*In order to follow these notes, you'll need to be reading the chapter along with it. I pray that after studying this chapter, you may know Jesus better and in a deeper way than before. Amen.
Verses 1-23
- This section is a back and forth exchange involving Jesus, his disciples and some local Pharisees and scribes
- At issue here specifically is ritual cleanliness; but the broader issue is the continued conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities
- As with any conflicts there is the "presenting issue" as psychologists would say; here it is the disciples eating with unwashed hands (vs 2).
Jesus quickly identifies the deeper issue shrewdly by quoting Isaiah, thereby demonstrating his own understanding and intrepretation of the prophet, in front of these guardians of the Hebrew scriptures. "You leave the commandment of God and hold fast to the tradition of men" (vs 8).
- Jesus goes on to teach that the commandments of God, the law, exists to change our hearts and to purify that which "comes out" of us.
- Jesus gives examples (vs 21-22) of the evil things that come out of people
- There is often confusion on what some of these things are, a few words about a few of these -
Coveting - comes from a Latin word that means "to desire another's possessions."
Fornication - voluntary sexual relations outside the covenant of marriage
Foolishness - lacking in sense, judgement or discretion
Licentiousness - means lacking personal discipline usually in the area of sexual relationships
Deceit - the concealing or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading
- Jesus sums up this conversation by saying in verse 23, "all these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."
Verses 24-30
- Jesus tries to continue to operate somewhat in secret (vs 24) as he enters a house in Tyre or Sidon
- He is in Greek territory and Tom Wright suggests that perhaps Jesus is intentionally trying to "lay low" for a while after making the controversial and confrontational interactions with the religious folks. Perhaps this Greek area of Tyre/Sidon a ways up the coast from Galilee, was a place to go under the radar for a bit?
- It's unclear from the text but it seems that Jesus was trying to hide but then makes his way out into the community where he encounters a woman
- Mark makes sure to note that the woman he encounters is Greek, not Jewish
- Jews often thought of Gentiles as "dogs" and Gentiles had unkind names for Jews as well, Tom Wright notes.
- Her response to Jesus' questioning and arguably, his slight, was to say that even dogs (Gentiles) eat crumbs under the tables of the children (Jews, Israelites) - is this a way of saying that even the non-Jew is "hungry" for healing
- Whatever this odd exchange meant, Jesus responds redemptively and removes the demon from daughter of the woman.
- It seems Jesus' encounter with this woman is outside in the open because after their visit, she goes home and finds her possessed daughter well (vs 30).
Verses 31-37
- Jesus goes to the region of the Decapolis - ten Greek cities evangelized by the "man of the tombs" described in chapter 5 verse 20
- Jesus, in private, heals a man who is deaf and dumb (recalling and fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 35: 5-6)
- Again, Jesus "charges" them not to tell about it but "the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it (vs 36).
*this last account in Mark 7 reminds me of the 6th verse of the great Charles Wesley hymn, "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing."
"Hear him ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; ye blind, behold your Savior come, and leap, ye lame, for joy.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Catching up - Knowing Jesus through Mark 6
Because of one hurricane scare and one hurricane reality, we are somewhat behind in our church-wide focus on the Gospel of Mark. This Sunday and Monday, September 28-29, Rev Derek Noble will be here. Some time ago, I asked him to preach Mark 9-11 because that's where I planned to be by now. He has prepared those chapters and you don't want to miss those sermons. Thus far, we have made our way through chapter 5 in worship.
So to be faithful to our study, I will briefly sketch chapters 6-8 here on the blog. By exploring 6-8 here, we'll be ready for Derek to jump in Sunday with chapter 9. It's a lot to take in but here goes. I'll do seperate posts for each chapter through this week.
Chapter 6: Verses 1-6
- Jesus goes home. His disciples join him as he teaches in the local synagogue but Jesus is quickly questioned by the locals who knew him in reference to his family. Jesus is clearly disappointed that the locals, many of whom he clearly knows from childhood, belittle his ministry.
- Jesus "marvels" at their unbelief. Disappointed, surprised, who knows exactly what was going through Jesus' mind and heart at this moment but he expected a different reaction from those who have known him all their lives. Many of them were the religiously faithful of the village but in this crucial moment, they did not believe.
Verses 7-13
- Jesus moves on
- He sends the disciples out two by two: Ministry is done in partnership with others
- Note the simplicity that Jesus instructs the disciples to maintain on their journey (in food, clothing and finances etc.)
- No drama (as the popular phrase goes) Jesus tells the disciples to "dust off" rejection and move on - much like Jesus just did in his hometown
- Mark describes the fruit of their journey - preached repentance, they casted out many demons, anointed and healed the sick
Verses 14-29
- Mark describes Herod's fear of Jesus by recalling his treatment of John the Baptist
- in past tense, Herod recalls his arrest and execution of John the Baptist
- He recalls it because people are saying Jesus is John returned or maybe Elijah. Herod's fear grows.
- Foreshadowing of Jesus' death and resurrection in verse 29.
(Read Tom Wright's commentary on this section especially)
Verses 30-44
- After this active ministry (verses 12-13), Jesus calls the disciples to rest in a "lonely place" (RSV)
- They are followed again. Jesus has compassion on the crowds and teaches them "many things."
- Feeding of the 5000: my favorite phrase here is Jesus' retort to the disciples when they tried to send the people away at dinner time - "No, you give them something to eat."
- There was enough food to go around, no there was more than enough!
- 12 baskets full: that number 12 is always significant (12 disciples, 12 tribes of Israel) signifies completeness, restoration, and even abundance
Verses 45-52
- Jesus finally makes it to a quiet place to pray (Jesus shows us that the needs of people and the need to pray are not exclusive of each other. Too many times, many people, most notably pastors, feel like prayer gets pushed off and becomes impossible in the face of human need...Jesus shows us that we are the ones who make prayer a priority, we can always come back to prayer)
- The disciples are in the boat with the "wind against them"
- Jesus walks on the water but Mark notes that he "meant to pass them by" !! Which begs the question - where was he going?! Bishop Will Willimon says that it indicates that maybe Jesus is up to more in the world than just the concerns of the church (disciples in the boat)! Jesus is about saving the whole world!
- "They did not learn the lesson of the loaves" Interesting to see Mark connect this last story with the loaves story - so do we miss the lesson of the loaves? So what is the lesson of the loaves?
Verses 53-56
- It's day time, Jesus and the disciples come ashore and are immediately bombarded again with human needs
- "Touching the fringe of his (Jesus') garment" and being healed reemerges (recall Mark 5: 27-29). Power goes out from Jesus' person
*Please read about chapter 6 in Tom Wright's Mark for Everyone. If you don't have a copy, attend a Sunday school class this Sunday and borrow one or order one from www.amazon.com
So to be faithful to our study, I will briefly sketch chapters 6-8 here on the blog. By exploring 6-8 here, we'll be ready for Derek to jump in Sunday with chapter 9. It's a lot to take in but here goes. I'll do seperate posts for each chapter through this week.
Chapter 6: Verses 1-6
- Jesus goes home. His disciples join him as he teaches in the local synagogue but Jesus is quickly questioned by the locals who knew him in reference to his family. Jesus is clearly disappointed that the locals, many of whom he clearly knows from childhood, belittle his ministry.
- Jesus "marvels" at their unbelief. Disappointed, surprised, who knows exactly what was going through Jesus' mind and heart at this moment but he expected a different reaction from those who have known him all their lives. Many of them were the religiously faithful of the village but in this crucial moment, they did not believe.
Verses 7-13
- Jesus moves on
- He sends the disciples out two by two: Ministry is done in partnership with others
- Note the simplicity that Jesus instructs the disciples to maintain on their journey (in food, clothing and finances etc.)
- No drama (as the popular phrase goes) Jesus tells the disciples to "dust off" rejection and move on - much like Jesus just did in his hometown
- Mark describes the fruit of their journey - preached repentance, they casted out many demons, anointed and healed the sick
Verses 14-29
- Mark describes Herod's fear of Jesus by recalling his treatment of John the Baptist
- in past tense, Herod recalls his arrest and execution of John the Baptist
- He recalls it because people are saying Jesus is John returned or maybe Elijah. Herod's fear grows.
- Foreshadowing of Jesus' death and resurrection in verse 29.
(Read Tom Wright's commentary on this section especially)
Verses 30-44
- After this active ministry (verses 12-13), Jesus calls the disciples to rest in a "lonely place" (RSV)
- They are followed again. Jesus has compassion on the crowds and teaches them "many things."
- Feeding of the 5000: my favorite phrase here is Jesus' retort to the disciples when they tried to send the people away at dinner time - "No, you give them something to eat."
- There was enough food to go around, no there was more than enough!
- 12 baskets full: that number 12 is always significant (12 disciples, 12 tribes of Israel) signifies completeness, restoration, and even abundance
Verses 45-52
- Jesus finally makes it to a quiet place to pray (Jesus shows us that the needs of people and the need to pray are not exclusive of each other. Too many times, many people, most notably pastors, feel like prayer gets pushed off and becomes impossible in the face of human need...Jesus shows us that we are the ones who make prayer a priority, we can always come back to prayer)
- The disciples are in the boat with the "wind against them"
- Jesus walks on the water but Mark notes that he "meant to pass them by" !! Which begs the question - where was he going?! Bishop Will Willimon says that it indicates that maybe Jesus is up to more in the world than just the concerns of the church (disciples in the boat)! Jesus is about saving the whole world!
- "They did not learn the lesson of the loaves" Interesting to see Mark connect this last story with the loaves story - so do we miss the lesson of the loaves? So what is the lesson of the loaves?
Verses 53-56
- It's day time, Jesus and the disciples come ashore and are immediately bombarded again with human needs
- "Touching the fringe of his (Jesus') garment" and being healed reemerges (recall Mark 5: 27-29). Power goes out from Jesus' person
*Please read about chapter 6 in Tom Wright's Mark for Everyone. If you don't have a copy, attend a Sunday school class this Sunday and borrow one or order one from www.amazon.com
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Back on Track
Two weeks and a hurricane later, I'm writing again. Hurricane Ike destroyed, damaged and disrupted many. Last Sunday in worship, with no electrical power we gathered and worshipped God for seeing us through it, caring for us and just being God through it all.
It was Sunday, September 21st when we jumped back in to our study of Mark. We explored chapter 5.
This week I will blog highlights and study for chapter 6 and then on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Monday night September 28-29th we welcome Dr. Derrick Noble to be our Revival Preacher as he carries us into Mark 9-11. Derrick is founding pastor of Impact UMC in Pt Arthur which is set to launch in early 2009. Before moving to Pt Arthur, he served the Abundant Life UMC in Lufkin, where that church experienced dramatic growth in worship and in the making of new disciples of Jesus. If you are a Woodville UMC member and participated in the home small group study on the 5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations book, Derrick and Abundant Life Church were featured in the DVD section on Passionate Worship. Derrick is a gifted preacher, teacher and overall spiritual guide. I'm looking forward personally to hearing him preach and coming to know Jesus in a deeper way through Revival 2008.
It was Sunday, September 21st when we jumped back in to our study of Mark. We explored chapter 5.
This week I will blog highlights and study for chapter 6 and then on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Monday night September 28-29th we welcome Dr. Derrick Noble to be our Revival Preacher as he carries us into Mark 9-11. Derrick is founding pastor of Impact UMC in Pt Arthur which is set to launch in early 2009. Before moving to Pt Arthur, he served the Abundant Life UMC in Lufkin, where that church experienced dramatic growth in worship and in the making of new disciples of Jesus. If you are a Woodville UMC member and participated in the home small group study on the 5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations book, Derrick and Abundant Life Church were featured in the DVD section on Passionate Worship. Derrick is a gifted preacher, teacher and overall spiritual guide. I'm looking forward personally to hearing him preach and coming to know Jesus in a deeper way through Revival 2008.
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