Experiencing the. Experiencing the Gospel of Mark. The Gospel of Mark.

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1 Experiencing the Gospel of Mark Experiencing the Gospel of Mark MGVHoffman Mount Carmel - June Session 5 (and 6) Another Fine Mess / When Words Fail The Death of Jesus Reader Response Exercise: The Resistant Reader: Mark Why was Jesus crucified? The Resurrection: Baptism >> John arrested and later killed Controversies > plots Transfiguration framed by Passion predictions Crucifixion The Gospel of Mark What was the main purpose of Jesus ministry? Why did Jesus die? Why was Jesus killed by (Atonement) Why did Jesus rise again? What difference does all this make for us? Mark Jesus called them and said to them, You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. 1

2 Why did Jesus die? Why was Jesus killed? Why was Jesus crucified? How does Jesus death make him our Savior? Mark When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani? which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Mark Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn (schizomai) in two, from top to bottom. Mark Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, Truly this man was God s Son! What did you see? What did the centurion see? What do we need to be saved from? Death and fate Guilt and condemnation Meaninglessness and despair From Tillich as cited in Douglas John Hall s Why Christian? 2

3 What are we saved for? For freedom Christ has set us free Galatians 5.1 Freedom from the power of death grants us to live life abundantly Freedom from guilt (forgiveness of sins) grants us to live by grace Freedom from despair and meaninglessness grants us to live for Christ and for others in friendship and service Sacrificial or Substitutionary Jesus death was a sacrifice to repay a debt or bear a punishment we deserved. Exemplary Jesus is the example of either God s love for us or our need to be faithful to God Incarnational Jesus whole life is a demonstration of God s love for us, and his death shows that this love is greater than death. Christus Victor Jesus ministry is a battle with evil. In his death we see that evil is not overcome with evil, and how God s ultimate victory is assured in Jesus resurrection. 3

4 Scapegoat Leviticus 16 One person bears away the sins of the community. Scapegoat Jesus is innocent, and we cannot escape our sin in killing the Son of God. Yet with Jesus resurrection, he creates a new community founded on peace. For more info: The Resurrection of Jesus How does this picture illustrate an understanding of the crucifixion of Jesus? White Crucifixion Mark Chagall When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" Do you commend these women or not? 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the one who? crucified. He raise/rise?; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 4

5 you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the one who? crucified. He raise/rise? was crucified had been crucified has been crucified is crucified was raised had been raised has been raised is risen Pick one from each column. What difference does the tense make? 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they Ἰησοῦν entered ζητεῖτε the tomb, τὸν they Ναζαρηνὸν saw a young man, dressed in a white τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον robe, sitting on the right side; ἠγέρθη, and they οὐκ were ἔστιν alarmed. ὧδε 6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the one who has been (is) crucified. He was raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 5

6 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Is this the end? Disappointment... Failure of the disciples and even the women (worse than John the Baptist s disciples ) Sense of an ending: a desire for structure and closure At the story level but at the discourse level and Hope Motivation Anticipation for as yet unfulfilled promises 1.8: He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit 9.9: he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. d 13.7: the end is still to come. 14.9: wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her." 14.28: After I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." 16.7: You will see him, just as he told you. The Gospel of Mark does not claim to be history. It is not even referentially oriented. Rather, it is pragmatically or rhetorically oriented. It is not about it characters; it is about its reader. The Gospel writer s chief concern is not the fate of either Jesus or the Twelve in the story but the fate of the reader outside the story. Robert M. Fowler, Let the Reader Understand, page 50 The Resurrection of Jesus The Resurrection of Jesus DISCOURSE We the readers JESUS The end is where we start from. T.S. Eliot JESUS? STORY The characters in the narrative There is no closure to the story. It is left open-ended, It begs for disclosure! 6

7 The Resurrection of Jesus You will see him, just as he told you. Who is the you? The The Beginning End The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God Patinir What decisions did the artist have to make? 7

8 Romans Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Baptism is the ending that is also our beginning. You are my Beloved Son Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the Cross of Christ forever. Experiencing the Gospel of Mark 8