For those familiar with his Gospel, it may seem strange to turn to Mark for teaching on Advent. For unlike the other two synoptic Gospels, Mark doesn’t include an infancy narrative in his record of Jesus’ story. No Mary. No Joseph. No shepherds. No angels. No Wise Men. No star. No Bethlehem. No gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh. No census from Caesar Augustus. No donkey. No inn without room. No newborn baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. In fact, the whole story of Jesus’ birth and the events surrounding his young life are conspicuously absent from Mark’s Gospel in which Jesus arrives on the scene as a full grown man on a mission. So what can Mark possibly teach us about Advent?
Although we don’t tend to turn here at Christmastime, I think Mark’s Gospel highlights at least two crucial aspects of Advent: (1) Jesus was born to die and (2) he’s bound to come again.
Born to Die
The great English poet and priest, John Donne (1572-1631) once wrote, “The whole life of Christ was a continual Passion; others die martyrs but Christ was born a martyr… His birth and death were but one continual act, and his Christmas day and his Good Friday are but the morning and the evening of the same day.” No one can read Mark’s Gospel without coming to a similar conclusion. For no other Gospel writer does more to remind us that Christmas is about the cross than Mark.
Three times Mark records Jesus explicitly predicting his own suffering and death (8:31; 9:30-32; 10:45; cf. 2:20; 3:6), and the last of these predictions sums up the essence of Advent as well as any other verse in the Bible. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) That’s why Jesus came according to Mark’s Gospel and that’s why there can be no celebration of Christmas apart from the cross. Unlike McDonald’s advertizing campaign which encourages us to “Celebrate the Season’s Cravings” this Christmas, Mark calls us to celebrate the Son who denied himself for us even as he calls us to pick up our cross and follow him.
Bound to Come Again
But Jesus isn’t just born to die in Mark’s Gospel. He’s also bound to come again as the world’s one true Lord. And it’s actually common liturgical practice to celebrate the beginning of the season of Advent by reading a passage like Mark 13:32-37 which speak of Christ’s Second Coming on the Last Day. Passages like this remind us that Jesus won’t be found wrapped in swaddling clothes or lying in a manger when he comes again. Accordingly we are told to “Stay awake!” (Mark 13:37). Don’t be found doing things that you wouldn’t want Jesus to find you doing when he shows up for the last time. Run to the gift of the cross which is able to supply what you need this Christmas. And then live in light of Jesus’ example. Above all: Stay alert this Advent as we celebrate Jesus First Advent and anticipate his Second.
This is the good news of Advent according to Mark’s Gospel: Jesus was born to die and he bound to come again.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
