Galilee and Jerusalem Mark arranges his narrative around a geographical north-south polarity

Galilean Ministry  Mark’s Eschatological Urgency  Mark as Apocalypse  Son of Man  Conflict  Demons  Jesus as Sorcerer  Jesus as Healer

Mark’s Eschatological Urgency  Mark’s sense of eschatological urgency permeates his entire Gospel  the eschaton—the end of history as we know it  Profoundly impacts his portrayal of Jesus

Why does Mark have this perspective?  With the persecution of Christians and the Temple’s destruction (70 CE), Mark sees the eschaton about to be fulfilled  He paints Jesus as warning Mark’s generation “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Mark 13:2

“immediately”  Mark conveys urgency by adding “immediately” to many pericopes The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Mark 6:44-46

“the kingdom” = God’s Active Rule And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” Mark 9:1  Mark believes God’s Active Rule is close at hand

Apocalypse  Some scholars regard the Gospel of Mark as a modified Apocalypse  That is as a revelation of unseen realities and a disclosure of events that will bring God’s final intervention in human affairs

Devices of Apocalyptic language in Mark  Disembodied voice of God spoken at Jesus’ baptism And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11  Disembodied voice of God spoken at the Transfiguration Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Mark 9:7

Transfiguration  An apocalyptic scene on a mountain top where Peter, James, and John see Jesus transformed into a luminous being, seated and in discussion with the ancient figures of Moses and Elijah

Son of Man  A phrase used in the Hebrew Bible  Sometimes referring to a prophet, Ezekiel for example  Or as the one who comes as Yahweh’s agent, the elect one or the anointed one

Son of Man  Mark’s favored expression to denotes the roles of Jesus 1. Earthly Son of Man who teaches with authority 2. Son of Man who embraces suffering as a path to God 3. Son of Man of eschatology, who will ultimately return

Did Jesus ever use the term?  Scholars debate whether Jesus ever referred to himself as the “Son of Man”  Mark claims Jesus has the right to exercise authority and change Jewish law and custom because he is the “Son of Man”

Jesus in Conflict  Pharisees  Scribes  Sadducees  Herodians

Jesus and Demons  Common belief that unseen evil entities influence human behavior  Jesus exorcises demons  In Mark, the demons recognize Jesus’ holy identity, but humans do not

Jesus the healer  In Mark, one of Jesus’ most important functions is bringing relief to the afflicted—the feverish, lepers, paralytics, and other ill or possessed people