GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES.
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During the remainder of 2018, each week, I will write a weekly 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. In today's post, we explore
chapter 8: 22-2 which is called The Blind Man at Bethsaida.
THE BLIND MAN AT BETHSAIDA
The people ask Jesus to touch a blind man. He does this, but secretly and in three stages, putting saliva on his eyes, laying hands on him, and laying hands on his eyes again. Only after the third touch does the blinds man see clearly.
By this story at Bethsaida Mark leads towards the conclusion of the missionary journeys of Jesus (6:6-30), and prepares us for the central episdoe of his Gospel, which immediately follows., on the true identity of Jesus.
The healing of a deaf and dumb man ( 7:31-37) reminds us that to share as disciples in the mission of Jesus we need to hear what Jesus really says and share it with others. The healing of this blind man tell us that true disciples need to see the divine power that Jesus bring to the world, and to see this not in a confused way but clearly.
Mark uses this story of the blind man to introduce the theme of blindness in the disciples, as Jesus forms them with difficulty in this ways, a formation that comes to a climax with the dramatic cure of another blind man, Bartimaeus at Jericho (10:46-52).
The healing of the blind man is a stranger story because Jesus cures his blinds in three stages. The apparent lack of power in Jesus may be why the other Gospels omit this story.
The blind man's two stages of seeing, however, prepare us for the two ways of naming Jesus in the following passage (8:27-30). The three touches by Jesus anticipate his repeated efforts to enlighten his disciples and form them as disciples by three passion prophecies in the part of Mark's Gospel (8:31-10:52).
The people ask Jesus to touch a blind man. He does this, but secretly and in three stages, putting saliva on his eyes, laying hands on him, and laying hands on his eyes again. Only after the third touch does the blinds man see clearly.
By this story at Bethsaida Mark leads towards the conclusion of the missionary journeys of Jesus (6:6-30), and prepares us for the central episdoe of his Gospel, which immediately follows., on the true identity of Jesus.
The healing of a deaf and dumb man ( 7:31-37) reminds us that to share as disciples in the mission of Jesus we need to hear what Jesus really says and share it with others. The healing of this blind man tell us that true disciples need to see the divine power that Jesus bring to the world, and to see this not in a confused way but clearly.
Mark uses this story of the blind man to introduce the theme of blindness in the disciples, as Jesus forms them with difficulty in this ways, a formation that comes to a climax with the dramatic cure of another blind man, Bartimaeus at Jericho (10:46-52).
The healing of the blind man is a stranger story because Jesus cures his blinds in three stages. The apparent lack of power in Jesus may be why the other Gospels omit this story.
The blind man's two stages of seeing, however, prepare us for the two ways of naming Jesus in the following passage (8:27-30). The three touches by Jesus anticipate his repeated efforts to enlighten his disciples and form them as disciples by three passion prophecies in the part of Mark's Gospel (8:31-10:52).
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?
of scripture?
· Imagine that you are the blindman of
Bethsaida. What do you see and hear and
feel? What can I learn from this?
feel? What can I learn from this?
· How does the question of Jesus in
this passage resonate with you?
What would you say?
· How would we respond to Jesus
regarding our blindness and sight?
· Reflect on my relationship with Jesus
and this teaching in the light of this gospel
passage.
· What impact does Jesus’ teaching have
on you (8:22-26)?
· How has this passage spoken to you-
what does it say to you personally?
· If you were to meet a fellow
parishioner who was interested in reading gospel of Mark, what would you say to
him/her about this passage?
· If a fellow parishioner had read this
passage, what might he/she say about this passage?
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