Mike Spindler (michspi@regent.edu)

BINT 500 SU08 DE

Assignment 1 (Mark 1:1-13)

RSV

Part B

Question 2

Read the entire Gospel through at least once or twice and write out a few general observations on what you see concerning the nature of the narrative, the kind of events, the people involved, atmospheres, how Mark chooses to present his material, etc.

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1.  My initial observation is that the primary literary approach of The Gospel According to Mark is biographical.  As this gospel account goes chronologically through time Mark grafts equal emphasis in two significant but secondary methods.  The first is ideology of the Gospel (7:6-16.)  And briefly, but very important, it is historical in quoting the Prophets and scripture (Isaiah 40:3.)

2. Mark 1:1 is the book’s summarization.(Isignificant amountst of Jesus esus as a trigger event for the ministry of His Son to beging for ministry. Why?

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3. Mark uses substantiation right at the beginning of this book (1:2-3) to show prophetic validation for the record of events He is about to explain.

4.  I observed repetition as Jesus was asking for people not to share personal miracles (1:44, 5:43.)  NOTE: A contrast exists in between these repetitious examples when Jesus directed a man released of a demon to “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you” (5:19a)

Interpretive question: Is that some kind of tension or reason that He was hopeful they would contain their miracles?

5.  The author used a variety of literary forms.  While predominantly a prose narrative (1:6-12), Mark used discoursive (2:25-28) when representing the words or teachings of Jesus as He shared concepts.  Obviously Christ himself uses parabolic (4:13-20) for communicating with people who were not disciples or religious leaders.  There also exists drama (11:29-30) when Jesus was dealing with the religious leaders.

6.  I observed contrast in the approach Jesus took in His interactions with three different classes of people, disciples (13:1-37), people who came to hear Him (6:34), and the religious leaders (12:15-17.)

(Save for interpretation:  To His disciples Jesus was loving and nurturing.  To the people that flocked around or sought Him out He was patient and compassionate.  And to the religious leaders He was impatient and lacked compassion.)

7.  There is a significant amount of geographical movement from city to city (4:1a, 4:35, 5:21, 6:1) by Jesus and His disciples.

  Hilt witcal event, and eath Go understand without ambiguity 2000 years later. time had come for ministry. Why?

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Question 3

Read Mark 1:1-13 several times and write out in complete sentences at least five to seven most significant "observations."

1.  This entire segment (1:1-14) represents a prose narrative validating and detailing the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

2. After Mark 1:1 explains the purpose, there is a continuation as Mark quotes previous prophetic scriptures (1:2-3) promising a messenger and then proceeds to journal the entry of the Messenger.

3.  Mark 1:2-3 is a climax of prophecy in the event of Jesus’ baptism.

4.  In the middle of recounting Jesus’ baptism, Mark gives an explanation in 1:6 of what John the Baptist was usually wearing and eating.

5.  John declares (1:8) a pivotal spiritual paradigm when he pronounces “I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

6.  I observed another pivotal moment between Jesus and The Father at Jesus’ baptism (1:10-12) when The Father identifies publicly His Son.

Question 5

Observe structural relationships within the second paragraph (vss. 2-8) by responding to the following two items:

a. Explain the relation of verse 2b (beginning of the biblical quote) to verse 3;

The relationship between 1:2b and 1:3 that Mark uses is a progression.  The order follows that there is a messenger, and then the message that will be put forth.

The two sentences in 1:2b and 1:3 appear as an introduction.  The introduction’s primary and explicit purpose (structure) is announcing the arrival of the messenger.  The subsurface message, but just as explicit, appears as the result of the primary that He comes to “prepare the way of the Lord.”  (Further work on interpreting could show the opposite.)

(Interpretation Note:  To give Mark credit for writing 1:2b-3 one must first acknowledge that he did the composite, and it is not a direct quote from solely Isaiah, but several prophets.)

b. Explain the relation of verses 2-3 to 4-8.  (On proper form for this and for all items subsequently which pertain to statements of “observation,” see the Holman Study Guide, pp. 26-27.)

The relationship is a complementation between the Isaiah quote of 1:2b-3 and the start of the narrative in 1:4-8.   The former segment is a prophetic foretelling that the later segment (fulfillment) is going to occur.  Hilt witcal event, and eath Go understand without ambiguity 2000 years later. time had come for ministry. Why?

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Question 6

What connections between the paragraphs do you see?  (Look for any connecting phrases and for themes that may show how these paragraphs develop a trend of thought; explain the connections.)

Paragraphs:  first - 1:1, second - 1:2-8, third - 1:9-11, and fourth - 1:12-13

A progression exists between all four paragraphs.  In the first, the historical/prophetic foundation is laid for a messenger.  In the second paragraph the messenger enters to announce The Lord’s arrival.  Jesus, as a man, is baptized and anointed by His Father for the ministry.  And lastly he is sent out to meet his adversary alone in the wilderness at the very start of His ministry.

There is a statement of purpose relationship between the second paragraph and the third.  The former is the messenger introducing One who is mightier and the second paragraph ushers in The One.

I observe a spiritual complementation between the second paragraph (1:4-8) where the Holy Spirit and The Father are with Jesus and, in the third paragraph (1:9-13) when Jesus then must meet with Satan.

Question 7

Do you feel that God has spoken to you concerning any spiritual truth while studying this passage?  Briefly elaborate on an application.

The reality of God’s Plan in such detail is breathtaking.  Having analyzed it this intently, it is not a mundane event just to fulfill prophesy and get Jesus started.  It is God’s proclamation that there was indeed a time in which Jesus came, John was prepared to announce Him, He met Satan for perhaps the first time as a man.  (Satan being crushed/limited by God day-in and day-out and then suddenly he thinks that the playing field might just be leveled… that was something I’d never considered before.)  The application is not really changed behavior, but increased depth and intensity in worship for what He did specifically for me on that day.  Also, I am learning that Mark will be not just an excellent academic environment, but an excellent book to use as the backbone for evangelism when working with  someone I have the opportunity to talk with over the course of a couple of meetings.

Introduction

Sermon text with italics and bold and John 3:16 and v. 20.

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Text with an outline.

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