THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN: UNITED WITH OUR SUFFERING ... Go

1
Welcome toSEASON TWO

• SALT

2
SALT Session 6

• DEATH ANDRESURRECTION
• You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified, He
  has been raised. Mark 166

3

• Welcome
• Gather
• Introductions

4
Goals

• Text to increase understanding of how Mark uses
  literary devices to proclaim the passion as good
  news
• Spiritual to discover the spirituality that
  emerges from the Markan passion narrative
• Action to call students of Marks Gospel
  (followers of Jesus) to enter more fully into the
  Paschal Mystery.

5
Leadership Focus

• The Power-full stage, continued
• Concerns
• How can we best preserve quiet time for prayer?
• Tasks Small Group, Hospitality, Prayer
• Think about other groups you have experienced
• What worked
• What didnt work
• Facilitator / Recorder Tasks
• 10 minute evaluation with facilitators/recorders

6
Review Session 5

• Discipleship as it is presented in Marks Gospel
• Key images of
• Blindness/Sight
• Journey
• The Cross
• Challenges presented in the model of the
  suffering servant

7
Opening Prayer
8
Small Group
9
Break

• 10 Minutes

10
THE GOSPEL OF MARK
Jesus in Jerusalem and The Passion
11
Structure of Gospel (Part 2)(La Verdiere)
The Passion The Conspiracy 141-11 Betrayal
Arrest 1412-52 Trial Condemnation 1453-1515 T
orture Death 1516-41 Burial
Resurrection 1542-168 Silence of the Women 168
Jesus in Jerusalem Jesus Enters
Jerusalem 111-11 Cursing of Fig Tree/Cleansing
of Temple 1112-25 (26) Jesus Challenges Temple
Authorities 1127-1244 Jesus Destruction of
Temple 131-37

• Discipleship as Journey
• Jesus Heals Blind
• 822-26
• Who Is Jesus?
• 827-31
• Passion Proclamation
• 831-1052
• Jesus Heals Blind
• 1046-52
  

12
Jesus in Jerusalem (Literary Technique of
Chiastic Construction)

• A (111-11) Mount of Olives and Messianic Entry
  into Jerusalem
• B (1112-26) Cleansing of Temple and Cursing of
  Fig Tree
• B (131-2) Leaving the Temple and announcing
  its destruction
• A (133-37) Mount of Olives and announcement of
  Son of Man in Glory all in three days

13
Historical Background-Jesus Day

• Jews had special exemption from emperor worship
  and wanted to keep it.
• Passover (the feast of liberation) was a time of
  pilgrimage to Jerusalem-crowded city.
• Romans alert for charismatic leaders who would
  incite the crowds.
• Jewish leadership worried about safety of their
  people if there were an uprising.
• The Temple was the center of the world and hope
  for the Messiah centered on Temple

14
Historical Background-Marks Day

• Christians of Jewish and gentile origin still
  affiliated with synagogue, studied Torah and
  writings.
• Eucharist celebrated in house churches on the
  Lords day
• Because of the changing nature of the Christian
  communities tensions grew between the groups.
• Destruction of the temple in 70 and identity
  crisis among Jewish communities.
• Ultimately, Christians thrown out of synagogue
  and subject to Roman persecution. See Revelation.

15
JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM
Via Bethpage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives
Zechariah 99 Psalm 118 I Maccabees 1347-52
Hosanna joyous acclamation (grant salvation)
16
THE FIG TREE AND THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
(Markan Sandwich Again)
The failure of the leadership to adequately pass
on Gods message. Though abundant with leaves
the faith was no longer bearing fruit to
satisfy spiritual hunger.
The failure of the leadership to recognize Jesus
Cleansing of Temple associated with restoration
of the kingship of Israel Jer 711 Isaiah 567
Back to fig tree (1121) and sayings on faith
forgiveness and avoiding the fate of the fig tree
17
Application The Fig Tree and the Cleansing of
the Temple

• As disciples of Jesus are we life giving for
  others?
• Are we welcoming and inclusive?
• Is our Temple a house of prayer?
• Do we worship with full, active and conscious
  participation?
• Do we work on reconciling with others and with
  God?

18
FIVE CONTROVERSIES (interspersed with parables)

• John the Baptist and where authority comes from.
• The coin and the authority of State and of God
• The Sadducees about resurrection
• The Great Commandment
• The Messiah as son of David.
• (The Vineyard and the Widows Mite)

19
ApplicationThe Five Controversies

• Jesus authority will always surpass that of
  leaders and we who follow Jesus are called to
  speak out when a leader abuses authority.
• What authority do we have to act as disciples of
  Jesus?
• The love power of God surpasses all
  governments.
• Be alert to someone who uses doctrine or
  scripture to trick, frighten, or further their
  own agenda.
• The Great Commandment in Hebrew Bible-
  Deut.64-5, Lev.1918

20
The Parable of the Vineyard
Farmer God Tenants Religious Leaders Vineyard
People of Israel Servants Prophets Son Jesus
21
The Widows Mite

• This is NOT an exhortation to give more money!
• Condemnation of piety without substance
• Warning against exploitation of the poor
• Example of letting go of security to commit ones
  life to God in trust.

22
Back to the Mount of Olives Prediction of
Destruction of Temple The Eschatological
Discourse

• eschatological concerning the end times or
  the last things
• The Last Things death, resurrection, judgment,
  reward and punishment, afterlife
• Apocalyptic a specific type of writing evident
  in the Old Testament and popular in the first
  century
• Best example The Book of Revelation

23
Apocalyptic Literature

• Written with an eye to the future about things
  happening in the present
• Highly symbolic language complete with monsters,
  disasters and cosmic events
• To imagine the unimaginable and to express the
  unexpressable
• New Testament apocalyptic based on Old Testament
  imagery
• Written to give hope in the midst of suffering
  and comfort in distress
• To assure the reader that suffering will end and
  Good will triumph over Evil

24
Jesus Discourse

• 135-13 beware Jesus impersonators, great
  persecutions, natural disasters, family division.
  They are the birth pangs of a new way (a new
  season, a blooming fig tree).
• 13.14-23 The Great Tribulation, the abomination
  of desolation (Antiochus and Caligula or any
  desecration)
• 1324-27 Cosmic Happenings, the vindication of
  the elect and the coming of the Son of Man
  (essential for the Day of the Lord)
• 1328-37 Have confidence in Gods plan, be
  vigilant, dont be misled. We know not the day
  nor the hour.

25
Jesus Discourse

• Images taken from Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel.
• To counter belief that the end was near. It is
  not the end but the beginning. However
• To assure believers that their suffering is not
  in vain.
• To assure Marks people and all people that Jesus
  will prevail.

26
Application
This life and all of its complexities and all of
its problems in all of the ages is not
meaningless. It is an opportunity to grow in
faith, to serve the Lord, to help give birth to
His Kingdom. This life, no matter how difficult,
can lead us to new life through Jesus and at some
time, we know not when, we will be taken into the
fullness of the Kingdom.
27
Structure(La Verdiere)
The Passion The Conspiracy 141-11 Betrayal
Arrest 1412-52 Trial Condemnation 1453-1515 T
orture Death 1516-41 Burial
Resurrection 1542-168 Silence of the Women 168

• Discipleship as Journey
• Jesus Heals Blind
• 822-26
• Who Is Jesus?
• 827-31
• Passion Proclamation
• 831-1052
• Jesus Heals Blind
• 1046-52
  

Jesus in Jerusalem Jesus Enters
Jerusalem 111-11 Cursing of Fig Tree/Cleansing
of Temple 1112-25 (26) Jesus Challenges Temple
Authorities 1127-1244 Jesus Destruction of
Temple 131-37


28
Themes

• Devotion and Betrayal
• Intertwining of Old and New
• New Life/Resurrection

29
Devotion and Betrayal

• Woman who anoints Jesus vs Judas and the
  conspiracy
• The crowds who welcome and the crowds who betray.
  Who is the crowd?
• Jesus devotion and Peters denial
• Simon, Joseph, the centurion and the women at the
  crucifixion and the disciples who abandon

30
Intertwining of Old and New

• Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread the
  Eucharist and Jesus broken body
• Moses sprinkling the blood of the covenant
  (Ex245-8) the Eucharist and Jesus blood
• Jesus identity with the righteous man who
  suffers and the suffering servant in Is 536-7,
  Psalm 22 (words from cross), Zechariah.
• The tearing of the Temple veil removes any
  barriers to God through Jesus. Darkness see Amos
  89.

31
New Life/Resurrection

• The promise of eternal life through Jesus
• A new life on earth through Jesus
• New beginnings through repentance and
  reconciliation (Peter and the Disciples)
• New life in the Eucharist
• New life with one another as brothers and sisters
  in Gods human family

32
THE LAST (LORDS) SUPPER
Take Blessed Broke Gave - Said The
Institution of the Eucharist Note I will go
before you to Galilee
33
THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN UNITED WITH OUR SUFFERING
Connection to psalms of lamentation, unites
Jesus agony with the agony of all who suffer.
34
THE TRIAL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN

• False Testimony attempts to accuse Jesus of
  threatening to destroy Temple
• High Priest tries to make Jesus testify against
  himself he admits to being the son of the
  Blessed One
• Condemnation of Jesus and mocking but at the
  second coming the positions of the accuser and
  the accused will be reversed
• Of what was Jesus finally accused?

35
THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE DENIAL OF PETER

• What was Jesus charged with?
• Who had full legal responsibility for Jesus
  crucifixion?
• Why does Mark make him sound so innocent?
• Who reads the part of the crowds when the passion
  is read?

36
Crucifixion Death
37
Burial and Resurrection

• Meaning for followers in Marks day and in ours
  the significance of baptism- dying and rising
  with Christ -a daily challenge to which each
  recommits with Eucharist
• Apologetic functions

38
The Ending(s)

• Marks powerful ending at 168 leaves us still
  thinking, still participating, sent back to where
  it all began.
• Additions of the early Church give insights into
  the growing community, the development of Church
  doctrine.

39
Conclusion
For Mark, Jesus was the son of God, the suffering
servant of Yaweh We tend to find God in our
lives in the good and beautiful and in his bounty
to us perhaps we can learn to find Him also
there with us in our suffering and not only in
the blessings we receive from Him but also in the
blessings we bestow upon others.
40
We learn from the Disciples that no matter how
deep our betrayal we may all begin again.
Resurrection took place at sunrise on the first
day, the day of creation and after resurrection
Jesus returned to Galilee back to the
beginning. If you want a new beginning meet
Jesus wherever you are. He will be waiting.
Just follow where he leads. Mark 11 The
beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the son
of God
41
ACTION

• Reflect on the challenges of
• Entering more fully into the Paschal Mystery
• Focus passages for next week
• Exodus 12 Mark 831-33, 930-32, 1032-34
  Romans 61-11 1 Corinthians 151-11 2
  Corinthians 47-18 Philippians 25-11

42
CLOSING PRAYER