1. Week 1: Introduction & The Gospel of Mark November, 2015 Saint Anne Adult Forum

2. Week #1 Overview & Context Gospel of Mark Week #2 Gospel of Matthew Gospel of Luke Week #3 Gospel of John Recap & Reflection Key Question: Why Does God (or His Church) Want/Need 4 Different Gospels?

3. “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”

4. “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy”

5. “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy” “An iron curtain has descended across the continent”

6. “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy” “An iron curtain has descended across the continent” “That’s one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind”

7. “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy” “An iron curtain has descended across the continent” “That’s one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind” “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

8. “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy” “An iron curtain has descended across the continent” “That’s one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind” “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Life of Jesus (0 – 32 AD) Life of Jesus (0 – 32 AD) Oral Tradition, Epistles, Sermons (30 – 70 years) Mark (66 – 72 AD) Mark (66 – 72 AD) Matthew & Luke (80’s AD) Matthew & Luke (80’s AD) John (90’s AD) John (90’s AD)

9. What happened between the Resurrection and the Gospels? Geographic spread of Christ- followers Galilee to Jerusalem to Rome Missionary journeys of Paul and the apostles New followers – 2,000 by 60AD? Persecution of Christ-followers in Rome The destruction of the Jerusalem temple The things that Jesus did, and the teachings that he delivered, were passed along via oral tradition during these decades before they were collected and reduced to writing – stories, sermons, etc

10. Compilations: Many different types of material (hymns, genealogies, parables, miracle stories, pronouncement stories, passion narratives, etc) in addition to being ancient biographies Influenced by Jewish Literature: Authors were knowledgeable about the Hebrew Bible, and influenced by its stories Ancient Biographies, not Modern: They do not pretend to offer an objective, balanced view of the life & teachings of Jesus Overtly Evangelistic: Gospels try to persuade people of their truth, and to motivate people to change their values or actions

12. Why are there 4 Gospels? Why did God (and the early church) allow 4 different stories? Implications for us?

13. Why are there 4 Gospels? Why did God (and the early church) allow 4 different stories? Implications for us? Possible answer: “…seek to discern the portrait of Jesus that each evangelist offers. The goal is to appreciate the image of Jesus that each book offers and to understand the distinctive message that each author wanted to convey.” (Powell, p101)

14. Displays a rustic, somewhat casual style, with “relaxed” grammar Audience was likely a group of Christians in Rome Familiar with Jewish traditions & scripture, but not with culture & history within Palestine Explained what Sadducees believed (12:18) Explained what Pharisees meant by “defiled hands” (7:2-5) Gives translation of Aramaic terms (talitha cum, Abba, Golgotha, Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani) but not Latin ones (legion, denarius, centurion)

15. Dating: Much of the material offers comfort & counsel to Christians suffering violent persecution (13:9- 13), which was common under Nero mid-60’s Appears to refer to destruction of temple in Jerusalem (13:2) in 70 AD Consensus is first Gospel, likely 66 – 72 AD Author John Mark, a young Christian from Jerusalem Went on journeys with Paul and Barnabas Wrote down sermons of Peter, which formed basis of his Gospel. Later founded Coptic church and was 1 st Bishop of Alexandria

16. Centrality of the Cross Mark was described by Martin Kahler, a 19 th Century scholar, “as a Passion narrative with an extended introduction” (Powell, p. 134) Story is the same length as in Matthew and Luke, although overall Mark is ½ as long Plot to kill Jesus is introduced early in the narrative (3:6), providing context for balance of the story Christ’s divinity cannot be understood separate from his crucifixion and resurrection

17. He gets hungry and tired (11:12 and 6:31) He doesn’t know everything (13:32) Exhibits human emotions (14:34, 3:5, 10:21) Struggles to know the will of the Father (14:36) “Mark tells stories of Jesus in ways that emphasize frailty, suffering, failure, and ambiguity; this has not endeared his Gospel to readers enamored of power, glory, success, and certainty.” (Powell, p126) A Very Human Portrayal of Jesus

18. Negative portrayal of disciples Fail to grasp who He is (4:35-41) or what He wants of them (8:14-21) They don’t understand when He predicts the Passion (ch 8-10) Judas betrays him (14:10-11, 44- 45) Peter denies him (14:66-72) The Failure of the Disciples “…for Mark, the point seems to be that discipleship is a relationship established by the call of Christ and defined by his own faithfulness, not by any merit that can be attributed to the disciples themselves” (Powell, p143)

19. Mark is the shortest gospel (57% as long as Luke, the longest) Many familiar items are missing: Birth & early years The Lords Prayer Many Parables Good Samaritan Prodigal Son Unmerciful Servant Workers in the Vineyard Sheep & Goats Talents Lost Sheep Abrupt Ending 16:8 “And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” Luke only Matthew only Matthew & Luke

20. First Gospel, written late 60’s or early 70’s Shortest Gospel Presents a very human Jesus Focuses on the kerygma: Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Next week: Matthew and Luke

21. Revisit the “Why 4 Gospels” question Think about what each Gospel means to you. How do you reconcile the many different facets of Jesus?