Jesus is challenged about his disciples’ failure to observe the ritual/ceremonial laws of the Old Testament. Hand washing prior to meals was required not for hygiene reasons or to slow down a pandemic but to represent symbolically the need to be spiritually clean. Jesus’ response is that it isn’t the external things that matter. Their… Continue reading Defiled (Mark 7)
Tag: Mark
Something happens when people come into contact with Jesus (Mark 6:53-56)
When Jesus and his disciples cross Lake Galilee, they are greeted on the other shore by another crowd. People recognise him and word spreads. Everywhere he goes, he is met with people who plead with him for healing. They assume that even to just brush against his clothes will bring life and healing. This is… Continue reading Something happens when people come into contact with Jesus (Mark 6:53-56)
“He meant to pass by them” (Mark 6:45-51)
I just want to pick up two specific phrase in the account of Jesus walking on water. The disciples have set off back across the lake from the site of the miraculous feeding. Jesus stays behind to talk to his Father but he can see that they are struggling against the wind. He walks out… Continue reading “He meant to pass by them” (Mark 6:45-51)
The Shepherd King who feeds his people
If Herod is the pretend king who throws a feast for himself where food is brought to him, food resulting from death, then Jesus is a different kind of king altogether. Jesus is the true king who calls a feast in order to feed his people with life giving bread. The Feeding of the Five… Continue reading The Shepherd King who feeds his people
A troubled conscience? (Mark 6:14-29)
Jesus was dividing opinions. Some as we’ve seen loved him and wanted to follow him and be close to him, others rejected him outright. A lot were bewildered by him and trying to make sense of him. Who was this man who could heal the sick and calm the waves? So, they tried to make… Continue reading A troubled conscience? (Mark 6:14-29)
Travelling Light (Mark 6:6-13)
Jesus has called twelve followers to specifically be with him as disciples. The number twelve was symbolic. If he was the new king of Israel, then they represented the beginning of new Israel, twelve apostles for twelve tribes. Now, he sends them out. They become involved in his mission, apostles are those who are commissioned… Continue reading Travelling Light (Mark 6:6-13)
They took offence (Mark 6:1-6)
So far in Mark’s Gospel the primary focus has been on crowds eager to meet Jesus, to hear him teach, to be healed, to bring friends to be healed, to have demons cast out. But that’s only one part of the picture. There are of course the religious leaders plotting against him and there are… Continue reading They took offence (Mark 6:1-6)
What kind of king do you want (Mark 6)
If Mark’s Gospel is about the good news of the imminent kingdom, then this raises the question about the type of king who is coming and whether this is the king that people want. Here in Chapter 6:1-6 we see that many people reject Jesus, he is not the king they want. In his home… Continue reading What kind of king do you want (Mark 6)
“Even what he has will be taken away”
Amongst the “hard sayings of Jesus” this is perhaps one that we struggle with the most. The words are found in Mark 4:25 25 For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” But they also reflect the ending of… Continue reading “Even what he has will be taken away”
Too late? (Mark 5:21-43)
We’ve seen already how the story of Jairus’ daughter wraps around the healing of the woman with a discharge of blood. Here we see at first a contrast because Jesus is willing to pause for the one that no one else would notice even as he goes to help a man who is used to… Continue reading Too late? (Mark 5:21-43)
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