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Galilean Ministry
Mark’s Eschatological Urgency Mark as Apocalypse Son of Man Conflict Demons Jesus as Sorcerer Jesus as Healer
Mark’s Eschatological Urgency
Mark’s sense of eschatological urgency permeates his entire Gospel
the eschaton—the end of history as we know it
Profoundly impacts his portrayal of Jesus
Why does Mark have this perspective? With the persecution of Christians and the
Temple’s destruction (70 CE), Mark sees the eschaton about to be fulfilled
He paints Jesus as warning Mark’s generation
“Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
Mark 13:2
“immediately” Mark conveys urgency by adding
“immediately” to many pericopes
The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Mark 6:44-46
“the kingdom” = God’s Active Rule
And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” Mark 9:1
Mark believes God’s Active Rule is close at hand
Apocalypse
Some scholars regard the Gospel of Mark as a modified Apocalypse
That is as a revelation of unseen realities and a disclosure of events that will bring God’s final intervention in human affairs
Devices of Apocalyptic language in Mark Disembodied voice of God spoken at
Jesus’ baptism
And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11
Disembodied voice of God spoken at the Transfiguration
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Mark 9:7
Transfiguration
An apocalyptic scene on a mountain top where Peter, James, and John see Jesus transformed into a luminous being, seated and in discussion with the ancient figures of Moses and Elijah
Son of Man
A phrase used in the Hebrew Bible Sometimes referring to a prophet,
Ezekiel for example Or as the one who comes as Yahweh’s
agent, the elect one or the anointed one
Son of Man
Mark’s favored expression to denotes the roles of Jesus1. Earthly Son of Man who teaches with
authority2. Son of Man who embraces suffering as a
path to God3. Son of Man of eschatology, who will
ultimately return
Did Jesus ever use the term?
Scholars debate whether Jesus ever referred to himself as the “Son of Man”
Mark claims Jesus has the right to exercise authority and change Jewish law and custom because he is the “Son of Man”
Jesus and Demons
Common belief that unseen evil entities influence human behavior
Jesus exorcises demons In Mark, the demons recognize Jesus’
holy identity, but humans do not