Mark, in many respects so similar to Matthew, is in many respects also its perfect opposite. It is, as already said, the gospel in which we have the Lord in the humiliation so wonderful in view of His true glory, and which yet in fact glorifies Him so much. Only one so high could stoop so low; and Mark is the gospel of His service, even to the giving of His "life a ransom for many." The gospel divides, as it seems to me, into three parts, of nearly equal length:the first giving the character and results of the Lord's active ministry among the people (chap. 1:-5:); the second, the characteristics of discipleship to a rejected Master (vi-10:45); the third, His service perfected in suffering and death, even the death of the cross (10:46-16:).