Walking with Purpose...

THE LESSON we study for the Second Sunday in Lent is heard from the Gospel According to Saint Mark. Our scheduled reading first reveals our Lord’s conversation with his apostles about his identity, then turns to the general population to identify followers as participants in his Church and ministry…

 And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he charged them to tell no one about him.

 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men.”

 And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

                                                                                          (Mark 8:27-38)

Gospel of Mark, The: A Commentary - eBook By Francis J. Moloney

From Few to All…

The query Jesus laid before Peter and the apostles places our focus upon the Jewish population's responses to his being in their midst. According to Mark, Peter was the apostolic spokesperson. He told of the various reactions of Jewish leaders and the general populace. Jesus then narrowed the questioning to just his disciples. He asked Peter about who they believed him to be.

 According to this earliest witness, Peter rightly identified Jesus for he answered that they believed him to be the Christ. Nonetheless, as likely told to the early Church by Peter himself, the text does not reveal that any of the apostles realized the full meaning of that statement. They thought he was to only assume the earthly throne of Israel. The inability of the apostles to comprehend his true Messianic role becomes thematic for the gospel of Mark, because the same question is asked three times during the apostolic trek to the cross. Jesus repeatedly tested their ability to “get it”. The writer of the gospel thus emphasized their ignorance. Their inability to comprehend that God had a different meaning for the Messianic role than the Jewish leadership, affected both the followers and opponents of Jesus’ mission. 
 Interesting as well, Mark does not use the Hebrew Messianic title to describe Jesus here, but instead used the Greek term of “Christ”… though both were indications that Jesus was the “anointed” or "appointed" one. My claim is that Mark addressed his writing specific to unbelievers in the Jewish diaspora across the Roman Empire… and especially any Greeks among them. Using the term therefore, Mark focused his readers universally by relating that Peter said that Jesus is the “Christ”.

 Jesus was described by Mark as more than merely a human being sent by God, as historically believed in error by many persons both then and now. Mark argued that Jesus indeed is the Son of Man, and the Christ of God. For further discussion on this matter, you can delve into a previous material covered on this same passage as written by the church of Matthew, You can find this in our study of the gospel for Pentecost 11, Year A in the lectionary cycle.

 For our Bible study today, however, I would bring us to examine the latter verses of this text. At the time, Jesus instructed his disciples not to reveal his Messianic identity, for they did not yet fully understand the all-encompassing mission that the title portrayed. His purpose was far greater than the erroneous perceptions his followers and adversaries held. They thought that Jesus would challenge local rulers and attempt to overthrow the seat of power in Israel.

 

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Follow Only Me!

In the reading, we find that Mark related that the audience changed. The scene portrays that Jesus turned... and began to speak to others who had gathered. He thus included the poor, the rich, the Pharisee, Sadducee and Zealot and others. Here the text becomes very telling.
 Mark shifted the scene to universally reveal the message they needed to hear. By doing so Mark taught his own reading audience and thus teaches us today as well. We are taught what following Jesus really means.

 All witnesses are taught that as his disciples... we are to be in the world, but not of it. Jesus’ original audience outside of Caesarea Phillippi and those who later came out of the Markan church witness, received a call to deny themselves. They were made able to set aside their own agenda and personal ambitions. Those hearing Jesus and reading this text were asked, even though not completely understanding, to cast away their finite human control. The question is posed, "Will they or we, do so?" Those hearing were... and still are... asked to follow in faith.
 You see, the disciples were to take up the challenge of moving forward as Christians. They were called... and indeed some followed. In following they would eventually learn of greater things by the power of the Holy Spirit, and give empowered witness while working in a hostile and challenging world.

 

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  In answer to this, we of the modern Church need to particularly note the passage that also gives us firm guidance. We need take it seriously. We grasp this as a Lenten warning as we move toward the cross of Easter. We are not called as the Body of Christ in today’s world to allow ourselves to be ashamed (In Greek - ἐπαισχυνθῇ - hepaischynthe) of witnessing about Jesus Christ, our Lord. Surely, as demonstrated by his death and Resurrection, Jesus was and is yet living and holy. He was thus defined as “set apart” by God. Our Lord was and still is truly human... and as God is also divine. Jesus thus possessed and still yet displays through the Spirit... a uniqueness that is far removed from any of the world’s would-be religious usurpers.

 

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  We note that many false leaders today merely attempt to glean the Church and civil populations like demons that tear at the fabric of our Lord’s pure garment. These assail and mislead the his true Church by prostituting the message of Jesus Christ. It is these heretical ones who soft-pedal Jesus’ divinity and slant his unchanging Word in order to endorse their own social or financial agendas. These apostates fail to reveal him as Lord of lords… the crucified and Risen Son of God! These are those persons of whom Jesus will be ashamed.

 

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  As modern disciples, please remember that you now are blessed ones who truly read and hear his Word, and together we are called to reveal today that Jesus is the solely the Son of Man and the Son of God. We rightly claim the Good News that salvation is accomplished only through him. This was the message of Mark to the early Church, and should continue even now in this earthly culture of death. We are called to do this throughout the Lenten season. May this message spread by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Stage Right!

OUR STUDY begins with a lesson for the First Sunday of Lent as acquired from the Gospel According to Saint Mark. Such as a Master of Ceremonies who would set the stage for the main course of a play, our author provided us with introduction for what was to come.

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.”

  The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him.

 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.”  (Mark 1:9-15)

 

 

Gospel of Mark, The: A Commentary - eBook By Francis J. Moloney

 

 

Our Author?

Those of us who once again experience our walk through the Sundays of Lent and are led to the foot of the Lord’s cross, come to know the redemption story... and we are brought to love its flow. However, the community of Mark did not write this gospel just for entertainment. Mark wrote for another, definite purpose. Highly likely is the assumption that all gospel writers gathered myriads of oral material. Therefore they deliberately blended witnesses of Peter and Mark… and thus proceeded to introduce a written story center stage. Subsequently the text we read today is primarily purposed for those who had not yet heard the Good News.

 If we look closely at the beginning as we study here, we can easily see seams. The Divine drama gradually unfolded. First the topic was noted clearly. It rolled out like a headline placed only yesterday on a marquee or in the theater lobby. Told by Mark as introductory words, the purpose was prominently advertised. Hear the good news… the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God!
 In rapid sequence thereafter, as if supplied by an unseen emcee who existed as an off-stage voice, our mind’s video presentation becomes anchored. The unfolding comes introduced by ancient text drawn from Isaiah. Thus rooting we readers or listeners to a divinely familiar stage, the gospel record quickly opened with the word… “Behold!

 

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  In our modern terms, the authors by the power of the Holy Spirit therefore said, “Pay attention!” Effectively the writers announced that prophets had predicted that a messenger would tell of the Messiah’s appearance. That person was interpreted by the author to be John the Baptist. John quickly took center stage only as a preparatory character, pictured not as the fulfillment of God’s promise but as a sent witness. His purpose was to call the audience’s attention to our sinful human failures before God. He was staged then to tell of the steadfast love that God provides. As readers, a guided conclusion echoes rightly within us,,, "We cannot get clean on our own!"

 The literary stage is set therefore in rather liquid fashion by Mark. The waters of the Jordan River, like the waters of our own baptism, provide us with the needed backdrop for life. Familiar to many… to those who walk in the faith of the Church both then and now… the watery scene opens for us on the story of Jesus’ baptism as carried out by John. The writer immerses us even today in the flow.
 Subsequently, this seems to be the real beginning of the story… for the author boldly used historical terms, “In those days…” he said! Erroneously, we who are seated in sin often wish to see this curtain unfolding as fable. Some might deem it as a familiar, “Once upon a time…” opening.  It would be so if not anchored in reality. Witnesses spurred by the Holy Spirit knew that the story was not fiction. This drama is not a just wonderful mystery.

 

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  Enter Stage "Right"

 The drama does not address the uncertainty of, “Why would the sinless Son of God need to receive baptism for repentance?’ You see, our Lord's baptism was not at issue for Mark or his gathered community, so that uncertainty was not voiced in the writing. As so professed by some scriptural critics, the central message of the drama begins where Jesus appears on stage as an adult. He was rightly announced by John as the greater of the two persons, but yet received baptism by John. Jesus appears without any discussion over a need for cleansing… since there was none. Mark boldly presented Jesus as being the One who would baptize us with the exclusive and divine, the special and set-apart Holy Spirit. For Mark then, Jesus was the main, revealed character presented beneath spotlight by the subsequent story. The revelation written points the reading audience toward Jesus alone as the Beloved. Jesus stands boldly before all who read or hear.

 Here we see, however, that the Greek word ευθυς appears in Mark. Rendered in English as “immediately” or “straightaway”, we find that the word resounds repeatedly through the entire writing of Mark. The word occurs like the literal soft “click” of a slide projector control,  or the “enter” button on a mouse of a computerized video presentation. Repeatedly, the word smoothly fades our attention to yet another scene. The word transitions us in faith therefore… moving us along toward revealing the Truth.
 To illuminate this flow, please note that this quick change of scenery backdrop unfolds “immediately” in the gospel writing. Our author related a statement and little more about Jesus’ journey into the wilderness. However, our gospel does not allow us to remain on the edge of our seats for long. We cannot remain dwelling in a wilderness of doubt and testing. Quickly the story propels us past the arrest of John the Baptist without further explanation and brings us back as reading audience to the central purpose of Jesus’ arrival upon the central stage of history.

 You see, according to Mark, the good news was not about John, nor the Satanic demonic seen in the wilderness as told by Matthew and Luke. The purpose was to boldly and quickly tell us that Jesus is the both Messenger and the Message. He is the Good News! Jesus is both the evangelist and the sure arrival of eternal salvation.

High Drama!

 Mark stated this gospel clearly and concisely. Jesus said right away in Mark that the time in which he spoke was “now” time… as not in “chronological" time, but rather he spoke in “right" time. In God’s eternal “right” time keeping, Mark clearly states both the then and the now of the gospel. We consequently may realize that the time for each of us is still “now” as the Gospel is read or heard. 
 I echo to you that most certainly the kingdom of God was at hand as our Lord spoke, and is yet available. Mark gave to those in his audience long ago, what he through the Holy Spirit now offers also to us. Mark gives to those who read and will witness the Good News, the Gospel… the fantastic instructions to believe in and follow Jesus.

  In conclusion we find at final curtain... our Lord Jesus, who is the Son of God according to the witness of the Holy Spirit. All of humanity, those of us who have been sinfully immersed in writing our own life scripts… are given clear direction for our lives. If only we listen and turn to face our Judge, Lord and Savior!

 

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 Scripture reveals that those who are trapped in the darkness behind the world’s stage lights… are called to squirm out front in Church theater seats. With the scriptural spot light turned and lowered upon us from the altar, we face condemnation under the Law. Then with grace, the stage illumines us with the brilliant love of our Father in heaven. "Believe the Good News" we are told. Our gentle Lord yet stands center stage, telling us… "For the kingdom of God is at hand." As people of God who are gathered properly onto the stage of creation during the coming weeks of Lent, I ask you to consider just what that means.