“Who was Jesus?”

Mark attempts to show:Although Jesus should have been received with

honor as God’s Son, he was destined to die a humiliating death to pay for humankind’s wrongdoing

Jesus was often misunderstoodJesus wanted to keep his identity as God’s Son

a secret to those who didn’t believe him

Jesus’ cousin, born 6 months before Jesus Fulfills a prediction

made by the prophets Malachi and Isaiah, “I am sendng my messenger ahead of you…the voice of one crying out in the wilderness…”(Mark 1:2-3).

Prophet who baptized in Jordan River, proclaiming the coming of the Messiah “The one who is more

powerful than I is coming after me…I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:7-8).

Her stepfather, Herod, asked her to dance for him at a banquet and promised her anything in return

Prompted by her mother (Herodias), who had been angered that John the Baptist criticized her marriage (to her husband’s brother), Salome asked for his head (Mark 6:16-29)

Caravaggio, 1573-1610Canvas, 361 x 520 cmOratory of Saint John’s Cathedral, Valletta (Malta)

The Beheading of John the Baptist, 1608

Bartholomaus Strobel,

1591-1650

Oil on canvas, 280 x 952 cm

The Beheading of St. John the Baptist and the Banquet of Herod, c. 1630-1633

Most scholars believe Jesus’ ministry of teaching and miracle working spanned about three years, divided into the following periods:Period of InaugurationPeriod of PopularityPeriod of Opposition

Ministry began in Nazareth (Jesus’ hometown)Jesus rebuked the people of Nazareth for not

believing he is the Messiah“Prophets are not without honor, except in their

hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house” (Mark 6:4).

Jesus moved to CapernaumLocated on major trade routes around the Sea

of Galilee

Jesus chooses his 12 disciples “to be with him always”12 = number of tribes to make up Israel

(represent the totality of Israel)Choices significant for understanding the

intended scope of Jesus’ ministryIndicates the inclusiveness of his vision of the

kingdom of GodDeliberately chose people unlikely to have been

admitted to movements such as the Pharisees or the Essenes

FishermenPeter (formerly Simon)Andrew (Peter’s brother)JamesJohn

Tax collector (most despised profession)Matthew (formerly Levi)

Zealot (“zealous” for Israel’s ancestral traditions – the removal of foreign rule and religion from Israel)Simon

Brothers; “the sons of thunder” (explosive temperaments)

Other DisciplesPhilip (perhaps the brother of Bartholomew)Bartholomew (possibly formerly Nathaniel)Thomas (best known as Doubting Thomas)James (different from James, the brother of

John), son of AlphaeusThaddaeus (also called Judas, but not the same

as Judas Iscariot)Judas Iscariot (the disciple who would betray

Jesus)

Caravaggio,

1573-1610

Canvas, 322 x

340 cm

San Luigi dei

Francesi, Rome,

Contarelli Chapel

The Calling of Matthew, 1599-1600

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

          

Some small, independent of large crowdsMany serve the purpose of attracting crowds,

which, in turn, provide large audiences for his teachings

Often done for the benefit of the individualhealing, blessing, exorcising demons

Healing a blind man

woman who was hemorrhaging

“The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath” (Mark, 2:27)

As Jesus’ popularity began to grow, his opposition also began to grow, especially as religious and political authorities became nervous about his growing influence and revolutionary ideasPharisees, Sadducees, and scribes

Stories that have symbolic value and teach a greater lesson

Jesus spoke in parables to give people easier access to his intended meaningTook things from everyday life and transformed

them into a moral or spiritual lessonParables were often misunderstood or

misinterpretedJesus’ ambiguous language can be interpreted

multiple ways Jesus doesn’t those who are merely interested in

the spectacle following him. He wants those who follow to really want to know “the truth.” If someone wants to understand Jesus’ teachings, then he or she will go to the trouble to ask.

“Other seed fell into good soil and brought fourth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding…” (Mark 4:8) First seed: falls on hardend

bath and eaten by birds (people who have a hard heart toward God)

Second seed: falls on rocky soil (those who initially respond positively to God’s word, but abandon it when the truth “starts to hurt”)

Third seed: falls among the thorns and weeds (those who receive God’s word, but allow the “worries of this world” and the “deceitfulness of wealth” begin to take over)

Forth seed: falls on good soil (person who hears and understands God’s word)

“Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?” (Mark 4:21)

“Follow me and I will make you fish for people” (Mark 1:16).

Re-interpreted Jewish law to fit the needs of humankind

Posed a threat to the established Jewish tradition

Began to be seen as an “iconoclast” (a person who attacks cherished beliefs)

“ ‘Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters, not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?’ (thus he declared all foods clean)” (Mark 7:18-19)

“It is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly”

“Why does this generation ask for a sign. Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” (Mark 8:11)

“All things can be done for the one who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

“His disciples asked him privately, ‘Why could not we cast it out?’ He said to them, ‘This kind can come out only through prayer.’” (Mark 9:28-29)

31

“Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” (Mark 11:33)

34

Parable of the Vineyard

35

Often underscore the messageFeeding 5,000

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never hunger”

Raising Lazarus from the dead“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever

believes in me will live, even if he dies”Provide faith

Dynamic interchange between what you believe and what you experienceDemonstrated in the man who asks Jesus to heal

his son. Jesus asks, “Do you believe I can?” The man responds, “I do believe, Lord, but help me with my unbelief” (Mark 9:34).

Carel Fabritius,

1622-1654

Canvas, 210 x

140 cm

Muzeum

Narodowe,

Warsaw

The Raising of Lazarus, c. 1643

Giotto, c. 1267-

1337

Fresco, 185 x

200 cm

Scrovegni

Chapel, Padua

The Raising of Lazarus, 1304-1306

Albert van

Ouwater, c.

1410/1415-1475

Panel, 122 x 92

cm

Staatliche

Museen zu

Berlin,

Gemaldegalerie

The Raising of Lazarus, c. 1455-1460

Juan de Flandes,

c. 1465-1519

Oil on panel, 110

x 84 cm

Museo Nacional

del Prado,

Madrid

The Resurrection of Lazarus, c. 1510-1518

While he was eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body...this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.’” (Mark 14:22-23)

“Abba, Father, for you all things are

possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what

you want.” (Mark 14:36)

Jesus said, “I am…”

He answered them,

“You say so.”

“Who can forgive but God alone?” - scribes

Literally the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation)

Hocus Pocus - parody of the consecration of the Catholic Mass: hoc est corpus (“this is my body”)

Symbolically the body and blood of Christ (consubstantiation)

“I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:8)

“He saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’” (Mark 1:10-11)