Gospel of Mark Jesus the Suffering Servant Background

Gospel of Mark: Jesus the Suffering Servant

Background - The identity of the author of Mark’s gospel is unknown - Tradition holds the author was John Mark - Today, most scholars believe it is based on a number of oral and written collections of Jesus’ sayings and deeds - Written sometime between A. D. 65 & 70

Background - Audience: • Gentile Christians suffering persecution for their beliefs or • Christians in Syria or Palestine - Writings included: • Jesus’ Baptism • Preaching/ performing miracles in Galilee • Journey to Jerusalem • Preaching/Rejection/Crucifixion

Background Sources for Writing 1. ) Oral Traditions 2. ) Written collections of parables 3. ) Miracle stories 4. ) Outline of Jesus’ passion story

Background Message to Readers: - Jesus walked the path of suffering to glory and eternal life - So must his followers undergo suffering before they gain their eternal reward -Asked his readers two questions about Jesus: • Who is this person? • Will you follow Jesus? -Hidden answers are the messianic secret

Gospel Reveals Jesus Prologue - “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ [the son of God]” Mark 1: 1 • No doubt about Jesus’ identity - Declares what Catholics believe: • God’s kingdom is related to Jesus himself • Kingdom is about God’s salvation, peace and justice, and closeness to human beings - Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and He lives

Gospel Reveals Jesus Part One: Jesus the Authoritative Teacher - Meanings of Authority • Right to Command • Someone with official power • Source of reliable information • Ability to gain respect of others and influence what they do • Knowledge, skill, or experience worthy of respect

Gospel Reveals Jesus - Jesus is a creative, original, and influential teacher Four parables about the Kingdom of God: -Seed growing by itself (4: 26 -29) -Growing seed (4: 1 -20) -Lamp (4: 21 -25) -Mustard Seed (4: 30 -32)

Healer and Miracle Worker Patterns of Jesus’ miracles: Read Mark 2: 1 -12 1. ) Introduction presents setting and situation Jesus is sitting in a room so crowded that friends of a paralyzed man lower him through the roof 2. ) Jesus is witness to the display of faith by the people Jesus forgives the mans sins

Patterns of Jesus’ miracles cont. : 3. ) Jesus responds to the problem Jesus cures the man 4. ) The result of the miracle follows Man got up, picked up stretcher, and walked from room 5. ) Reaction to the Miracle

Healer and Miracle Worker Faith plays a major role in Jesus’ miracles

Healer and Miracle Worker - The Messianic Secret • Why Jesus might have directed even his own disciples to keep quiet about his identity -Jesus’ contemporaries almost universally expected the Messiah to be a military ruler -He wanted people to approach him with true faith in him as one who serves, not as a military leader • The secret of Marks’ Gospel is revealed “Jesus is the Suffering Servant prophesied by Isaiah centuries before

Way of Discipleship Part Two of Mark’s Gospel - Jesus revealed himself as the “suffering servant” - Obedience to the Father leads to ultimate victory - Readers are challenged to accept Jesus as Messiah, but one who suffers crucifixion before rising to glory

Way of Discipleship MAIN MESSAGE: Jesus’ followers must be prepared to suffer as Jesus Himself suffered

Paschal Mystery - Commemorated in today’s church during Holy Week In Baptism Initiated into mystery Eucharist Represents Paschal Mystery

Paschal Mystery - The passion narratives were probably the oldest stories about Jesus circulating in the early church - First 13 chapters of Mark’s gospel serve as an introduction to the Passion narratives - The four gospels agree on the basic essentials, but each evangelist has their own way of telling the story

Paschal Mystery - Mark shows how everyone abandoned Jesus at the very end: • Judas betrays him • Three disciples fall asleep during Jesus’ agony • Jewish/Roman authorities judge him • Soldiers and crowd mock him

Paschal Mystery - Some of the religious authorities thought Jesus was a false prophet who claimed to be God - Jewish authorities turned Jesus over to Pilate for execution as a political criminal - Who was responsible for Jesus’ death? - Tragedy of history has been the misguided and unjust assigning of the blame on the Jews - Jesus freely chose to be crucified to prove beyond a doubt his immense love for us

Passion Narrative - Conspiracy against Jesus - Woman anoints Jesus at Bethany - Judas’ betrayal - Preparations for the Passover Supper - Last Supper and the Walk to the Mount at Olives - Gethsemane - Before the Sanhedrin - Jesus and Pilate - The Crucifixion - Resurrection