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Mark 9:42-50, Temptations to Sin

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GOSPEL MEDITATION #205

Mark 9:42-50

Temptations to Sin

  1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
  2. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace.
  3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer.
  4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
  5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
  6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
  7. The identity of “the little ones” is key: perhaps the child in the question of who is the greatest (see Mark 935-37) or maybe the unknown exorcist in 38-41, both and more. My idea is “more.”
  8. The millstone for offenders, above, tie the mill stone around their own neck, and this per the obvious Greek grammar.
  9. Cutting off a hand or a foot – if such cause one to sin. Gouging out an eye if such causes one to sin – we would all be blind and crippled.
  10. Jesus’ use of hyperbole, or exaggeration, to make a dramatic point is characteristic of His method of teaching. If Christians throughout the ages were to take such statements literally, then what a horrid state of affairs. And this is a point Jesus makes.
  11. To the people of Jesus day, to be without a hand, a foot, or an eye would render them unable, mostly and usually, to make a living, care for a family, and even survive. (Did Muhammad take this passage literally?)
  12. Undying worms, unquenchable fire – idioms that described Ghenna, a large garbage dump just outside the walls of Jerusalem, that was kept burning, always, and had nevertheless organisms that consumed rotten matter. This was not a place to be and meant that a person was without usefulness.
  13. It must be noted that verses 44 and 46, identical to verse 48, do not have the best manuscript support.
  14. Salt, and are we are the salt of the earth, (see Matthew 5:13) for salt is necessary to life, and it would be lost by striving for power, position, and scandalizing each other. This is Jesus’ teaching for those who follow Him.

 

Gospel Meditation The Gospel of Mark # 1

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GOSPEL MEDITATION #1

Introduction to Mark’s Gospel

  1. Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
  2. Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
  3. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
  4. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
  5. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
  6. Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
  7. Mark, called John Mark. John his Jewish name, Mark his Greek name.
  8. John, son of Mary whose home it is thought was where the Last Supper took place.

(see Mark 14:51-52) It is thought Mark followed Jesus and the disciples to Gethsemane and witnessed the betrayal. He also was apprehended.

  1. The author of Mark is not so named, but sold tradition has it that it was John Mark.
  2. This is likely the first gospel written, and written from Rome while Mark was with Peter. The date may be as early as A D 49. Other reliable scholars say about 52. Mark was close to Peter, and Mark’s Gospel is often referred to as Peter’s Gospel.
  3. It is likely that Matthew’s Gospel followed Luke’s and both dependent upon Mark’s or both were at least familiar with it. About 91% of Mark is found in the two other synoptic (with the same view) gospels, Matthew and Luke.
  4. Mark was on the first missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas. (see Acts 13:5) But mid trip, Mark returned home for some unknown reason. (see Acts 13:13)
  5. Barnabas and Mark were cousins, not uncle and nephew, as seen in Colossians 4:10.
  6. Paul and Barnabas had a falling out when Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them on a second missionary trip, but Paul refused. (see Acts 15:36-41)
  7. There was a reconciliation between Paul and Mark as can be seen in Colossians 4:10 and 2 Timothy 4:11.
  8. Mark, not a leader necessarily, but a trusted and faithful follower and of both Paul and Peter — and more so a faithful follower of Jesus.
  9. Mark never gave up despite personal conflicts and his Gospel, the first, is written to gentiles and shows his missionary mindset.