So far we have looked somewhat negatively at the purpose of the ministry of Jesus. We have argued that he defeated Satan conclusively at the time of the temptation in the desert and that thereafter his activities against the demons were in the nature of mopping-up operations. We have further argued that evil in Mark is not conceived as basically demonic and that such a view is not out of step with current Judaism and the remainder of the New Testament. But if the whole purpose of the ministry is not the defeat of demonic forces and if these do not dominate the conception of evil in the Gospel, why then does Mark think Jesus lived and died? It is therefore necessary now to turn to a positive assessment of the ministry of Jesus as Mark conceives it.