Gospel of Mark: Jesus the Suffering Servant

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CHAPTER FOUR
Gospel of Mark Jesus the Suffering Servant
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Background
- The identity of the author of Marks 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
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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
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Background
Sources for Writing 1.) Oral Traditions 2.)
Written collections of parables 3.) Miracle
stories 4.) Outline of Jesus passion story
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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
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Gospel Reveals Jesus
Prologue - The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ the son of God Mark 11 No doubt
about Jesus identity - Declares what Catholics
believe Gods kingdom is related to Jesus
himself Kingdom is about Gods salvation,
peace and justice, and closeness to human
beings - Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and
He lives
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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
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Gospel Reveals Jesus
- Jesus is a creative, original, and
influential teacher Four parables about the
Kingdom of God -Seed growing by itself
(426-29) -Growing seed (41-20) -Lamp
(421-25) -Mustard Seed (430-32)
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Healer and Miracle Worker
Patterns of Jesus miracles
Re-read Mark 21-12
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
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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
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Healer and Miracle Worker
- Faith plays a major role in Jesus miracles -
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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
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Way of Discipleship
Part Two of Marks 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
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Way of Discipleship
MAIN MESSAGE Jesus followers must be
prepared to suffer as Jesus Himself suffered
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Paschal Mystery
- Commemorated in todays church during Holy Week
Initiated into mystery
In Baptism
Represents Paschal Mystery
Eucharist
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Paschal Mystery
- The passion narratives were probably the
oldest stories about Jesus circulating in the
early church - First 13 chapters of Marks
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
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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
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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
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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
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Vocabulary
Allegory