1. Christianity Week 5: Mark, The Sermon on the Mount (pp. 98-119, Sermon on the Mount Handout) Week 6: John, Acts, (pp. 120-139, Gospel of Thomas Handout) Week 7: Paul, James, Thomas Modern Christianity (pp. 140-150, Handouts)

2. Gospel of Mark Cont. The Parable of the Sower (Ch. 4) A parable about parables Four types of soil = four types of people –Road (hard-hearted, Satanic victims) –Rocky (shallow, fearful of persecution) –Thistley (focused on everyday life, money) –Fertile (receptive, have “ears to hear”)

3. Gospel of Mark Cont. Jesus on the law Spirit over the letter Ethical over ceremonial Examples The Sabbath (“The Sabbath was made for Man, not Man for the Sabbath”). Unclean foods (“Nothing that goes into a man makes him unclean, but what comes out of him does.”)

4. Gospel of Mark Cont. Jesus on wealth An obstacle to spirituality Contrast with OT view

5. Gospel of Mark Cont. The Messianic Secret Some scholars see as evidence Jesus didn’t claim to be the Messiah The text implies more practical reasons –To complete his ministry and not be taken prematurely –Crowd control

6. Gospel of Mark Cont. The Parousia (Coming, a.k.a. “Second Coming”) Strong apocalyptic element in early Christianity-- dies out as time goes on Jesus stressed his coming would be immanent Jesus said he would return in his disciples’ lifetimes--delay caused crisis in early Church Second coming tied to Temple destruction Modern Christians still expect a return Switch to emphasis on individual eternal life

7. Gospel of Mark Cont. Why is the Parousia delayed? 2 Peter 3:3ff God experiences time differently God wants to give people more time to repent This generation won’t pass away… There are some of those here who won’t taste death… We who are alive at the coming of the Lord The coming of the Lord is at hand - He is at the door… I am coming quickly…

8. Gospel of Mark Evangelical Response The Temple = future rebuilt Temple, or big gap, try to segment passage This generation = genos, Jews This generation = some future generation Seeing Kingdom = the transfiguration

9. Gospel of Mark Charges against Jesus Blasphemy –Claims to be Messiah and “Son of God” –Jewish charge Sedition –claims to be the Messiah, i.e. King of the Jews

10. Gospel of Mark The Empty Tomb No resurrection appearances in original version of Mark An angel declares “He is risen!”