4/7/2021 0 Comments Mark CommentaryMark, the cousin of Barnabas, a student of Peter, writes down the memoirs of his teacher for Gentile audience in Rome. mk 1
Jesus' beginning of His ministry. Baptism of John the Baptist, as declaring self as no better than a Gentile. The kingdom of God is here because the King if here. Here spiritually, later physically. Believe while the door is open yet. A demon blows his cover, in total terror of the Son. Jesus does not allow demons to reveal His identity, because they are demons. They are not at all to be trusted, and to be given no credibility whatsoever. Jesus doesn't want to be known as miracle worker, but a preacher of the Word. Jesus refuses to be made a celebrity or a king by the masses. It is not His time to rule, but to serve. mk 2 Jesus proves His authority to forgive sins by His authority to heal. Jesus honours brash and rowdy faith that knows no barriers to reach Him. The Physician associates with ostracized Jews, rejected by society, the people who need His service. Jesus does not respect meaningless ritual of fasting; especially in light of the coming of Saviour, there is no reason for mourning and fasting. The apostate version of Judaism cannot be reformed, but must be entirely replaced with Jesus' gospel. Jesus references Scripture to refute the Pharisees. Jesus can do what He likes with His own rules about His own Sabbath. mk 3 the Teacher is grieved and angry at the Pharisees' unteachable, loveless, and burdensome presence. the Teacher chooses His emissaries. The three most rowdy ones are the first three to be mentioned. Jesus is seen as crazy by earthly brothers. Jesus does not acknowledge earthly relationships, but highlights the importance of relationship of the kingdom, where He is not a mere man. The Spirit is seen as Satan. If you label the work of Spirit as coming from Satan, you cannot ever believe in Jesus, whom the Spirit's work validates. mk 4 Jesus speaks in parables to hide seed of truth from the hard soils, also to shield them from greater judgment. some have ideologies that fortify them from the word. some are impressionable but have no loyalty. some can't prioritize and see the value. some apply the word. They start the cycle of positive feedback, becoming fruitful exponentially. The kingdom grows slowly and undetectable but eventually becomes big. Jesus commands the weather with a word. mk 5 demons become dead frightened by Jesus, the One who can cast them into hell with a word. Jesus spares them for the moment, and recycles them into the air. Jesus is not welcome in the sinners' domain. The ex-demoniac rightly clings to Jesus. He becomes an evangelist to his hometown. Jesus does not turn away all who come to Him in faith. Jesus creates life out of nothing for the woman and the girl who has no hope of being healed or living by any earthly means. mk 6 Familiarity breeds contempt. Nazareth people see Jesus as ordinary man whom they think they all figured out. That is a deadly presumption. Jesus sends out His disciples for propagation of the gospel and miraculous signs to authenticate the gospel. Herod's opportunity to repent closes due to his petty pride. The words of a prophet were little more than an entertainment for him. Jesus feeds to the full thousands of people by creating food out of nothing, like He did in the wilderness. The disciples are made blind temporarily of His deity. Jesus can see the distress of His sheep from afar, without binoculars. And He does not save you at the perfect time. He is the perfect time. Your distress is His plan. Mk 7 Jesus throws down Pharisees' hypocritical, externals-focused religion: not understanding the purpose of the law, they have made all kinds of buffers around the law to keep them from breaking the law, in effect enshrouding the law, not allowing it to convict of sin. Having diminished the law into manageable external tidbits of external regulations, they lower the standard of law and let their sin ferment beneath the surface. Inevitably, even the external rules become instruments for sin. Messiah's first duty is toward His covenant people. mk 8,9 Jesus does all signs to demonstrate His compassion. Even when He knew the full history of the epileptic son, he asks the father to make him feel understood and to build rapport. Jesus never does miracles without intent. The disciples don't have in their hard-encased beliefs about Messiah the suffering and death of Messiah. They only have glory of the kingdom in their brains, which they won't need to enter through persecution, and they are willing to provoke each other to jealousy and bitterness to get the biggest piece of it. But in order to follow the Messiah into the kingdom, you must first suffer and die for Him. But whoever seeks to enter without suffering, and secure for themselves a prominent place by sabotaging believers who belong to Christ, he will only enter into hell. Jesus is not a closed society. You cannot trademark Him so others cannot proclaim Him. mk 10 Jesus keeps warning the disciples of His impending death and resurrection, which goes right over their heads, and only takes root after the fact. Jesus also keeps teaching the arrogant disciples about who can enter the kingdom: only those who are as single-minded and dependent as a child. Case in point: Bartimaeus. And my kingdom operates where those who are the greatest serve the most. mk 11 Jesus uses some of His prerogatives as God to arrange providentially for the fulfillment of His prophecy. The masses celebrate Jesus. For now Jesus is popular, as long as they think He will fulfill their carnal desires. Jesus uses the fig tree as illustration of His judgment on those who receive privileges of God's Word and do not obey. Jesus is angry at those who desecrate His Father's temple, and make it a scene of common marketplace. Everything you pray confidently according to God's will will happen. Jesus catches the elders in a catch-22, exposing their unworthiness to receive a clear answer from Jesus regarding the source of His authority. mk 12 Jesus gives a parable of judgment against first-degree murderers, and clearly refers the target of judgment as Israel's leaders, who will knowingly murder their Messiah. The leaders try to in any way make Jesus say treasonous, or illogical things. Jesus encourages one lawyer who is faithful in a few things he understands from Scripture regarding the law of God, to keep pressing on. Jesus declares the deity of Messiah. Jesus warns the crowd against the hypocritical leaders who puts on ostentatious pomp and religious sentiment, while their religion engine is designed to gobble up a poor widow's very last cent in exchange for a false promise of works-righteousness credits. mk 13 Jesus pronounces doom for a religious system being upheld by the backs of the poor, only to mislead people to damnation. The disciples are afraid of the coming judgment spoken by Jesus, and apprehensively excited of the subsequent arrival of the kingdom. Jesus speaks of worsening deception by false leaders, worsening natural phenomena, worsening international affairs, worsening persecution for believers, and the event of great blasphemy to take place which will signify the indiscriminate bloodbaths of Israelites in the future days. Jesus exhorts believers that the two keys in the midst of the coming scenarios are: vigilance, and endurance. The kingdom is nigh, and stand fast in the faith. The coming kingdom will not arrive before the gospel is proclaimed everywhere on earth. Then the light of the kingdom will arrive in the darkest of night. mk 14 The plans of the murderers are overturned by the plan of God. The death of Messiah must happen during the festival. Judas, with all his hope of kingdom gone, decides to cut his losses, and get what he can before jumping Jesus' sinking ship. Jesus uses His prerogative as God to arrange secretly for the Passover, so Judas cannot betray before His time. Playing out the predetermined events in real time, Jesus is emotionally locked and engaged with the happenings around Him. Jesus transforms the Passover, a memorial of Israel's freedom from slavery, into a new covenant ritual, where He Himself becomes the symbol of covenant mediator. Jesus feels deadly grief in His anticipation of the infinite cup. Jesus puts the police in their rightful place: You have no cause to arrest Me. But I am allowing you, so that My Father's Words are fulfilled. Peter hits rock bottom, and has nothing more of his loyalty to boast about. mk 15 The leaders influence the pliable masses to condemn Jesus. The Gentile soldiers heap their contempt of the Jews on Jesus. Jesus' crucifixion is only for a political expediency, so they put up a placard only to mock the Jews, without any real charge of crime. The scene of crucifixion is designed to create a mock scene of throne room where the King of the Jews is in the centre. More mockery from the Jewish leaders. Satan tries desperately to rile up Jesus into not drinking the cup. 3 hours of darkness to symbolize judgment. Veil of the Holy of Holies is torn by God Himself to signify reconciliation of sinners to God. mk 16 An angel announces Jesus' resurrection, and that His plan to go to Galilee still stands.
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CategoriesAll Discourse Doctrines Gospel Humour NT Commentaries OT Commentaries Tactical Life Date
August 2023
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