Mark presents the disciples as masters of ‘not getting it.’ Mark isn’t putting down the first followers of Jesus; rather, he’s using their experiences for teaching purposes. Jesus is presenting himself as the Messiah, yet he behaves nothing like the Messiah the Jews were expecting. Add to that Jesus teaching in parables and the disciples spent much of their time confused. I believe Mark used this material as a way of teaching his church that following Jesus takes work. The hardest part of the work is in erasing what we think we know and learning how to receive Jesus as he is, not the way we think he ought to be.
Without parables Jesus speaks directly to his disciples the literal truth. He says he, the Messiah, will be betrayed, he will die, he will rise again. Immediately they have a vision of a great army waiting for their King to lead them into battle. However, instead of a mighty King dressed in battle armor and riding a big horse, a humble shepherd walks to the head of the army. No armor. No weapon. And, he expects his army to dismount, remove their armor, drop their weapons and follow him.
Jesus’ idea of the Messiah just didn’t compute for his disciples, as evidenced by them immediately debating who will be the greatest in the Age to Come. Then Jesus, again, dashes their perceptions. Everyone, even a child, will have equal standing in the Age to Come.
If the disciples aren’t confused enough, Jesus then returns to teaching in signs, symbols and non-literal ways. No, Jesus isn’t instructing them to maim themselves by cutting off hands and feet and gouging their eyes. No, he doesn’t provide a literal description of an eternity without God. However, while his examples may not have been literal, his point about the danger of sin is not lost in the metaphors.
This passage serves as a solid foundation for understanding the three essential qualities of a disciple, or the 3 H’s: Hunger for God; Heart for people; Hatred of sin.
What word or phrase in these verses
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?
6-Nov-11 Mark 10:1-16
No comments:
Post a Comment