Rise and Follow: 30 Days in MarkSample

Mark is sharing the story of how Jesus becomes king. Rulers of the earth often rely on violence and force to gain their power, but that’s not how Jesus does it. In God’s upside-down kingdom, the first is last and the last is first; the leader of all must be the servant of all. Jesus becomes king by surrendering his life in love for others. The soldiers and crowds think they are taunting Jesus by dressing him in royal robes and calling him the king of the Jews, but the irony is, he really is king. And not just of the Jews, but of all creation.

In stark contrast stands Barabbas. Barabbas’ name literally means “son of the Father.” His first name, according to Matthew’s gospel, is Jesus. This Jesus son of the Father had committed murder while participating in a Jewish uprising against the Roman rulers. He sought to gain back Israel’s power through violence and war. He was the kind of messiah many people were looking for. The crowds demand the release of Barabbas, the parody messiah, sending Jesus the son of God to be crucified in his place.

Reflection Questions:

• How is God speaking to me through these verses?
• What does this set of verses teach me about God?
• What does this show me about the good news of Jesus?
• How can I apply what I read today?