Fear of Man & Love of Women
- Faith Miller
- Apr 17
- 5 min read
Mark is an underrated Gospel. I’ve been marinating in it since Passover and falling in love.
Fear of Man is a consistent theme throughout the back to back accounts that appear penned in great haste. Heavily focused on servanthood and miracles which stack on top of another leading up to the ultimate act of service, and miraculous Love, there are a few remarkable themes woven through the account that are worth walking through and connecting.
🕯️ If the Religious rulers truly feared God they would have stood more firmly in many confrontations:
"The ruling priests and Torah scholars heard this and began looking for a way to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. ." Mark 11:19
"They were afraid of the crowd, for all held that John really was a prophet." Mark 11:32
"They were trying to seize Yeshua because they realized that He spoke the parable against them. But they feared the crowd, so they left Him and went away." Mark 12:12
🕯️ Herod and Pilate were able to recognize truth when it was in front of them, even if they could not understand it, but their fear of this life proved more powerful:
"For Herod Himself sent and arrested John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias..... "For Herod was in awe of John and kept him safe, knowing him to be a righteous and Holy man. When he listened to John he was confused, but he still listened gladly." Mark 6:17 / 20
"But Yeshua did not answer, so Pilate was amazed." "For he knew that out of envy the ruling kohanim had handed Him over" "Why what evil has He done?" "Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabas for them." Mark 15:5,10,14-15a
🕯️ Time, energy and resources spent at the feet of Messiah (today's application: being in our Bibles getting to know Him deeply) is more important than even feeding or caring for the poor per Yeshua's own words. And that even his closest followers were willing to turn on Mary of Bethany because they were confused about their form of righteousness versus God’s:
"And while Yeshua was in Bethany at the house of Simon ha-Metzora, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive oil of pure nard. Breaking open the jar, she poured it over His head. But some got angry and said among themselves, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? It could have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor!” And they kept scolding her.
Yeshua's words also give a hidden warning to prepare for the day coming when "we won't always have Him":
But Yeshua said, “Leave her alone. Why do you cause trouble for her? She’s done Me a mitzvah. For you always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want; but you won’t always have Me. She did what she could—she came beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Amen, I tell you, wherever the Good News is proclaimed in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” Mark 14:3-9
We must store up His Words while we have them, as they are life. One day before He returns, we won't enjoy the privilege we have today of the abundance at our disposal. Mary understood this, and she remained at His feet with everything she had to give.
🕯️ Judas who had eaten of a covenant meal was uncircumcised in heart and therefore immediately cut off and sent to do which would be unforgivable and prove Hebrews 6:4/10:26 to be true, that repentance in that situation is impossible:
He said to them, “It’s one of the Twelve, one who dips with Me in the bowl." Mark 14:20
"For it is impossible for those who once were enlightened—having tasted of the heavenly gift and become partakers of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, and having tasted the good word of God and the powers of the Olam ha-ba, and then having fallen away—to renew again to repentance, since they are again crucifying Ben-Elohim for themselves and publicly disgracing Him." Hebrews 6:4-6
"For if we keep on sinning willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and a fury of fire about to devour the enemies of God." Hebrews 10:26-27
🕯️ Everyone in His company pledged to Him, devoted to Him, and confessed Him as their Lord Abandoned Him for fear of mortal men when He was arrested. Mark reveals that unless you are willing to follow Him unto death, fear of man will leave you uncovered and naked. All of the fine linen garments you've earned by obedience up until that point will be stripped from you:
"And all fled, abandoning Him. A certain young man was following Him, with nothing but a linen cloth around his body, and they grabbed him. But he ran away naked, leaving behind the linen cloth." Mark 14:50-52
Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready, She was given fine linen to wear, bright and clean! For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the set apart ones.” Revelation 19:7-8
🕯️ Even Peter, the one whom he appointed to build His assembly with, required additional revelation to complete his faith and make possible obedience unto death:
Right then, a rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter called to mind the word Yeshua had said to him: “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and began to weep. Mark 14:72
🕯️Only the Women and Child (John the beloved) had the faith before Him revealing Himself in fullness to follow Him literally to the Grave:
There were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Miriam from Magdala, Miriam the mother of Jacob the younger and of Joses, and Salome. They would follow Him and serve Him when He was in the Galilee. Many other women who had gone up together with Him to Jerusalem were there also. Mark 15:40-41
🕯️ A rare jewel among men, Joseph of Arimathea a wealthy, respected council member who was waiting for the Kingdom of God” was able to be used in fulfilling prophecy and comforting the women in their grief:
"Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Miriam from Magdala and Miriam the mother of Joses were watching where Yeshua’s body was placed." Mark 15:46-47
🕯️ When Yeshua was ready to reveal Himself resurrected at His first coming, He did so first to a woman who was able to see Him clearly and willing to follow him unto death before the physical resurrection because they had no fear of man:
"After He had risen early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Miriam of Magdala, from whom He had driven out seven demons." Mark 16:9
The Death and Resurrection of Yeshua our Messiah removed a massive barrier to faith that surpasses all reason, and caused belief and submission that poured out the giving of the Holy Spirit among many.
What Mark highlights in his gospel is that the remnant leading up to that event proving to be faithful having not yet seen, possessed more Love for Messiah than Fear of Man.
Are you in possession of this same Love that leaves no room for fear? For He will not reveal Himself first (the first resurrection) to those who do not.
Beloved, fill up your lamps, before The Word is no longer at your fingertips. Don't let one Word fall to the floor.
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