Paradoxes of Christ in Mark 1-3

What is a Paradox?
Greek – Paradoxos, conflicting with expectations.
1. a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true.
2. one exhibiting inexplicable or contradictory aspects.

the same water that hardens the egg, softens the carrot.

Famous Paradoxes:
Zeno’s Paradox via the parable of the Tortoise and Achilles.


Liar’s Paradox: This sentence is a lie.


Visual Paradoxes:

Young Woman/Old Woman Illusion


M. C. Esher





Paradoxes of Christ in Mark 1-3
Public Jesus and Loner Jesus

Public Jesus:
1:28 – And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
1:32-33 - And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door.
1:37 – And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
2:2 – And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no not so much as about the door.
3:8-11 – And from Jerusalem, and from I-dumae’a, and from beyond Jordan; and theyu about Tyre and Si’don, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him to touch him, as many as had plagues.
3:32 – And the multitude sat about him.

Loner Jesus:
1:35 – And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there he prayed.
1:44 – And he saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man.
3:7 – But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea.
3:12-13 – And he straightly charged them that they should not make him known. And he goeth up into a mountain.

Messianic Jesus and Rebel Jesus

Messianic Jesus
1:1 - . . . the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God
1:11 – And there came a voice from heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
1:24 - . . . thou Jesus of Nazareth . . . thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

Rebel Jesus
2:15 – And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also with Jesus . . .
2:23-28 – And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the Sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the Sabbath say that which is unlawful? And he said to them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and hungered, he and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the showbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.

The Gospel of Mark, Overview

icon – lion; traditionally a powerful animal of action; predatory; alert, watchful (medieval bestiary notes that lions sleep with their eyes open); king of the jungle

Considered the first literary portrait of Christ. Probably written around the late 60's or early 70's A. D. and draws from the oral tradition of the early church. Mark is interesting in that it begins en medias res, with John the Baptist on the move, "a voice crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord.'" By verse 10 of chapter one, Jesus is getting baptized and moving straight away into his temptation and the beginning of his ministry; the gathering of disciples, preaching, healing the sick, casting out devils, and taking on the established authorities. In other words, the text begins with a roar which is echoed by the lion icon associated with Mark's gospel.

Two sources of the Lion image as linked to Mark.
1: Legend of St. Mark and his father encountering two lions and escaping via prayer.
2: The lion image may be a reference to Mark's paradoxical depiction of Christ throughout the text. Christ is referred to as the Lion of Judah in other scriptures (Revelation 5:5 - And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof; Rev. 5:4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.") But while the powerful imagery of the lion does match the power and action of Christ in the initial chapters of Mark, it creates tension in the later chapters of Mark as Christ chooses not to use his power to avoid the passion of the cross.

Lion in St Mark’s square, Piazzetta at Venice








C. S. Lewis draws from Mark's paradoxical depiction of Christ as both powerful and passive Lion in his Chronicles of Narnia series. Specifically, in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Lewis presents Aslan, the lion, as an incarnation of Christ in the world of Narnia.

What does Jesus look like?

Who do men say that I am? Mark 8:27

A heroic figure... not wholly to blame for the religion that's been foisted on him.
Ezra Pound


Jesus was a brilliant Jewish stand-up comedian, a phenomenal improviser. His parables are great one-liners.
Camille Paglia



Jesus was all right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me.
John Lennon


Jesus was the first socialist, the first to seek a better life for mankind.
Mikhail Gorbachev


If Christ were here now there is one thing he would not be-a Christian.
Mark Twain

Who do you say that I am? Mark 8:29

Nicene Creed, A.D. 371

We believe . . . in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.


Definition of Chalcedon, 451, A. D.
Following, then, the holy fathers, we unite in teaching all men to confess the one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This selfsame one is perfect both in deity and in humanness; this selfsame one is also actually God and actually man, with a rational soul {meaning human soul} and a body. He is of the same reality as God as far as his deity is concerned and of the same reality as we ourselves as far as his humanness is concerned; thus like us in all respects, sin only excepted. Before time began he was begotten of the Father, in respect of his deity, and now in these "last days," for us and behalf of our salvation, this selfsame one was born of Mary the virgin, who is God-bearer in respect of his humanness.

Quicumque Athanasian Creed, A. D. 500

The Son is not made, nor created, but begotten by the Father alone. It is also necessary for eternal salvation that he believes steadfastly in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is both God and man. As God, He was begotten of the substance of the Father before time; as man, He was born in time of the substance of His Mother. He is perfect God; and He is perfect man, with a rational soul and human flesh. He is equal to the Father in His divinity, but inferior to the Father in His humanity. Although He is God and man, He is not two, but one Christ. And He is one, not because His divinity was changed into flesh, but because His humanity was assumed unto God. He is one, not by a mingling of substances, but by unity of person. As a rational soul and flesh are one man: so God and man are one Christ. He died for our salvation, descended into hell, and rose from the dead on the third day. He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. At His coming, all men are to arise with their own bodies; and they are to give an account of their own deeds.


Richmond Declaration, 1887 (Quakers)
It is with reverence and thanksgiving that we profess our unwavering allegiance to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. (John 1:18). In Him was life, (John 1:4) and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4) He is the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world; (John 1:9) through whom the light of truth in all ages has proceeded from the Father of lights. (James 1:17) He is the eternal Word (John 1:1) who was with God and was God, revealing Himself in infinite wisdom and love, both as man's Creator (Col 1:13-16) and Redeemer; (Col 1:14) for by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible. Conceived of the Holy Ghost (Matt 1:20) born of the virgin Mary, (Matt 1:23-25, Luke 1:35) the word was made flesh, (John 1:14) and dwelt amongst men. He came in the fulness (Gal 4:4) of the appointed time, being verily foreordained before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20) that He might fulfill (Isa 11:1-5, Isa 52:13-15) the eternal counsel of the righteousness and love of God for the redemption of man (Isa 53). In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Col 2:9). Though He was rich, yet for our sakes, He became poor, veiling in the form of a servant (Phil 2:7) the brightness of His glory, that, through Him the kindness and love of God (Titus 3:4) toward man might appear in a manner every way suited to our wants and finite capacities. He went about doing good; (Acts 10:38) for us He endured (Isa 53:4, Luke 12:50, Luke 19:41, 22:44) sorrow, hunger, thirst, weariness, (John 4:6) pain, unutterable anguish (Luke 22:43,44) of body and of soul, being in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15). Thus humbling himself that we might be exalted, He emphatically recognized the duties and the sufferings of humanity as among the means whereby, through the obedience of faith, we are to be disciplined for heaven, sanctifying them to us, by Himself performing and enduring them, leaving us the one perfect example (1 Peter 2:21) of all righteousness (Matt 3:15) in self-sacrificing love.
But not only in these blessed relations must the Lord Jesus be ever precious to His people. In Him is revealed as true God and Perfect man (Eph 4:13) a Redeemer, at once able to suffer and almighty to save. He became obedient (Phil 2:8) unto death, even the death of the cross, and is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world; (1 John 2:2) in whom we have redemption though His blood (Eph 1:7) the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. It is our joy to confess that the remission of sins which any partake of is only in and by virtue of His most satisfactory sacrifice and no otherwise. (Barclay's Apology, Prop. 5 and 6 par. 15, p.141). He was buried and rose again the third day (1 Cor 15:4) according to the Scriptures, becoming the first fruits (1 Cor 15:23) of them that sleep, and having shown Himself alive after His passion, by many infallible proofs, (Acts 1:3) He ascended into heaven, and hath sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, now to appear in the presence of God for us. (Heb 1:3, 9:24). With the apostles who beheld His ascension, we rest in the assurance of the angelic messengers, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11, and see 5:7). With the apostle John, we would desire to unite in the words, "Amen; even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev 22:20). And now, whilst thus watching and waiting, we rejoice to believe that He is our King and Savior. He is the one Mediator of the new and everlasting covenant (1 Tim 2:5, Heb 9:15) who makes peace and reconciliation between God offended and man offending; (Letter to the Governor of Barbadoes) the great High Priest whose priesthood is unchangeable. (Heb 4:14, 7:24). He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them (Heb 7:25). All power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth. (Matt 28:18). By Him the world shall be judged in righteousness; (Acts 17:31) for the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the son, that all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father (John 5:22,23). All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil until the resurrection of judgment (John 5:2,29 RV).


Baptist Faith and Message, 2008
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.
Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.