Mark never forgot the divine side of Jesus...

The beginning of Mark's gospel is: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." 


To Mark, Jesus was not simply a man among men; he was God among men, ever moving them to a wondering amazement with his words and deeds.


There is no gospel who gives us such a human picture of Jesus. Sometimes its picture is so human that the later writers of Jesus alter a little because they are afraid to say what Mark have said. To Mark Jesus is simply "the carpenter." (6:3) Later Matthew alters that to "the carpenter's son" (Matthew 13:55) as if to call Jesus a village tradesman is too daring.

st. michael's parish, remuera, auckland, new zealand