Mark 3-4
Chapter three continues Jesus' encounter with the Pharisees -- this time over a healing on the Sabbath. At 3:4, Jesus asks "them" (assumedly the Pharisees), "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" This was a twist on the question He had asked in chapter two with the paralytic on the mat. The Pharisees had no answer to the obvious question. From His reaction, Jesus wasn't asking it rhetorically. He looked at them in anger and was deeply distressed" at the stubborn attitudes. I would have loved to have seen Jesus' emotional response as He healed the man. Mark's words make it sound like Jesus did it as much to shame the Pharisees as to provide healing. Perhaps that was simply the effect of Mark's observations, which in this case probably came from Simon Peter.
Again Mark points out the crowds and the problems that they caused Jesus. They crowded around, forcing Him to teach from a small boat so as not to be so crowded. Later the group cannot even eat at a house because of all the people.
The list of disciples/apostles cited in 3:13-19 splits Simon Peter and Andrew. Considering Mark was a close friend of Peter in later years, it is interesting that Peter and the Sons of Thunder were the first three mentioned, placing Andrew after the "big three."
The only time where Jesus' family's true early feelings are recorded are at 3:21. They wanted to put Him away, fearing insanity. I suppose that would be a natural response for a family who was likely being harassed about their "lunatic" brother. More striking is Mark's placement of this verse, seemingly placing the cause for their feelings as their hearing about the crowd scenes wherever Jesus went. Certainly there was more to it than that. When they finally arrive at 3:31-34, it's no wonder Jesus doesn't hop right up to greet them! This context makes Jesus' rude treatment of His family more understandable.
The teachers of the Law had their own explanation for Jesus' behavior and acts: He was possessed by the prince of demons! Jesus explains just how foolish that argument was, simply from a logical point of view. He notes that you can't rob a strong man's house without tying up the strong man. If we are possessed by the Holy Spirit then how ridiculous it is to think that we could be possessed by demons of any stripe! Then Jesus unloads on the teachers by mentioning blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. This eternal sin, this unforgiveable sin is not simply a one-time slip of the tongue or an angry shout out by an afflicted person. No, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit must be an ongoing denial of the Holy Spirit's power -- usually by attributing His works to something or someone else.
The Parable of the Sower is retold in all the synoptics. Mark includes it here in a section where Jesus is teaching by the lake and is forced out onto a boat by the crowd.
In speaking of the lamp on a stand, in 4:22 Jesus says, "For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open." This is an odd statment to the ears at first, but we are responsible for all those "secret" sins we commit. One day it will all be held up to the light for all to see.
Another verse which needs further consideration is 4:24, "Consider carefully what you hear... with the measure you use, it will be measured to you -- and even more." Is this a verse about judging other people or about our generosity?
The Growing Seed reminds us that we don't have God's knowledge. Many things happen which we don't understand and many people mature without our knowledge as well.
The final words of chapter 4 are uttered by the shaken disciples, who after seeing the Master tell the storm to stop, look at each other and ask, "Who is this guy?" The other miracles were one thing, but controlling the weather was something else. Probably the fishermen of the group were the most impressed, as they had to deal with storms on Galilee for a living. They knew that storms didn't just stop. This was probably a key moment for many of the disciples.
Again Mark points out the crowds and the problems that they caused Jesus. They crowded around, forcing Him to teach from a small boat so as not to be so crowded. Later the group cannot even eat at a house because of all the people.
The list of disciples/apostles cited in 3:13-19 splits Simon Peter and Andrew. Considering Mark was a close friend of Peter in later years, it is interesting that Peter and the Sons of Thunder were the first three mentioned, placing Andrew after the "big three."
The only time where Jesus' family's true early feelings are recorded are at 3:21. They wanted to put Him away, fearing insanity. I suppose that would be a natural response for a family who was likely being harassed about their "lunatic" brother. More striking is Mark's placement of this verse, seemingly placing the cause for their feelings as their hearing about the crowd scenes wherever Jesus went. Certainly there was more to it than that. When they finally arrive at 3:31-34, it's no wonder Jesus doesn't hop right up to greet them! This context makes Jesus' rude treatment of His family more understandable.
The teachers of the Law had their own explanation for Jesus' behavior and acts: He was possessed by the prince of demons! Jesus explains just how foolish that argument was, simply from a logical point of view. He notes that you can't rob a strong man's house without tying up the strong man. If we are possessed by the Holy Spirit then how ridiculous it is to think that we could be possessed by demons of any stripe! Then Jesus unloads on the teachers by mentioning blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. This eternal sin, this unforgiveable sin is not simply a one-time slip of the tongue or an angry shout out by an afflicted person. No, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit must be an ongoing denial of the Holy Spirit's power -- usually by attributing His works to something or someone else.
The Parable of the Sower is retold in all the synoptics. Mark includes it here in a section where Jesus is teaching by the lake and is forced out onto a boat by the crowd.
In speaking of the lamp on a stand, in 4:22 Jesus says, "For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open." This is an odd statment to the ears at first, but we are responsible for all those "secret" sins we commit. One day it will all be held up to the light for all to see.
Another verse which needs further consideration is 4:24, "Consider carefully what you hear... with the measure you use, it will be measured to you -- and even more." Is this a verse about judging other people or about our generosity?
The Growing Seed reminds us that we don't have God's knowledge. Many things happen which we don't understand and many people mature without our knowledge as well.
The final words of chapter 4 are uttered by the shaken disciples, who after seeing the Master tell the storm to stop, look at each other and ask, "Who is this guy?" The other miracles were one thing, but controlling the weather was something else. Probably the fishermen of the group were the most impressed, as they had to deal with storms on Galilee for a living. They knew that storms didn't just stop. This was probably a key moment for many of the disciples.
posted by rev-ed @ 12:11 AM
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