The Gospel

according to Mark

Major Themes in the Text

Jesus as the Son of God1. Authoritative2. Opposed3. Misunderstood4. Acknowledged5. Suffering6. Crucified7. Vindicated

Recall the Greco-Roman Biography

• 4 major characteristics of Greco-Roman biography:

1. Usually based on written/oral sources

2. Less concerned with relating historical events

3. Little/no character development

4. They often portrayed the character of the main figure at the outset of the narrative

Jesus’ use of Parables in Mark

• Parable: a story that makes a theological point through the use of metaphors.

• Jesus speaks in parables extensively throughout the Gospels in order to illustrate important truths (about the Kingdom of God).

Jesus’ use of Parables in Mark

• Interestingly, MOST of those who hear Jesus’ words don’t understand what they mean.

• Purpose of the Parables (4:10-20)

• Parable of the Mustard Seed (4:30-34)

Jesus as “Opposed” Son of God

• Jesus becomes hated and opposed by the religious leaders of his people, HOWEVER…

• Mark does not portray Jesus as standing in opposition to the religion of Judaism.

• Jesus is the Son of the JEWISH God (Yahweh), who comes in fulfillment of the JEWISH scriptures and is preceded by a JEWISH prophet (John the Baptist).

So why did they oppose Jesus?• Throughout the Gospel,

Mark maintains that Jesus is faithful to the Jewish Law (1:40-44).

• They are gravely offended by what Jesus says and does (he challenges convention):

1. Jesus refused to follow traditional practices of purity (2:15-17)

2. Jesus puts human needs above the Sabbath (2:23-36)

Definition of Terminology (p. 71)1. Jewish Scribes: the literary elite; those who studied

sacred scripture (most Jews were not well-educated).2. Pharisees: Jews who were strongly committed to

maintaining the purity laws in the Torah. They developed a set of carefully designed laws. They are the main “bad guys” in the Jesus story.

3. Sadducees: Jews of the upper class, who were closely associated with the Temple. They mostly made up the…

4. Sanhedrin: who were the council of priests that advised the high priest of the Temple.

5. Chief Priests: the upper classes of the Jewish priesthood who operated the Temple and oversaw its sacrifices. The leader of the Chief Priests was the…

6. High Priest: who was the ultimate authority over civil and religious affairs when there was no king in Judea.

Development of Opposition

1. The religious leaders question Jesus’ actions (2:7)

2. They take offense at his associations (2:16)

3. They take offense at his activities (2:18)

4. They protest the actions of his followers (2:24)

5. They decide to find a way to kill him (3:6)

3. Jesus as “Misunderstood” Son of God

• Nobody else recognizes Jesus’ identity.1. Not his own family

(3:21)2. Not his own

townspeople (6:1-6)3. NOT EVEN HIS OWN

DISCIPLES (4:41; 6:51-52; 8:21)

Nobody understands Je

sus’

identity as the Son of G

od.People slowly realize that

Jesus is the Son of God.

The Plot of Mark’s Gospel“Do you not understand?” (Mark 8:21)

• “Who do people say that I am?” (8:27)

• “Who do you say that I am?” (8:29)

• Peter’s response? “You are the Christ” (8:29)

• FINALLY! Somebody understands Jesus!

4. Jesus as “Acknowledged” Son of God

• Peter sees who Jesus is, but he still is unable to see the entire picture.

• Prediction of the Passion (8:31-33)

• Peter’s understanding of the role of the Messiah is VERY different from Jesus’ understanding…

4. Jesus as “Acknowledged” Son of God

“Messiah”: Typical/Traditional understanding vs. Mark’s understanding

TYPICAL UNDERSTANDING• The future deliverer of

Israel• A man of grandeur and

power who will usher in God’s kingdom in a mighty way

MARK’S UNDERSTANDING• Jesus is the Messiah who

must suffer and die in order to bring salvation for the world (8:31-33)

Presumably, Peter uses the term “Messiah” in the more traditional sense, the way other Jews in the first-century would have; that is why Peter rebukes Jesus (Mark 8:32)

The Messianic Secret

• “Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him” (8:30)

• Jesus is the Messiah – the Son of God – and yet he wants his identity to remain a secret (1:34; 1:43; 5:43).

5. Jesus as “Suffering” Son of God• Jesus will have to die

(2:20; 3:6)• After Peter’s confession,

Jesus begins to talk about it in more explicit terms.

• Jesus predicts his own death three separate times (8:31; 9:30-31; 10:33-34)

• In all accounts, Jesus also emphasizes that following Christ means suffering, death and persecution (8:34-38; 9:33-37; 10:45)

5. Jesus as “Suffering” Son of God

• Jesus confesses to his identity as the Son of God to the high priest (14:61-62).

• The Sanhedrin charge him with blasphemy.

• Blasphemy is not claiming to be the Messiah, it is claiming to be Divine!

6. Jesus as “Crucified” Son of God

• Mark’s narrative makes it clear that none of Jesus’ disciples ever come to understand who he is.

• The author provides two accounts that remind us of the importance:

1. The veil in the Temple is torn in half (15:38).2. The Roman centurion confesses Jesus to be the Son

of God (15:39).

The Torn Veil of the TempleWhy is the account of the

torn veil significant?• The most sacred part of

the temple was the Holy of Holies, which was where God was believed to dwell. It was covered by the veil.

• The torn veil signifies, for Mark, that God is no longer removed FROM the people; His presence is available to everyone (in Christ).

The Confession of the Roman Centurion

Why is the confession significant?

• The first person to recognize Jesus’ true identity is the Roman guard who presided over his crucifixion.

• The Roman guard is a pagan soldier, who was not a follower of Jesus.

• Jesus brings salvation to the world, not simply his own people. Jesus’ message will be adopted by Gentiles (non-Jews) like the soldier.