Topic 4 Mark: Jesus as Suffering Messiah

1
Topic 4 Mark Jesus as Suffering Messiah

• Circumstances of origin
• Author
• Anonymous (all the gospels are).
• Tradition going back to Papias (c. 135)
  attributes to Mark, a disciple of Peter (see
  Harris, p. 128).
• Evaluation.
• Place
• Tradition Rome
• Others Syria Palestine
• Date 65-70
• Neros persecution (64)
• Fall of Jerusalem (70)
• Purpose Written in a time of crisis to
  strengthen Christians faced with suffering for
  the faith.

2

• Key themes in Mark
• Gods agent in eschatological conflict with evil
• Portrays Jesus ministry in terms of a cosmic
  battle with evil.
• Kingdom of God final reign of God, after evil
  is destroyed.
• Sense of urgency fast-paced immediately 42
  times.
• Exorcisms Jesus vs. demons God vs. Satan
  (322-27).
• Final victory won on Cross.
• Powerful Son of God who dies sacrificially.
• Background of Son of God
• OT heavenly beings (angels) humans (Israel
  king).
• Judaism Messiah any righteous person who bears
  Gods character.
• Greek world Son of God superhuman
  miracle-worker.
• Occurences of Son of God in Mk.
• Superscription (11)
• Baptism (110-11) heavenly voice This is My
  Son.
• Exorcisms (311 57)
• Transfiguration (97) heavenly voice This is
  My Son.
• Trial (1461)
• Death (1539) climax of Mk. centurion only
  human affirmation

3

• B. Key themes in Mark (cont.)
• 3. Heavenly Son of Man who must suffer.
• Background of Son of Man
• OT a human being
• Apoc. lit. heavenly Cosmic Judge who comes on
  clouds at End Time (Dan. 714).
• Gospels most freq. title for Jesus used three
  ways
• Eschatological Son of Man (Mk. 1326-27 838).
• Cosmic Judge who comes at end riding on clouds,
  etc.
• Parousia expectation (second coming).
• Earthly Son of Man (210, 27) has authority.
• Suffering Son of Man (831 931 1033-34)
  Passion Predictions.
• The Messianic Secret
• Famous term coined by W. Wrede (1901).
• Jesus identity as Messiah is kept hidden
  (827-33).
• Cant be revealed until after death (99).
• Only Jesus sacrificial death reveals what kind
  of Messiah he is.

4

• B. Key themes in Mark (cont.)
• Centrality of the Passion
• M. Kähler a passion narrative with an extended
  introduction.
• Six chapters devoted to Passion Week (ch.
  11-16).
• Ministry begins after arrest of John the Baptist
  (114).
• Plot to kill Jesus as early as 36.
• Passion Predictions central in ch. 8-10.
• Jesus death is a sacrifice for others (1045
  1424 1538).
• Call to discipleship
• Disciple pupil, learner, follower.
• Abandon all to follow Jesus (teaching, example)
• Willingness to suffer and die (834-38).

5

• Outline of Mark
• Galilee (1-8) Journey (8-10) Jerusalem (11-16)
• (pop. success) (Peters Confession (rejection
  death)
• Passion Predictions)
• 11-13 Introduction
• John the Baptist eschatological prophet
  forerunner of Messiah
• Baptism of Jesus called to be servant Messiah
• Temptation 40 days testing in wilderness
• 114-826 Galilee Ministry
• ch. 1 Beginnings only after Johns arrest
• Preaching the Kingdom of God (114-15) main
  theme in teaching of historical Jesus (all 3
  Synoptics)
• Calling first disciples Simon (Peter) Andrew
  James John
• Healing unclean spirit fever leprosy etc.
• Fame spreads crowds gather.

Baptism Temptation
Galilee Ministry
6

• 114-826 Galilee Ministry (cont.)
• ch. 2-3 Controversies over various issues
• Forgiving sins (21-12)
• Eating with tax collectors and sinners (213-17)
• Fasting (218-22)
• Sabbath observance (223-36)
• Exorcisms (322-30)
• Perplexity of Jesus family (321, 31-35)
• Appointment of the Twelve (313-19)
• Disciple pupil, learner, follower.
• Apostle one sent out as authorized messenger.
• Twelve symbolize restoration of Israel.
• Disciples include more than the 12.

7

• 114-826 Galilee Ministry (cont.)
• ch. 4 Parables (Make list of Synoptic parables
  covered study carefully.)
• Mustard Seed (vv. 30-32)
• Contrast small start, big result.
• K of G is already present (embryonically) in
  Jesus ministry but not yet in its fullness.
  (Assures that it will come.)
• Sower (vv. 3-9)
• Contrasts wasted seed with successful seed.
• Despite failures/setbacks Jesus ministry will
  bring K of G.
• Allegorical interpretation (v. 14-20) perhaps
  added by early church admonishes proper response
  to preaching of word.
• ch. 4-5 Miracles four types
• Calming a storm nature miracle
• Gerasene demoniac exorcism
• Raising Jairus daughter resuscitation
• Healing a hemorrhaging woman healing
• Note Marks framing technique.
• Jairus daughter / Hemorrhaging woman / Jairus
  daughter

8

• 114-826 Galilee Ministry (cont.)
• Perspectives on Jesus miracles
• Not unique to Jesus.
• Do not prove claims about Jesus.
• Opponents acknowledge Jesus miracles but
  attribute to Satan (322-30).
• To the eyes of faith, they are signs of the
  in-breaking Kingdom of God (327 cf. Lk. 1120).
• ch. 6-8 Tensions and withdrawals
• ch. 6 Rejection in Nazareth
• Mission of the Twelve preaching and healing
• Death of John the Baptist
• Feeding 5,000 (Messiah for Israel)
• ch. 7 Controversy over ritual purity
• Healing Gentiles
• ch. 8 Feeding 4,000 (Messiah for Gentiles)
• Refusal to give a sign
• Rebuke of disciples blindness
• Healing a blind man (822-26)

9

• Healing a blind man (822-26) framing
• 827-1052 Journey to Jerusalem central
  transition section
• Peters Confession at Caesarea Philippi (827-33)
  turning point in Mks plot
• You are the Messiah/Christ first open
  declaration
• Command to silence and announcement of
  passion
• Passion Predictions (831 931 1033-34) on
  way to Jerus.
• Prediction misunderstanding rebuke.
• Closest followers fail to understand until after
  Cross/Res.
• Healing a blind man (1046-52) framing
• 111-168 Jerusalem Ministry
• ch. 11 Arrival in Jerusalem several symbolic
  actions
• Triumphal entry (Sunday) demonstration of
  Jesus kingship
• Cleansing the Temple (Monday) prophetic action
  against temple corruption
• Symbolizes purification or doom of Temple?
• Mks framing by Cursing the fig tree
  interprets as judgment
• Cursing the fig tree/Cleansing the Temple/Cursing
  the fig tree
• ch. 12 Teaching in the Temple (Tuesday)
• Parable of Wicked Tenants scathing attack on
  religious leaders

10

• 111-168 Jerusalem Ministry (cont.)
• ch. 13 Eschatological discourse
• Warnings persecution war destruction of
  temple cosmic catastrophes
• Promises Parousia of Son of Man salvation of
  the faithful
• End is near (v. 29-30) time is uncertain (v.
  32).
• ch. 14 Betrayal, Last Supper, Arrest
• Anointing in Bethany (Wed.)
• Judas Iscariots plot to betray Jesus
• Last Supper (Thursday evening)
• Passover meal (Syn. not in Jn.)
• Upper room in Jerusalem
• Predicts betrayal
• Interprets his death
• covenant sacrifice
• (v. 22-25)

11

• ch. 14 Betrayal, Last Supper, Arrest (cont.)
• Gethsemane olive grove on Mount of Olives
  prayer of agony
• Arrest kiss of Judas prohibits defense by
  sword disciples scatter

12

• ch. 14 Betrayal, Last Supper, Arrest (cont.)
• Trial before Sanhedrin (Jewish council)
• Accused of threatening Temple (doesnt stick)
• Condemned for blasphemy
• Peters Denial
• Denies Jesus three times
• Frames Sanhedrin trial

Modern church built on traditional site of
Caiaphas house. Steps may be first-century.
13

• ch. 15 Condemnation, Death, Burial (Friday)
• Trial before Pontius Pilate (Roman governor)
• Accused of insurrection, sedition (claiming to be
  king)
• Pilates reluctance to condemn
• Release of Barabbas (an insurrectionist) failed
  attempt to satisfy chief priests by offering to
  pardon Jesus
• Condemned, mocked, scourged
• Crucifixion
• At Golgotha (Calvary), between two rebels, about
  9 a.m.
• Death about 3 p.m. cosmic signs darkness,
  earthquake, tearing of temple veil
• Who killed Jesus?
• Wrong to blame the Jews
• Historically, executed by Rome
• Theologically, died for sins of all
• Burial
• In a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea
• Unusual for crucifixion victim to get proper
  burial

Gordons Calvary
14

• ch. 16 Discovery of Empty Tomb (Sunday)
• Women come at dawn to anoint Jesus body.
• Angel announces resurrection of Jesus.
• Instructions to go to Galilee, where Jesus will
  appear.
• They went out and said nothing to anyone, for
  they were afraid (v. 8).
• Did Mark tell resurrection appearance in Galilee?

Garden Tomb
15

• Ending of Mark uncertain (Greek manuscripts have
  different endings)
• Abrupt ending (ends at 168) oldest mss.
• Longer ending (adds v. 9-20) most later mss.
  Received Text
• Shorter ending (adds brief ending) few mss.
• Lost ending ?