Mark’s Gospel 1:1 – 3:12 Privilege and Poverty http://www.stgregoryoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/St.-Mark.jpg

John the Baptist (from Advent study) Privileged life Poverty in desert Preached forgiveness thru repentance Watched for Jesus. And watched. And watched.

Mark 1: 9-11 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

John 1:34, Facebook version Mark doesn’t record Jesus’ reaction, but John does. Oh. My. God! John 1:34, Facebook version “And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:34, NRSV

Pivot point in salvation history! John saw God descend upon Jesus, and heard God speak. “You are my beloved son.” John believed it. “This is the Son of God.” Shouldn’t he have become a religious hero?? Returned to a corner office at headquarters? Been promoted to Chief Serious Religious??

But NOOOO. Mark 1:14, 6:17, 27-29 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee … Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison ... Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter … When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

“If this is how you treat your friends, it is no wonder you have so few of them.” St Teresa of Avila 16th C. Spain

Mark’s Gospel is FULL of Jesus’ friends. Close Casual Crowds Friending Jesus miraculously improved their lives. It also created costly complications that Jesus did not mitigate.

1:16-20 Simon and Andrew, James and John 1:16-20 Simon and Andrew, James and John. Two sets of brothers called away from their fishing business to follow a peripatetic preacher. Privilege and poverty. Miracles and complications.

1:23-26 A man with an unclean spirit is set free. A miracle 1:23-26 A man with an unclean spirit is set free. A miracle!!! Imagine the rejoicing. Did his life become more complicated now that he was sane and responsible again? How many amends did he have to make??

1:30-31 Simon’s mother-in-law, healed from a fever 1:30-31 Simon’s mother-in-law, healed from a fever. But then she had to cook dinner for a crowd??! I’ve always wondered if she would have preferred a nice walk to the lake and back.

Which makes it the Lake City of Galilee. Capernaum (village of Nahum) was on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. http://bibleatlas.org/capernaum.htm Which makes it the Lake City of Galilee.

1:40-45 A leper is made clean. In this story, he actually complicates Jesus’ life by telling everyone what happened. The crowds who follow Jesus get bigger and bigger. His work becomes harder to do. Costly complications, even for Jesus.

2:13-15 Levi, a lucrative tax collector, is called away from his business to follow a peripatetic preacher. Privilege and poverty. Miracles and complications. (The Serious argue about him and his friendship with Jesus.)

3:1-7 A man with a withered hand is healed 3:1-7 A man with a withered hand is healed. The Serious argue about HIM, too. Oy vey! They have no desire to friend Jesus. Only to argue with him. Discredit him. Shut him down.

Friending Jesus. Many chose not too. Many did Friending Jesus. Many chose not too. Many did! Close, casual, or part of the crowd. Privileged and impoverished. Miraculous and complicated.

I am so curious! Jesus did not mitigate the complications, even the costly ones. John. His relative, his precursor, his first convert??? Beheaded????? His disciples, left businesses and home for a peripatetic life – no place to lay their heads??

One possible answer? Mark 1:17 “Friend me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Facebook version again) What if friending Jesus isn’t about improving our circumstances? What if it is mostly about joining him in his mission: forgiving, healing, and saving people’s lives? And being saved ourselves along the way.