March 18, 2021
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Jesus is the Son of God
In Moses’s third speech, he details the blessings and curses that Israel will experience depending on their faithfulness to the Lord. It was common in ancient covenant treaties for the curses to be longer than the blessings. Yet, this may also hint at Israel’s future failure to be faithful to the covenant.
Moses prophesies that if Israel is unfaithful to the covenant, they will be scattered among the nations (Deuteronomy 28:64-66). This is fulfilled for the northern kingdom of Israel in 2 Kings 17 and the southern kingdom of Judah in 2 Kings 25. In exile, many Old Testament prophets will point back to this warning from Moses as a testimony against the sin of Israel.
Moses concludes his third speech with a final exhortation to Israel to accept this covenant from the Lord. Moses reminds Israel of the Lord’s past faithfulness to them as a plea for them to trust Him again as they enter the Promised Land.
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” - Deuteronomy 29:29
The Gospel of Mark concludes with its most important miracle: the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Jesus has fulfilled his prophesies that he would rise from the dead and will meet his disciples in Galilee.
Mark portrays the women who found the empty tomb as faithful and awe-filled witnesses of an act of God that changed everything. This section ends with a trembling astonishment and forces the reader to decide how they will respond to the Gospel.
Mark 16:9-20 is an epilogue not found in some of the earliest manuscripts but was also accepted by early church fathers as a genuine part of Mark’s Gospel. Most translations place this ending in brackets out of caution, yet everything in it is confirmed by other New Testament passages as well.
Regardless of which ending was original to Mark, his message remains the same: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
"And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." - Mark 16:8
Make It Personal
- God has revealed Himself to us through the revelation of His Son, Jesus Christ. He has given us a new covenant, written on our hearts. Take some time today to reflect and think about all God has done for you already, and how you can trust him to bless you in the future.
- Mark’s message to us is this: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. How will we respond? Who do you say that Jesus is? Will we receive this Gospel with humble faith or with scoffing and doubt?