No infancy narrative – no birth in Bethlehem. It’s missing things we might think it should have. ![]() Control was in hands of puppet kings and Roman governors, as well as collaborators amongst the educated elites – Pharissees, scribes, and the Sanhedrin at the Temple. These are not people just like us – they are poor farmers and fishermen, occupied by a foreign power, and beset with rebellions and brutal repression. But it is strange – in another language, talking about a situation in villages in a very minor place long ago. We read into it theology derived from Paul, the other gospels, Revelation, early Christian theology, Augustine, medieval systematics, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, BCP, modern historico-criticism. ![]() When Mark was written there was no New Testament, no Christian scriptures, and the author did not know he was writing something that would be read for 20 centuries. We’ve domesticated it, and read into it 19 centuries of theology that may not be there. ![]() But not actually in the text, and highly unlikely. Later tradition ascribed it to a colleague of Paul’s, supposedly at the dictation of Peter. Nowhere in the text does the author identify themselves, and the person named Mark never shows up. Perhaps we should spend a Sunday just reading it aloud- get the some of the students from the canadian College of Performing Arts to PERFORM it? The Gospel according to Mark shows oral aspects: i) repetition of certain words such as “and” “immediately” ii) sandwiches of a story inserted into another story iii) chiastic structures and iv) quotations from the scriptures that are not quite right Typically of oral stories, there is almost no character development. This is pointed out by Richard Horsley in his book Hearing the Whole Story: The Politics of Plot in Mark’s Gospel (Louisville KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001). But as you read it, perhaps read it aloud, because originally it would have been performed. It is a relatively straightforward narrative (at least compared to some books of prophecy, Paul’s letters, or the Book of Revelavtion). ![]() “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near repent, and believe in the good news.” Why should we bother to read this thing called “The Gospel according to Mark”? A sermon preached on the Third Sunday after Epiphany Year B January 25, 2015
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