Mark 3: 20-30, Beelzebub and Blasphemy

Jesus has just appointed twelve disciples.

Mark 3: 20-22, 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. 
21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

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

As the ministry of Jesus gains speed and popularity, he gets pushback from even his family (or closest associates) and, of course, the religious leaders traveling north from Jerusalem. Both accusations are strong, but the one of the religious leaders is especially damaging, as it suggests that Jesus does indeed have power, but of the wrong type!

NIV footnotes: "family"in verse 21 could simply mean "his associates".  

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

Mark 3: 23-27, Beelzebub and good works

So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 
25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 
26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 
27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. 

Jesus ridicules the claim that the good he is doing can be attributed to evil.

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: 28-30, Beelzebub and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 
29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”

Mark 3: 7-12, Crowded on the Shore

Jesus has healed a man on the Sabbath and drawn the ire of the religious leaders. He withdraws with his disciples but the crowds continue to follow.

Mark 3: 7-10, Healing people with evil spirits
Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. 
8 When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. 
9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 
10 For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. 

Those coming to Jesus comes from many miles away, possibly several hundred miles in some cases. With the lake at his back, Jesus keeps a boat handy so that, presumably, he can move out into the lake if pressed. He will teach from the boat at various times.

The crowds, at this time, appear to be driven by his physical healings. To many, his teachings are an afterthought.

Mark 3: 11-12, Dealing with evil spirits

Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 
12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

Although the people are not sure Who he is, the spirits know.  But Jesus does not want their endorsement nor does he need more attention.

Mark 1, The Son of God (Overview)

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?!

After Jesus has spoken in the synagogue and healed a man with an "unclean spirit", he visits the home of Simon and Andrew.

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?

On the Gospel of Mark

The Gospel of Mark and the Q Document

What is the source for the three synoptic gospels?



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_source

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Pericopes of Peter, the Gospel of Mark

This summer, a Sunday School class at University Heights Baptist Church, has been studying the Gospel of Mark.  Jan and I have been in the midwest most of the summer but it is good to be back in town and involved again in that class.

The Gospel of Mark is a favorite of mine.  It is energetic, filled with short stories, "sermonettes", on the life of Jesus.  Tradition has it that some thirty years 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.

We will begin with chapter 1 tomorrow.

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. At times I have worked 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!