THE JESUS MARK KNEW

Jesus practically begs for a profession of faith from his disciples, even after they’ve witnessed His miracles and heard His profound teaching. Jesus put this question to them: “Who do you say that I am?” Don’t give me your theologies. Who is the Jesus you know? That’s the only Jesus that can really touch you and liberate you. Finally, Peter responds: “You are the Christ!” (Mark 8:29). “And Jesus gave him strict orders not to tell anyone” (8:30). Why? Because each one of us has to walk the same journey of death and doubt for ourselves—and come out the other side “enlarged by love.” No one can do this homework for you.

The murdered body of Jesus is forever an image of what the world does to love—it fears it and kills it, far too often. And yet God will have the last word: This Jesus that you've killed and hated, I raise Him up and hold Him now before all the nations. Until the end of time, He is the sign of how love will win, for love is always stronger than death.

Jesus’ love of the unbelieving disciples in Mark’s Gospel even through the final verses is an eternal promise of His love of all unbelieving disciples, like you and me.