Only Mark doesn’t. The author skips over Jesus’ birth,
childhood and adolescence entirely and begins with a description of John the
Baptist instead. How is this “the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God” (1:1)? What’s the story of Jesus without Christmas? What kind
of biography is this?
We’ll soon find out. One wonders what the Spirit of God
is up to with Jesus. We’re told that Jesus sees the heavens torn apart at his
baptism (imagine that!) and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. He hears
a voice from heaven saying: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well
pleased” (1:11). We’re not told what anyone else sees or hears. Then the Spirit
immediately drives Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. It’s only after
John the Baptist is arrested that we hear Jesus speak for the first time: “The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in
the good news” (1:15).
We don’t know what others saw in Jesus at first, but it
must have been something powerful. Simon (otherwise known as Peter), Andrew,
James and John all leave their livelihoods behind to follow him – before he’s
had a chance to do anything. It’s
only after they join him that we read of his powers to heal the sick and
relieve the tormented. What did they see and hear?
All sorts of people find themselves drawn to Jesus in
these early chapters. So-called “sinners” have no problem being around him. It’s
the religious leaders who find themselves nervous in his company. Why do you
think he attracts the crowds? Is it just for the spectacle – or the promise of
healing? What draws you to Jesus here (or not)?
Do you see a question you’d like to respond to – or have
a question of your own? Add a comment, and join the conversation!
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| The Jordan River Today - near the Traditional Site of Jesus' Baptism |
Two things stand out for me: Mark introduces us to the "Son of God" - not used to that one since Jesus typically refers to himself as the son of man. And I appreciate that the demons know who Jesus is while "regular people" don't. Old souls have been around through the ages and can spot each other... Still, what about, "My sheep know me and I know my sheep?" I like to believe that will be the case when the day comes...
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts. We get the Narrator's take on Jesus as the Son of God. We get the voice from heaven at Jesus' baptism and at his transfiguration. And, of course, we get the demons calling him out. The only human in the entire Gospel who calls Jesus the Son of God is the centurion at the cross (15:39). What did he see in that moment that was seemingly impossible to see before? As for "My sheep know me and I know my sheep," John seems to give us a little more credit than Mark does. Mark's shepherd knows his sheep, but as for the sheep - the verdict may still be out on that one (for Mark, at least.)
DeleteSince Mark reads so quickly, with one event coming right after another, I always came away with the feeling that Jesus wasted no time in creating a vivid impression on those who encountered him – “A new teaching and with authority" (1:27), and "we have never seen anything like this." (2:12) He also does things that are out of the ordinary like reprimanding an evil spirit (1:25), touching a leper (1:41), eating with tax collectors even though he was a religious teacher (2:16), not fasting when other devout Jews did (2:18), and picking grain on the Sabbath (2:24). Normal human curiosity must have motivated many of the crowds to see someone who didn't fit the typical mold. It also feels like that people of the time were also searching for something to change the way they lived, especially as second class citizens under the Romans. What Jesus did must have gotten them thinking about whether he was the answer to their search.
ReplyDeleteI was always amazed by the efforts of the friends of the paralyzed man to get him to see Jesus. I wonder if I would be willing to make such a spectacle of myself without the promise of a positive result. They must have cared greatly for their friend.
OK, so I'm finally catching up...
ReplyDeleteFirst, I've often found myself wondering what all this must've felt like to Jesus. I don't take it for granted that he was completely aware of and confident in his own identity right from the beginning. After all, that'd leave no place for the exercise and growth of his own faith, right? And in the title he gives himself (the Son "of Man") divinity becomes inseparable from all the confusion, heartache, joy, humility, doubt, love etc etc etc that goes along with being human. So I find myself wondering if these opening stories in Mark weren't perhaps just as much affirmation to Jesus himself as to us? In that light, how wonderful it must've been for him to know that the journey of faith he'd taken that led to his standing in the river with John was indeed just what his Father had wanted! To so completely fulfill that reach for divinity in the midst of being....human. Wow. This story inspires me to persist in reaching for that divinity in myself, and not give up when my own humanity continually gets in my way....
Second, I'm struck by Jesus' choice of disciples. I read somewhere that Jewish boys of Jesus' time typically received schooling only as long as they demonstrated the aptitude for it. So it was usually only the "cream of the crop" who lasted all the way through, and then went on to seek out rabbis to follow and learn from as disciples. A rabbi was often known by the quality of the young men who sought him out. Jesus clearly made a quick and deep impression by his teachings and acts, so I imagine he had no shortage of well-educated young men wanting to follow him. But who did he pick? The "drop-outs", so to speak. The ones who didn't make it very far in school, and were therefore sent back to their families to work. He chose those who, like him, had a trade and could understand that ministry happened more outside the temple than inside it. That there were larger truths than the interpretations of God's law ascribed by the religious authorities of the day.
I believe that inclusion of ALL of us as disciples, that deeper understanding of God's love and will for us; the radical hospitality all of that leads to in reaching OUT in addition to inviting in, is key to what drew the people of Jesus' day, and us over 2,000 years later, so strongly to him.
A vision of a new world of good happenings. Light overcoming darkness.
ReplyDelete