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  • From: HStaiti AT aol.com
  • To: gmark AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [GMark] Interpretive Reading/Outline - Mark
  • Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 06:25:36 EST

I am beginning a series through 2003 entitled - The Journey with Jesus. The theme is that the Gospel of Mark was written for Christians that faced with a very special problem and needed a very relevant message for their lives. Between about 64 AD, when the Emperor Nero began Rome’s first official persecution of Christians, and 70 AD, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, the Temple, and the original apostolic church, the Christian community faced a series of crises that threatened its survival, of which, two problems loomed large.[i]

Under Roman law, certain religious groups were recognized and tolerated by the government while the authorities were suspicious of any new religion (like the emerging Christian faith). Christians would have to convince the Roman authorities that they was part and parcel of the existing Judaism that was allowed religious liberty if they were to avoid trouble. This brings us to the second part of the problem these early Christians faced. At the time the Gospel of Mark was written most Christians were Gentiles! Since the number of Jews who had accepted Jesus was very limited, one big question loomed large over the vulnerable Christians: "If Jesus was the Messiah as the Christians declare him to be, why have the religious Jews rejected him?" Christians would have to answer how their non-Jewish sect could be part of the existing Judaism of the day if they were to avoid trouble in the Roman Empire. [ii]

I propose that the answer we have is called "The Gospel of Mark, and it deftly addresses both of these problems. First, Mark addresses why religious Israel does not recognize the Messiah. He concludes that Jesus cannot be seen apart from the eyes of faith. Ironically, Gentiles have seen him for who he is, while Israel remains blind. Second, the writer makes sure to link the story of Jesus with the Judaism of the day by retelling the Israelite epic when he tells the story of Jesus. Mark parallels the story of Jesus with the Exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt, God's leading them by the Spirit in the wilderness, the provision God made for the people there, to the final entry into the promised land and the overcoming of God's enemies. In an ultimate sense, Jesus is presented as the representative Israel, as the faithful son of God, as the people, as "the prophet like unto Moses", as the priest like Aaron yet perfect, and also the righteous martyr king like David.

[i]  Adapted from Stephan Harris, The New Testament, a Student’s Introduction, second edition (Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1995), 80. 
[ii]  Adapted from Roy L. Smith, Know Your Bible Series, Volume 12, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1995), 17-24.

Click here for the interpretive outline of The Journey With Jesus

Peace to you,
Harry Staiti
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Ware Community Church
"A Life-giving Congregation"
8 South Street
Ware, MA 01082
413 967 5191
www.warecc.com (UPDATED January 8)
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