Home > Jesus is God in Mark's Gospel
Jesus ends with the parable of the master of the house going on a journey and leaving his servants in charge.
Jesus is the "Master" (Kyrios) of the house (the world/the church) who leaves his "house" in the care of servants.
Throughout the Old Testament, the "House of Israel" or the "House of God" is the exclusive property of Yahweh.
By casting Himself as the Master of the House, Jesus is not claiming to be a high-ranking steward, but the Owner. This identifies Jesus as the God of the Covenant who has a rightful claim to the service and loyalty of every human "servant."
The text says the Master "puts his servants in charge, each with his work" (v. 34). The Greek specifically mentions giving them exousia (authority).
The servants do not possess authority of their own; it is delegated by the Master. For Jesus to be the source of this authority implies that He is the fountainhead of all spiritual and ecclesiastical power. Only God can distribute "rights" and "duties" to the souls of men in a way that binds their consciences.
Jesus specifies the times the Master might return: "in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning" (v. 35). These represent the four watches of the Roman night.
By keeping the "hour" hidden, Jesus asserts His role as the Final Judge. A judge who is on his own schedule is a judge who cannot be manipulated or prepared for with outward "performance" alone. This requires a constant, internal state of "wakefulness" before a holy God.
The call to "Watch" is the same call given to the watchmen of Israel in the OT. By placing Himself in the role of the returning Master, Jesus reveals that He is the one to whom every human being is ultimately accountable.
If Jesus' words apply to "all," then "all" are servants in His house and "all" are accountable to Him. He is Lord over all.
This final command links back to the "Gethsemane" narrative that follows immediately. In the garden, the disciples fail to "stay awake," contrasting their human frailty with Jesus’ divine resolve. His nature is revealed in His ability to remain "awake" to the Father's will while the rest of humanity sleeps.
Jesus is the "Master of the House" who passes through the "night" of His own suffering to bring in the "morning" of the Resurrection.
He is not a victim of the night; He is the Light of the World who defines it. His divinity is seen in His absolute control over the narrative of His own death.