This Week With 5X5X5
Tuesday – Mark 7
Wednesday – Mark 8
Thursday – Mark 9
Friday – Mark 10
Week-end – Reflection
Monday Jan 15 - Mark 11
If you are just now catching up with the reading plan, you have wisked through a barrage of images of God’s Holy One. The Gospel of Mark races through story after story of teaching, healing and miracle working. At the same time Jesus must fight the misunderstanding of the religious leaders of his day, and push his followers to deeper knowledge. A few things have become clear:
Jesus has power and authority that comes only from God. The demons know who Jesus is and tremble before him. People need only touch the hem of Jesus’ garments and they are healed. The wind and waves obey Jesus, and miracles are commonplace in his company.
Jesus disciples and those who follow him rarely understand the full meaning of his life and ministry. They certainly are not prepared for what will come next. They are constantly “amazed” by Jesus – in awe of him, and surprised by his actions and teachings.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day are clearly threatened by Jesus. He doesn’t play by the rules, and stands for a new way of relating to God that they can not understand. This tension will continue to build, and will culminate in the crucifixion
Mark 4 and the parable of the seed becomes the metaphor for Jesus’ life and ministry. In Mark’s Gospel it is the most drawn out of all Jesus’ teachings, and most likely described the way Mark’s church saw their ministry as well. Not everyone would respond to the gospel, just as not everyone responded to Jesus in a positive way.
Mark 6 shows the disciples of Jesus using his power and authority on their own for the first time. This event is the first small success for what will become the early church. Notice, however, in the same chapter the recounting of Jesus’ lack of success in his own home town. The early church struggled with what it means to be “successful” as those who proclaim the gospel. The early church also struggled to explain why some would turn away from the good news of the gospel.
Mark 7 is a difficult passage – a place where the tension between the religious Jews of that day and Jesus square off concerning what pollutes human life. Jesus is interpreting Torah in a very different way from the leaders of his day. On the other hand, he treats the Gentile woman who comes to him for help in much the same way as any faithful Jew. It is still unclear how the gospel will spread from those of Jewish faith to the rest of the world. The Gospel of Mark does not resolve this issue – as the other later Gospels will try to do. On the other hand, Jesus’ compassion comes through – even for the “dog” who is of Greek origin.
