Mark’s Direct Attack

Day 2

Big Idea: When Jesus is called the Son of God it is a direct repudiation of Caesar who was treated as a god.

Mark 1:1 states clearly: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

If you lived in Rome at the time, “Son of God” was not a new name. Following the death of Julius Caesar, the fallen emperor was declared divine. His successor, Caesar Augustus, began calling himself Son of a god. Coins were minted with that title. Inscriptions were crafted. Augustus liked this title as it reinforced political loyalty. To confess “Caesar is Lord” was political allegiance. To call him “Son of God” was acknowledging imperial supremacy.

Then Jesus shows up. Mark, in a direct rebuttal of the Roman power of the day, calls Jesus the Son of God! Mark is not just making a theological point; he is making a political point as well.

Jesus is the supreme leader.

Jesus is the great power.

Jesus is the one to follow.

Most of us are not tempted to call a political figure any name of deity, but if we are not careful, we are very tempted to bow down to the ideologies, power, and success of these figures.

If we are not careful, we are tempted to worship gods of comfort, achievement, and accomplishment. We worship the dreams of peace, happiness, and health with our whole heart, mind, and soul.

Jesus, the Son of God, is the only one worthy of our highest attention and affection. Remember back to our series in February on following Jesus and consider the question raised in Luke 9:25: “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”

Is there anything in this world that is worthy of our whole heart, mind, and soul?

Jesus makes it clear: nothing else is worthy except me!