The Gospel of Mark: Second Foretelling

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. ~ Mark 9:30-32


Two phrases/words plague the disciples in the gospel of Mark:  not understanding and fear.

Time and time again, Mark shows that fear is the opposite of faith.

And time and time again, the disciples are afraid.

Sometimes the fear was born of terror of natural events - dying in a storm for example.

But oftentimes the fear is simply a refusal to ask Jesus a question to try to understand.

Why are they afraid of this?

Don't they want to understand?

Are they afraid of his answer? Or that he will get angry?

In the previous passage we met a man who lived in terror for his son: a man whose own faith was wavering.

Yet he was brave to ask the question. And brave to admit what he didn't know.

The disciples have been with Jesus for a while now and haven't yet found that same bravery.

Fortunately for them, they have Jesus' own faith in them at work, even when their faith falters.

Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen


Engagement Question:


When have you been afraid to ask a question that might give you a better understanding of something?

Popular posts from this blog

But we had hoped

Now on that same day two (disciples) were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles  from Jerusalem,  and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,  but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.   Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”  He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,  who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,  and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.  But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.  Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.  Mo
Read more

The Gospel of Mark: The Burial of Jesus

When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,  Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time.  When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph.  Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid. ~ Mark 15:42-47 Here's someone unexpected! A member of the council - the ones who sentenced Jesus to death - asking to bury Jesus. Jesus' friends have all scattered. Remember when John the Baptist died, and his disciples to
Read more

The Gospel of Mark: Friday Follow-Up

- Re-read Mark 15:6-15:39 from this week's devotions. - Read the passage again and identify a word or phrases that jump out at you. - Read the passage again, and if possible read from a different translation ( biblegateway.com  has many translations you can choose from). Identify where this passage might be touching your life today. How is this relevant to your life? - Read the passage a third time, again in a different translation if possible. Ask yourself what God is calling you to do or to be from this passage. What change might God be moving your toward? - Close with a silent prayer, listening to God rather than speaking to God. What actions will you take today based on this prayer? - Recite the Lord's Prayer.
Read more