The Gospel of Mark
Photo by Matthew Twining
Jesus’ Disciples & Opponents
Session 2
Opening Prayer
Work your wonders
Brueggemann, Walter. Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth. Minneapolis: Augsburg
Fortress, 2003.
Jesus’ Disciples & Opponents
Session 2
Series based on
The Gospel of Mark
By Donald H. Juel
1999
Abingdon Press
Characters in Mark’s Gospel
• Often have no background on character
– John the Baptist
• Others are “stock characters”
– Pharisees – identified with their interest in
ritual purity
Pharisees, Sadducees, & Herodians
• Pharisees
– “Separate ones”
– Response to Alexander the Great’s imposition of
Hellenistic customs on Israel
– Developed oral torah
• Sadducees
– Possibly another response to Hellenization
– Torah (1st 5 books of OT) the standard
– Opposed concept of resurrection
• Herodians
– Know even less
– Seem to have been supporters of King Herod
Pharisees & Sabbath Observance
• Sabbath observance important to distinguish
Jews from all the nations
• Permissible acts varied among Jewish groups
Matthew
12:11 He–said
"Suppose
oneinoftrouble
you has only one
– Pharisees
ok to
tothem,
assist
animal
sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and
– itDead
– notis ok
to help
animal
lift
out? 12Sea
How community
much more valuable
a human
being
than a sheep!
So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath."
– Jesus sides with the Pharisees in Mt. 12:11-12
• Jesus gets in trouble for healing on the Sabbath
– Life is not at stake
– Acts on his own authority
Scribes, Chief Priests & Elders
• Scribes – trained to study biblical texts
• Chief Priests – appointed by the king to
act with authority over temple rituals in
Jerusalem
• Elders – lay leadership
• Primary opposition to Jesus came from
Jerusalem based groups with ties to the
government (Rome)
Satan & Unclean Spirits
• Casting out demons a core feature of
Jesus’ ministry in Mark’s gospel
• Jesus tells parable of divided kingdom in
opposition to those who claim his power
comes from an evil spirit (Mark 3:22-27)
Family
• Background details on Jesus’ life are sketchy
(Mark 6:2-3)
– He has brothers & sisters
– His occupation is carpentry
• His own family questions his mental status
(3:19-21)
• Jesus adopts his followers as his family (3:3135)
• Crossing traditional family boundaries increases
opposition from authorities
Little People
• True heroes of Mark’s gospel
• For most, they have in common being healed by
Jesus
– Outsider status due to religious law, not economics
– Provide other occasions of boundary crossing for
Jesus
• Unknown woman who anoints Jesus at Simon’s
house has story of her deed as memorial
– Yet her story not included in lectionary cycle
The Disciples
• Jesus’ disciples includes many who follow
– The Twelve / Apostles
– Other followers including women (4:10; 15:40)
Mark4:10
15:40
There
also
women
on around
from
a distance;
among
• The
Apostles
sent
out
bylooking
Jesus
to imitate
his
Mark
When
hewere
was
alone,
those
who
were
him along
with the
them were
Mary
Magdalene,
and Mary the mother of James the younger
twelve
asked
him
about
the
parables.
ministry
are
and of Joses,
and given
Salome. extra instruction
• 12 reminiscent of 12 tribes of Israel
• Both insightful (Peter in 8:27-29) and hardheaded (hearted) (6:52)
Mark 8:27
Jesus
went on with
his disciples
to the villages
of Caesarea
• Juel
asks
whether
these
disciples
show
promise
Mark 6:52
did not
about the"Who
loaves,
but theirsay that I
Philippi;
andfor
onthey
the way
he understand
asked his disciples,
do people
for
carrying
Jesus’
ministry
hearts
am?"
28were
And hardened.
they on
answered
him, "John
the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still
others, one of the prophets." 29 He asked them, "But who do you say that I
am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah."
Who is God in Mark’s Gospel?
God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob
• Jesus is the Son of Israel’s God
– Mark 12:26
– Mark
12:29-30
Mark
12:26
And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the
• Mark
God’s
name
12:29
Jesus
answered,
"Thethe
first
is, 'Hear,
O Israel:
Lord'I our
book
of
Moses,
in the
story about
bush,
how God
said the
to him,
am God,
the
– Lord
Hebrew
tetragramaton
the
is one;
30the
you
shall
love
the
Lord
with all your heart, and
God
of Abraham,
God
of(hwhy)
Isaac,
and
theyour
GodGod
of Jacob'?
– Translation
issues
with
all your soul,
and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
• Usual circumlocution for God’s name in Hebrew is Adonai or Lord
– Septuagint used Greek word for Lord (kurie) as God’s name
– Greek NT books employ Lord for multiple uses
• As God’s name
• To mean master
• To mean sir
• Linguistic confusion means it is possible to cross over into
blasphemy
– Ex. Healing of Gerasene demoniac (5:19-20)
God of Action
• God speaks 2 times
– At Jesus’ baptism
– At Transfiguration
• God tears something 2 times
– The heavens at Jesus’ baptism
– The curtain in the Temple at Jesus’ death
• God’s actions often couched in passive voice as
sign of respect for speaking about God
Mark
4:10 When
he was alone, those who were around him along with
– Mark
4:10-12
the
about
the parables.
11alarmed;
And
said
"To
you
Mark
16:6asked
But
hehim
said
to them,
"Do notabout
be
you to
arethem,
looking
for
Mark
6:52
for
they
did
not
understand
the he
loaves,
but
their
hearts
–twelve
Mark
6:52
has
been
given the secret
of the
kingdom
God,
butraised;
for those
Jesus
of Nazareth,
who was
crucified.
Heofhas
been
he outside,
is not
were
hardened.
–
Mark
16:6
everything
12 inlaid
order
that 'they may indeed look, but
here. Look,comes
there in
is parables;
the place they
him.
not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may
not turn again and be forgiven.'"
Kingdom of God
• Jesus inaugurates his ministry with the proclamation “the
kingdom of God has come near” (1:15)
• Greek word for kingdom (basileia) can be thought of in 2 ways
– As a place
– As an activity
• Kingdom of God as God’s rule works in most cases
• In 2 parables Jesus suggests the kingdom can be compared
to a house
– Mark 3:23-25
Mark
3:23 And
13:33
Beware,
he called
keepthem
alert;tofor
him,
youand
do spoke
not know
to them
wheninthe
parables,
time will
– Mark
13:33-37
"How
come.
can
34 ItSatan
isthe
likecast
a man
out going
Satan?
24
a journey,
If a
whenishe
divided
leaves
against
home(Juel,
itself,
and p.
– Makes
kingdom
ofon
God
ankingdom
“embodied
activity”
that 82)
puts
kingdom
his slaves
cannot
in charge,
stand.
each
25 And
withifhis
a house
work, and
is divided
commands
against
the
itself, that
house will not
doorkeeper
to be
be able
on the
to watch.
stand. 35 Therefore, keep awake-- for you do not
• know
Mark’s
gospel
describes
Jesus
the in
announcer
when the master of the house
willas
come,
the evening,oforthe
at
kingdom
midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep
• when
The kingdom
itself belongs
God
he comes suddenly.
37 And to
what
I say to you I say to all: Keep
awake."
God & Law
•
Mark records disputes between Jesus & the authorities on the interpretation
of Mosaic Law
– Mark 7:9-13
– Mark 10:2-9
•
•
•
God is not simply the Creator of the heavens and the earth, but the
Mark
he Pharisees
said
to them,
have
a fine
way
of asked,
rejecting
the
Mark7:9
10:2
Some
came,
to test
him
they
"Is
it
author
of Then
the
Law
by which
life"You
is and
regulated
and
structured.
God
commandment
ofto
God
in order
to keep3of
your
tradition!
10
For"What
Mosesissaid,
“joins
through
the
Law. Interpretation
very
lawful together”
for a man
divorce
hisagency
wife?"
Hethe
answered
them,
much
part
divine
activity,
since
itand,
is the
way allowed
God’s
Law
takes
'Honor
yourof
father
and
your mother';
'Whoever
speaks
evil
oftofather
did
Moses
command
you?"
4
They
said,
"Moses
a
man
concrete
shape.
And die.'
interpretation
necessarily
raisestells
questions
or
mother
must surely
11 But
you
say thather."
if anyone
father
orof
write
a
certificate
of
dismissal
and
to
divorce
5
But
Jesus
said
authority. Who has the right to interpret—and thus to speak for God?
mother,
support
might have
had
methis
is Corban' (that
to …The
them,'Whatever
"Because
of your you
hardness
heart
hefrom
wrote
major difference
between of
Mark’s
Gospel
and the later Jewish
is,
anCodes,
offeringlike
to for
God)-12
thenfrom
you
no beginning
longer
permit
doing
for a
commandment
6 But
the
of creation,
'God
Law
theyou.
Mishnah,
is
formal:
legal
issues
areanything
not
settled
father
mother,
13
thus
making
voidmakes
the reason
word
ofaGod
your
through
debate
voting.
Jesus
pronouncements.
The law
madeor
them
maleand
and
female.'
7 'For
this
manthrough
shall leave
must
be that
interpreted—but
it isjoined
Jesus
who
hasmany
the
authority
to
interpret,
tradition
you
have and
handed
on.
And
you
do
things
likeshall
this."
his
father
and
mother
be
to
his
wife,
8
and
the
two
even to speak for God. (Juel, p. 84)
become
one flesh.'
So they
are noJesus
longerastwo,
but one
This
authoritative
stance
positions
speaking
forflesh.
God 9
Therefore
what
Godday,
hasJesus’
joinedspeech
together,
let no one separate."
For
the rulers
of the
is blasphemy
God the Father
• In Mark’s gospel, God is Father by implication
–
–
–
–
Jesus is called “Son of God” twice by God
Demons acknowledge Jesus as “the Son of God”
Jesus calls God Abba or father in Garden of Gethsemane
Jesus speaks of The Father as the One who knows the time of
the end
• Only time others are included as children of God is when
Jesus admonishes his followers to “forgive so your
Father in heaven may forgive” (Mark 11:25)
• God is Father to Jesus the Messiah, the King (Ps. 2:7)
Who is Jesus in Mark’s
Gospel
Who Do People Say That I Am?
Mark 8:27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea
Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I
am?" 28 And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and
still others, one of the prophets." 29 He asked them, "But who do you say
that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah."
• Jesus gives his disciples a 2 – part quiz
(8:27-29)
– Who do people say I am?
– Who do you say I am?
• Position & identity of a person defines their
response
Who Do People Say That I Am?
Jesus’ Family
• Mark portrays Jesus’ family as being nonsupportive (3:20-21)
3:20believe
and the crowdhe
came
together
again, soill
that they could not even
• Mark
They
is
mentally
eat. 21 When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people
saying, "He has gone out of his mind."
• were
Jesus’
response is to break with his family
of origin (3:31-35)
Mark
3:31 Then a
hisnew
motherfamily
and his brothers
came; to
andGod’s
standing outside,
–
Gathers
obedient
will
they sent to him and called him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him; and
they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside,
asking for you." 33 And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"
34 And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother
and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister
and mother."
Who Do People Say That I Am?
Ordinary People
• People attracted to Jesus
– As healer
– As teacher with authority
– As prophet like Elijah & Elisha
• Brings dead to life
• Feeds people
• Connected with last days
• Disciples mainly confused
– Frightened by Jesus’ authority over nature
– Turn to him for answers as their teacher
– Name him the Messiah
Who Do People Say That I Am?
Supernatural Beings
• God
– Declares Jesus to be his Son
– Israel’s king is son of God (Ps. 2:7; 2 Sam.
7:14)
• Demons & unclean spirits name him as
– The Holy One of God
– The Son of God
– The Son of the Most High God
Who Do People Say That I Am?
Ruling Authorities
• Pharisees most concerned about Jesus’ crossing legal boundaries,
esp. Sabbath
– Early on express desire to get rid of him
• Scribes make legal charges against Jesus
•
•
•
•
– Blasphemy (2:5-7)
– Demon possession (3:28-30)
NRS Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your
Herod
fears"Truly
that Jesus
is people
a resurrected
John the
Baptist
Mark
3:28
tellNow
you,
will scribes
be forgiven
their there,
sins(6:14-16)
and
sins are
forgiven."I 6
some of the
werefor
sitting
questioning
Ruling
authorities
fear
him
because
of
the
crowds
(11:18)
Mark
6:14
King
Herod
heard
of
it,
for
Jesus'
name
had
become
known.
whatever
blasphemies
they utter;
29 but
whoever
blasphemes
against the
in their hearts,
7 "Why does
this fellow
speak
in this
way? It is blasphemy!
Chief
priest
asks
Jesus
explicitly
Some
were
saying,
"John
the
baptizer
raised
from
the
dead;
Holy
can
never
have
forgiveness,
butbeen
is
of an
eternal
sin"-- 30
Who
can
forgive
sins
but
alone?"
MarkSpirit
11:18
And
when
theGod
chief
priestshas
and
theguilty
scribes
heard
it, they
–
and
“Are
for
this
you
the
these
thekill
powers
Son
offor
are
thethey
at
Blessed”
work
(14:61)
him." of
15him,
But others
for
they
hadreason
said,
"He
has
an
unclean
spirit."
kept
looking
for Christ,
a way
to
him;
wereinafraid
because
–
said,
Jesus’
"It
is
response,
Elijah."
And
“I
am…”
others
(14:62)
said,
"It
leads
is
a
prophet,
immediately
like
one
to
condemnation
of
the
thefor
whole
crowd
was
spellbound
by
his
teaching.
blasphemy
prophets
of old." 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I
Pilate
acts against
Jesus
forand
political
beheaded,
has
raised."
Mark
14:61
But been
he was
silent
did notmotives
answer. Again the high
–
Charge
that
Jesus
is
King
of
the
Jews
issee
not the
acceptable
to Roman
Mark
said,you
"I am;
and 'you will
SonBlessed
of Man
seated at
priest 14:62
asked Jesus
him, "Are
the Messiah,
the
Son
of the
authorities
the
right hand of the Power,' and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.'"
One?"
– Soldiers mock Jesus as king, not knowing they speak truth then
Jesus, the Teacher
• Called teacher more often than any other
gospel
• Does less teaching than any other gospel;
Mark’s Jesus is a man of action
• Teachings occur in 3 main blocks
– Cluster of parables found in Mark 4
– Teaching on discipleship and greatness after
Peter’s confession
– Little Apocalypse of Mark 13
Crossing Legal Boundaries
man whose
mother
and whose
father was
• Leviticus
Judea in24:10
theAtime
of Jesus
is was
oneanofIsraelite
clear-cut
boundaries
Egyptian
came outregularly
among the entails
people ofcrossing
Israel; and the
Israelite woman's
• an
Jesus’
ministry
these
son
and a certain Israelite began fighting in the camp. 11 The Israelite
boundaries
•
•
woman's son blasphemed the Name in a curse. And they brought him to
– Touches a leper
Moses-- now his mother's name was Shelomith, daughter of Dibri, of the tribe
Dines
sinners
andintax
collectors
of–Dan-12 with
and they
put him
custody,
until the decision of the LORD should
Deals
withtounclean
in unclean
Gerasenes)
be– made
clear
them. 13spirits
The LORD
said to lands
Moses,(the
saying:
14 Take the
blasphemer
the camp;
and let
all whowho
were within
hearinglives
lay their
Phariseesoutside
actually
respect
Jesus
generally
hands
on his
head,but
and are
let the
whole congregation
stone
him. 15 And speak to
with the
Law,
puzzled
by his lax
Sabbath
the
people of Israel, saying: Anyone who curses God shall bear the sin. 16
observance
One who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall be put to death; the whole
Clearest boundary between Creator and creature
congregation shall stone the blasphemer. Aliens as well as citizens, when they
– Violation
this boundary
blaspheme
theof
Name,
shall be putistoblasphemy
death.
– Punishment is stoning (Lev. 24:10-16)
– Jewish authorities convict Jesus on a charge of blasphemy
Born to Die
• Necessity of Jesus’ death is emphasized
by the space Mark gives to it
– About a third of the gospel covers last week
– About a sixth covers the last 24 hours
• Follows God’s will
– Mark 14:21
– Mark 14:36
Jesus’ Title of Christ / Messiah
• Use of title with definite article, e.g. “The Christ”, denotes a
king
• Royal imagery supported with several OT texts
– Psalms 2; 89; & 132
– 2 Samuel 7
– Numbers 24:17
– Genesis 49:10
– Isaiah 11:1
– Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:17-22
• Expectation of a prophet in the last days was a 2nd distinctive
tradition from the expectation of a king like David
• Jewish expectations varied widely; not everyone expected a
kingly figure
• Suffering king was disconnected with 1st century Judean
traditions
Jesus’ Title of “The Son of Man”
• Difficulty translating this phrase seen in Living
Bible
– The Messiah
– Self-reference
• Jesus uses this expression to refer to himself
• Matthew & Mark seem to regard it as the
personal pronoun
• Nowhere used as statement of identity as in
“Jesus is the Son of Man”
• May be related to Daniel’s figure “like a human
being” / “like a son of man” (Daniel 7:9-14)
Jesus’ Ministry of Plundering Satan’s House
Mark 3:22-27
Mark 3:22 And the scribes who came down from
Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of
the demons he casts out demons." 23 And he called
them to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can
Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against
itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is
divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is
divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27 But
no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his
property without first tying up the strong man; then
indeed the house can be plundered.
Mark 5:1-20
Defeating the Legion
Mark 5:1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2
And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an
unclean spirit met him. 3 He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any
more, even with a chain; 4 for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but
the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the
strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was
always howling and bruising himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he
ran and bowed down before him; 7 and he shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you
to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me."
8 For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 9 Then Jesus asked
him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." 10 He
begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now there on the hillside a
great herd of swine was feeding; 12 and the unclean spirits begged him, "Send us into the
swine; let us enter them." 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came
out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the
steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea. 14 The swineherds ran off and told
it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened.
15 They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind,
the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen what
had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 17 Then they began to beg
Jesus to leave their neighborhood. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had
been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But Jesus refused,
and said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for
you, and what mercy he has shown you." 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in
the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
Mark 5:21-43
Freeing Two Women
Mark 5:21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd
gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue
named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, "My
little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made
well, and live." 24 So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25
Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had
endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but
rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and
touched his cloak, 28 for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well." 29 Immediately
her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30
Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and
said, "Who touched my clothes?" 31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in
on you; how can you say, 'Who touched me?'" 32 He looked all around to see who had done it.
33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down
before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you
well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." 35 While he was still speaking, some people
came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any
further?" 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not
fear, only believe." 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the
brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a
commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, "Why
do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." 40 And they laughed
at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were
with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha
cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!" 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk
about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly
ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Where Have All the Demons Gone?
• With Jesus’ healing following the Transfiguration, Mark says nothing
more of Satan
• Instead, as Albert Schweitzer noted, Jesus sets his face to go to
Jerusalem
• It may be that we are to see the confrontation with the religious
and political authorities as the climax of God’s dealing with the
domain of the devil…Selecting either Jesus’ conflict with Satan
or his conflict with the religious authorities as the major theme
in the story is illegitimate. Both are present. Lacking explicit
warrant, we must venture a guess about how the author
understood the relationship between the forces of the devil and
the political and religious authorities. Later tradition unified the
two themes. Such an understanding is probably implied in
Mark.
Perhaps we may understand the conflict so central to the story
in terms of bondage. Those who are possessed by Satan are
not in control and are thus unable to free themselves. (Juel, p.
118)
Bibliography
• Juel, Donald H., The Gospel of Mark,
Nashville : Abingdon Press, 1999.
• Matthew Twining, “St. Mark's Lion”, July 7,
2008, photo used by permission under
Creative Commons license.