering for the sake of Christ. The rich young ruler, who chose to keep his wealth and comfortable life, serves as an example of the struggle to put Christ above worldly possessions. However, Peter, who wrote about Jesus' suffering around the same time as Mark, stood firm in his faith even after denying Jesus. This message of service and suffering may have been difficult for the Roman Christians to hear, but it would have given them hope, knowing that Christ is their faithful shepherd, caring for them in their struggles. This message remains relevant for us today, reminding us that following Christ means being willing to suffer for his sake, with the assurance that he is always there to guide and care for us. As we continue exploring Mark's Gospel, may we remember the powerful message of service and suffering and be encouraged to live obediently for Christ, regardless of the cost. Thank you for reading..

[Audio] In this section of our presentation, we will be discussing slide number 11 out of 14, which focuses on the second purpose of Mark's Gospel. This purpose is to encourage the Roman Christians. Along with presenting Christ as the Suffering Servant, Mark also aimed to provide encouragement to those believers who were suffering in Rome. These two purposes are closely connected, as the suffering believers could find comfort in the fact that Christ himself had also suffered for them. The main theme of this section is that greatness in the Kingdom of God comes from serving, rather than striving for power and recognition. We see this through Jesus' predictions of his coming Passion, and the disciples' attempts at power grabs, which show that they did not fully understand the true nature of Christ's suffering. This idea of serving is also exemplified in bearing one's own cross, as Jesus taught in Mark 8:34-38 and 10:21-22. The story of the rich young ruler serves as an example of this, as he chose to hold onto his riches and comfort instead of sacrificing for Christ. Interestingly, Mark's close associate Peter also wrote about Christ's suffering during the same time that Mark was writing his Gospel. Peter was intimately familiar with both failing Christ and standing for him, as he denied Christ but then endured imprisonment and beatings for the sake of the Gospel. Christ, like a faithful shepherd, serves as an example of suffering and hope in the face of death for his believers. For the Roman Christians, the message is clear: living obediently for Christ may mean suffering, even to the point of death. However, we can find comfort in knowing that Christ himself endured suffering for us and that we can follow his example. This concludes our discussion of this section. Thank you for your attention and we will now move on to the next slide..

[Audio] Mark's purpose in his Gospel was not only to present Christ as the Suffering Servant, but also to encourage believers who were facing their own suffering. The connection between these two purposes was evident to the believers, who found strength and comfort in knowing that Christ himself had also suffered. This idea is reflected in two instances in the Gospel of Mark. The first was when Jesus predicted his own suffering and the disciples responded with selfish arguments about greatness in the Kingdom. The second was when James and John boldly asked for positions of honor in the Kingdom. These reactions showed that the disciples did not fully understand the significance of Christ's suffering. However, the Roman believers would have immediately understood its implications for their own discipleship, as they could expect to face suffering as well in their pursuit of living for Christ. This leads to the second point that service to Christ includes bearing one's own cross. Jesus taught this concept twice, emphasizing the importance of taking up one's cross and following him. The rich young ruler chose to cling to his wealth and comfort instead of suffering for Christ, but Peter, who wrote about Christ's suffering at the same time that Mark wrote his Gospel, understood the true cost of discipleship. Despite denying Christ, he later suffered imprisonment and beatings for the sake of the Gospel. Ultimately, Christ himself was the ultimate example of suffering, and also the hope in the face of death. He cares for us as a faithful shepherd cares for his sheep. This was the message that would have been clear to the Christians in Rome: living obediently for Christ may involve suffering and even death, but it is worth it..

[Audio] In slide number 13, Mark expresses his desire to encourage the Roman Christians. His main purpose is to present Christ as the Suffering Servant, but he also wanted to lift up and support believers who were facing suffering. This is because these two purposes are interconnected. The suffering of Christ for their sake would serve as a source of encouragement for the Roman believers. Seeing that the Son of God experienced such pain and suffering, they could find strength in knowing that they were in good company. One way that Christ taught about true greatness was through serving others. However, His disciples did not fully understand the extent of Christ's suffering in Jerusalem. We see this in Mark 9:33-35, where the disciples are arguing among themselves about who will be the greatest in Christ's Kingdom. In Mark 10:35-44, James and John boldly ask to sit at Jesus' right and left hands in His Kingdom. But the Roman Christians would have understood that the suffering endured by Jesus had implications for their own discipleship. They could expect to face suffering in Rome as a result of living for Christ. Mark supports his theme of service by including Jesus' teaching on bearing one's cross twice in his Gospel. In Mark 8:34-38 and Mark 10:21-22, we see the rich young ruler struggling with the decision to sacrifice and suffer for Christ. Ultimately, he chooses to keep his wealth and comfortable lifestyle instead of following Jesus. However, Peter, who wrote about Christ's suffering at the same time as Mark, understood the true meaning of standing up for Christ. He initially denied Christ but then went on to endure imprisonment and beatings for the sake of the Gospel. Christ is the ultimate example of suffering and also the ultimate hope in the face of death. He cares for each believer just as a faithful shepherd cares for their sheep. The message for the Roman Christians is clear: while living obediently for Christ may result in unjust suffering or even death, this is a small price to pay for the eternal hope that He offers..

[Audio] Moving on to the final slide, it is evident that Mark's intention was to present Christ as a Suffering Servant and to encourage suffering believers. These two purposes are intertwined, as the believers would find solace in the fact that Christ too had suffered on their behalf. It is a testament that even the Son of God endured suffering, thus the Roman Christians were not alone in their struggles. Firstly, it can be observed that true greatness comes from serving others. In the second and third predictions of His coming Passion, Jesus' disciples were still preoccupied with power and positions in His Kingdom. It is apparent that they did not fully comprehend the events that would unfold in Jerusalem. Within Mark 9:33-35, the disciples argued amongst themselves about who would be the greatest in Christ's Kingdom. Additionally, in 10:35-44, James and John boldly asked to occupy the prominent seats in Jesus' Kingdom. However, it became clear to the Roman Christians that the suffering Jesus endured had a direct impact on their discipleship. Their own suffering in Rome was expected as a part of their devotion to Christ. Secondly, Mark emphasizes the importance of bearing one's cross as a part of serving. In fact, he records Jesus teaching about this concept twice – in 8:34-38 and 10:21-22. The rich young ruler, however, chose to hold onto his wealth and comfortable life instead of sacrificing and suffering for Christ. Interestingly, it is worth noting that Peter, who was a close associate of Mark, also wrote about Christ's suffering around the same time that Mark wrote his Gospel. Peter knew firsthand the consequences of both failing and standing firm for Christ. Although he denied Christ, he later endured imprisonment and beatings for the sake of the Gospel. Christ Himself serves as the ultimate example of suffering and also offers hope in the face of death. He cares for each believer as a faithful shepherd would care for his sheep. The message was clear to the Christians in Rome – living obediently for Christ may sometimes result in wrongful suffering or even death for one's faith. In conclusion, it is evident that Mark's second purpose in writing his Gospel was to encourage the Roman Christians. We hope that this presentation has provided valuable insights and inspiration, and we strongly encourage you to continue serving Christ faithfully, even in times of suffering. Thank you..