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