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.

Mark 2:18-end

Mark's second chapter ends with questioning of Jesus by the religious authorities and a questioning of His practices. Jesus looks like a Rabbi on the outside with a grouping of disciples or pupils anxious to learn from their master. This fits with the methods of Pharissees and so confusion arises when Jesus is not doing the same things that other religious teachers are doing. He is not performing the ritual fasting of his 'colleagues' like John the Baptist. These fasts usually took place before a great Jewish festival. So why is he and his disciples not fasting?

Jesus tells his enquirers that he and his disciples are feasting all the time. Now is a time of celebration. The Messiah is with his people. While Jesus does not use that word he does allude to it.

The metaphore of the bridegroom is a metaphore for God himself. In the Old Testament the image of Israel as the bride of God appears consistently. What Jesus is saying is that God is among his people. It is a period of celebration not a time for fasting. Jesus is clearly locking himself into the whole picture of Jewish expectation.

In the cornfield on the Sabbath. Jesus is with his disciples. They are hungry or just looking for a snack. They pull the top of the corn then rub it between their palms to remove the chaff. Now they can eat the corn. They are spotted (or spied upon) by some Pharisees who criticise their behaviour. They are not criticised for stealing they are accused of working on the Sabbath. The rubbing of the grain was interpreted as thrashing and thrashing on the Sabbath was work. Jesus takes them back into Jewish history. King David and his men were hungry and there was no food readily available.

They enter the house of God and take bread reserved only for the priest. The rules became of secondary importance compared to the necessity of the moment. The disciples had broken the law, so had David and his men. Jesus tells his accusers that the things of God must serve the people of God. The Sabbath was made for humans and not the other way around.

Looking at the passage there is an atmosphere of misunderstanding rather than menace. People are confused about Jesus and his ways. They're trying to make sense of it all. He calls himself 'Son of Man' a messiah reference. The Son of Man is Lord of the Harvest. God is in charge. The Pharisees would not dispute this but they fail to recognise who Jesus is.

Mark Chapter 2 v 1-17

Jesus and the paralysed man. Jesus is again in Capernaum and news spreads that he is back. There is a great build up of people outside his door. They have come for healing. Jesus is soon actively involved in healing those who came to him. Friends bring a paralysed man for healing but they cannot get next or near Jesus. They have a sinking feeling when they realise that their journey may have been in vain. They get up on the roof of the house, tear back the roof or branches, straw and dried clay and lower their friend to the floor. Jesus is struck by the faith of the friends. He says to the paralysed man something quite curious 'your sins are forgiven'. Why did he say this? Surely the priority is for the man to be healed. Why does Jesus mention forgiveness?

The reason is that in Jewish thinking of the time illness was like a pay back from God for sinfulness in the past. If you were ill you probably deserved it. So when Jesus says ' your sins are forgiven' he is in fact saying 'you are healed'.

Jesus words spark off the first conflict with the Jewish religious authorities. The scribes or Pharassees are listening. 'Heresy!' they shout. 'No one can forgive sins but God.' This is a highly charged scene. Getting on the wrong side of the Pharassees was not recommended. The punishment for heresy was stoning. This is also a scene filled with irony. Only God can forgive sin but standing in the middle of this group is Jesus whom we know to be God himself! Both Jesus and the Pharassees are correct the problem is that the Pharassees cannot see who Jesus really is.

This is a recurring theme in the gospel of Mark. Many will meet Jesus, hear Jesus, be healed by Jesus but many will not recognise who he really is. There is some tragedy in this.

The paralysed man is healed. He gets up and lifts his mat and he returns home. Many who watched were amazed and gave thanks to God. Yet they do not recognise who Jesus is.

Jesus calls another disciple. Matthew or Levi is a tax collector. He is hated by his own people for assisting the Roman authorities and is suspected of dishonesty by his fellow countrymen. He is despised by his Roman employers. He is regarded as a sinner. Here is the isolation again. Just like the leper he has no place in decent society. Isolated, forgotten and dismissed. No one speaks to him but he is challenged by Jesus. The words are repeated 'come follow me'. The bible account sows no hesitation on his behalf. Once more it can be asked what influence did Jesus have? What does Matthew see that others cannot?

Cut off from normal society Matthew has made a new community for himself. His friends are regarded as 'sinners' by the religious people of the day. Jesus goes home to eat with Matthew, one of the ways of showing respect and being respected. He sits among those who are lost to society ans isolated. Why does Jesus do this? What can we learn from his example.

St.Andrew's Church. Monday 13th October 8pm.
Please contribute to the study online if you cannot be there.

St.Mark Chapter 1:19-end.

Jesus is in Capernaum a town where it was believed Jesus as an adult may have lived. Jesus is at the heart of Jewish life on the Sabbath, the day of rest. Here in the Synagogue, the Jewish meeting house, the worshippers have gathered. It is here that a man with an unclean spirit rushes forward. He is immediately in conflict with Jesus. 'What are you doing here' he demands. 'I know who you are. You are the holy one of God'. Jesus is recognised by a seriously disturbed human being for who he truly is. Is this significant? Jesus thinks so because he tells the disturbed man to be quiet and for his illness, or his possession to come out from him. This it does.

What happens next is really interesting. People are standing around. 'Who is this' they ask. 'He has authority'. Others say, 'He commands the spirits and they leave'. The seriously disturbed human being recognises Jesus straight away but others cannot see it. How can this be?

There is conflict and healing in this story but one piece of conflict is not heard. Jesus will soon be criticised for healing on the Sabbath day but on this occasion there is no reference to it. There is healing, confusion and clarity from the mouth of a disturbed human being. The big word in this passage is authority. Jesus has it others lack it.

From the public scene Jesus goes to a family scene. It is the home of Simon/Peter's mother in law. She is in bed with a fever. Perhaps its flu or a heavy cold or something more serious. Whatever its scale Jesus is engaged with the healing of those around him. She is made better but soon the house is surrounded. The crowd from the synagogue have followed him and now dozens of people with illnesses of many kinds are brought to him.

Perhaps this is why he wants the news of his healings to be supressed. He cannot reach everyone but he will be swamped by those who need his help. What do you think?

The final healing is like the others in a number of ways. The leprosy sufferer has an uncurable disease. Every attempt at cure has been exhausted. He comes to Jesus and is healed but again he is warned not to tell others. The difference here is that there are no crowds present at this healing. The man is alone. He is removed from civil society and isolated by his illness. His approach to Jesus is humble. 'If you wish you can heal me' he says. Jesus certainly does.

Social isolation is also an illness that many suffer for various reasons but here in one healing Jesus heals and rehabilitates a human life. He goes to the priest and he is declared clean and receives a passport back into civil society and into a new relationship with God.

What lessons do we learn from these examples of healing? Why do you think Mark has clustered them together? Is there a purpose to the way he tells the stories?

Welcome to our Bible Study

Welcome to our Bible study blog. We begin our parish Bible Study on Monday 6th October 2014 at 8pm in St.Andrew's Church.

We will be studying the gospel of Mark and if you cannot attend each Bible study you can contribute through the blog and find the introduction to each passage.

We pray God's blessing upon our journey through this gospel story and know we will be blessed in our discoveries about Jesus and ourselves.

St.Mark Chapter 1: 1-18

Most of us like to read a book from the beginning. We like to see the story unfold and we are disappointed when someone tells us the ending before we get there. We feel let down and wish we hadn't heard the ending before we finished reading.

Yet this is what Mark does in his gospel he tells us the ending, the conclusion before we start. He is confident that we will form the same conclusion from the words on the page so he tells us in verse one exactly who Jesus is. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son fo God.

Why do you think Mark starts his gospel this way?

From this moment on we will have a special knowledge which none of the people in the gospel story had. They had to discover who Jesus was for themselves.

Jesus is the Greek form of 'Joshua' which means 'the one who saves'. The Joshua of the Old Testament led his people into the promised land. The new Joshua is the one who leads to eternal life. What are your thoughts about that?

Christ is the Greek form of Messiah or anointed one. Jewish expectation was for this great deliverer. Jesus is the great deliverer from the pains of sin and punishment. Up until now we are talking in human terms but the title Son of God points to another reality. Jesus is God.

Jesus is a link to the past (a Joshua) he is part of the present and the assurance of the future. The image of John the baptist leaving the wilderness dressed like an Old Testament prophet is another connection with the past. 'Prepare the way of the Lord' are words from Isaiah the prophet. This is part of God's plan as expressed in the past and continuing into the future. The linking of the Jesus story to the heart of Jewish tradition is clear. Why is Mark making this link with the Jewish past?

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Yet the message of Mark's gospel is one of many not recognising who Jesus is, or refusing to recognise who Jesus is. The disciples struggle to see who Jesus is. John becomes popular with his listeners. He tells them to get ready for the Messiah by repenting (literally turning away from what is evil) and believing in God. But this is only the beginning. 'There is one who comes after me the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie' he says. 'I baptise with water John says but he will baptise with the Holy Spirit and Fire'. Is that a promise or a warning?

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All doubt about whom Jesus is is answered when he himself comes to be baptised. The perfect one comes for baptism. Why do you think he does this? The voice of God speaks 'This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased'. God has spoken, the past has spoken through the prophets and the prophet of the present has spoken. Now God has spoken. Jesus is the Son of God.

In the Old Testament there is an expectation that the Messiah will appear from the wilderness. Jesus goes to the wilderness and stays there for a long time. Forty days and nights is a simple method of saying ' a long time'. Here he is tempted just as we are and yet he resists.

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John moves from the scene, he is arrested, and Jesus now takes the prominent place. He goes around proclaiming that the kingdom of God is here. People must repent and believe.

Jesus gathers others around him in the mission to the world. He calls fishermen. What is most striking about this story is the use of the word immediately. Think about the impact of Jesus. What qualities does he have to drag working men away from their livlihood immediately and follow Him? What is his secret? He will make them fish for people. Why does he use these words?  

                                                            Photo: Hashmil

Thank you for sharing with us in this Bible study. Please leave a comment about what you have learned or what you can teach in this passage.