New Gospel – New Start
Feb 14th, 2010 by David
It’s been a while, but basically, I wanted to prove the concept to myself and then wait out the end of our Ten Commandment series, the usual ‘State of the Church’ and ‘Sanctity of Life Sunday’ sermons and pick up fresh with the Gospel of Mark. That time is here!
There’s no way for you to know, but for me – the Old Testament is, perhaps, the most exciting part of the Bible for me. The narrative is visceral and gutsy, the poetry sublime, the people scandalous and real – my neighbours and myself. But, that said, I am so excited to be in the New Testament – and a Gospel at that.
A reminder that Sunday are my notes of the Pastors’ sermon and not a manuscript nor my own notes. I may have misheard or misnoted what he said and error is assumed to be mine and not his. Also, since they are primarily just what they are – my notes, they form a monologue block and will not be open to comment. Save that for Wednesday.
Mark 1:1-3 “Behold Your King”
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’ ”
Randy woke to chirping one Saturday as the 9 volt battery expired in the smoke alarm and sent its 9 second blast deep into his slumber. Removing the battery didn’t help and, of course, there was no replacement battery to be found. He drove to the Shell station – the only thing open at 3:30 am – and got the replacement silencing the clarion call and slipping back into a little more sleep.
Perhaps you’ve been startled from slumber or perhaps we’re in cruise mode in our lives when something suddenly shocks us awake.
Most who encounter Jesus in this Gospel are also surprised or startled by him. Mark 4 tells of the storm on the lake, after which his disciples ask “Who IS this guy?”
People are drawn to Jesus by his authority but often don’t ‘get’ him. Mark tells of the struggle transitioning into faith throughout his Gospel.
Background:
Author:
Technically anonymous, the title kata markon appeared early in the C-2nd. Early evidence points to John Mark of Acts 15 note. Here is the Council of Jerusalem “What do we do with the gentiles?” After, Paul wants to revisit the earlier works. Barnabas wants to take Mark. Paul wants to take Silas.
Papias: Mark became Peter’s interpreter
Internal: Consistency between structure of the Gospel and the structure of the sermon of Peter in Acts 10. Each of the Gospels portrays the disciples as slightly thick. Mark does so especially – pointing to the fact that someone who counted themselves amongst their number would have had the temerity to do this – and even then, Peter especially so amongst them; the slowest of the slow. Again – evidence that Peter was the oral source of the Gospel.
Date:
55-65 ad, that is 25 years after Christ – first generation. As the oral tradition of Kerugma began to wane, the need for written accounts grew.
Geography:
Written from Rome - mostly ascribed because of the date evidence. Also, internally, Mark’s Gospel is thematically and not geographically organized. Jesus is always travelling. Mark points to his visiting the remaining 12 tribes as he notes, somewhat offensively to our modern ears, to the Syrophoenecian woman.
Themes:
1. Person and work of Jesus
2. Discipleship
Excepting Christ and the disciples, few others in the Gospel are ever given names. This highlight Jesus. Mark also hurries to the Cross with ‘immediately’ occurring some 36 times in the Gospel.
1:1-8:26 Presentation of the person of Christ
8:27-16:8 Testing of the Lord
Both of these hurtle us to the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Diving In:
1. What’s in a Name?
Mark starts not with a genealogy or theological proposition, but a purpose statement: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark gives here the name – Jesus
Also gives the title – Christ
Also gives the claim – Son of God
Critics point out that nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus ever claim that title for himself. They omit that nowhere does he deny it either. Mark knows that Jesus is more than mere man – and points to Malachi and Isaiah to prove it.
2. That Sounds a Little Familiar
Mark harkens back to the prophets, both of whom prophesied to a disobedient people exhorting them to look for a savior/comforter to come. The ‘voice’ crying in Isa 40:3 is the messenger in Mark 1:2. And while the wilderness may well be geographical, more than mere isolation is meant. The idea of wilderness points to a broader life implication. Where does God speak to us? In our slumber. In our wilderness.
3. The Message of the Messenger:
What is the message? “Get ready!” Today Nascar begins. The Indy 500 is also iconic in racing and immortalized the phrase “Gentlemen, start your engines.” At that command, the place resounded with a cacophony of roaring engines. John the Baptist cried out too. A sprt of spiritual “Gentlemen, start your engines’ that announced the speaking of God into History with a sound that has been heard down the centuries and around the globe. The message that God brings redemption to broken, to hurting, to wilderness people.
The King is coming. Get ready!
