The Gospel of Mark

[Jaebius]

It would be interesting to know how the translators of the Wycliffe Bible concluded it was "eight" days.

A quick search shows me there are two versions of the Wycliffe Bible and there is some controversy about how they relate to the King James. I looked it up because I did not recognize WYC.

Hmm... I don't know about the 8 day thing p3. Interesting observation.

Here's about the WYC...

Wycliffe Bible (WYC) - Version Information - BibleGateway.com

 

[paradox3]

Thoughts on Mark 2:15-17...

Matthew was elated and thankful to Jesus, as a newly converted person is apt to be. He caused a dinner to be prepared for Jesus and the missionaries. Jesus accepted the invitation, because he would come into contact with broken souls.

While he was reclining at one of the tables, publicans and shameful people crowded in and joined in the meal. The scribes didn't like this. The publicans and shameful people were low class: they'd been ousted from the synagogue. The scribes voiced their disapproval to the missionaries.

Jesus heard them. He knew that his action would be an offense to these hypocrites. And so he reminded them: The sick need a doctor.

That's true on the spiritual plane too. They that are righteous, need no doctor for their shame, since they're not conscious of it and can't be on account of its absence. Many imagine themselves to be perfect. And believing themselves to be so, they want nothing of the Savior, they won't believe that his mission concerns them.

And so Christ confines his work to the shameful. He gives them the assistance they need, he imputes to them, he gives them, his own righteousness, and thus makes them well.

You are getting ahead of me, Jae, and I would like to break down the rest of Mark 2 step by step.

Let's just look at Mark 2: 15 -17 for now.

Where are you getting the information you have posted above? For example, the details about Matthew being elated and the individual (not sure if this is Jesus) reclining at one of the tables?

Even The Message, which is an interpretation rather than a translation, does not embellish the stories with such details.

Forgive me for asking, but I am wondering if these reflections you are posting are yours or the work of someone else. Your most recent posts do not seem to be written in your usual style. Please clarify.

 

[paradox3]

Summary: Mark 2:13-17

The multitudes have followed Jesus out to the sea. Levi, the son of Alphaeus, is sitting at the tax office. Jesus said "Follow Me" and he arose and followed. As it happened, Jesus was dining in Levi's house and many tax collectors and sinners were also present. The scribes and the Pharisees objected.

When Jesus heard them, He replied, "Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." (2:17 NKJ)

 

[paradox3]

Reflection: Mark 2:13-17

First of all, when does Levi become Matthew?

Interesting that the next disciple to be called after the fishermen is Matthew, the tax collector. Tax collectors were held in very low esteem indeed.

The focus here is on repentance and again, Jesus seems to see much potential in the sinners around Him.

Why does Jesus feel the need for an "inner circle" of disciples? Getting ahead of myself in the story, the disciples pretty much multiply like the food in the loaves and fishes story. First there are 4, then 5, then 12. By the time we get to Acts they are increasing exponentially.

What relevance does this have for us as present day followers?

And what of the righteous ones? Where do they fit in?

 

[Jaebius]

You are getting ahead of me, Jae, and I would like to break down the rest of Mark 2 step by step.

Let's just look at Mark 2: 15 -17 for now.

Where are you getting the information you have posted above? For example, the details about Matthew being elated and the individual (not sure if this is Jesus) reclining at one of the tables?

Even The Message, which is an interpretation rather than a translation, does not embellish the stories with such details.

Forgive me for asking, but I am wondering if these reflections you are posting are yours or the work of someone else. Your most recent posts do not seem to be written in your usual style. Please clarify.

It just seems logical to me that the reason Matthew would throw such a dinner would be his gratefulness for being freed from his shame.

It was the custom of the time to eat while reclined.

I'm writing over a period of time, and the circumstances under which I write do change. Today being Saturday, I was in a relaxed mood, writing while I would guess the rest of you were dozing.

A factor in my writing here is that I'm sharing things discussed in seminary.

 

[paradox3]

A factor in my writing here is that I'm sharing things discussed in seminary.

Your most recent posts do have an "academic" flavor to them.

I am thinking to slow down the pace of the Mark thread. On the Matthew thread I was focused on understanding how the entire gospel narrative unfolded. For this thread I am finding myself posing more questions & happy to reflect on a few verses at a time.

So I must ask for your patience with a slower pace and we will see how it works for a few days. I am pleased with the Mark discussion so far.

 

[Jaebius]

Your most recent posts do have an "academic" flavor to them.

I am thinking to slow down the pace of the Mark thread. On the Matthew thread I was focused on understanding how the entire gospel narrative unfolded. For this thread I am finding myself posing more questions & happy to reflect on a few verses at a time.

So I must ask for your patience with a slower pace and we will see how it works for a few days. I am pleased with the Mark discussion so far.

Gotcha. I'll slow things down. Today I was alone and in bed with a cold. I had much time for writing.

 

[Luce NDs]

There were rushes like Jae on the banks of the neigh list ... off they went ...

Ohm ist ... or AL mons ... c'est fini is a'mon ...

 

[Mendalla]

The story of Jesus dining with Levi is an interesting one. Did he do it to shock the establishment, rather like anti-establishment types today sometimes do things for shock value, or did he really believe in the value in dining with "tax collectors and sinners"? His teaching at the end suggest the latter, though he may also have done it specifically to set up the opportunity to make that point. Just as a healthy person doesn't need a doctor, a truly righteous person wouldn't need a Saviour. So Jesus specifically makes a point of going to those who aren't righteous in the eyes of the law.

Did this story really happen? It seems like something a teacher might do, but it may also be that Mark knew of cases where Jesus did things like this and created an "ideal case" to make the point. IOW, the details of the specific incident may or may not be true, but it could reflect a general practice or teaching of Jesus.

 

[Luce NDs]

In some KR profiles denial is initiated by a shock ... then the rest of the downward spiral ... a mental construct of essence!

 

[paradox3]

It just seems logical to me that the reason Matthew would throw such a dinner would be his gratefulness for being freed from his shame.

Mark's gospel has told us so far about the call of the first five disciples. The fishermen immediately left or dropped their nets and Matthew arose in the tax office.

Repentance has not been mentioned in the context of His call to these five. Nothing has been said about sin or shame. All Jesus said was "Follow me." As yet, Jesus has made no demands on them or said anything about the cost of discipleship.

Perhaps you see "following" Jesus as something more complex than traipsing over to Capernaum & listening to Him in the synagogue. Discipleship certainly can be complex but the text we are examining right now does not say this.

 

[Redbaron]

The story of Jesus dining with Levi is an interesting one. Did he do it to shock the establishment, rather like anti-establishment types today sometimes do things for shock value, or did he really believe in the value in dining with "tax collectors and sinners"?

My best guess, and short answer, would be 'Yes.'

 

[Jaebius]

The story of Jesus dining with Levi is an interesting one. Did he do it to shock the establishment, rather like anti-establishment types today sometimes do things for shock value, or did he really believe in the value in dining with "tax collectors and sinners"? His teaching at the end suggest the latter, though he may also have done it specifically to set up the opportunity to make that point. Just as a healthy person doesn't need a doctor, a truly righteous person wouldn't need a Saviour. So Jesus specifically makes a point of going to those who aren't righteous in the eyes of the law.

Did this story really happen? It seems like something a teacher might do, but it may also be that Mark knew of cases where Jesus did things like this and created an "ideal case" to make the point. IOW, the details of the specific incident may or may not be true, but it could reflect a general practice or teaching of Jesus.

I believe the story really did happen.

 

[Jaebius]

Mark's gospel has told us so far about the call of the first five disciples. The fishermen immediately left or dropped their nets and Matthew arose in the tax office.

Repentance has not been mentioned in the context of His call to these five. Nothing has been said about sin or shame. All Jesus said was "Follow me." As yet, Jesus has made no demands on them or said anything about the cost of discipleship.

Perhaps you see "following" Jesus as something more complex than traipsing over to Capernaum & listening to Him in the synagogue. Discipleship certainly can be complex but the text we are examining right now does not say this.

The way I understand it, a number of people were following after Jesus from which group he chose his Twelve.

 

[unsafe]

In Mark 13-17 ----We see Jesus eating with people of bad reputations by Pharisees standards and by doing so made some Pharisees angry ------so again we see Jesus going against the traditions of the Pharisees and letting them know that those who think they are well don't need to be looked after it is the ones who are sick that he came to serve -----

verse 17
17 When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “It is the sick people who need a doctor, not those who are healthy. I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners.”


unsafe says -----We see the Pharisees just don't get it ------and there are many today who just don't get it ==== that they need a Saviour to bring them back into God's Kingdom ------they are like the Pharisees thinking they are already saved without a Saviour -----

paradox3 ---your quote ------Why does Jesus feel the need for an "inner circle" of disciples? Getting ahead of myself in the story, the disciples pretty much multiply like the food in the loaves and fishes story. First there are 4, then 5, then 12. By the time we get to Acts they are increasing exponentially.


unsafe says -----Numbers in the Bible all have spiritual meanings ------

November 4, 2014 - Christian Crierwhat-does-the-number-four-4-mean-or-represent-in-the-bible/


unsafe says ------you can check out this sight as well it gives all the numbers if anyone is interested ------

-http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/5.html

 

[Luce NDs]

I believe the story really did happen.

A great heh-heh to Ur as chigo ... chigo has a dry initiation ... shocking to the whetted ... thus the start of the swerve ... and creatures wending in the night!

Alternately as inky laid out in de light ... laid down words that may float across time ... purely misunderstood because of lost languages that are now strange words ...

Strange words cause some folks great stress ... like folk up in heaven ... they denied what down there ... generally nothing ... except in algae instances in the lee of isles ... natural inclinations ...

 

[Mendalla]

I believe the story really did happen.

I think that's a given from what we know of your understanding of scripture.

I take a more literary-critical approach. I treat it as story and look for the meaning of the story. The historical truth isn't as important for that, though historical context (ie. the world in which Jesus lived and the Gospels were written) is.

 

[Jaebius]

I think that's a given from what we know of your understanding of scripture.

I take a more literary-critical approach. I treat it as story and look for the meaning of the story. The historical truth isn't as important for that, though historical context (ie. the world in which Jesus lived and the Gospels were written) is.

I treat it as a true story and look for the meaning of the story. I agree that the historical context is important.

 

[Luce NDs]

I treat it as a true story and look for the meaning of the story. I agree rhat the historical context is important.

Absolutely as ephraim of vapours ... fuzzy aspirations ... rhat a ferrian ... rastus! Tis broad-like scatter ...

In the past appearing in court as Erasmus ... demanding education for the Po' as religious leaders stated the common folk (pagan) shouldn't know ... thus lack and abstract!

Read up on the record of those establishing biblical darkness ... Nut Zin inclusive as zingers Zion? Be amazed by the literature value as I'm found at instance ...

Some believe not in amazing nature of word as appearing dark ... right out of the indigoes ... so kohl! Neigh poesy ...

Is "not knowing" a contagious trend ... that excludes on the lternate books as indicated in the termination of John as the Romans burned 'M?

The ole mythical pasts thus departed as Pi or excised reason ... accounting for human deficiencies ... intelligents? Thus piers and peons of the deep past ... pit-eh?

Sources of this are erie ... or strange as Eire to the dry British humours ... arms up flappers of griffon? resembles gab rae Elle ... madden of raven ... life is basically insane ...

Subtle peace to yah ... partisanly ... code Ed missal!

 

[paradox3]

@unsafe, yes, numbers in the bible can be quite interesting.

Remember the story of the 153 fish? I think it appears in Luke.

The number 153 has all sorts of fascinating properties. But I digress.