Father F. was very disappointed with all of us because we knew what the subject of the next lecture would be, yet none of us read the Gospel of Mark. All were honest though, because when father asked if any one had read this Gospel in preparation for the lecture, all confessed to not having done so.
I was under the impression that we ought to read the commentary on the Evangelist and so went dutifully on the net and read what I could about him some hours before the lecture. As father would say, I was being clever rather than intelligent.
Mark was a disciple of St. Peter. His is the shortest of the four Gospels. He gives many details in his rendering of various incidents with regard to St. Peter as well as Jesus which indicates that St. Peter gave him this information.
According to the New Advent, Catholic Encyclopedia,
"Special attention is paid throughout to the human feelings and emotions of Christ, and to the effect produced by His miracles upon the crowd. The weaknesses of the Apostles are far more apparent than in the parallel narratives of Matt. and Luke, this being, probably due to the graphic and candid discourses of Peter, upon which tradition represents Mark as relying."
As we all know, there are 4 Evangelists, each gives his view of the Person of Jesus.
I must always remember that I make up the 5th Gospel. My life must witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
This Gospel was written somewhere between 60 - 70 AD. Mark wishes to reveal through his narratives that Jesus came from the Father to reveal the Kingdom of God.
There are two ways of reading the Bible, we can read it as history or as conveying a message. We must go beyond the history to the message that the Word contains. I know that father would not have been at all impressed with my reading of the commentary, as it deals with history and although that has its place, what is of paramount importance is that I discover the message. I must understand the relevance of the message for me today because the Word of God is active and alive and is relevant for me in the here and now of my daily life.
History is information whereas a message is formation.
History has terms a message contains words. We have to go beyond terms to the message.
History is a description - a message is prescription it tells us what to do.
A message is a shared experience that is expressed in words.
Above all reading the Gospels must move from meaning to meaningful. As I read the Bible a change must take place in my life.
In catechesis I must move from history to message.
Christians were being terribly persecuted in Rome during the time of Emperor Nero and Mark wanted to encourage the suffering Church. He wants not only to reveal to us the identity of Jesus - He wants us to know for a fact that Jesus was truly the Son of God. He also wants us to know what is involved in true discipleship. Despite persecution a true disciple never gives up.
The dominant themes in the Gospel of Mark are Christology and Discipleship.
Christology - Reveals Jesus as the healer, the Messiah and as the Son of God.
Chapter 8:27 gives us Peter's declaration about Jesus as the Son of God. It comes right in the centre of the Gospel of Mark.
Chapter 1:16-29 and Chapter 16:7 Jesus' call to discipleship.
Mk 1:16-20 16 As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 18 At once, they abandoned their nets and followed him. 19 Jesus went a little farther on and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; they were in their boat mending their nets. 20 Immediately, Jesus called them and they followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.
Mk 16:7 "Now go and tell his disciples and Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.”
How does Jesus call us - He passes by, He sees us, He calls us and then most important is our response to His call.
Discipleship is a gift. All the initiatives come from Jesus. The essence of of discipleship is following Him. It is a calling that takes precedence over everything else in our life. It is the privilege of the disciple to serve Jesus.
According to the Gospel of Mark we learn that Jesus waited until the arrest of John the Baptist to reveal His identity to the Jews and to begin His ministry. Mark 1:14 tells us that after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee and began preaching the Good News of God.
Part I of the Gospel i.e. from Chapter 1 to 8:26 deals with Jesus' Ministry of healing and preaching in Galilee. Mark 1:16-45 gives us a snapshot of typical day in the life of Jesus and shows us that He is involved in a dynamic mission. After Jesus chooses His disciples He plunges into His ministry of healing the sick and seeking and saving the sinner., healing the sick and saving.
Chapter 1:29-34
29 On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the home of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 30 As Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever, they immediately told him about her. 31 Jesus went to her and taking her by the hand, raised her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening at sundown, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had evil spirits: 33 the whole town was pressing around the door. 34 Jesus healed many who had various diseases, and drove out many demons; but he did not let them speak, for they knew who he was.
Jesus went to where the people were (1) in the synagogue, (2) to the familes, (3) the whole town. He revealed His identity through His activity and His healing ministry.
We are called to active discipleship not to be passive followers. We must catechise everyday and everywhere.
In the Gospel of Mark we are told of two miracles with regard to the multiplication of bread.
The first miracle is mentioned in Mark 6:30-43 and takes place in Galilee which is Jewish territory where He reveals His identity to His own people. Here were are told that Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish.
The second miracle mentioned in Mark 8:1-10 tales place in Gentile territory where the pagans have not yet experienced Jesus but are beginning to know Christ. It is a reminder that Jesus came to save peope of all nations. In this miracle we are told that Jesus multiplied 7 loaves. Seven represents a whole number in Scripture.
Throughout his Gospel Mark emphasises the identity of Jesus as Son of God beginning with the opening statement of the Evangelist himself.
Following are verses in different chapters of the Gospel revealing that Jesus is the Son of God.
Chapter 1:1
1This is the beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. - Mark
Chapter 1:11
11 And these words were heard from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved, the One I have chosen.” - God the Father
Chapter 1:24
24 and he shouted, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: You are the Holy One of God.” - Satan
Chapter 5: 7
7 and cried with a loud voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? For God’s sake I beg you, do not torment me.” - Satan and the evil spirits
Chapter 9:7
7 But a cloud formed, covering them in a shadow, and from the cloud came this word, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him.” - God the Father
Chapter 12:6
6 One was still left, his beloved son. And so, last of all, he sent him to the tenants, for he said: ‘They will respect my son.’ - Parable told by Jesus
Chapter 14:61-62
61But Jesus was silent and made no reply. The High Priest put a second question to him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 Then Jesus answered, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Most Powerful and coming with the clouds of heaven around him.” - Jesus before the Sanhedrin
Chapter 15:39
39 The captain who was standing in front of him saw how Jesus died and heard the cry he gave; and he said, “Truly, this man was the Son of God.”
Son of God is the theological dimension of who Jesus is.
Verse 15 contains both description and prescription.
29 On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to the home of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 30 As Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever, they immediately told him about her. 31 Jesus went to her and taking her by the hand, raised her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening at sundown, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had evil spirits: 33 the whole town was pressing around the door. 34 Jesus healed many who had various diseases, and drove out many demons; but he did not let them speak, for they knew who he was.
Jesus went to where the people were (1) in the synagogue, (2) to the familes, (3) the whole town. He revealed His identity through His activity and His healing ministry.
We are called to active discipleship not to be passive followers. We must catechise everyday and everywhere.
In the Gospel of Mark we are told of two miracles with regard to the multiplication of bread.
The first miracle is mentioned in Mark 6:30-43 and takes place in Galilee which is Jewish territory where He reveals His identity to His own people. Here were are told that Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish.
The second miracle mentioned in Mark 8:1-10 tales place in Gentile territory where the pagans have not yet experienced Jesus but are beginning to know Christ. It is a reminder that Jesus came to save peope of all nations. In this miracle we are told that Jesus multiplied 7 loaves. Seven represents a whole number in Scripture.
Throughout his Gospel Mark emphasises the identity of Jesus as Son of God beginning with the opening statement of the Evangelist himself.
Following are verses in different chapters of the Gospel revealing that Jesus is the Son of God.
Chapter 1:1
1This is the beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. - Mark
Chapter 1:11
11 And these words were heard from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved, the One I have chosen.” - God the Father
Chapter 1:24
24 and he shouted, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: You are the Holy One of God.” - Satan
Chapter 5: 7
7 and cried with a loud voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? For God’s sake I beg you, do not torment me.” - Satan and the evil spirits
Chapter 9:7
7 But a cloud formed, covering them in a shadow, and from the cloud came this word, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him.” - God the Father
Chapter 12:6
6 One was still left, his beloved son. And so, last of all, he sent him to the tenants, for he said: ‘They will respect my son.’ - Parable told by Jesus
Chapter 14:61-62
61But Jesus was silent and made no reply. The High Priest put a second question to him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 Then Jesus answered, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Most Powerful and coming with the clouds of heaven around him.” - Jesus before the Sanhedrin
Chapter 15:39
39 The captain who was standing in front of him saw how Jesus died and heard the cry he gave; and he said, “Truly, this man was the Son of God.”
Son of God is the theological dimension of who Jesus is.
Verse 15 contains both description and prescription.
The description is “The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand.
And the prescription is - Repent and believe the Good News.”
And the prescription is - Repent and believe the Good News.”
Part II begins with Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Son of God in Chapter 8:27.
Mk 8:27 to 10:52 tells us of Jesus' journey from Galilee to Jerusalem followed by Chapters
The Gospel ends with the empty tomb Chapter 16:1-8 (9-20).
The elements of the message in this chapter are:
Jesus' victory over death.
Reconciliation with the disciples who had denied and deserted him.
The disciples return to Galilee the place of their call to continue the mission of Jesus to teach and heal.
Discipleship - Jesus calls His disciples to follow Him and He trains and instructs them by example.
No comments:
Post a Comment