Christ Through the Ages, 7: Mark—Lord Caesar or Lord Jesus?

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/christ-through-the-ages-7/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>Listen to lesson 7 in the series CHRIST THROUGH THE AGES. In this podcast, <i><strong>Mark: Lord Caesar or Lord Jesus?</strong></i>, we will examine a special focus of the earliest of the four gospels, Mark. The lesson is 15 minutes long.</p><img src="http://www.douglasjacoby.com/wp-content/uploads/CR7.jpg" alt="CR7" /><p>Introduction</p><ul><li>Gospels were composed primarily for believers.</li><li><i>Bioi</i>. Ancient biography = <i>bios</i>.</li><li>The theology lies in the differences, not just the similarities<strong>.</strong></li><li>For more on <i>bios</i>, please see <a href="http://harvesthousepublishers.com/book/a-quick-overview-of-the-bible-2012/"><i>A Quick Overview of the Bible.</i></a></li></ul><p>Emphases of Mark</p><ul><li>Brief gospel, swift action. (<i>Euthus</i> [quickly] appears 9x in Mark 1!)</li><li>Roman audience, mainly Gentile—not so much biblical background.</li><li>Jesus’ power and deity.</li><li>Identity of Christ concealed, then revealed.</li><li>Lord Caesar or Lord Jesus?</li></ul><p>Our study: the political implication</p><ul><li>Mark 1:1 -- gospel entails Jesus being the Son of God.</li><li>But "Son of God" and other titles like Lord, God, and Savior were reserved for the Caesar!<ul><li>Julius (dictator, uncle of Augustus, d.44 BC)</li><li>Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD)</li><li>Tiberius (14-37 AD)</li><li>Caligula (37-41)</li><li>Claudius (41-54)</li><li>Nero (54-68)</li><li>Vespasian (69-79)</li><li>And so forth. See Craig Evans' commentary on Mark 8:27-16:20 in <i>The Word Biblical Commentary.</i></li></ul></li><li>1:23-24 -- The demonic world recognizes his identity.</li><li>15:37-39 -- The centurion tasked with the crucifixion recognizes it.</li><li>Yet often his own followers do not grasp his identity (nor do we)!</li><li>Mark's gospel shows us that Jesus deserves our highest allegiance, <i>not</i> any human