Welcome
to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a
post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16
chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to
understand and pray the Gospel of Mark. I hope you will join me on this
journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B. In
today's post, we explore chapter 2:23-28 which is Jesus defends a human
need.
The
first two fo the five conflicts concerned sinners. The last two conern
the Jewish Sabbath. The same balance is found in the opponents of
Jesus, who in the first two stories are the Scribes, but in the last two
are the Pharisees.
The
fourth conflict is not in a town, but in the cornfields near the Lake
of Galilee. When the disciples begin to pick corn as they walk along,
the Pharisees point out to Jesus that this is forbidden on the Sabbath.
Jesus
attacks them by showing how laws have their limits, even the sacred law
of the Sabbath rest. He recalls to the Pharisees what David once did
in the time of the priest Abiathar, actually Ahimelech, when he and his
men were hungry ( I Sam 21:1-6).
Jesus
shocks the Prarisess by authoritatively interpreting the letter of
God’s Law in favour of the hunger of his discples. Even the sacred law
of the Sabbath he puts aside for the sake of their human need. The
concern of Jesus reveals God’s cetnral concern with life and the welfare
of the people.
Notice
how Jesus refers to Himself by the puzzling title Son of Man. This
title for Jeus is often found in Mark’s Gospel, mostly in the second
half, and only on the lips of Jesus Himself.
Son
of Man or “ Bar Narsha” in the Aramaic langauge which Jesus spoke,
seems to be the special word of Jesus for Himself as human like the rest
of us, but in a way that makes people wonder and questions further.
At
the end of the first of the five conflicts stories, Jesus presented
himself as the Son of Man with authority to forgive sins. Now, just
before the beginning of the fifth and final story, Jesus presents
Himself again as the Son of Man with authority over the Sabbath.
In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:
- Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
- Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
- Ponder what Jesus teaches here: at the heart of the life of a true disciple is not a law but a personal relationship with Himelf.
- Reflect on the places in Mark’s Gospel where Jesus calls himself ‘’Son of Man” (starting from 2:10 onwards to 14.62)
- Consider ways that I keep the sacred law of the Sabbath “‘keep holy the Sabbath Day”’
- Consider what changes we will make to keep holy the Sabbath Day
- Consider my relationship with Jesus- is it just keeping the laws or is it a real relationship with Him.
- Reflect on how the Scribes and Pharisees may have felt hearing this teaching from Jesus. Is there a scribe or Pharisee in me?
- Imagine walking through a grainfield without picking something. Then imagine what is like picking some of the crop whilst you are hungry. Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
- What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (2:22-28).
- How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?
It is important to remember that St Mark wishes us to know the person of Jesus.
What does this passage of scripture tell you about the person of Jesus?
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