Discipleship and Disciples in the Gospel of Mark

Recently I was studying certain emphases in the Gospel of Mark and was asked about how one might apply an emphasis in Mark to contemporary Christian living. One emphasis in Mark is his view of discipleship and disciples. It is not at all favorable for the most part. They frequently fail the Lord Jesus or misunderstand Him. Sound familiar? Note the following observations from the Gospel of Mark:

• They don’t grasp His parabolic teaching (4.11-13, 33-34).
• They have hardened hearts and little faith.
• They are confused after crucial miracles (4.40; 6.51-52; 8.4, 14-21).
• They are unable to fulfill Christ’s commission to cast out demons (9.14-29).
• Peter is rebuked after an amazing confession because he failed to understand that Messiah could suffer (8.33).
• The spiritual blindness of the disciples is set against the backdrop of two miraculous testimonies of the blind receiving their sight (cf. 8.22-26 and 10.46-52).
• Peter denies Jesus and Judas betrays Him. All the disciples flee (15-16).
• The women disciples respond to the resurrection with bewilderment and fear. They flee the tomb and say nothing because of that fear (16.8).

Perhaps Mark’s Gospel would be best suited for those struggling with failure in the past. It could be rather handily demonstrated that many fail in Mark’s gospel, but the Lord Jesus is always the faithful Servant. He will restore and enable us for service once again. So, what are waiting for? Get to it – straightway …immediately!