2013-09-06

The book of Mark is the fifth wheel of the four Gospels. Only in some touch-and-go detail does it provide information missing from the other Gospel accounts. Mark lacks the kind of theological exposition and blocks of teaching found in his larger cousins; and Mark’s focus on narrative over exposition can make preaching from his Gospel a particularly difficult task. Forgive the irreverence, but Mark appears to be superfluous. Why was it included in the canon? Why study it when there are better pickings elsewhere?

Naturally, there is more to Mark than meets the eye. Viewed a bit differently, what at first appears to be its liabilities are actually its core strengths. Yes, Mark focuses on action over exposition. Yes, the story is compressed. But for a pastor just beginning his ministry, these are the virtues that provide a sure footing right out of the gate. Beginning with Jesus rather than Romans or Ephesians focuses the pastor on whom ministry and theology is all about. Its vital to convey to our people and ourselves that our faith is built around a relationship with the person of Jesus. He addresses us, judges us, and communes with us. We are answerable to him in our theology and practice. Doctrine is not just a game, it’s the terms of our covenant with the eternal bridegroom.

Of course any of the Gospels can accomplish this, but in Mark’s Gospel Christ is first and foremost a “man of action” and not simply a professorial lecturer on the finer points of theology. Obviously, action and teaching are vitally linked. In the biblical worldview, Word and Act must never be divorced. God acts, but he is always careful to clearly and accurately interpret for us what those actions mean. Nonetheless, the emphasis on action in Mark offers a vision of Christ that is tangible, dramatic, and theologically rich when understood in the context of all God’s redemptive purposes (more on that later). Christ came to do things, not just talk about things.

The fact that Mark is compressed into 16 fast-paced chapters means that he must focus only on the most critical features of Jesus’ mission. That means that the preacher must focus on the most critical features of Jesus’ mission. Mark is giving us the basics, the building blocks of the Christian faith. As a pastor, I want to model for my congregation what is central to our identity and our ministry philosophy. And this doesn’t necessarily start with the doctrine of “the church,” it starts with the doctrine of Christ. The best motivation for ministry is not going to be a sleek mission statement or well-oiled institutional machinery (however biblical and essential it may be), but a clear and wondrous vision of Christ in all his majesty, love, and power. I want for myself, as much as for my congregation, to be motivated by praise not potluck (I serve in a Baptist church). Jonathan Edwards, C.S. Lewis, and Thomas Chalmers are right: the expulsive power of a new affection is the only thing that can get the world out and Spirit in.

With that in mind, in my next three posts I will focus on three central concerns in Mark’s Gospel that are also my central concern in ministry: biblical theology, gospel centrality, and discipleship ministry.

Matthew Claridge is married to Cassandra and has three children, Alec , Nora, and Grace. He is an editor for Credo Magazine and is Senior Pastor of Mt. Idaho Baptist Church in Grangeville, ID. He has earned degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

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