A Cup of Eau Claire

Mark 1             5-27-18 Although the gospel of Mark is noticeably short, the first chapter is pretty long, and a lot happens here! The story begins in the Judean wilderness (the south) where John baptizes, but Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee (the north). Why would Mark begin with a quote from Isaiah/Malachi? What is the significance of Jesus being baptized? Hold on to verses 9-11; you’ll notice they’re a motif that will come again in this gospel. Notice Jesus’s places and times. He goes to various cities and locations in those cities, and “on the Sabbath” marks the time. Why does that matter? Sunrise over the Sea of Galilee Jordan River in the Judean wilderness  Synagogue at Capernaum How many different “hooks” can you find, something that assumes you know something more than is stated in the story, or that calls to mind another event or story? Being 2000 years removed from this sto...

This summer we will read the Gospel of Mark as a congregation, and this book will be the basis for worship (10am) and Bible study (11:15) on Sunday mornings, May 27-Sept. 2. A few things to keep in mind as you begin to read: Mark is short —only 16 chapters. There are no wasted words, no frilly adjectives or adverbs to fill out the sentences, no conjecture on the part of the narrator. Mark knows what he wants to say, and says it concisely and quickly. The story moves fast, beginning with an adult Jesus being baptized. The story moves a lot, from The Galilee in the north, around and across the Sea of Galilee, to Jerusalem, Judea in the south. We will meet many characters along the way, but most of them are cameo appearances; only a few will stay with Jesus throughout the story. Mark is old —believed to be the first of the four gospels, composed in the late 60s AD. Because there is so much material that recurs in Luke and Matthew, Mark is thought to have served as a source ...