Bitesize Bible Commentary:
Mark
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Mark 1:35-39
Following a busy day of ministry that extended into the evening (Mark 1:21-34), Jesus leaves the home of Simon and Andrew in the early morning to pray. Mark comments that Jesus awoke while it was still dark and selected a secluded place. When the disciples realised that Jesus had gone they searched for him, found him and said that the crowds wanted to see him. Jesus responded by telling the disciples that it was time to move to other places and preach elsewhere. The section concludes with Jesus travelling around Galilee preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.
Mark, as well as the other gospel authors, mostly focuses on the public life of Jesus. Who was Jesus among the people and among the crowds? However, this small account provides an insight into the hidden life of Jesus. Who was Jesus in private and when none were watching? The answer to this question is simple. Jesus loved to pray and would spend many hours praying to the Father. Several practical points can be taken from the prayer life of Jesus. First, Jesus devoted many hours to prayer (and so should we). Second, Jesus awoke early in the morning and started the day with prayer (and so should we). Third, Jesus purposefully chose secluded and quiet places to pray (and so should we). The will of God will be much clearer and the power of God much stronger if we learn to pray as Jesus prayed (sustained, sincere and secret). In addition, there is symbolism in Jesus praying from darkness to light. Jesus began praying in the darkness and was found by the disciples when the morning light had come. Prayer can likewise move us into the light of God as we seek God in dark and desperate moments. Like Jesus, may we be disciplined in setting aside the busyness of life so that we can be with God in prayer.
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Mark 2:1-12
Jesus asserts his authority over sin by healing and forgiving the sins of a paralysed man. While in Capernaum, a busy crowd gathered around Jesus to see and to hear him teach. Mark states that the crowd was so large that no space was available to reach Jesus directly, which caused four individuals carrying a paralysed man on a stretcher to take a bold step. They made a hole in the roof above where Jesus was teaching and then lowered the stretcher down to Jesus. Jesus, seeing their faith and using their faith as an example to others, forgave the sins of the paralysed man. However, before moving on to heal the man, Jesus perceived that the teachers of the Law were unhappy with what Jesus had said because only God has the authority to forgive sin. Jesus responded by asking a rhetorical question. Is it easier to forgive this man’s sins or to heal his body? From a human perspective, the first is easier because it is not verifiable. Anybody can pronounce forgiveness from God and there is no way to disprove the claim. A physical healing, on the other hand, can be seen and verified by all, and will immediately expose the person as a fraud if they lack the power to heal. Jesus therefore used what was visible and verifiable (the man’s physical healing) to prove what was unseen and unknown (the man’s forgiveness and the authority of Jesus to forgive sin). In consequence, the man was healed and the claims of Jesus were vindicated.
Several important points emerge from the healing and forgiving of the paralysed man in Capernaum. First, Christianity offers forgiveness at the beginning whereas other religions promise forgiveness at the end. This is because salvation in Christianity is based on what Jesus has done (Jesus died as an atoning sacrifice for sin) rather than on what a person must do, hence salvation through faith in Christ. Jesus may have forgiven the sins of the paralysed man to purposefully emphasise this - the man was physically unable to do many of the things that people claim as requirements for salvation. Like the paralysed man, may we never swap the certainty of salvation (what Christ has done - faith) for the uncertainty of salvation (what we must do - works). This (the certainty of our salvation in Christ) is the distinguishing mark between true religion and false religion and between true Christianity and false Christian sects. As noted, the paralysed man was forgiven at the beginning (apart from works) and thereafter released into a new life as a follower of Jesus. The same is true for us. Second, the paralysed man was healed through the faith of those who brought him to Jesus. This shows that vicarious faith (faith exercised on behalf of others) is effective and can channel the power of God. Like the friends of the paralysed man, may we always be driven by a determination to bring others to Jesus for healing and forgiveness, and Jesus will do great things as we exercise bold faith in seeking the salvation of others.
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Mark 2:13-17
Jesus is criticised for eating in the home of a tax collector named Levi. Levi, a tax collector living in Capernaum who was also known as Matthew, was instructed by Jesus to leave his occupation as a tax collector and follow Jesus. Levi accepted and hosted a celebratory dinner that was attended by Jesus, the disciples and many of Levi’s friends who were tax collectors and so-called sinners. Mark notes that the Pharisees were onlookers. Three reasons combine to explain the controversy at Levi’s house and why the Pharisees judged Jesus to be acting inappropriately. First, tax collectors collected taxes for the enemies and occupiers of the Jews. This was the Romans during the lifetime of Jesus. They were therefore seen as traitors to their own race and nation. Second, tax collectors received an income by collecting more tax than was necessary. In other words, they were not paid by their employers and had to earn their income through excess and extortion. Third, tax collectors were shunned and excluded from Jewish society. In response, they paid little attention to the Law of Moses and associated with other sinners and outcasts. Knowing these prejudices and the criticisms that awaited, Jesus nevertheless extended his fellowship to this group and to Levi in particular by sitting and eating with them. Jesus responded when criticised with a parable (the healthy do not need a doctor) and by affirming his mission to call sinners to repentance. In short, the Pharisees had failed to understand the mission of Jesus (to save sinners) because they had failed to understand the heart of God (to extend forgiveness).
The Pharisees neglected to see the movement and heart of God, that sinners and outcasts were responding to a Jewish Rabbi who was seeking their repentance and salvation. This was the meaning of Jesus stating that the healthy do not need a doctor. Only the sick need medical attention, which means that the mission of Jesus would be of little value to the Pharisees if they believed themselves to be healthy and without sin. Put simply, like the tax collectors and sinners who came to Jesus, forgiveness is for those who know that they need it. Unlike the Pharisees, we must never allow our prejudices to blind us to what God is doing in the lives of those He is calling to salvation. We must also be careful not to exclude ourselves from salvation by wrongly thinking that others do not deserve it. Sin is universal and all are equally undeserving apart from the grace of God in Christ. In addition, both Matthew and Luke say that Levi was also known as Matthew. The name ‘Matthew’ means ‘Gift of God’ and aptly pictures what Jesus purposed for Levi. Before Jesus, Levi took from others as a tax collector. After Jesus, Levi gave to others as an apostle and minister of Jesus. This service eventually culminated in the writing of the Gospel of Matthew.
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Mark 13:26-37
Jesus, after outlining what will happen before he returns (Mark 13:1-25), continues by speaking more specifically about his return. The words of Jesus as recorded by Mark can be formulated into two helpful warnings. First, Jesus says that no one will know the exact time and date of his return. This knowledge belongs to the Father and will not be revealed to any group or person. Second, Jesus says that his return will be a public event that all will see. Jesus will appear with the angels and upon the clouds and will gather his elect (Daniel 7:13-14). Christians should therefore avoid those who claim to have received a revelation or have knowledge of when Jesus will return as well as those who say that Jesus has come back secretly or in a different form. Unfortunately, and as Jesus predicted (Mark 13:5-6 & 13:22-23), many have been deceived in each of these areas. In addition to ‘no one knows’ and ‘all will see’, Jesus says that his people live within a common household, the household of God, and that each person has been given their assigned task in their master’s absence. It is important that Christians remain within the household of God and are busy living lives that glorify God as they wait for Jesus to return at an unsuspecting hour. This is summarised in the admonition of Jesus to stay awake and watch carefully, and the only indication of when Jesus will return are the signs outlined in Mark 13:1-25 which Jesus compares to a tree sprouting leaves as summer approaches.
It is significant that nothing special or unique will take place between the First Coming and the Second Coming of Jesus. All that will happen during this period is that Jesus will be working for the salvation of humanity through his Church and by his Spirit. This means that Christians can confidently reject claims that God has called a new prophet or revealed a new book or established a new church/religion. In Christ, we have God’s full and final revelation to humanity and nothing more is needed or required (Hebrews 1:1-4). Our job is to remain faithful and obedient as we wait in hopeful expectation for Jesus to return.
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Mark 15:1-15
Jesus is taken by members of the Sanhedrin (the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law) and presented before Pilate for trial and execution. Pilate was the Roman Governor of Judea and responsible for the execution of all prisoners, hence the Sanhedrin needing the approval of Rome to kill Jesus. Pilate, after questioning Jesus and receiving little or no reply, concluded that Jesus was likely innocent or at least not guilty in the way that the Sanhedrin were insinuating. Jesus had claimed to be a King but not in competition to Caesar (Mark 12:13-17 & John 18:28-40), which means that the charges against Jesus were religious (an internal dispute within Judaism) rather than political (Jesus was not opposing Rome). However, Pilate was reluctant to release Jesus because he needed the support of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling class) to govern Judea successfully. It was decided therefore that Pilate would present Jesus along with another prisoner called Barabbas (an insurrectionist and murderer who was due to be executed that day) before the people since it was customary at the Passover Festival for the Roman Governor to release a prisoner that the people requested. To Pilate's surprise and after being provoked by the chief priests, the crowd chose Barabbas over Jesus, and Pilate consequently gave the order for Jesus to be whipped and crucified.
Who was responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus? Mark presents four options and an application can be made from each. First, the Jewish religious leaders were jealous of Jesus because Jesus had challenged their misuse of authority, was popular among the common people and was committed to practising and preaching true righteousness. This is why they arrested Jesus and brought him to Pilate for execution. Like the Jewish religious leaders, are we sometimes jealous or angered by another person’s righteous lifestyle and commitment to God? Second, Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent and posed no threat to Rome. However, Pilate decided not to release Jesus because it would weaken his political authority in Judea by upsetting the Jews. Like Pilate, do we sometimes ignore our conscience or the leading of the Holy Spirit because of external and social pressure? Third, the Jewish crowd had heard the preaching of Jesus and seen Jesus perform many miracles. They nevertheless denounced Jesus when the moment came to proclaim him publicly. Like the Jewish crowd, do we sometimes turn against Jesus by aligning ourselves with things that contradict what we know about Jesus? Fourth, Jesus said very little during his trial and chose not to defend himself against false accusations and mocking. Like Jesus, are we willing to remain silent (at times) knowing that we are in the will of God? A picture of human salvation through Jesus is also provided by comparing Jesus and Barabbas. Despite being innocent, Jesus was condemned to death. Despite being guilty, Barabbas was released and set free. In short, Jesus took the place of Barabbas (the innocent for the guilty) and the cross (punishment) that was meant for Barabbas was carried and placed upon Jesus. What Jesus did for Barabbas has been done for all who will come to Jesus for salvation (2 Timothy 2:1-7).