Mark 3, Choosing Family

Jesus has recently had a dispute with the Pharisees over the use of the Sabbath. Now another dispute arises, based on another healing.

Mark 3: 1-6, Shriveled hand restored on the Sabbath
Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.

Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.

 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Why is Jesus' angry?  He seems surprised.

Note the response of the Pharisees. They have no concern about the disabled man but only worry about their religious laws being obeyed.   

The Herodians are religious leaders (possibly Pharisees) working for Herod.  They have sold out to the political process, trading religion for power.  The gospel will display both the Herodians and the more general Pharisees as corrupt.

Mark 3: 7-12, Healing people with evil spirits
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.

Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." But he gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.

Why are the crowds coming?  The people are coming from a significantly large reason, some traveling a hundred miles or more in a time when such travels would take more than a week.

What is the reason for the boat? (Mark says very little in the way of explanation.)

To think about: Why does Jesus give these strict orders to keep quiet?  Jesus repeatedly tries to suppress the news of his healings.  Why?

Mark 3: 13-19, Appointing 12
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve--designating them apostles --that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus has just appointed twelve men to be his followers, his disciples.  Why 12?  (The number has Old Testament significance.)

From the NIV footnotes on verse 14: Some ancient manuscripts do not have "designating them apostles"; that explanatory phrase may have been added later by a scribe.

Mark 3: 20-30, Beelzebub and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."

So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house.

"I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."

He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit."

There are several forms of rejection of Jesus here.  What are they?

Beelzebub is an old Jewish term for Satan, probably associated with the Canaanite god Baal.

Couldn’t Satan fool people by pretending to be on the wrong side, by driving out demons?  (I don’t completely understand Jesus’ answer.)

Mark 3: 31-35, Family
Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."

"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

This passage began with Jesus choosing twelve special followers, "apostles" (or "sent ones".)  It ends with Jesus making a statement about his real priorities, his true "family".  It is clear that at this time Jesus's family is not supportive of him.

Mark 2, Raising the Roof

After preaching in the cities of Galilee, Jesus returns to Capernaum, the home of his disciples.

Mark 2:1-5, Faithful friends raise a roof
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home.  So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.  Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.  Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

One of my favorite stories!  As Jesus moves around, crowds follow him.  The home (as suggested by William Barclay) was probably quite open and the crowd would have flowed in and prevented any path to Jesus.  But the roof was a place to sit in hot weather and designed to support people.

Why did Jesus first offer to forgive?  Why did he do it in that order, forgiveness (when not asked) before healing (which was the obvious request)?

Mark 2:6-12, The Sabbath interferes
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,  "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things?  Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up, take your mat and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." 

He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."

He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Why did Jesus forgive, then heal?  Why did he do it in that order?  Clearly that matters most, but that answer is incomplete.

Don't miss the sadness, the tragedy of the pharisaic legalism.  To the religious leaders, rules trump everything.

Imagine the reaction of the religious teachers when the man gets up!

Mark 2:13-17, Lunch with Levi
Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.  While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and `sinners'?"

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Jesus continues to reach out to the broken and downtrodden, unlike the religious leaders who tend to push those people away.  This is a major theme in the gospels – Jesus (and Christianity) is for the weak, not the strong!

Sometime ago I read a post by a Muslim teacher on why Islam was better than Christianity.  The main idea of his post was this: Mohammed surrounded himself with powerful men; Jesus surrounded himself with weaklings!  "Look at Peter, for example," the Muslim evangelist said.  The disciples of Jesus were worthless, according to that Islamic teacher.  How true.  But that is Christianity in a nutshell – Jesus reached out to people who need a Savior (and know it), to people who are broken and hurting.

Levi, son of Alphaeus, is also called Matthew.

Mark 2:18-22, New wineskins

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?"

Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.  But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.  And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."

Who is fasting?  Why do you think Jesus is asked this question?

The fasting of John's disciples gave a veneer of religious commitment.  Apparently the disciples of Jesus, following their master, were not as committed, were not as "religious" as those of John.  The outside observers wondered about this.

What is Jesus’ response?  What does this mean? What does this stuff about the new garment, old wineskins, mean?  (New wineskins stretched as the wine fermented.  Old wineskins were already stretched to their limit and so new wine poured into old wineskins would eventually burst the bag of wine.)

Mark 2:23-28, Lord of the Sabbath
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.  The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"

He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."

Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

What do the Pharisees ask?  Why do you think they ask this?  What is their motive? What is Jesus’ response?  (What does this mean?)

How is this similar to the fasting incident? 

Note the phrase, "Son of Man".  This is a Messianic term. Jesus is identifying himself as Messiah.

Mark 1: 29-45, The Healer

Jesus has just spoken in the synagogue and healed a man with an "unclean spirit".

Mark 1:29-34, Also a healer!

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.  Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.  So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.  The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Simon Peter is surely the main source for the gospel of Mark.  One of the early miracles of Jesus is to heal the mother of Simon's wife.  We don't know the severity of the fever but, like a typical mother, once she is feeling better, Simon's mother-in-law begins to serve the small crowd in her home!

The effect is immediate.  After sunset (when it is cooler?) the crowds come.  The "whole town" has heard and shows up as the door.  And Jesus responds.  Once again there are "evil spirits"; once again they are commanded not to identify Jesus!

A few simple observations: Yes, we all need help -- both teaching and healing.  And there are times to identify Jesus (we will see some later) and times to be quiet.

William Barclay suggests that the reason for people bringing the sick after sunset is to avoid working on the Sabbath.

Mark 1: 35-39, The ministry begins

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"

Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."

So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

After healing Simon's mother-in-law and many in the community of Caesarea, Jesus begins a more general ministry throughout Galilee (northern Israel.)   The ministry begins with Jesus isolated and praying.  (Why does God need to pray?)

Where does Jesus preach?  What are the results?  (Why?)

Mark 1: 40-45, A leper approaches
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.   Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:

"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."

Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

What is Jesus's reaction to the leper's request?  (In verse 1:40 The Greek word translated leprosy here was used for various diseases affecting the skin--not necessarily leprosy.  But clearly this is a serious, incurable disease.)

Why did Jesus give him the strong warning?  What is wrong with the leper telling everyone of Jesus's work?

Mark 1: 1-28, The Son of God

The gospel of Mark is one of the earliest New Testament writings, probably the earliest gospel.  It is brief, energetic, dynamic.  It starts right in....

Mark 1:1-8, The beginning of Jesus' ministry -- John the baptizer
The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" -- "a voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.  I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The quote in verse 2 is from the Old Testament prophet, Malachi (Mal. 3:1) and the quote in verse 3 is from the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3.)  What do these quotes say about the expected recipients of this letter by Mark?

Judea was the center of the ancient homeland of the Jews, the descendants of Israel.  In this time, the region was under the control of the Roman empire, with considerable autonomy left to the local peoples.  The phrase, "make straight paths for him", is an announcement that significant change is coming.

How is John the Baptist described?  What type of individual is he?  And why does the story seem to begin with him?  (Even to the ancient reader, John is a strange character.  The reader is expected to be a little shocked by him -- and by his ritual of baptism.)

Mark skips any significant prologue.  The others gospels tell us a little about Jesus's life before his ministry began.  Mark is simpler, more direct.  All that matters here is the short three years of Jesus's ministry!

A pericope is a short dynamic story, somewhat self-contained.  Much of the Gospel of Mark consists of these short events, dramatically recalled by Peter, copied down later by Mark. Here is the second pericope in Mark's gospel:

Mark 1:9-13, The beginning of Jesus' ministry -- baptism and temptation
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Nazareth is some distance north of Galilee, 70-80 miles. 

Why is Jesus baptized?  What happens when he is baptized?  Theologically, philosophically, this is an intriguing passage.  If Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God, as taught elsewhere in the New Testament – and in the early church – why does he need to be baptized? (Surely baptism comes from the Jewish ritual bathing, something especially required of a Jewish convert.)

Note that heaven was "torn" open!  This describes a dramatic, almost violent, action.

What does Jesus do after the baptism? Why?

Why does Mark leave out so much?  (Eg. "He was with the wild animals and angels attended him.") Couldn't he have said a little more? Mark's stories will be quick and short, usually with lots of energy.

Mark 1:14-15, The kingdom begins
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.  "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Jesus has finished his time in the desert and is ready for ministry.  The imprisonment of John seems to stir Jesus to ministry.

Jesus emphasizes the "good news" (or "gospel") of the coming kingdom.  The concept of repentance is a positive change, in the direction of the kingdom of God.

Mark 1:16-20, Four disciples
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."  At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.  Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

There are now four official disciples, Simon, Andrew, James and John.  Why does Jesus suddenly pick these people?  (Is it really sudden?  Or does it appear this way through Mark's collapsing of time?)

Capernaum is near Nazareth, in northern Israel (Galilee.)  Jesus first begins teaching, as any Jew would, in a synagogue, on the Sabbath (Saturday.)

Mark 1:21-28, A different teacher!
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.  The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"

The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.  The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."

News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Of course news spreads!  Is this good?

How is Jesus's teaching received?

(NIV footnotes say "evil spirit" might be "unclean spirit".)  What is the effect of the "evil" or "unclean" spirit?  And why does Jesus hush it up?!

We will finish Mark 1 next time.

Romans 16, Personal Notes

Paul ends his letter to the church in Rome with a series of personal greetings. These small matters give a lot of insight into Paul's ministry and the early churches in Europe.

Romans 16:1-6, Phoebe, Priscilla, Aquilla, Epenetus and Mary
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. 

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house. 

Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 

Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 

The first two people mentioned in this chapter are women.  It is Phoebe who carries the letter to Rome and "Prisca" (here), a short form of Priscilla, who is mentioned with her husband, Aquila.  The word translated "servant", in verse 1, describing Phoebe, is the Greek "diakonos", from which we get the word "deacon."

Cenchea was the port town just outside Corinth, all the people in the list of greeters at the end of this letter (when we can identify them) were involved in Corinth, from where Paul presumably writes this letter.

Romans 16:7, Two apostles, Andronicus and Junias
Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 

Some claim that there were only twelve apostles ... but Andronicus and Junias are given that title here by Paul.  There is an argument to be made here that Paul wrote "Junia", the name of a woman; Andronicus and Junia may have been a traveling couple, like Priscilla and Acquila.

Romans 16:8-15, Others whom I love
Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord. 

Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 

Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. 

Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 

Greet Herodion, my relative.

Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. 

Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. 

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 

Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. 

Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them. 

We read a long list of greetings to people, more than two dozen, whom Paul knows; all are apparently now involved in the growing church in Rome.

Romans 16:16-20, Greet one another with a kiss
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. 

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 

Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 

Unity, community, fellowship are all high on Paul's priority list for the young churches.

Romans 16:21-24, Greetings from Corinthian leaders

Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. 

I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. 

Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. 

Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.

Tertius wrote the letter for Paul and gets an opportunity to greet those in Roman. Gaius was a founder of the church in Corinth, one of the few people baptized by Paul (see I Corinthians 1:14).

Erastus was also apparently at Corinth.

The NIV does not include a verse 24 as that passage is missing from some ancient texts. Other manuscripts add "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen."

Romans 16:25-27, Benediction
Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him-- to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

And finally a strong benediction.  We follow a Messiah that all nations will believe and obey!

Romans 15, Final Admonition, Future Plans

Paul has now focused on practical advice for those who understand the true meaning of Christ's sacrifice.

Romans 15:1-6, Endurance and encouragement
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Understanding Christ's selfless acts leads to selfless acts among the disciples, encouraging and building up others.  Note that the Scriptures to which Paul eludes is the Old Testament.

The quote in verse 3 is from Psalm 69:9.

Romans 15:7-12, The Messiah for the Gentiles
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name."

Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." 

And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples." 

And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him." 

The word translated "Jews" in Romans 15:8 is really the Greek word for circumcision (NIV Footnotes.)

Paul strings together a sequence of Old Testament passages that make it clear God intended all along to reach out to the Gentiles. The quote in verse 9 is from 2 Samuel 22:50 and Psalm 18:49.  The quote in verse 10 is from Deuteronomy 32:43; the quote in verse 11 is from Psalm 117:1; that in verse 12 is from Isaiah 11:10.

Romans 15:13-17, Overflowing with hope, sanctified by the Holy Spirit

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 

I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 

Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 

Paul is encouraged by God's work among the Gentiles in Rome and wants to make sure his instruction is viewed in that light.

Romans 15:18-21, Always reaching to people who have not heard

I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done--by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.  It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.  Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand."

Paul's ministry is always reaching out to those completely unexposed to the Good News of the Jewish Messiah.  Illyricum, a Roman province northwest of Greece, is probably the extend of Paul's travels to date (at the writing of this letter.)  But he intends to go on to Rome and even further!

The quote in verse 21 is from Isaiah 52:15, a passage that leads into the Messianic description of Isaiah 53.

Romans 15:22-27, I plan to visit you and Spain, after Jerusalem
This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 

Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 

Paul hopes to go to Rome and then on to Spain, even further west!  But he must first go to Jerusalem, carrying a contribution raised by the Greek churches for the starving believers in Judea.  The story of Paul's journey to Jerusalem, and the trip to Rome that follows, is the subject of the last quarter of the book of Acts (chapters 21-28.)  Paul does not know that he will make the journey to Rome in chains.

Romans 15:28-33, Pray for my Judean trip
So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. 

The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Paul will end his letter to the church in Rome with a series of personal greetings, listing various individuals active in the church in Corinth and others in Rome. That will be the subject of the final chapter, chapter 16.

Pericopes of Peter, the Gospel of Mark

Early in this week we will finish up Paul's letter to the Romans and begin a read through the Gospel of Mark, a favorite of mine.  On Sundays I take a break from the chapter-per-day posting and examine a topic or do an overview of a book, so today I will look briefly at what we know about the Gospel of Mark.

Tradition has it that some thirty years or more after the death of Christ, Mark wrote down the oral history about Jesus, as given by Peter.  This "Gospel" consists of a series of energetic brief stories, called pericopes, that fit well with oral storytelling.  One can imagine Peter -- an eyewitness of Jesus and one of three disciples in Jesus's inner circle -- later telling these stories in various sermons and in various synagogues.  These pericopes include small descriptive details seen by an eyewitness account.  John Mark would then have written these down later to preserve the oral teachings.

There are some good online references for a study in Mark.  Here are a few I found.

A Jesus Creed blog post discusses the 30 year transition from oral history of Jesus to printed reports as given in the gospel of Mark.

The Bible Project has a nice video survey of Mark.  (I recommend the nice book summaries from the Bible Project!) As emphasized in this video, Mark's goal is to introduce Jesus as the Jewish Messiah.

Overview Bible has a simple introduction and synopsis of this book.

EasyEnglish (of Wycliffe translators) has a commentary on Mark intended for English as a Second Language (ESL) learners.

Here is another Jesus Creed blog post on the healing of the blind man in Mark 8 and the immediate question it raises, "Who is this man, Jesus?!"

Rummaging through online resources I found this 8 hour (!) youtube video study through the Gospel of Mark.  (It is in a "King James only" viewpoint.  No, I don't really recommend this....)

But I do recommend this commentary by William Barclay. I am trying to read through this book as I post the various chapters.

Make sure you know how to pronounce "pericopes" (purr -- rick -- cup-- pees) and then impress your friends with your Bible training!  No.  Sorry. Don't!