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Writer's pictureAmber Thiessen

Anchoring Our Faith in the Identity of Christ: Insights from Mark 1:1


As mothers, especially those of us who are economically savvy, we often find ourselves shopping at Costco. You know the drill—snowsuits that will make it through at least two kids, sturdy snow boots, and those handy winter gloves. And let’s not forget the packs of Puma socks that everyone seems to be wearing at Bible study.


But here’s the dilemma: how do you determine if those snow pants hanging next to your child’s actually belong to them or to a classmate whose items are conveniently hooked right beside? If I’ve been diligent, I’ll have scrawled our child’s name in sharpie, but sometimes it’s faded, and other times, it’s completely rubbed out. Maybe there’s a distinguishing tear or stain, or perhaps they’re just a different size.


So, how do we know it’s ours?


We identify the unique markers—those grass stains, the ripped tag that tell a story.

In much the same way, it’s crucial for us to know who the Lord Jesus is by understanding what makes Him unique. He isn’t just a nice guy or a wise prophet; He is the Savior who came to redeem us. Because let’s face it—just being a good guy doesn’t save anyone.


The State of Theology in 2022 revealed a concerning trend: only half of evangelical Christians believe that Jesus is God, part of the Holy Trinity. Even more troubling, a significant number think He was merely a created being or just an ethical teacher.

This suggests there are some gaps in our understanding and discipleship.


In the opening lines of the Gospel of Mark, we find a powerful declaration: 


“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).

As Graeme Goldsworthy puts it, “The titles of Jesus tell us much about him and make up part of the New Testament teaching about his power to save. Understanding the significance of his titles is of great importance if we are to confirm our confidence in the saving power of Jesus.” [1]


As we strive to live out and share the gospel, we must be confident in who we know and believe Jesus to be. Mark provides us with the clarity we need to stand firm in our faith.


quote from Graeme Goldsworthy on Anchoring Our Faith: Insights from Mark 1:1

1 Rooted in God's Sovereign Plan: In the Beginning

When we think of the word "beginning," our minds are drawn back to the opening words of Scripture, Genesis 1:1, where God creates the heavens and the earth. We’re reminded that the Creator was initiating something new—forming an environment, creatures, and ultimately human beings made in His very image.


As Mark opens his gospel, he hints that God is about to do something new once again. There’s a problem—the world is not as it should be and hasn’t been since Eden. Now, Mark introduces us to the One who will bring a new way and, in God’s perfect timing, will make all things new once more.


The word "beginning" also suggests intentionality. Just as I prepare for a writing project with research and brainstorming, or gather materials for landscaping, or plan and shop for a freezer meal day, every start involves preparation. In the same way, God’s "new thing" wasn’t spontaneous; it was planned from the very beginning. Back in the garden, God told the serpent that there would be enmity between his offspring and hers, and that one day her offspring would crush his head (Gen. 3:15). This was God’s plan to save us from the start of time (2 Tim. 1:9), and He promises to bring it to completion (Phil. 1:6).


 And now, as Mark unfolds the story of Jesus, we are introduced to the fulfillment of that ancient promise—the One who will bring redemption, restoring what was broken and ushering in God's kingdom through the gospel.


2 The Life-Changing Good News: Understanding the Gospel

The word "gospel" comes from the Greek euangelion, meaning "good news." This good news was foretold by the prophets. In Hebrew, the term bisser describes royal announcements—a herald proclaiming important news. Isaiah foretold the arrival of a Messiah-King who would restore, reign, and bring long-awaited peace and blessing:

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’" (Isaiah 52:7)


A new king brings a new way of life. But this King would not meet human expectations. He didn’t come as they anticipated. His rescue was far more thorough and wondrous than they could have imagined, yet it turned their understanding upside down. The life He modeled was one of forgiveness, mercy, and suffering—radically different from what they thought a king’s reign would look like.


And just as His way of life defied expectations, so too are we called to live in a way that reflects His example. His path becomes our path, shaping how we respond to trials, relationships, and the call to love in a world that often resists His ways.


Isaiah 52:7 on Anchoring Our Faith: Insights from Mark 1:1

3 The Savior Who Meets Us Where We Are: Jesus

It’s easy to overlook the profound significance of the name Jesus. In Hebrew, His name would have been Yeshua, meaning “God is salvation.” This wasn’t a name randomly chosen from a list or based on family tradition—it was divinely appointed. Both Mary and Joseph were instructed by God, through the angel Gabriel, to name Him Jesus.


Jesus entered the world fully God and fully man, taking on human flesh so that, while we were still sinners, He would accomplish salvation for us (Rom. 5:8). As Athanasius writes, “It was our sorry case that caused the Word to come down, our transgression that called out His love for us, so that He made haste to help us and to appear among us." [2]


What makes this truth even more comforting is that Jesus knows our struggles firsthand. He was tempted, pressed, mocked, and suffered deeply. Yet, despite all of this, He remained without sin, offering us a perfect example of endurance. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15). As we face hardships, we can take heart in the promise that "as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too" (2 Cor. 1:5).


This is the Savior who meets us where we are—fully understanding our human experience, walking alongside us in our trials, and providing both salvation and the strength to persevere.


4 Living Under the Rule of the True King: Christ

The next title given to Jesus is Christ“the Anointed One.” To the Jewish reader, this title carried profound significance. It was unmistakable: Masiah, the long-awaited Deliverer. Israel had anticipated this Savior for generations, the One who would fulfill the promises of the Old Testament and bring restoration under His righteous rule.


In Mark 14, as Jesus stands before the high priest, He is asked directly, “Are you the Christ?” Jesus responds, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62). This moment marks the first time in Mark’s gospel that Jesus openly declares Himself as the Messiah. By applying the prophecies from Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13 to Himself, Jesus reveals His divine authority, leaving the high priest in turmoil, unable to accept the truth, and accusing Jesus of blasphemy.


But what do we do with this truth? How do we respond to Christ’s authority over our lives and live under His reign?


Living under the rule of Christ isn’t easy. It requires surrender, submission, and trusting His perfect wisdom, even when His ways challenge our expectations or desires. Personally, I know I often get caught up in my own thoughts, feelings, and wants! But it's in those moments that we’re called to refocus and live daily under His authority, in His presence, and for His glory.


quote from athanasius on anchoring our faith: insights from Mark 1:1

5 The Anchor for Our Faith: Son of God

God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit.


One God. Three persons.


As Tara-Leigh Cobble reminds us in The Joy of the Trinity, “Without the Trinity as the core of our beliefs, every other doctrine of our faith starts to come unglued and unhinged... You cannot have the Christian faith without a triune God.” [3] J.I. Packer adds that what we believe about the Trinity “confronts us with perhaps the most difficult thought that the human mind has ever been asked to handle. It is not easy, but it is true.” [4]


The Gospel of Mark begins with the proclamation of Jesus as the Son of God, and this truth is echoed at His crucifixion, when the centurion declares, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39). The title Son of God reveals His divinity and His eternal existence. Jesus wasn’t just a great teacher or prophet—He was begotten of the Father, fully God, sent to accomplish our salvation.


This reality is the anchor for our faith. Knowing that Jesus is the Son of God reassures us that He alone has the power to save, the authority to rule, and the love to sustain us as we live for Him.


So What?

This is where we anchor our faith: in who Jesus is, the true Messiah-King who not only brings good news but embodies it. His identity shapes everything we believe and how we live. Knowing Him as the One who reigns over sin, suffering, and death gives us the confidence to trust His ways, even when they don't align with our expectations. Just as His arrival redefined what it means to be a king, He redefines our lives as we submit to His rule. Anchoring our faith in His identity means embracing His call to follow Him in forgiveness, mercy, and perseverance, knowing that He is both sovereign and good.


As we reflect on God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and goodness, we’re reminded that these truths are not just abstract ideas; they are meant to transform how we live and trust Him daily. What does it mean for us to hold fast to the gospel and rely on His grace in both the joys and challenges of life? Let’s consider how these timeless truths shape our hearts and actions today.


quote from tara leigh-cobble on anchoring our faith in Christ: insights from Mark 1:1

God is sovereign

From the very beginning, He had a plan and is faithfully bringing it to fruition. This truth reassures our hearts because nothing takes Him by surprise. While it hurts to slog through seasons of suffering, it’s comforting to know that He is fully aware and has prepared for it. He is ready and present to walk with us. Through it all, we are never alone—His plans are good, and they are for our good. This is why understanding who Jesus is is so important. As Graeme Goldsworthy notes, “My own experience suggests that when a Christian goes through such a crisis, it is often because of a superficial or even erroneous understanding of who Jesus is and what He has accomplished for us—which we can only grasp when we take into account the entire biblical witness to Jesus, Old Testament and New.” [5]


God is faithful

We see how His promises, spoken in the ancient past, are being fulfilled. From the dawn of creation through the centuries of patriarchs, prophets, and kings, God’s plan has been unfolding. It’s been a long and winding journey, stretching from the beginning to the coming of Christ—thousands of years marked by anticipation and longing. And now, even further along in the vast timeline of world history, God has not forgotten. He doesn’t need a sticky note to remind Him of the promises He made long ago to bring the Messiah. No, He is active and working, steadily bringing all things to completion. This encourages us to trust that, even now, He is transforming us into His likeness. He doesn’t give up on us or forget us. He remains steadfast and unwavering, our refuge in times of need and the anchor in life’s storms.


God is good

The gospel is truly good news. Salvation has come to us through the person and work of the Lord Jesus. He offers rescue from the evil that entangles us, redemption from our sins—past, present, and future—and the restoration of our hearts, drawing us ever closer to His likeness until the day we are made fully new.


We need the gospel every day. It’s not just a one-time event but a daily reliance on His grace, a continual invitation to live in the freedom He’s given us. Every day, we face struggles, temptations, and failures, and every day we return to the hope found in Christ’s finished work. His grace sustains us, transforms us, and keeps us anchored in the truth that we are being made new.


May our deepening understanding of the gospel and the character of God stir our hearts to worship. As J.C. Ryle so powerfully said, “With it, they stand upon a rock. Without it, they have nothing solid beneath their feet. Our hearts are weak. Our sins are many.” [6]


What is one specific action you can take this week to live out your faith in light of who Jesus is as your Savior?


 

[1] Graeme Goldsworthy, Son of God and the New Creation

[2] Athanasius, On the Incarnation

[3] Tara Leigh-Cobble, The Joy of the Trinity: One God, Three Persons

[4] J.I. Packer, Concise Theology

[5] Graeme, Goldsworthy, Son of God and the New Creation

[6] J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on The Gospel of Mark


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