The Unexpected King: Jesus in the Book of Mark
THE SHAPING OF EXPECTATIONS
This past week has not gone according to plan. Every evening, I think about what’s on the schedule for the following day – what needs to be accomplished, the to-dos waiting to be checked off the list. Most of my days as a homeschool mom are pretty predictable. There may be a few sidetracks here and there, but our rhythm stays the same.
But this week? It seemed like every day veered off course, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t steer the ship back on track. All of it made me think about our expectations – the ones we place on our days and routines, our plans, our children, even the future. We hold onto these things, hoping that everything will turn out a certain way. But if we’re honest, how often do we ever get it right? Maybe occasionally, but for the most part, God’s plan for our lives far exceeds our expectations – whether in a single day or across the span of a lifetime.
For hundreds of years, the Israelites had lived under the rule of empire after empire – Assyria (2 Kings 17:6), Babylon (2 Kings 24-25), Persia (Ezra 1:1-4), and now Rome (Luke 2:1). They endured exile, heavy taxation, oppression, fear, and deep spiritual tension. They were no longer in the free kingdom they had known under David and Solomon.[1] All of these experiences shaped their hopes for what a Messiah would be. Before Jesus showed up on the scene, the Israelites were desperately waiting – longing for Someone to rescue them from Rome. They expected a military leader who would overthrow oppressors and restore Israel’s kingdom (John 6:14-15, Acts 1:6). And that’s why, when Jesus came, many couldn’t recognize that He was their King.
THE SERVANT KING REVEALED
When we think about what a King should be, we picture bold, powerful men sitting on thrones or commanding massive armies. Not a carpenter from Nazareth, who didn’t even have a permanent home (Matthew 8:20). But the book of Mark shows us a different kind of King – and a different kind of Kingdom – completely unlike what Israel had anticipated. Mark wastes no time introducing his readers to the Messiah no one was looking for. He begins his Gospel with a “Behold Moment,” declaring John the Baptist as the messenger who prepares the way for the Lord (Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 40:3). Once this prophecy is fulfilled, Mark gets down to business, telling about the incredible things Jesus did. A demon-possessed man calls him Jesus, Son of the Most High God, before Jesus heals him. He walks on the sea, restores the sick, and feeds crowds with almost nothing (Mark 1:40-45, 2:1-12, 4:35-41, 6:30-44). But even more impactful are the moments where He had quiet conversations, asked questions, and listened to hearts (Mark 5:25-34, 10:46-52). Humble, patient, servant – that doesn’t sound like the King that Israel was expecting.
THE UPSIDE–DOWN KINGDOM
Jesus shows us a different way. He tells us that in the Kingdom of God, the first shall be last and the last first. He shows us, by example, that this coming Kingdom is about loving our neighbors as ourselves and surrendering our expectations to God's plans for us. He didn’t come to tear down Rome but to tear down the lies that the enemy had whispered for generations. He didn’t come to replace one empire with another but to announce a Kingdom unlike any they had imagined. He came to reveal that God desires a relationship with us and to lay down His life to make restoration possible (Mark 10:45).
This is where our own reckoning comes in. Let’s face it: we haven’t changed much in 2,000 years. We still want a King who fixes everything, who keeps life predictable and manageable. But that’s not how Jesus rules His kingdom. He’s more concerned about our hearts and motives, our trust and surrender, our obedience and willingness to follow Him. He may not remove the chaos from our week, but He meets us in the middle of it. He may not change our circumstances, but He will change us. His kingship isn’t distant or demanding. It’s present, gentle, and inviting.
So maybe next time my week unravels and refuses to go according to plan, I’ll remember the invitation my King is extending to me – to lean into His goodness and His deep love for me, to trade my expectations for His better plans.
Jesus isn’t the King that was expected, but He is precisely the King our hearts needed.
[1] Carson, D. A. (2019). What We Should Look for in Those Who Teach Mission. https://core.ac.uk/download/216995793.pdf
