Part 12 The Gospels

Part 12 The Gospels

Gentle reader,
We are back in the study of “What your father never knew and your mother wouldn’t tell you” about the gospels. I remind you that as many ways as there are to study the 4 gospels and this is just another way that perhaps may put things in perspective a wee bit. We are looking at the gospels from the perspective as Paul wrote in Hebrews “ For the word of God is quick, [living] and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”. (Heb 4:12) describes

Jesus first trip to Syria

The first trip into Gentile territory follows right after the parable the describes the gathering of the Gentiles (remember that it was to the Jew first and then to the Gentile according to Paul: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”. (Rom 1:16). In the parable of the mustard seed, small at first . That grows into a huge bush where “ But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. (Mar 4:32)
This image of birds for gathering nations is familiar in the writings of the Hebrew Scriptures: In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. (Eze 17:23).
Ezekiel 31: 5-6 describes the Assyrian empire, before pride led to its downfall, as a great cedars in Lebanon Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth. All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
Daniel 4:21 describes Nebuchadnezzar before he was cursed , as a great tree ‘in whose branches the birds lodged’ The parable of Jesus thus says His reign will gather in the nations. [Note we might point out that this fact was not understood by the 12 nor perhaps those that followed, with the exception of the apostle Paul who received the further Revelation from Christ see Acts “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:” (Act 9:15)

So Gentle Reader,
Those passages from the Hebrew Sacred writings would be the kind that Mark’s community would be meditating on as they recalled the parable of the mustard seed, and it’s connection with the Gentiles of Syria.

They would also reflect on other passages having to do with fear and depression when they heard how Jesus crossed to Syria over the Sea of Galilee. When the Storm tosses the little boat, yet Jesus slept peacefully in the tumult, the disciples are panic-stricken. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? (Mar 4:38). This plaintive cry would be familiar to the Markan community , since Levites were required to recite Psalm 44:23-24 every day (which is why they were called Wakers). Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever. Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
(Psa 44:23-24)

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,[‘be bridled’] [To the wind ‘Silence ]Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mar 4:39). What Mark was depicting was the divine act of reining in the sea, what God does in Genesis (And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. Gen 1:9 ). And also in Job He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. (Job 26:10-11 ).
Look also at “Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. “(Psa 104:9) And God speaks in Isaiah 50:2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.
Also Psalm 106: 9 we read “He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. “
Which we see that the last two citations are important since there is the EXODUS imagery that runs all through this gospel. Storms are often an image of persecution or of war, or temptation (Augustine, when he prayed for release from temptation, ask God to quell the frothy sea at its shore.[Confessions 2:3].
The disciples expressing fear at the sea are like Mark’s community terrified under persecution, and the rebuke at there lack of trust is like that of Moses when he broke the tablets because of the Israelites’ lose of faith while he was on the mountaintop.

So much for now gentle Reader, just remember to take away from this study that “Faith is what gets you started, Hope is what keeps you going. Love is what get you there’!
Next time,
Love,
Denis

A Brief pause-by way of Explanation

 Dear Gentle Reader,

 From time to time I take a wee break from writing. Not that anything is particularly wrong. Or that there is some emergency,  we are not dying of anything other that what kills us all. that is to say we wear out !  But those of you that read on a regular basis know that thinking is a difficult business, not only that but to be reflective in a world that spends its time on sound bites or being amused by "girls gone wild" or soap operas like "As the stomach turns" they won't miss my small attempt to get one to think as a intelligent person. Those who need to think, perhaps, need to consider this.  

 The Talmud tells that a gentile came to Shammai saying that he would convert to Judaism if Shammai could teach him the whole  Torah in the time that he could stand on one foot. Shammai drove him away with a builder's measuring stick! Hillel, on the other hand, converted the gentile by telling him, "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary. Go and study it." So may I take that quote and change it a wee bit to this "

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matt. 22:36-39) That is the whole of Christianity, the rest is commentary.

 So for a brief pause Gentle reader, if you need me read some of the 1500 + articles that I have left with you to reflect upon while I recharge my spiritual battery and if you hear of me advising the President on matters of state, it';s just a rumor started by the people who would like to start rumors.

 See you a a while Gentle reader, and remember you are accepted, you are valued, you are loved, by God and by me.

Denis  

The Gospel of Mark (Part 11)

What the 4 Gospels meant to early believers

(And what we can learn from them today)

Part 11

Gentle Reader,

We have been looking back at the 1^st century believers understanding of the Gospels. We have begun with Mark as the shortest of the 4. You need to copy the study so that you can refer to the historical insights and my understanding of the issues. Now understand that as Paul said " For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1Co 13:12) Those who claim to have everything worked out, all the answers, don’t! It’s rather like a jigsaw puzzle in which we worry over one piece of the puzzle when there are other pieces yet to be found (understood).

It’s only when we look closely and then take a step back, consider all the evidence at our disposal with one eye on the possibility that we might be wrong but ‘pressing toward the mark" of the high calling or better the calling upon high to as it were see over the next hill that we will begin to grasp in some small way the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of our heavenly father.

So with that in mind lets see if we can’t get a wee better grasp of what the early believers might have thought of Mark’s gospel.

Remember last time I told you to put your self in the sandals of those readers who were being persecuted and having to flee to the gentile country of Syria and then reading about Jesus two trips and why it would have special meaning for them!

Jesus first trip to Syria

The first trip into the Gentile territory follows immediately on Jesus’ use of a parable that describes the gathering-in of the Gentiles (into to Kingdom of heaven). It is the parable of the mustard seed, small at first, that grows into a huge bush where " But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it." (Mar 4:32) this image of birds for gathering nations is familiar in the Sacred Writings. At Ezekiel 17:23, the lord takes a tiny slip from a cedar tree which, planted, grows so large that "In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing [of every kind]; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell". (Eze 17:23)

While Ezekiel 31:5-6 describes the Assyrian empire before pride led to its downfall, as the great cedar of Lebanon:

"Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth. All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations. " (Eze 31:3-6)

Daniel 4:21 describes Nebuchadnezzar, before he was cursed as a great tree "Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation

The parable of Jesus thus says that his reign will gather in the nations. These passages from the Sacred (Hebrew) Writings are the kind Mark’s community would be meditating on as they recalled the parable of the mustard seed, and its connection with the Gentiles of Syria.

They would have also reflected on other passages having to do with fear and persecution when they heard how Jesus crossed to Syria over the Sea of Galilee. When the grart storm tossed the boat, yet Jesus sleeps peacefully through it all. The disciples are panic-stricken. Mar 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? That cry would be familiar to the Marken community, since the Levites were required to recite "Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever. Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression? "(Psa 44:23-24) every day (which they were called Wakers). And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mar 4:39)

We find Jesus the wind "silence " and tells the sea "be bridled". Reining in the sea is a divine act, what God does at "And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. "

(Gen 1:9), where He reings in the sea to make land appear. And in Job He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. (Job 26:10-11).

In Psalm 104 "Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth." (Psa 104:9). While in Isaiah "Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst." (Isa 50:2). Psalm 106:9 "He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness. "

These last two citations are especially important as we shall see- the Exodus imagery runs all through this Gospel.

Tell next time,

Love,

Denis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Run Into the Hills"

The Gospel of Mark (part 11)

Gentle Reader,

I do apologize for the time that it takes me to post our studies, if things were on a even keel I would be teaching a wee bit each day. However with Marti as sick as she has been and at times all I can do is sit sadly by and watch her suffer as this cursed disease takes its toll. And on the other hand our studies are not for those who are weak kneed, in their faith. As Paul our Apostle to the Gentiles once said Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"

 And as I have pointed out several times we are looking at the 4 Gospels from the point of view of the 1^st century Believer as if the ink was still wet on the parchments.

This is an new study for me as I wish to push your understanding and mine as far as we may go in this direction.

We might point out the Luke takes "the Defilement that desolates" (to bdelygma tes eremoseos) from Daniel 11:31, 12:11 "And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (Dan 11:31) And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Dan 12:11) which describes the pollution of the Temple by Antiochus Epiphanes who in 168BCE placed a pagan altar above the altar of sacrifice, which "put a stop to sacrifice and offering (Dan 9:27). This is not parallel to the Romans’ total destruction of the Temple, but it does have a parallel in the Zealots’ seizure of the Temple in 67CE, which escalated the Jewish War. The Zealots maintained their military camp in the Temple until it was destroyed. Josephus, the Jewish historian, calls these Zealots "outlaws" lestai (Jewish War 4.13 ) . The same term Jesus uses in Mark 11:17 " And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves". For those who abuse their roles in the Temple. Which convinces me that the action of the Zealots in 67 CE and the following years is what prompted the Markan community to "run away in the hills" in Syria, escaping the war that would soon destroy the Temple. The Zealots are the Jews who would have been persecuting the Markan community just as the next wave of Zealots would do under Bar Kakhba in 132 CE.

The nearest hills for the persecuted Christians in Judaea ro run toward were in the Syrian Decapolis, a Gentile area where Paul had been active in his preaching. Mark shows that Jesus visiting Syria twice, crossing the sea of Galilee to reach it. If that indeed was where Mark’s listeners had run from their persecutors, both of the times when Jesus entered that territory would be rich with personal meaning for them, and Mark’s emphasis on the two trips would become more understandable.

Now Gentle Reader, for next time re read the 2 times that Jesus crossed into Syria and think about if you were living in that 1^st century what would you have thought and felt and how close would you have felt to the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords?

Till next time then,

Love,

Denis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Gospel of Mark

Part 10 The gospel of Mark

Dear Gentle reader,

It has been some time that I have started this study on the 4 gospels (excluding all the other "gospels" that were rejected. The last time we were considering the persecuted "church" as we now can read in the Gospel of Mark. If Mark was written in and for a community under persecution, does he supply any hints about where this persecution was occurring? It was held in past times that the older view was that it was written in Rome, and that Peter had dictated the Gospel to Mark, and that Peter as well as Paul died in the Neronian persecution in Rome (64CE). My own personal view (now under reconsideration) is that the Gospel was written if not published around 43 A.D.

If that older view were historically accurate or the view was sound then this Gospel would hardly show such a lack of sympathy with Peter. Besides, the persecution that killed Peter and Paul on the charge of burning Rome down was a brief spasm not the sort the Markan community undergoes. And while some may argue that Peter was being humble the writing in Mark shows more than humility directed towards Pater. In the light of that fact that it was the (Jewish brethren? ) Who betrayed the Gentiles Christians in Rome.

What does the Gospel itself about and to the plight of those 1^st century believers?

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days." (Mar 13:13-20)

Mark alerts those in his audience that he is talking about them "(let him that readeth understand,) "understand this, reader! And also gives them hope that the time of their ordeal has been aborted (literally "cut back")

What is this defilement that desolates (to bdelgma tes eremoseos)? It has often been taken to refer to the destruction of the temple by the Romans in 70 A.D.. But elsewhere Mart does appear to seem to know the circumstances of that destruction, and he does not refer to it directly . As does Luke in "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto." (Luk 21:20-21). Luke was written around 58 A.D. and seems to have seen the final siege of Jerusalem. Which takes us to the Gospel of Matthew and the questions ask and answered by Christ to his disciples.

And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand ) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mat 24:1-51)

Which could mean, Gentle Reader, that the Parousia of the Lord (better known as the doctrine of the Second Coming could have actually taken place around 70 A.D). which is a whole another study that I will not attempt at this time but just consider what that means to each of us if Christ returned within a generation or forty years of His death.

I’ll leave you at this point to ruminate over this possible event until next time.

Don’t worry we are not alone!

Love,

Denis