How do you define your identity? Is it independent of, or in relationship with, others? What other factors define who you are? Matthew, Mark, and Luke all identify Jesus by his relationships and actions, but Mark does not concern himself with genealogies or birth narratives. In just 11 verses he connects John to Isaiah, Jesus to John, and the Father and Spirit to Jesus. Matthew takes 65 verses and Luke 170 to get to the same point in the story (John’s gospel is from a different perspective so there is not a comparison). Yet despite this brevity, Mark dedicates an entire line to describe John’s attire and diet, why is that?!
As we tackle part three of Jesus, Son of God, Mark’s brevity teaches us that what matters most about identity is how it is defined by God and his Word.
