ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT THE CHURCH FACES TODAY IS THE TEMPTATION TO FORGE JESUS INTO OUR OWN IMAGE; THAT IS, WE OFTEN HAVE A PREDETERMINED IDEA OF WHO GOD IS, AND WE READ THE BIBLE LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT OUR CLAIM. MARK’S GOSPEL CHALLENGES THIS IDEA BY DROPPING US STRAIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF JESUS’ LIFE AND WASTING NO TIME TELLING HIS READERS EXACTLY WHO JESUS IS; HE IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, THE LORD—HE’S THE KING. BUT HE’S NOT THE KING WE MIGHT EXPECT. MARK’S GOAL IS FOR HIS READERS TO TRULY UNDERSTAND WHO JESUS IS. HE WANTS US TO SEE JESUS AS THE ANSWER TO OUR GREATEST NEED, EVEN THOUGH WE SO OFTEN AREN’T AWARE OF WHAT THAT NEED IS. HE WANTS US TO SEE THAT JESUS IS THE KING.