Chapter 1

The gospel makes an abrupt beginning. Very characteristic of Mark, it feels like a loose connection of events held roughly together in almost out line form by thematic material. “The beginning of the Good New (Gospel) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

There are several key elements established:

1. This is the gospel, the events of Jesus Christ known to Mark’s world as the gospel.

2. This is God’s Son. The connection with God is established. Unlike the gospels of Mathews and Luke who establish Jesus identity with God through the birth narratives; and John who through his introduction announces that “The Word was with God in the beginning and the Word was God . . . and the Word became flesh,” Jesus is established as God through the simple statement which is later developed a bit more fully.

3. This is the one already laid out through the prophet Isaiah whose messenger is sent “who will prepare you way; a voice of one crying out in the wilderness; Prepare the way of the Lord, makes his paths straight.” This gospel already proclaim before through the prophet is coming to fullness and this is “good news.”

John the Baptist and Baptism

John is understood as the messenger and the preparation that is presented for the coming of the messiah is a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” We are told that people flocked to him confessing their sins and receiving the washing in the River Jordan. The one coming, however, will baptize with Holy Spirit, not just water.

This baptism Jesus submits to and Mark reveals the significance of Jesus. The heavens were opened and the Spirit descended as a dove upon him. The voice from heaven declares, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Thus the ministry of the Messiah begins.

Into the Wilderness

The first of act of the Spirit which was upon Jesus was to drive him into the wilderness where he is tempted 40 days and nights. There he engages Satan and the ministry of the angels

The Kingdom of God

Upon his return to Galilee Jesus begins by his proclamation of the gospel (good news), “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” Jesus news presents and immediacy. First, the time (the кαιρός) has been fulfilled. This is perfect tense that depicts something that has come about and is being carried into the future with an impact for all time. The second is the kingdom has come (ήγγγκεν). This depicts a simple past tense done and present now. This sense of immediacy is followed by the only proper response, repent and believes.

Disciples

Jesus encounters Simon and Andrew fishing. Jesus says, “Follow me.” We are told that they “immediately” left their nets and followed. The same encounter occurs with James and John the sons of Zebedee. Once again, their response to Jesus invitation was immediate. They left their father and went with Jesus. This is how the good news is to be received. It is given with immediacy and is to be received the same way.

Exorcism

The next incident involves several key issues. Firs the event happens on the Sabbath. Second, Jesus’ authority is made apparent. Third, the identity of Jesus is further established.

1. The events of the Sabbath are very important in the telling of the story. Frequently the identity of Jesus is both established by Mark and called to question by the establishment. This will become further apparent as the story progresses.

2. The identity of Jesus is brought to the foreground by the powers of darkness. We are told that a man possessed of an evil spirit first identifies Jesus. “We know who you are.” Jesus demands silence. No demon is going to be responsible for establishing the identity of Jesus. This will be left to others.

3. Jesus’ authority if brought to the foreground also as he commands the demon to come out and restores well being to the man. This is the power of the kingdom and its bringer. Those around recognize this authority as far more excellent than anything that they have seen from their teachers.

4. The power and authority of Jesus conquers the powers of darkness. We must not forget that demons, evil spirits, powers, and principalities were part of their “cosmology”. This is how they understood that the world operated. Sickness was understood as a power that came from without of the individual, a power against which they had not power themselves.

Healing

The next incident is regarding Simon’s mother-in-law who we are told is ill. Jesus enters the house and restores her to health. Immediately she returns to her place. Once against that sense of immediacy is crucial. Where Jesus acts, immediately things happen and situations change.

We are told that many such incidents happened to people who came at hearing the good news bringing many who were sick and possessed by demons. Jesus healed them all “. . . and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.”

The Leper

Leprosy holds a special place of horror for the people of that time. It was considered nothing less than a curse from God. It required complete isolation and carried legal mandates from the Torah that those who possessed it were to be cut off. Here Jesus crosses the first of many lines against Jewish legal prescription. He encounters this leper. The wording is extremely important here. The leper says, “if you choose to you can make me clean.” The word translated as “choose” is θέλης is a world depicting “will”. The man says to Jesus, “if you will it, you can make me clean.” Jesus says, “I do will it. Be clean.” This stands in sharp contrast to the belief that man was inflicted by God as a curse. Here we discover instead that God wills him to be clean.

Once again the man is told to tell no one of what Jesus has done. Of course, as in many other cases this man tells everyone. He presents himself to the legal official to be pronounced clean by the Torah and then proceeds to tell everyone the source of his restored life.

The Messianic Secret

The strange injunction to say nothing regarding the mighty words of Jesus has come to be known as the “Messianic Secret.” It is a means by which Jesus chooses the means and the time of the revelation of who he is. Jesus resists being known for the healing and the displays of power. The final and one certain revelation that Jesus seeks doesn’t come until the cross. The conflict that arises throughout the telling of the story is that people miss the point of God’s presence while they’re caught up in the miracle. The real nature of the messiah is not revealed in miracle, it is revealed in the giving of his life for the world. All other messiahs (so called) held their claim to fame, like David, in the power of their presence to conquer. This messiah is different. This power is manifest in the conquering of sin and death at the cross. For this he must come under the full curse of death and vulnerability of humanity. We will hear further into the gospel Jesus teach the “son of man must be handed over to the officials, crucified, and on the third day rise.” There is no other way. Only in this revelation is the messiah to be known.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009