Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples I. I. Mark invites his readers to “follow Jesus through the Gospel” by the way in which he has structured the relationship between Jesus and his disciples. A.The term disciple (mathetes) means “learner,” a relationship that was common in the Greco-Roman and Jewish cultures.

B.What makes Mark's portrait so distinctive is that Jesus is a teacher not in what he says but in what he does and what he is. While “learning Jesus” is not a matter of understanding his speech or even his identity but of obedience and imitation of him. C.When Mark tells us Jesus chose 12 disciples out of those who were first attracted to him, he identifies three characteristics of these 12: 1.They are to preach the kingdom of God. 2.They are to exorcise demons. 3.They are to be with Jesus. Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples

D.In the first part of his narrative, Mark showed how the disciples lacked the genuine understanding of insiders, even as demons knew who Jesus was and the needy approached him in faith. Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples

II. Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah (= Christos) represents an important turning point in Mark's narrative. A.Of all the messianic expectations extant in Jesus’ time, the one characteristic not associated with the Messiah is that he would suffer. B.It is this aspect of Jesus’ identity that Jesus is now going to reveal. Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples

C.Peters confession is preceded by one of two healing stories that Matthew and Luke omit, because they make Jesus look like someone who does not have all the power he ought to have. 1.In the story, Jesus heals a blind man. 2.At first the man cannot see clearly. 3.Jesus touches the man again, and he then sees clearly. 4.Peters confession is an imperfect insight, He needs “more healing” before he can clearly identify Jesus. Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples

D.Mark places the Caesarea Philippi incident a the climax of the narrative running from 4:41-8:26. 1.The story moves from the disciples’ question about Jesus to Jesus’ question to them. 2.The healing of the deaf man and the blind man symbolize the gradual movement of the disciples toward partial insight. E.Peter’s confession is followed by the first of three formal predictions of his passion by Jesus, a prediction to which Peter responds inadequately (8:31-38). Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples

F.The transfiguration account (9:2-8) allows the author to show the disciples and readers—Jesus’ deepest identity (transfigured as God’s son) and Peter’s fundamental misunderstanding of the Messiah’s mission and, at the end, to warn the readers to listen to Jesus alone. G.The disciples’ failure to learn much from the transfiguration is shown by their lack of understanding and inadequacy in the stories immediately following it (9:9-13). Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples

III. As Jesus turns to Jerusalem and his fate, Mark structures the narrative between Peter’s confession and Jesus’ entry into city by means of a pedagogy of discipleship. A.Three times, Jesus solemnly announces the destiny that awaits him: As the Son of Man, he will suffer for the sake of others before experiencing resurrection (8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34). Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples

B.Three times these predictions are followed by his chosen followers fundamentally misunderstanding both Jesus and the nature of discipleship (8:32; 9:33-34; 10:35-37). C.Three times Jesus uses the occasion to instruct the disciples (and the readers) on the true nature of his mission and on being his follower (8:34-38; 9:35-37; 10:38-45). Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples

D.With a consistency that must be deliberate- Jesus juxtaposes his flawed followers and children. 1.The healing of the child with a demon shows the power of faith in the father and the lack of it in the disciples (9:14-29). 2.In contrast to the desire of the disciples for greatness, Jesus places a child as the sign of littleness to be embraced (9:36-37). Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples

3.In response to the desire by the disciples to prevent others from participating in the ministry, Jesus warns about causing scandal to little ones (9:32-48). 4.When the disciples seek to prevent children from approaching Jesus, he states that the manner in which one receives a child is the measure of the reception of the kingdom of God (10:13-16). Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples

IV.At the end of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, Mark juxtaposes two figures who represent different responses to Jesus. A.The story of the rich man shows someone whose wealth prevents him from fully following Jesus (10:17-31). B.In contrast the blind beggar Bartimaeus represents the ideal response of the Markan disciple: following Jesus on the way to his suffering (10:46-52). Gospel of Mark-Teacher and Disciples