Mark: Episode 4 – The upside down kingdom

by Ken Posted on June 14, 2013

upside_down

Jesus was not quite the messiah his disciples expected. They were expecting a king to lead Israel into a triumphant victory over the Romans, but this was not how Jesus saw it. In fact, he was turning everything upside down. He was teaching that he must suffer, be rejected, and die. Peter was not at all sure about this and tried to correct him, so Jesus had to reminded Peter that he was his follower, and not the other way around: Peter needed to focus on what God was doing and not what he thought God should be doing.

Jesus went on to say, “If anyone wants to become my follower, then let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me – even to death. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life, for my sake, will save it.”

Around this time, many people were bringing their children to him to bless them, but the disciples drove them away. When Jesus realised he said, “Let the children come to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”

Another example of Jesus’ upside down view of the kingdom occurred when, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him what he must do to enter the kingdom. Jesus replied, “You lack only one thing; go, sell what you have, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the man heard this, he was saddened, for he had many possessions with which he did not want to part, and so he went away grieving. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “It is hard for those with wealth to enter the kingdom of God, but even then, for God all things are possible!”

The disciples had spent several years with Jesus, and still they did not understand him. They were travelling to Jerusalem and some of them thought that Jesus was to at last claim his kingdom, and so they argued amongst themselves as to who would have top position in the kingdom.  So Jesus called them over and said, “You know that among the non-Jews, those whom they recognise as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones become tyrants, but it is not to be so among you. Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For I came not to be served but to serve, and to give my life a ransom for many.”

As the disciples walked with Jesus on their last long journey with him, they had much to think about…

(Mark 9:30 − 10:52)

 

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Mark: Episode 3 – Enigma

by Ken Posted on June 6, 2013

Wlak_on_water

Some things cannot be contained, and Jesus appeared to have no intention of trying. Like an overflowing river he honoured no Jewish boundary, but allowed his message to spill over into non-Jewish areas. Yet, if this was God’s ‘good news’ of the coming kingdom and the restoration of Israel, why did Jesus seem so unconcerned about who heard it? It was a puzzle, but by no means the biggest puzzle confronting his disciples.

One evening he decided that they should leave Galilee and go across to the other side of the lake. As they were crossing a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat against their boat, so that the boat was taking in water and they were in danger of sinking. Now, while this was going on Jesus was asleep, undisturbed, at the back of the boat. His disciples were afraid and so they woke him, but when he awoke he rebuked the wind, and told the sea to be still. Immediately, the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm, and the disciples were filled with awe – for nobody had ever heard of anyone commanding the wind and sea before.

So they arrived at the largely non-Jewish side of the lake, and while Jesus was getting out of the boat, a demonised man came from the tombs and met them. The demon cried out, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of God! Do not torment me!”. Jesus asked the demon its name and he said, “My name is Legion, for we are many”. He then begged Jesus not to send them out of the region, but to send them into the pigs instead. Jesus allowed this, and so the demons entered the pigs – which caused the herd to rush down the steep slope into the lake. About two thousand pigs were drowned that day.

Now when the herdsmen saw this they ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see for themselves. When they saw the demon-possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind they were afraid of what this might mean, and so they asked Jesus to leave.

Jesus continued with his disciples up to the villages in the pagan region of Caesarea Philippi north of Galilee and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets”. He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, God’s anointed king”. Jesus told them not to repeat this to anyone.

A week later, Jesus took Peter and James and John with him up a high mountain. There he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, and Elijah and Moses appeared to them and talked with Jesus. The disciples were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”. Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, but remained puzzled as to what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean…

(Mark 4:35 − 9:13)

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Mark: Episode 2 – Gathering storm

by Ken Posted on May 29, 2013

Gathering Storm

In this world, there are many who want to proclaim a message. They spin a story of how important their message is and how it will change your life, but bitter experience tells us that their promises are hollow. It comes as something of a surprise, when someone proclaims a word that is different. A word that actually begins to bring about that which is promised.

Jesus bore such a message, a message with authority. To the demon possessed, he simply told the demons to be quiet and leave – and they would. The sick were healed and God’s right order was visibly being established on earth. It is little wonder that his fame spread rapidly and that people wanted to follow him, nor is it too surprising that he also came to the attention of the authorities.

On one occasion there were so many people gathered around him, that the house he was in was at bursting point, with no room anywhere. You couldn’t get a cat in, let alone swing it. This was bad news for a group who brought a paralysed man, because they could not get near Jesus. Undaunted they let the man down through the roof! However, what caused the bigger stir was when Jesus told the man his sins were forgiven. It wasn’t what most people expected and it wasn’t what the religious leaders wanted to hear. As far as they were concerned only God forgives sins. Then Jesus said, “Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins” he then turned to the paralytic and told him to get up and go home – which he promptly did. It was a crazy day, but it left a bitter taste for the religious leaders.

Now, Jesus was not deliberately setting out to offend the religious leaders, but his agenda was just different. For instance, he once asked a tax collector to follow him (which he did) and Jesus ended up dining with him in his house – along with a bunch of others of equally low repute. When the religious leaders saw this they challenged his disciples about the company Jesus kept, but Jesus was aware of it and said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous but sinners”.

Perhaps the final straw was when Jesus very publicly healed a man with a withered hand on a sabbath. The leaders were horrified. As far as they were concerned healing was work, and no God fearing person would work on a sabbath. This led them to believe that his power could not be from God and could only be from Satan. Jesus, knowing what they were saying about him, said, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If Satan rises up against himself his end has come. For no one plunders a strong man’s house without first tying him up; then indeed the house can be ransacked.”

Many did not know what to think and even Jesus’ family began to wonder if he had gone out of his mind. It was all too much. However, by this time, the religious leaders were convinced, Jesus was leading the people astray and needed to be stopped – even if it meant seeing him dead.

(Mark 1:16-3:35)

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Mark: Episode 1 – Dawn

by Ken Posted on May 25, 2013

shutterstock_103147928

All stories have a beginning. Some begin like a stroke of lightning that flashes brightly, but quickly disappears – often without trace. Others arise more slowly like the dawn. Their significance can be hard to see until you look back, and then you realise the world is no longer the same. This is such a story.

Even the location of this story could go unnoticed: a small strip of land, under the rule of the mighty Caesar Tiberius. A place where the the ‘gospel’ of Caesar as lord and saviour of the Empire were heard with bitter irony. Scarcely good news. The once proud Israel, now no more than a Roman corridor between continents.

The Jews seemed to have nothing, but somehow, against all odds, they had managed to cling on to a hope. A hope that one day, and one day soon, God would act. A day when God would again dwell amongst his people in the land of Israel. A day when all would be restored, and God’s anointed king would reign, rather than that usurper Caesar. This is the story of that day. The good news of Jesus, God’s true son, and anointed king, although, in the end, it turned out in a way that nobody had expected.

Now, the seeds of that hope had been sewn over many centuries by Israel’s prophets, who had written of the coming king:

“I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight’”.

So, when John appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, it seemed as though that day might at last be drawing near. People came from the whole of Judea to be baptised, and to hear him tell of how one more powerful was to come after him – someone whose shoes he was not even fit to remove!

Jesus also came to be baptised by John, but as he was coming out of the water, the heavens were torn apart and the Spirit descended on him, and a voice came from heaven saying, “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.”

Of course, the authorities had been keeping an eye on John. The people were getting just a little too excited of late, which could only spell trouble, and so it was not long after this that they had him arrested. At that time, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming: “The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

(Mark 1:1-15)

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Trusting the story

by Ken Posted on May 24, 2013

Michelangelo said that ‘every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it’. A shape that needed to be found rather than imposed. To my surprise, I am finding the same thing with Mark’s Gospel.

As I approached Mark I had a rough structure in mind, which I thought would best express my understanding of Mark. But, as I distilled Mark down I found my structure became strained. Something was wrong, but I wasn’t sure what. A couple of sections were too long, and I was having difficulty working out what needed pruning to reduce them. So, reluctantly, I changed the two sections and made them three. I felt it was going to break the structure and I was not sure how easy it would be to make sense of what I now had. What I found came as a surprise.

The three new sections each had a harmony that they did not have before. Each ‘story’ within the new sections linked to the others in that section – but not in the sections as I had them before. I appeared to be discovering a structure that I was not previously aware of. As though Mark’s gospel was beginning to speak to me – or maybe it was just a case of it fighting back.

Being a bit of a perfectionist, there is always the temptation to do more, to get things clearer in my head – and certainly there is scope for it. Yet I can procrastinate like this forever. At some point I need to start, and if I don’t have it all worked out, then maybe I can trust Mark to guide me as I go. So, while I am still grappling with Mark’s message, I am committing to get the first episode out this weekend. Which could get interesting, because even I don’t know how this story develops anymore…

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A coincidence of story

by Ken Posted on May 18, 2013

I am bumping into the world of stories a lot at the moment. Now, this could just be mere co-incidence, but somehow I feel God is wanting to get my attention, or, at least, encourage me on my current path.

My project with Mark’s Gospel has meant that I have been absorbing myself in the whole area of story. I’ve taken a couple of accidental detours, for example I have read two good books that have proved helpful – in an unhelpful sort of way. If I am ever foolish enough to want to perform ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’ or write that stunning novel that I never planned to write, I’m now well sorted. But that may not be for a while. In fairness, they have provided some pointers, even if they did not prove to be as helpful as I initially hoped.

However, when I am also confronted by the need for story from an unexpected direction I feel I need to take note. It is intriguing at least.

The company I work for has recently reorganised its technology function. Something that happens with all too regular a frequency these days. However, this time round it has left me in an area that does not really have a role for me. One of those quirks that can often result from a high level decision not quite being able to take in all the nuances of how the organisation actually works on the ground. Not a major problem, but it did mean that I felt the need to apply for a transfer to somewhere where I might actually have something to do. I was called in for an interview, and because the organisation knows me I was expecting an informal chat. Big mistake. Big, big mistake. It turned out to be a ‘Competency Based’ interview, which I have only ever encountered once before. On that occasion I was warned, but even then I don’t think I did well. This time, being unprepared, I did disastrously.

Being a bit shaken by how badly I did, I decided to try and understand this approach better, so that next time I might at least represent myself fairly. Turns out we are back in the world of stories again. Maybe I would not have recognised it if it had not been on my mind anyway. Maybe it is all just co-incidence. Or maybe not. Maybe God is trying to get my attention on another area of story. An area that is different again from the two books I read – but still part of the world of storytelling.

I have a long way to go, and much more to learn, but I do feel encouraged that God seems to be on my case with this one. Or at least, so it seems to me…

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A year in review

by Ken Posted on May 10, 2013

A year can go very quickly, and I am a little taken aback that it is already a year since I started this blog. Which leads me to believe it is time to take stock. In some ways, it is a rare privilege to be able to review my life. Occasionally I have been able to do something similar when looking back through old prayer diaries, but such journaling is rare for me. So, re-reading my posts has felt novel, with the gentle rhythm of a weekly post ticking away my life. Like the comfort of an old grandfather clock ticking slowly, assuringly, marking time across my life.

Occasionally, I have been surprised by what I have written. If I didn’t know myself better I might even be impressed. At other times I cringe at the way I have expressed myself. A sentence that seems so awkward now, did not appear awkward then. I suppose that is inevitable. I wanted to get things published and move on. I wanted to expose the rawness of my life, rather than allow myself time to polish the life out of it. But I have also wanted to write well, and that is something I have not always done. Perhaps I’d have been happier if I hadn’t looked. Perhaps not, because there are also moments when something sparkles through. Like life. You have to take the rough with the smooth.

One thing that has puzzled me though, was that I had expected some major changes of voice. My inspiration at times felt mystical, at times theoretical, at times I was deliberately trying to break out of a mould. I had expected to see that, but I did not – or at least I did not notice it to any marked degree. There seemed to be a constant steady voice. A voice that, remarkably, I recognised as mine.

Now, I had thought that reading through my previous posts would give me a focus for this post, but it has not. It was not that God had not been speaking over the last year, but that there were many threads, each thread weaving in and out of the other. Some things have become clearer, but not the overall pattern of what was actually being woven. I suppose that should come as no surprise, because God weaves us each uniquely. I cannot recognise the pattern, because there has not been one like it before. We are each unique.

I have to admit that the blog has not panned out the way I expected, but it was always an experiment and so where it has ended up was always going to be wherever this road happened to lead. But where does it go from here? That is not an easy question. For now, I know that I am committed to this for a while longer, as I want to see what happens with Mark. That still feels like part of this journey, and it is still going to take me a while yet.

Until then, I would like to express my thanks to those who have been joining me on my journey. It has been much appreciated.

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The scandal of Mark

by Ken Posted on May 2, 2013

There is something about living with a book for while , like Mark’s Gospel. It can begin to get under your skin – or at least it can if you let it. After a while the text begins to speak to you. You begin to notice just how much we no longer hear and realise how we have turned the Christ of a bloodied cross into the Christ of a gold pendant. From shameful execution into religious jewellery.

The story of Mark is actually quite stark. The Jews were expecting an anointed king to come and save them from the Romans and to establish God’s kingdom on earth – with them in the dominant position. So, when Jesus appears as a modern day prophet performing great miracles there is every expectation that the time had finally come. The only question was whether Jesus was actually the Messiah, or whether he was just preparing the way. But the story has a number of strange twists. Firstly, Jesus is not behaving like a ‘good Jewish boy’. Amongst other things, he was mixing with the wrong people, and he was doing things on the Sabbath that he should not be doing. More puzzling, he at times behaves as though he were God – he forgives sins and seems to perform miracles on his own authority. It is perhaps not too surprising that the authorities began to get suspicious, and then outright hostile, as they concluded he could not be from God. If Jesus carried on like this he would bring down the wrath of Rome upon the nation. This conflict with the authorities eventually leads to him being accused, convicted and executed in one of the most scandalous ways imaginable. Yet, for me, the most shocking features of the story is that Jesus actually allowed it to happen.

That God should become flesh amongst us is pretty incredible. But that he should die such a death seems utterly inconceivable. Surely we have this wrong, he must be a false Messiah – which is exactly the conclusion that the apostle Paul came to. Or it is the only conclusion until we are confronted with the resurrection. God’s vindication. The story should leave us dazed.

But we are not shocked, and we are not dazed – or at least I am not. It is what I have come to expect. It is a story that has become domesticated. It has become the comforting story of Christmas and the story of a chocolate Easter. Yet, the more I live with this story, the more I appreciate its potential power, although, even now, I am aware just how little I am actually impacted. I can’t help but believe that if I truly allowed the true nature of this to get to me, I would never be the same again. All I can pray is: Let it be so.

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The power of delusion

by Ken Posted on April 26, 2013

It is strange how when you embark on a new challenge there is often an initial excitement, but before long it gives way to the daunting realities of what lies ahead. It has been a bit like that for me this week as I start to get some thoughts together on my retelling of Mark. I feel as though I have committed myself to climbing a mountain, but have exhausted myself just getting to the base of it. I have barely begun and the task seems huge. In fact I have become a little overwhelmed by it, as each time I try and focus the narrative by removing a passage I find its role so integral that I end up putting it back. Rather than edit Mark down to the main thrust of the story, I seem, if anything, to be heading in the opposite direction. Still, it is early days and it makes me aware that I scarcely understand Mark at all. This is going to be a long road, and I am so glad I am doing this with Mark rather than Revelations!

Yet, in spite of the difficulties, I believe God is somehow in this, and I am still excited by it. Probably naively. But there is also the sense for me that we are increasingly living in a storied world – just as they were in Jesus day. They, because they were pre-modern; us, because we are increasingly post-modern. As we move away from the certainties of modernity all that we are left with is the world of story, and the world of faith. But then, maybe that is just my delusions of grandeur speaking, that sees this as a more important task than it actually is. Still, if it takes a few delusions to get me to the end of this road, who am I to knock it?

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Breathing out

by Ken Posted on April 19, 2013

A friend mentioned to me that they were glad my last post was more about my experience. I have to admit that the comment surprised me – not because I had not meant it to be experiential, just that I had not given it any thought. I was pleased though, because I want this blog to be about my experience, although as I am also a thinker this can spill over. Something that is particularly true when I start (as I often do) with a much longer draft that needs whittling down. Inevitably things get lost, and I am not always sure if it is the right things. However, the discipline of keeping things brief has proven immensely helpful, and usually what gets removed are the lines that may seem good to me, and yet don’t add to what God has been saying. Perhaps God didn’t need my help after all. Anyway, this has led me to take this week’s post on a slightly different tack, one that spills out a little more.

I have done a lot of reading over the years, but, like a breathing in, sooner or later you need to breathe out, and this is what I am being challenged to do, and it has been this blog that has helped crystallised its form for me. But first a step back.

I like Mark’s Gospel but, we tend to break it up into small chunks, and, to be honest, when you consider the small chunks, they are often told better in Luke or Matthew. Yet the book as a whole has a certain breathless energy – but only if taken as a whole. Even then, much is lost to a modern audience. It is too long to keep the attention and too many of the details don’t mean anything to us anymore. Furthermore, Mark thought he was declaring the gospel, not writing the biography that we currently regard it as. So, the question I have is that, if Mark were retelling his gospel to people of today, how would it look? Actually, the more I consider the question the less I realise that I know the answer.

In this blog I have worked hard to keep things simple, and keep things brief. I may not always been successful, but I have learnt a lot. So, in some ways, my question is what would Mark’s ‘gospel’ look like as a series of blog posts? Not as a mere summary of the gospel, but something that picks up his heartbeat. Expanding places that are lost to the twenty-first century, contracting others. Keeping it brief, but getting something of the energy and the message across.

Right now, I am not sure if it can be done. Least of all am I convinced that I could do it. Still, it seems like something that I would like to try.

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