How It Begins
Mark gives us the ministry of the Lord. His account is brief, and there are few events which are not recorded by Matthew and Luke. Nevertheless, what a gap there would be in our view of the Savior's life and work here below if we had not Mark! In none have we a more characteristic manner of presenting what is given us. In none have we such graphic, vivid life touches of our Master—not only what He said and did, but how He looked and felt. Besides, there is the evident design of drawing our attention to His gospel service; and all the incidents chosen, and the peculiar mode in which they are handled, will be found to bear upon this weighty and affecting theme: the Lord God as the servant in lowly, faithful ministration of the gospel here below.
How It Ends
"The Lord, therefore, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God" (W. Kelly Trans.). The work was done; He sat down. With His great earthly work over, He was the great Servant who could say, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do." So He sat down at the right hand of God, the place of power. "And they went forth, and preached everywhere." Is the Lord then inactive? No, "the Lord working with them." So true is it from the first verse of Mark to the last. Jesus is the One that does all things well, working for men in His life or, rather, working for sinners; suffering for sins in death; even now working with His servants when He is gone up to heaven. He is the Servant of God throughout our Gospel. Even seated at God's right hand, He is the Servant -"the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."