In Mark an understanding of Jesus begins to unfold which includes that Jesus is a divine man and also the true Son of God. This idea of Jesus as the Messiah is depicted in Mark 8:29 when Jesus ask his disciples, “But who do you say that I am? Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” Mark is using the narrative of Jesus as the Messiah to inform readers that Jesus is divine and serving a higher purpose beyond doing good works. In order to fulfill the divine purpose of being the Messiah, Jesus must endure suffering and sacrifice. This is described in Mark 8:31, “Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” The suffering that Jesus endures is endured as a man, yet divinely appointed so that others may be saved. This is supported by Mark 10:45, “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Mark further projects a characterization of Jesus as the Messiah in chapter 9:3-4, “And He was transfigured before them, and His clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on Earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah and with Moses, who were talking to Jesus.” This places Jesus on the same level as the prophet Elijah and Moses who was a great leader of the Jews. Both of these men were inspirational figures in the text of the Old Testament, and Mark’s telling of this story connects Jesus to a greater narrative of life under God’s rule. This is significant because Elijah prophesied the coming of the Messiah, and Mark is exhibiting Jesus as the fulfillment of that prophecy. Furthermore, Mark defines Jesus as the Son of God in chapter 9:7 where he states, “Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud came a voice, ‘This is my Son, Beloved; listen to him!”

Mark also describes the beginning of a new age where Jesus is the Savior of the people. He outlines what life will be like under the rule of God where wealth and social standing are of little importance. Contrary to the Roman standards of society, Jesus describes a new perspective on wealth, which is not based upon possessions or stature but on helping the poor and the weak. Mark states in chapter 10:21, “Looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” In this passage Mark presents Jesus as the Messiah who delivers people from the clutches of cultural, social, and economic pressures, and leads them into a world of divine purpose and greater meaning.