Explain why Jesus' example of self-sacrifice and his suffering, death and resurrection as presented in Mark's gospel are important for Christians?

The first 200 words of this essay...

Explain why Jesus' example of self-sacrifice and his suffering, death and resurrection as presented in Mark's gospel are important for Christians?

The self-sacrifice of Jesus and his suffering, death and resurrection are a major theme in Mark's gospel. Mark's gospel is a foundation document, for all the other gospels, because it was the earliest gospel written, meaning that the events such as these are very likely to have happened the way Mark records them.

Jesus' example of self-sacrifice, as presented in Mark's gospel, is shown through two ways, human and divine power. Through his human power, we are shown a perfect example of a truly human person; totally trusting God and doing God's will and therefore filled with God's spirit. In Mark's gospel, in the story 'Jesus is crucified' (Mk 15:29-32) the teachers of the law and the chief priests challenged Jesus, saying to him 'come down from that cross'. This shows self-sacrifice, and human power, on Jesus' part because he is filled with God's spirit and does God's will. Also, when Jesus was on the cross, he was weighed down with the burden of sin and so he became totally human because only human's sin.