The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Mark 10, 45.
Mark was one of the apostle Paul’s fellow workers, and was taken with him on his first missionary journey. From the book of Acts we learn, however, that Mark left him and the other servants of the Lord to return to his homeland (cf. ch. 13, 13 & ch. 15, 37.38).
It was not until some years later that we again read of Mark and his service for Christ. In his last letter Paul mentions him as being “useful … for ministry” (2 Timothy 4, 11).
This previous history may perhaps surprise us that God used Mark to present the Lord Jesus as the perfect servant, which is the viewpoint in his gospel. Clearly, it must have been his own failing that made Mark realize that his Lord was the one absolutely faithful servant of God.
The key words in this gospel are “immediately” or “at once”. Being constantly active for His God characterized Jesus Christ as a Man on earth. Unlike Matthew and Luke, Mark does not give the genealogy of Jesus in his gospel. Why should he? A servant’s origin is not the important thing, but rather his loyalty in service. With the Lord Jesus it was perfect; there was no pause or interruption. Everything was directed to the fulfilment of the mission that God had given Him: His atoning death on the cross, His resurrection and ascension.
At the end of the gospel of Mark we see the risen Lord in heaven. His disciples continue the work that their Master had begun in the world.