Mark 4

The kingdom is likened unto seeds. Three seed parables, one conclusion: the kingdom of God is breaking into the world and one day will be the ultimate reigning force.

But, I want to ask a question, if you read the seed parables again, what does the Markan Jesus seem to be telling us about the seeds and the soils?

# 1 — the seed is the Word

# 2 — the seed is good

# 3 — there will be opposition to the growth of the seed

# 4 — the seed will grow without any help from the sower

This last point intrigues me. If disciples are called merely to proclaim the good news of the  arrival of the kingdom, than it is up to God to grow the seed. Ministry styles, and budgets aren’t nearly as important as the message of the arrival of the reign of God.

Mark 1

I preached from Mark 1 this past Sunday and I want to share a couple of points I found extremely interesting this week was to begin with John’s words in 1:7, about one coming more powerful than he. I liked the emphasis that Donahue and Harrington make about Jesus being the stronger one. I think as chapter continue to unfolds we see this stronger one Jesus, coming with the Authority of God, (I know we haven’t encountered the term “Son of Man,” yet in a lecture or in our reading notes until 2:28 but based on Jesus usage of the term, and how it comes from Daniel 7, where we are shown one like a son of man approaching the Ancient of Days to be given authority and dominion) and we see Jesus the stronger one have authority over Satan (1:24-26; 3:23-27), Authority of Jesus over the religious leaders (1:21-22, 44; 2:5-11, 13-17, 18-20,23-28; 3:1-6 ), Authority to heal and cleanse from disease, sickness and sin (1:29-33, 40-45; 2:1-12), his authoritative call (1:14-20; 2:13-14 where Jesus calling is in the manner of how God calls throughout history, ie. Gen. 12:1-4. Also, there is an authoritative call and an immediate response by those he invites to “follow”).

I think this point that Donahue and Harrington* make is significant because if the setting for the Gospel of Mark is in or around Rome sometime in or around 60-70 C.E. the image of the stronger one would appeal greatly to Mark’s audience as they needed to be reminded of the stronger one Jesus and how was still stronger than Nero and the other trials that they were facing. I think there is significance as well for us in 2007 as we live in a world with shifting values, immorality, the threat of terrorism, injustice, disease and sickness, we need to reminded that Jesus is the stronger one, that is bringing with him the kingdom reign of God, and that we are part of the continuing unfolding of God’s story.

Two other observations from Mark 1 is the importance of the Old Testament to the proclamation of the Gospel in Mark. Mark could be called the Gospel according to Isaiah, as his work draws on major themes in Isaiah; returning from exile, forgiveness of sin, the heavens being torn open.

Finally when Jesus shows up in Mark he comes proclaiming the in-breaking kingdom of God. Jesus was inaugurating the arrival of God in our midst come to reclaim all of creation and renew it.  This indeed is “good news.”

* Donahue and Harrington, Sacra Pagina.

the challenge of Jesus

Reading through the Gospels, it becomes apparent that protecting purity was a big deal to the Saducees and Pharisees. These religious leaders protected the social boundaries, and even saw varying levels of holiness. So, what a shock to their world view it must have been to see a Jew touching lepers, encountering “unclean spirits,” daring to get close to the outcasts, the sick, the dead, etc. Jesus wasn’t afraid of being contaminated by ritual impurity, he was more concerned with extending the borders of the kingdom and extending his holiness to others.

Touching is a big deal in Mark. It communicates a clear message to those watching that holiness and purity were things Jesus didn’t want to be guarded but to spread. Jesus and the reign of God was about righting the wrongs and bringing wholeness to a people who needed to be redeemed. And it wasn’t just for Jews, but Jesus even astonishingly brings his ministry of touch and the extension of the kingdom to Gentiles.

Maybe the church could learn a few lessons from Jesus still. That we shouldn’t guard our congregations from those who are sin-sick or different than us. That we should be more concerned with people’s wholeness and not how many times they attend service. Maybe, if we were more concerned with extending the borders of the kingdom in our communities instead of marking the less-fortunate as outside our realm of help we could impact our towns in a more fuller way. Communities don’t need churches to just be a building on a street in anywhereville, USA, but communities of kingdom extenders longing to help bring Jesus healing wholeness to all.

back to the grind

I have re-enrolled in grad school @ LCU, so my blogging will most likely be sporadic. I am taking two classes, intro to graduate study and, a class on the gospel of Mark.

————————

College Football and High School football seasons have begun. Ahh, Football is in the air. Life does get sweeter.

————————

Just some political ramblings…

Sen. Craig and others throughout the history of public office have brought shame to their office and to Washington, how important should personal integrity be for public officials? I  tend to think that our integrity is of utmost importance, but it seems more and more these days that our integrity isn’t important.

How important will a candidates integrity be as we move into the 2008 pres. elections? It will be interesting to see how all of this plays out.