2005 Bible Reading

This page is not a commentary, nor an outline. It is something to bear in mind in this kind of reading. These materials I learnt from two books by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart (How to Read the Bible for All Its worth; How to Read the Bible Book By Book). You could consult these books if you are interested.

(Pastor Raymond)

Mark

Mark is the shortest of the Gospels and amongst the three that are called Synoptic Gospels (Mt, Mk, and Lk), Mark’s materials are almost always found in either one or both of the other two Gospels. We should notice that the English translation (e.g. the NIV) clearly indicates the shorter ending is more reliable and hence Mark should end at 16:8. As such, this Gospel ends without the explicit description of the resurrected Jesus but invites the readers to walk into the suspense brought about by an empty tomb.

Probably owing to its shortness, Mark moves in a breathtaking pace, taking Jesus from scene to scene in rapid-fire actions. We can simply notice the occurrences of words like “and” (almost every sentence), “immediately” (41 times) and “and again” (25 times) connecting scenes. Even with such a breath-taking pace, there is still a discernible movement from Jesus’ early interaction with many people, progressing to the interaction with three primary groups (crowds, disciples and opposition). There is a concentration on teaching just the disciples in 8:22-10:45. But Mark describes that the disciples regrettably misunderstood. Eventually Jesus’ interaction with the opposition led him to the cross in Jerusalem. Even then, his relationship to all these people is clear: he was pronounced “the king of the Jews” (15:2).

Mark tells the story of Jesus as a Messiah who is a king, who will suffer (die) and who keeps this identity secret during his ministry. First, we should note that the word Messiah literally means “anointed one”. He needs not be a king. Certainly, there was no strong OT tradition that the Messiah should die. Also a Messiah could hardly be expected to come in secret. However, Mark records that Jesus repeatedly asked for his identity not be revealed: to the demons (1:25, 34; 3:11-12), to the crowds (1:44; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26) and to the disciples (8:30). The impression then is that the role of Jesus as the coming King to suffer for the people cannot be fully comprehended until after the fact, even by His closes associates, the disciples (8:27-33). No Jew in first century Palestine wanted to accept a Messiah King who would die on a cross! But Mark was writing for an audience a couple of decades after Jesus’ resurrection and he has an argument like this: if you people have read the prophet Isaiah correctly, you will get the mystery. In fact, Mark cites Isaiah at key junctures (1:2; 4:10-12; 7:7; 9:48; 11:17) and recalls obliquely to Isa 53, 5:1-7, 6:9-10 and 56:7.

There is one more surprise element from the reading of Mark. That is, just as it is so unthinkable for a Messiah King to suffer (die) for a wicked generation it is truly mind-boggling to find out that discipleship means copying what the master has done! In Mark’s record, Jesus’ first instruction on discipleship found in 8:34 is for the disciples to bear their own cross. This is uttered only after Jesus has first disclosed to the disciples his own impending death (8:31).