Jan 4, 2010
The Beginning of a Series on the Gospel of Mark
Much like my previous series on the book of Romans, I’ll be starting a series of devotions and reflections on the Gospel of Mark. While I’m at it I’ll also stick up the occasional post on theology or Christian living.
I like Mark because he begins with a bang, jumping right into his declaration that his work covers the Good News about the Messiah and then wastes little time in introducing us to John and Jesus. Jesus emerges as a miracle worker and preacher who immediately runs afoul of the religious authorities, and isn’t afraid to use complex imagery that alienates some listeners while conveying his deeper truths to those who wrestle with his words.
Throughout the Gospel of Mark Jesus follows a course that his followers and opponents generally don’t expect or can’t quite explain. If we step back from our familiarity with Jesus and his ministry and try to insert ourselves into the world Mark describes we will find in Jesus a challenging and unexpected Savior.
If the people who witnessed Jesus’ miracles found him puzzling, with many rejecting him outright, then any reading of the Gospels should be uncomfortable at some levels, stirring up some tough issues, confusing us, and leaving us with difficult choices to make. Jesus offers us salvation, communion with God, and the freedom of discipleship, but that path has a cost and will become quite difficult at times.
As we enter into this brief Gospel that dives right into the ministry of Jesus and shows his various actions and teachings receiving a variety of responses, let us pray that this account of Jesus will push us and pull us in good ways, showing what we must leave behind, and how we can take active steps toward greater intimacy with Christ in our daily lives.
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“If the people who witnessed Jesus’ miracles found him puzzling, with many rejecting him outright, then any reading of the Gospels should be uncomfortable at some levels, stirring up some tough issues, confusing us, and leaving us with difficult choices to make. ”
This is great point, Ed. Do you remember the movie “The Sixth Sense”? The big twist at the end is that Bruce Willis had been dead all along. I had a friend who maintained, “It was no surprise. What’s the big deal about the movie?” Turns out someone told my fried BEFORE the movie that Bruce Willis was dead the whole time–it colored his experience of the film.
The same with Mark’s gospel. We come to the book thinking, “Sure. Jesus. Nice guy, Savior of the world.” And thus we miss all the discomfort and confusion over this miracle-working rabbi who “boom” bursts on to the scene in Mark’s gospel. If Jesus showed up today you can be sure we would be faced with hard choices!
Great stuff Ray. Thanks for sharing!
[...] The first installment of my meditations on the Gospel of Mark. Check out the intro here. [...]