Mark 1-6
On the seventh day God rested, but on this day we venture into Mark. Right off the bat you realize that we "aren't in Kansas anymore!" Mark is different than Matthew. There isn't a birth story. Did Mark not know the story? Did he not think it was important? Did it not fit with the story he wanted to tell? He says, "the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ" and he starts at the baptism. Hmmmm. What is he saying about Jesus?
I noticed again how quickly Mark moves. (I have often called Mark's Jesus hyperactive--he is always immediately going somewhere.) He is in Galilee, in Capernaum, in the mountains, on the sea. He is always somewhere new! Didn't this man ever sleep? Even when he went to rest people were always bothering him--coming from Jerusalem and Judea and Idumea--look at a map! My gosh, they came from far away! No wonder he was always "bothered" by people!
I am always struck by the way Mark tells the story of the man lowered through the ceiling by his friends. The way Mark tells it you get the sense that this was Jesus' house that they messed up. Gives the story a different flavor! What would you do if someone broke through your roof?
Jesus is always doing things, and then saying, "But don't tell anyone!" He tells the demons, those he heals, those in attendance. Not a very good way to build a movement. Today would Jesus use a blog or twitter or Facebook, or TV?
Somehow I had always missed Mark's version of Jesus walking on the water. As he puts it, Jesus meant to pass by the disciples on the sea, but they saw him. There is almost a comic air to Mark's telling that is striking--especially having just left Matthew!
If only I can keep up with this Jesus!
1 comment:
Ah, the first semester of my New Testament class is all coming back to me now! I have deja vu because Mark's gospel came first and Matthew borrowed from it pretty heavily. And yet there is such a difference in the feel of it! You're right, it moves along at a pretty good clip, and also, thankfully, none of the parables so far end with anyone cut into pieces or left in outer darkness. The parables in these early chapters are about mystery and growth and fruitfulness. And like you, I was struck by the fact that Jesus didn't mean for the disciples to see him walking on the water - he was just passing by! That is pretty funny. So far, this is a powerful Jesus, certainly, but not a scary one. I'm more at home with Mark's Jesus. But then, it's only day one of this gospel. We shall see . . .
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