Mark
General notes
Chapter 1
Note ‘beginning’. Perhaps a reference to Genesis? St John’s parallel certainly is one.
- Matthew Βίβλος γενέσεως Book of Generations, a repeated phrase in Genesis
- Mark Ἀρχὴ Beginning/head/chief
- Luke 1.2 ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς from the beginning.
- John Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος In the beginning/head was the word
‘Gospel’ is used right in the first verse (of probably the first Gospel written). So it must have had a meaning before the Gospel. And in Greek gospels (in the plural) where used for the good news about a triumph or similar. A general/king etc was coming to the city and the gospels told of his deeds, what he did for the people of the city (liberated them, etc. Note Mark emphasis on Jesus casting out demons) and what we expected of them. (See Fr Damick’s Arise, O God: The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death)
The prophet Isaiah spoke of John the Baptizer, who called people to repentance and prepared the way for Jesus.
Locust and wild honey: calling to mind a Nazarite.
God the Father affirms his Son Jesus in his baptism and the Spirit hovers like a dove.
After this experience Jesus is driven out into the wilderness to be tempted. So often we too need to be on our guard for temptation after a spiritual experience. Note also the reversal of Eden.
Jesus calls his disciples
While Jesus is preaching, a demon recognizes him. This becomes a theme in Mark’s gospel; the devils know who Jesus is but the desciples do not. messianic-secret
Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law.
Jesus continues to spread his ministry, and it involves freeing people from the oppression of demons. “But he didn’t let the demons speak, because they recognized him.” 1.34 CEB
Jesus also heals a man with leprosy, freeing him from that disease. But he commands him to follow the Torah of Moses and present himself to a priest.
Chapter 2
Jesus forgives then heals a man whose friend tear open a roof to get him to Jesus. The healing is a sign that his sins were forgiven.
Jesus eats with sinners. “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick do. I came not to call the righteous but sinners.” Sin is likened to disease. We see this often in the Gospels, much more than the juridical model of the later Reformed/Lutheran Protestants
Fasting, John the Baptizer, and the Bridegroom. The new wine is greater than the old wineskins which cannot contain it.
The Lord made the Sabbath for man; for him to rest, not to be bound.
Chapter 3
Jesus heals a man with a withered hand, on the Sabbath, illustrating the conversation at the end of chapter 2.
Illness and evil spirits linked.
Jesus appoints the 12 disciples.
Jesus’ family thinks he’s insane and the legal experts that he’s possessed by demons. Yet Jesus rebukes them by saying a house divided won’t stand.
Jesus has bound the strong man the Devil. And is plundering his house (rescuing people from him.)
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, attributing God’s work to the devil.
Jesus mother and brothers are those who do the will of God. (Note passage in Luke where Mary says “Let it be to me according to your word.”)
Chapter 4
Jesus teaches the parable of the soils. He explains to the disciples the parables [riddles, dark sayings] are for those outside the kingdom, but the explanation is for those within. Darkly ‘otherwise they might turn their lives around and be forgiven (v 12 CEB)’
The parable of the seeds. God gives the increase.
Parable of the mustard seed. Jesus often used agricultural parables.
Jesus calms the storm. In the Greek this clearly parallels Jonah, using much of the same language as that storm.Yet unlike Jonah, Jesus was able to calm the storm with a word.
Chapter 5
Jesus heals the demon-possessed man of Gerasenes. Many demons possessed him. But they seek his destruction, like the swine herd they then possessed.
Jesus has the man tell his countrymen what happened as it’s outside of Israel. (The Messianic secret for Israel.)
The raising of Jairus’ daughter and the woman with the issue of blood.
Chapter 6
Jesus is dishonored in his hometown by those who knew him.
Jesus sends out the 12 disciples to preach the Gospel, having them rely on God for substance. The proclamation of the Gospel involves healing the sick and casting out demons.
John the Baptizer is put to death. Arrested for confronting Herod’s lust, he’s beheaded at a banquet for Herodias’ desire for power. The church hymns for this event condemn the gluttony of the party of Herod’s birthday.
Jesus feeds the 5000. v 34 When Jesus saw them, he had compassion on them, because there were like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus the good shepherd feeds the sheep by teaching them. And the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish illustrates this.
Jesus walks on water. St Mark connects this is with the loaves and fishes. Jesus’ power over nature and demons earlier in this chapter.
Jesus heals the sick.
Chapter 7
The Pharisees criticize the disciples for not washing their hands.
(The phrase explaining ritual washing uses ‘baptize’.)
Jesus quotes Isaiah 29 to say while the Pharisees give lip service to God, their hearts are far from him. While creating new traditions they don’t follow Gods’ commandment.
He uses the example of corban a gift to the temple to free oneself from caring for their parents.
But what defiles a man is not food but what’s inside him, the passions and sins arising from them.
Jesus heals the Syrophoencian woman’s daughter. This is a difficult passage with Jesus referencing her as a dog. Yet by her faith (and humility) she perservered the trial.
Jesus heals a deaf-mute man. Here we see the Lord’s humility in that he doesn’t want the knowledge to be spread. We also see again the Messianic secret theme of Mark. (#messianic-secret) Jesus is reaveal as the Christ only as he goes to his death.