Mark Chapter 8

Jesus feeding of the four thousand has many comparisons with the story of the feeding of the five thousand earlier in the gospel. Jesus takes meager supplies and feeds a multitude. It is a miracle however the result was achieved. What is particularly telling is how the story ends with Jesus preparing to leave and being approached by Pharisees. They want a sign to show that he is indeed the Messiah. Jesus refuses because he knows it will make know difference. Why seek a sign after all the healing miracles, the feeding miracles and so on. Those with the eyes of faith, who are open to work that God is doing would see the signs already surely. Another sign would make no difference.

Jesus heals a blind man. Once more the healing miracle is successful. Jesus warns him not to enter the village. Is this yet another attempt by Jesus to keep the matter private? Is this another way of denying an easy way out to faith? Is it still essential that each person should confront the question : 'Who is Jesus to me?'

'Who is Jesus?' this question has been a theme of the gospel from the beginning. Jesus asks his disciples who people are saying he is. They reply that he is John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets. These are all forerunners of the Messiah in Jewish thinking. Then we have the critical question addressed to the disciples. Who do they think that Jesus is? So he asks.

Peter is the one who responds. 'You are the Messiah' he says. This is a high point. Jesus is recognised as the promised saviour of the people of God. Jesus warns them not to tell anyone else.

He does go on to explain what this 'Messiah' will be and what he will endure. He will be arrested, beaten, crucified and three days later will rise from the dead. Peter cannot bear it. He says that this cannot be allowed, it must be stopped. Jesus turns and says 'get behind me Satan'. Poor Peter goes from hero to villain in an instant. This is a tough lesson learning that Jesus has to die as part of God's plan.

Jesus goes further. To follow him means sacrifice. You have to symbolically take up your cross and follow Jesus. That means setting aside the selfish desires of ourselves to serve God and one another. These are tough lessons. The investing of all of ourselves, our whole life for God is required of us. There can be no turning back.

Mark 7

The first part of chapter seven brings s back to the conflict between Jesus and the religious professionals. These are senior academics from within Jewish life. They have journeyed from Jerusalem to keep an eye on Jesus. We might argue that they are spying on him to see if they can find proof against him. We might read ahead to the crucifixion and see this spying as a means of preparing the case against Jesus. We might be jumping ahead here. Maybe there were those among these academics and religious professionals who are still not sure and are trying to find out.

The controversies surround Jesus and his disciples eating with unclean hands. Here we must be careful. This is not about cleanliness it is about the ritual cleaning prior to eating practiced by Rabbis and their followers. Jesus enters the controversy by attacking the rituals which are a distraction from the really important issues of the day. The reference to Isaiah by Jesus is relevant. The prophet is talking about the outward show of religious practice. The ritual is now more important than the substance of people's behaviour.

The classic example of this is the practice of 'Corban' the activity of giving money to the poor. This is a good practice in itself but many in Jesus day were using the practice to excuse themselves from their responsibilities to their fathers and mothers. They could gain recognition for their donations in public respect while at the same time failing in their family responsibilities.

This conflict between outward piety and inward sinfulness is at the heart of Jesus message. What enters a person makes them unclean not outward things.

The theme of uncleanness and acceptance is continued in the chapter. Jesus is now in Syrophoenicia a Gentile area comprising part of present day Lebanon. There he and his disciples are met by a local woman who needs healing for her sick daughter. She appeals to Jesus but his reaction is quite strange. He ignores her and indicates no interest. The disciples beg him to send her away for they are being tormented by her appeals.

Jesus eventually relents and speaks to her. 'You must not give the children's food to the dogs' he says. What does this mean? Jewish people regarded Gentiles as 'dogs'. They were effectually inhuman and of no value. Jesus is repeating this shocking racism. Why? At it's heart it is a test of the woman's resolve. If she really wants healing so badly she will not be put off by insults.

She never hesitates. 'Even the dogs eat what falls from the children's table' she says. He is struck by her indestructible faith. The outward ritual of insult has no affect. She will have her child healed. That is exactly what happens.

A deaf man from Tyre also approaches him. He too is a Gentile. He begs to hear and speak clearly.

Jesus puts his fingers in his ears and spits upon his tongue and the man is healed.

Once more Jesus is declaring an open place for all within God's plan. Even the isolated and forgotten, the despised and ignored are welcome to receive his acceptance. Jesus talks and acts in this chapter around the themes of the acceptable and the accepted.

Mark 6:32-end

Different views exist about the feeding of the 5000. Of these the most accepted is that this is a miracle in which the power of God is brought to change five bread rolls and two small fish. Another view is that the example of Jesus in sharing what little was available with other moved those with their own food to share it with strangers.

Whatever your view something profound happened that day in a deserted place as this very large group of people are fed. The story is full of Old Testament imagery. A deserted place can be linked to the historic exodus of God's people from Egypt. Moses provided bread through the power of God in the desert as they were starving. The reference to the people being like 'sheep without a shepherd'

points to the 23^rd Psalm and other references to God as shepherd in the Old Testament. Jesus is being shown once more as the Messiah fulfilling prophecy.

There are also possible connections between this scene and Holy Communion. Sharing bread creates this possible connection. Jesus compassion or sympathy for his people moves him to help them. He has healed and taught them and now he is feeding them. He is the Lord who is a loving and caring one.

The disciples have only two solutions to the problem of feeding these people. Either they should be sent home, or together they should find seven months wages to feed all these people. That was the extent of their solutions. God's power is not considered or brought into discussion. They behave as if Jesus was just like themselves. How often we do the same thing. We try to deal with life purely in human terms. There is no other thought. At this moment we are limiting God from within our own lives. When Jesus gets involved the apparent impossible is possible. Prayer changes everything.

The people wish to make Jesus their king. This was dangerous for them and for Jesus. It was an act of treason. What it does show however was that ordinary people were beginning to understand who Jesus was.

Jesus walks on water: Jesus sends his disciples away and they cross the sea of Galilee by boat. Somewhere between 3 and 6am Jesus comes walking on the water. He says ' it is I be not afraid'.

Literally from the Greek the expression means 'I AM, be not afraid'. This is a reference to what God calls himself when he speaks in the Old Testament to Moses. 'I AM WHO I AM' is the statement then. When Jesus speaks from the lake he is saying 'I am God, be not afraid'. The disciples could have no better reassurance. Did they understand this?

Mark 6:1-31

We have looked at the struggle going on in the minds of the disciples and others about who Jesus was. We notice the different reactions of friends and foes to the actions and words of Jesus.

Now in chapter 6 we find Jesus back among those who feel they know Jesus only too well. In fact they think they know so much about him that they can dismiss him as nothing special. Jesus is in Nazareth from where his family have originated. Here his father worked as a carpenter and it is believed that Jesus himself may have carried out that same trade before he began his ministry.

He stands up to preach in the Synagogue and many are amazed at his ability to present the message of God but immediately he is dismissed by his hearers. 'Where does he get all this wisdom?' they ask. He's the carpenter, his brothers are named. They start to insult him. In middle eastern culture it was an insult to be named the son of a woman (i.e the son of Mary). Some believe that the reference is to his illegitimacy. Mary was pregnant before marriage and that stigma may have endured.

Being dismissed by his own people Jesus is moved to say 'a prophet is not without honour except in their home town'. We hear that he could do little there except curing a few sick people. He was amazed at their unbelief.

Jesus is not deterred however. He is intent on sending out his disciples to spread the message of who he is. He has equipped them to heal the sick. In a sense this is the ramping up of the mission. This is now about growth and spreading the message even wider. Thirteen people actively involved in this will bring a growing response. The disciples are to live off the charity and kindness of others. This proves to be sufficient to their needs.

The death of John the Baptist now takes central stage. Herod of Galilee had imprisoned him for his utterances about the King. Herod had taken as his wife the wife of Philip his brother. Philip was still alive and so he is involved in adultery and bigamy with this woman. Such comments by John the Baptist concerning the king would have brought the death penalty but Herod has not done this. One might ask why. Perhaps Herod recognised his own guilt perhaps or he was conflicted by the view that John was a prophet and worthy of respect. In his indecision John languishes in prison.

Salome, Herod's step child dances at a feast before Herod and his guests. Herod is enthralled he wants to reward the girl and offers her anything she wants up to half his kingdom. Overwhelmed by this offer the girl runs to her mother for advice. Her mother senses an opportunity to deal with the oe who troubles her and whom her indecisive husband will not execute. The girl returns and requests the head of John the Baptist on a platter dish. Thus ends the life of John who showed the way to Jesus. He was a heroic figure but he is struck down on a whim of a drunken king and his plotting wife.

It's important to recognise some things about this story. First of all Herod was never a king. References to him as such in the Bible are viewed as sarcasm. The Roman authorities alone could declare someone a king within their territories and this Herod was never proclaimed king. Perhaps his insecurity can be seen in two ways. He is threatened by the teachings of John and his direct criticism of his lifestyle. He is also insecure as a result of not gaining recognition as king of Galilee.

Perhaps his Roman overlords could overthrow him at any time and end his 'reign'. Herod has heard about Jesus. Rumours have it that Jesus is one of the prophets of long ago. Yet the message seems so similar to John's. Could it be that this is John the Baptist back from the dead? He is beside himself with worry.

The death of John also brings to an end the time of preparation in the Jesus story. Now Jesus is the only one proclaiming the message of his Messiahship. It is truly the ending and beginning of an era.

Mark Chapter 5

Chapter 5 begins with Jesus in the land of the Gerasenes. These are gentile people and not Jewish.

As soon as he gets out of the boat he is met by a man with an unclean siprit within him. Again the recognition of Jesus as the Son of God is made quite clear by the possessed man. 'What have you to do with me Jesus Son of the Most High God?' he shouts. Once more Jesus is most clearly identified by a disturbed ma. What are we to make of this? Are only disturbed people able to recognise Jesus or are they less conscious of saying the thing that would make them unpopular with others and especially the religious professionals of that day? Another indicator of the location as Gentile is the presence of pigs. Under Jewish dietary rules pig meat could not be eaten but among Gentiles there were no such rules.

The spirits as to be released and driven into the pigs. This is done as Jesus heals the man and immediately the pigs jump off a cliff and are killed below. This represents a considerable loss for the farmers involved. The swineherds ran off to tell the farmners what had happened. Jesus is begged to leave the place because he has caused such loss. Jesus gets back in the boat and starts to leave. The healed man wants to go with Him. Jesus will not let this happen. Instead he tells the man to go back to his people and tell everyone what has happened. This is the first time we hear Jesus encourage someone to tell others. Why is this? Why is a Gentile singled out for the role as the first missionary of Jesus? Other disturbed people had been told to be quite in the presence of Jesus but not this man. Why the change? What is happening?

Again Jesus does the commute on the lake. He is now back in Jewish territory. By the lake there is a great crowd. There are now two stories of faith. There is the faith of Jairus, a leader in the synagogue. Is Jairus a Pharassee? We do not know but he is someome at the very heart of Jewish religious life. He comes to jesus and pleads for the life of his daughter who is ill. Jesus tells him not to fear, only believe. He's on his way to Jairus house when there is a disturbance. A woman who is suffering from a hemorrage for many years reaches out and touches His clothes. Immediately she is cured. Jesus knows that something has happened so he asks 'Who touched me?' The woman comes forward somewhat worried that she had done something wrong but Jesus commends her for her faith. It has made her well.

While this is happening Jairus is told that his child has died. It is too late. Jesus words are clear. 'Do not fear only believe'. The faith of the woman was now being demanded of Jairus. Jesus goes to the house and after he removes those who are ritually mourning for the child he goes inside. In one of the gentlest scenes from the life of Jesus we hear Him call her 'little girl get up'. He takes her by the hand and she is restored to life. Jesus warns them to tell no one about this. This last passage is Jesus first interaction with women through healing. Is there anything different about these healing or anything that is similar to other healings. Why are there differences of approach in the Gentile lands compared to Jewish territories?

This chapter teaches us much about faith and indicates the need for belief in healings by Jesus.

Mark 4

Jesus and His disciples are holding a time of teaching by the sea. This is the Sea of Galilee. Perhaps Jesus and His disciples used this large inland lake as a convenient way of travel. It was much quicker to criss-cross the Sea of Galilee than walk around it. This probably explains the location for this whole chapter.

The parable of the sower is probably one of the best known. Jesus seems to use this form of teaching from quite early on in His ministry. The question of why he uses this type of teaching is interesting. He seems to suggest that those who have open ears and hearts will perceive what these words are about. Otherwise those with closed minds and hearts will not get this meaning. One other idea behind the use of parables was that they are 'safe'. 

Taken word for word in a literal way there is nothing that sounds contentious. The parable of the sower is about a common agricultural scene repeated over and over again in first century Palestine. But there is nothing in the words used that would cause controversy. This covert teaching and those with eyes to see will see.

Jesus has just passed through a period of conflict with the religious authorities. They have failed to recognise what is happening in front of their eyes. Has Jesus made a decision that there will be two types to his life and it is now left to individuals to choose?

The parable of the mustard seed seems to give an answer. The Kingdom of God can grow from the smallest amount of faith and it will then flourish in each lives and in communities. The Kingdom of God is like a different country to which people of faith belong. It is a country of faith and hope. This great nation grows daily with more joining the reality of this new place of the spirit.

In the great storm at the end of the chapter the disciples are once more confused. 'What sort of person is this' they say 'that even the winds and waves obey Him?' They are still struggling to make sense of the person that they are following. They have seen Him heal, they have heard Him preach and yet they are still struggling with the reality of who Jesus is. This is the first miracle in nature in the gospel and quite different from the healing miracles. It does however point to the one reality of Jesus as the son of God.

Mark Chapter 3.

We have seen the growing confusion among the religious professionals about Jesus and His conduct. We have heard the conflict about the journey through the corn field.

In chapter 3 the confusion and misunderstanding is raised to the level of conflict. We now hear of a moment of open conflict which Jesus brings to a head. He is in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Healing actions on the Sabbath were interpreted as work and work was outlawed on the Sabbath.

Jesus is approached by a man with a withered hand. It wasn't a critical situation. If he wasn't healed he might have had the opportunity to be healed on another day. Is there a suggestion in this passage that this was a 'staged event' by the Pharisees. Had they used the man as a prop to catch Jesus doing something unlawful. Jesus senses the attitude of people around Him. So he challenges them.

'Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath?' There is no answer. Refusing to heal would surely have been an evil act of neglect. Healing on the Sabbath was illegal in religious law. What was the greater good. The story ends with a dark remark. The Pharisees go out and conspire with the Herodians, the civil power, about how to destroy Jesus.

By the lakeside Jesus is mobbed and there is a danger he might be trampled to death. Just look at the list of locations from which people are coming. Judea and Jerusalem are to be expected but Tyre and Sidon and Idumea are gentile territories. Jesus ability to draw people from all backgrounds is significant and very important. This ministry is not limited to God's own people, the Jews, but all are welcome to receive healing and they are coming in their hundreds. Once more those with unclean spirits (perhaps the mentally ill) recognise Jesus as the Son of God. Once more Jesus tells them to tell no one else.

We then get a list of Jesus disciples. There are twelve of them which is significant in the history of Israel. There are twelve tribes. Are the disciples to be seen as the new Israel? This is a very varied group. There are fishermen, there's a tax collector, there's a terrorist/freedom fighter. Then there's Judas who is already identified as the one who would betray the Son of God. These people could not be seen as a typical group of rabbinic pupils. Each had major limitations in personality. There was potential fro friction among them. Yet this is the group that Jesus chooses. There is much to question in each of them and yet Jesus chooses them. Does this show anything? Is there a message here?

Jesus returns to Capernaum where he lived. Once more he is mobbed. There is an air of tension and people are pressing on him on every side. Set against this there are professional critics among the crowd. They have come from Jerusalem. These are presumably senior teachers of the law. It is now time to discredit Jesus. So they say he is possessed by the devil or an evil spirit. What was their motivation? Why have they arrived on the scene? Jesus turns on them with a disarming logic. If He is possessed surely he cannot remove the evil spirits of others otherwise evil is working against itself. Is that really possible?

Surely he would be better off with his brothers and sisters and his mother.Perhaps they are concerned about him. Perhaps they have been encouraged to get him away from here. He's told they have arrived. But Jesus is not going to be distracted by an emotional trick. His response seems extreme. All people are his family not just his kin. His calling is to make each person his brother and sister through his ministry.