In Mark’s gospel Jesus is referred to by many different titles which can be divided into major and minor titles.

        The major titles include- Jesus of Nazareth, Christ/messiah, Son of God, Son of Man and Son of David. Minor titles – King of the Jews, teacher, Master and Lord.

        These titles represent Jesus in different ways. These titles are used by the Disciples, Mark, evil spirits and his opponents. These titles where important for early Christians and Christians today as they portray Jesus as great and worthy which is what he should be portrayed as, titles such as Son of David and Christ/messiah do have meanings behind them which I will explain further when doing each title.

        The titles Jesus originates from the name Joshua which means ‘God is Salvation’. This title shows Jesus’ humanity. ‘Jesus’ was a very common Jewish name at the time. Jesus came from a normal Jewish family his mother Mary was a housewife and his father Joseph was a carpenter which Jesus later became as well. He had a childhood like most others and never considered himself superior to anyone.

         He was superior to people in the way that he was superhuman and had supernatural powers but he was still human and still felt human emotions and thoughts in his life. These emotions are portrayed in stories like ‘The calming of the Storm’ where he vents his anger at the disciples for not having faith,

‘Why are you frightened have you still no faith’.

        In the parable for the Rich Young Man he shows love as he does in many other parables and miracles. In the Garden of Gethsemane he shows anxiety, as he knows he is soon to be killed.

        Jesus’ humanity is very important for us as Christians as we can relate to him because Jesus felt the emotions that we have. Jesus as a human shows us that we can be good and lead a good Christian life like him and that this is not above our ability.

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        The title Son of God is a much more superior title to Jesus it was the most popular title and the most important and it shows his mission on earth, he is unlike anyone else as he is special. Mark highlights this title by showing a personal relationship between God and Jesus like at the baptism when God said,

‘You are my own dear son, I am pleased with you’

He is the beloved son the anointed one.

        ‘Thou art my son my beloved and thee my favour rests’

This is when Peter, James and John where on the mountain ...

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