Treasures from Mark: GEMS for You from the Gospel of Mark

By John Zehring

Mark introduces to the world the first written gospel. Mark is the first. Matthew, Luke and John come later. They were likely aware of Mark’s gospel and drew from it, each with their own emphasis. It is a short gospel, with fewer than 12,000 words. It could almost be read in one sitting. Mark emphasizes more the humanity than the divinity of Christ. Mark tells about Jesus the man.

Treasures from Mark seeks to mine for treasures buried within the sixteen chapters of Mark’s gospel which speak to your needs and your desire to be faithful to God. Treasures from Mark lifts up gems from each chapter which you can use to inspire you, center your spirituality, strengthen your faith, challenge your thinking, and lead you to some of the highest goals to which a human can aspire. It is well-suited as a daily devotional guide.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Zehring
• Release date: Jun 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463205785

John Zehring

John Zehring has served United Church of Christ congregations as Senior Pastor in Massachusetts (Andover), Rhode Island (Kingston), and Maine (Augusta) and as an Interim Pastor in Massachusetts (Arlington, Harvard). Prior to parish ministry, he served in higher education, primarily in development and institutional advancement. He worked as a dean of students, director of career planning and placement, adjunct professor of public speaking and as a vice president at a seminary and at a college. He is the author of more than sixty books and is a regular writer for The Christian Citizen, an American Baptist social justice publication. He has taught Public Speaking, Creative Writing, Educational Psychology and Church Administration. John was the founding editor of the publication Seminary Development News, a publication for seminary presidents, vice presidents and trustees (published by the Association of Theological Schools, funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment). He graduated from Eastern University and holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, Rider University, and the Earlham School of Religion. He is listed in Marquis' WHO'S WHO IN AMERICA and is a recipient of their Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. John and his wife Donna live in two places, in central Massachusetts and by the sea in Maine.

Book preview

Introduction

Gems

Author

Books

INTRODUCTION

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Mark 1:1

The first verse of Mark introduces to the world the first written gospel. Without trumpet fanfare, crashing cymbals or thundering tympany, the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ in written form is called into being. Mark is the first. Matthew, Luke and John come later. They were likely aware of Mark’s gospel and drew from it, each with their own emphasis.

It is a short gospel, less than 12,000 words, equal in length to about three-and-a-half pages of the New York Times. It could be read in one sitting. In many ways, Mark lacks the magic of the other gospels. It does not begin with the lovely story of Jesus’ birth. In Christmas pageants, Mark is noticeably absent. There is no manger, sheep and shepherds, shining star, or wise men. Absent is any poetic majesty like the prologue to the gospel of John. Missing also is the beauty of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. Luke, like a historian, provides details. John, the beloved disciple, passionately emphasizes the importance of belief. Mark is skeletal.

Unknown is who wrote Mark. Some have guessed it might have been John Mark, but most scholars agree in was anonymous. Paul, author of the Epistles, was a character. Some love him, others don’t. Paul tells much of his own story in his letters and proffers lots of opinions. There is no such character in Mark.

Mark emphasizes more the humanity than the divinity of Christ. Unlike the high Christology of John – The Father and I are one (10:30) – Mark tells about Jesus the man.

What is this book Treasures from Mark? It is neither a bible study nor a verse-by-verse commentary. Rather, the book seeks to mine for treasures buried within the sixteen chapters – treasures for you which speak to your needs and your desire to be faithful to God. A few gems from each chapter are lifted up in this book. Others are missed, waiting to be mined at another time. The point is to select some of the treasures which speak to our faith today. Treasures from Mark lifts up what you can use to inspire you, center your spirituality, strengthen your faith, challenge your thinking, and lead you to some of the highest goals to which a human can aspire. It is well-suited as a daily devotional guide.

Notes about this book

Scriptures used in this work come from the New Revised Standard Version, unless otherwise noted.

I have attempted to use inclusive language wherever possible in the words I have written, although I have not altered the author’s reference to God as he. I recognize that the Divine has no gender and for many it may be just as appropriate and accurate to acknowledge God as Mother or Father. Whichever pronoun is used, consider God as a loving parent.

Some of this work is adapted from other books or eBooks I have written, which can be found at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other book sellers.

Now, as you engage Treasures from Mark, may these insights enrich your faith and lead you further into your reverence for God and your encounter with the Divine.

John Zehring

COVER: Jesus welcomes the children from a Tiffany stained-glass window in the South Parish Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Augusta, Maine, where the author served as Senior Pastor (1993-2002). Mark 10:14: Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.

Gems from the Gospel of Mark

GEM ONE

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.

1:14, 15

Jesus was age thirty when Mark began his gospel. The gospel starts with the story of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. Immediately after, the text says, Jesus was driven into the wilderness to face forty days of temptation by Satan. In his life as well as ours, it seems uncanny that after every high comes a low. Then came the tipping point in Jesus’ life. At this very point in time, he began his public ministry which would span no more than three years. He launched out into his home turf around the Sea of Galilee with his key message: Repent, and believe in the good news.

There is something about the way this message is portrayed that lacks a magnetic attraction. Repent. Initially the word repent is a turn off. It conjures up images of weird people, like street-corner evangelists, skid-row billboards, uneducated televangelists, intrusive religious fanatics trying to win converts, or door-to-door missionaries doing their best to try to save souls. Try to picture Jesus’ audience. Around the Sea of Galilee. Jews. He would have been telling Jews to repent. If you were deeply committed to the Jewish faith, would this new stranger telling you that you should repent cause a life changing event? It is hard to imagine.

"The kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." That, tells Mark, was Jesus’ message and they came in droves, they repented and followed him. There must have been something else going on that we are unable to grasp. Perhaps we just get the most abbreviated summary of Jesus’ message. And yet something attracted big crowds.

When I was in high school, a famous evangelist came to a city nearby. His advance team labored for months to have churches charter buses to bring people in droves to the largest stadium in the city. Hundreds of church leader volunteers and local clergy were recruited to be there and were trained to handle those who would come forward at the altar call.

To see 100,000 people in a stadium for Christ is a powerful emotional experience. He attracted big crowds. All these people are here for Jesus? Must be something to this. Before the rock star of religion mounted the podium, a warm-up program began. There was the reigning Miss America, testifying for Jesus. The season’s winning NFL quarterback was there telling his story. One of the nation’s most famous pop stars and his band was there, as well as a legendary movie actress. There were funny stories, sentimental and patriotic songs, and then came the moment all waited for: The Evangelist came to the pulpit… to a cheering ovation. I liked the guy. He was a good man. His message was constructed to speak right to the heart of every listener… with the promise of new life in Christ.

As he neared his conclusion, the organ surged quietly underneath him… slow, low, and moving. The invitation was extended, to come forward, to change, to surrender to Christ, to repent. There’s the word. Repent. Next came the stirring collection of 500 choir members from churches around the city singing: Just As I Am, thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

All around me, hundreds stood up and slowly made their way down to the podium, down to stand at the feet of the Evangelist as he continued to invite people over the music. Hundreds. Thousands. I didn’t realize then that most of them were the trained volunteers and clergy coming down, which made it feel like multitudes in the stadium were repenting… inspiring others to come forward too.

When Jesus said "Repent," I don’t think it was like that, based upon a mesmerizing tug at the emotions. Here is the heart of the matter. Repent in the New Testament means to think differently, to reconsider, or to reframe how you approach something. Repent is an action of the mind, not just of the heart. Think differently about God, was Jesus’ message.

The word is: metanoeo in Greek. Metanoeo means to think differently, to reconsider, to reframe… to repent. Metanoeo involves some mental heavy lifting, which is much harder to do than responding only with emotion. There is a time for both heart and mind. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven... a time to keep, and a time to throw away.

The word repent, which seems to have lost its magic, comes alive when we consider its original meaning… one which Jesus proclaimed: Reconsider how you think about God. Reframe your life’s goals in terms of what God considers most important. Reconsider how well you are doing making God the top priority in your life. And if you are not currently choosing to pursue a life that is God-like, turn around. Go the other way. Change your mind or purpose, to put God and God’s will first in your life.

Repent, ultimately, is the key message of Jesus. It is a message directed to both the heart and the mind. Put God first. Seek first the Kingdom of God. Let everything else be second.

GEM TWO

And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

1:18

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, Follow me and I will make you fish for people. And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

1:16-20

Mark tells how Jesus recruited his disciples. This is an amazing story. Jesus is at the beginning of his public ministry and the first thing he did was to recruit his disciples. He invited them to follow me. The scriptures do not record Jesus telling them anything about what he believed, what he stood for, what his mission was, why he needed them, what he wanted them to do, how this would change their lives or where he was heading. All we know is that they dropped their nets on the pier, left their boats and followed him. "Immediately." They dropped what they were doing, left their nets and followed him. Something very special must have happened in his invitation. Perhaps it was in his eyes or on his face, but something about him attracted these men who worked with their hands to follow him even though they knew very little about him.

Look who Jesus chose for disciples – people who were basically nobodies, at least by the world’s standards.

Jesus did not recruit them from among the professions, the wealthy, or the educated. He did not seek balance, diversity or complimentary skills. For the ones to whom he would entrust the future of his church, Jesus went to lower-middle class agrarian society and choose mostly fisherman and workers. Can you name them? No twelve men in the record of western civilization have created a more powerful movement nor made a greater impact, and yet many cannot remember their names. What do we know about them?

There was Simon whom Jesus renamed Peter. Peter emerged as the head honcho, so we read much about him.

There was John, whom the gospel of John refers to himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." He appears frequently in the gospels.

There was John's brother James, the son of Zebedee. About the only thing we know about James is that he is one of the top three disciples: Peter, James, and John. We know he was a hothead (Jesus nicknamed he and his brother The Sons of Thunder), and we know that James and John were jockeying for the top spots in the kingdom of heaven. Other than that, nothing.

There was Andrew. When Jesus invited Andrew to be a follower, Andrew went and fetched his brother Peter. At the feeding of the 5,000, Andrew was the one who brought to Jesus the boy with the loaves and fishes. Andrew introduced people to Jesus. Other than that, nothing.

There was Philip. Philip was the one Jesus tested at the feeding of the 5,000. When Jesus broke the news that he was leaving, it was Philip who commented, Lord, show us the Father and we shall be satisfied. Other than that, very little.

There was Thomas, whose moment on the stage came in the upper room when he said Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, I will not believe. Doubting Thomas, as he is mistakenly nicknamed. Other than that, not much.

There was Matthew the tax collector, also known as Levi. He wrote the gospel of Matthew, which has got to put him in the All-Time Writer's Hall of Fame, but other than that, nothing. His name is listed in the bible only five times, usually among lists of the twelve. So much of what he know about God's son comes from the pen of Matthew, and we know zip-point-zilch about him.

There was Bartholomew, about whom we know nothing.

There was James the son of Alphaeus, about whom we know nothing.

There was Thaddaeus, about whom we know nothing.

There was Simon, also known as Simon the Zealot, about whom we know nothing.

Who does that leave? Judas Iscariot. About him we know!

It would be hard to put together a better list of twelve nobodies who became somebodies. The underlying message, which applies as much to you as it did to the disciples: God chooses ordinary people to do extra-ordinary things. God uses ordinary people to do extra-ordinary things. Follow me is the invitation. When God chooses and needs to use you, God provides you with what you need to fulfill your service.

GEM THREE

"And he cured many…"

1:34

That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

1:32-34

Unlike the early chapters of Matthew and Luke which describe Jesus’ birth, the first chapter of Mark is filled with stories of Jesus curing people and casting out demons. A leper came to Jesus. Mark reports that Jesus was moved with pity, so he stretched out his hand, touched him, said Be made clean! and immediately the leprosy left him. These are miracles of healing.

Jesus’ Miracles. Are they for real? Did God intervene to break the rules of the natural order? Or, were signs and wonders simply a coincidence attributed to being a miracle? Is it possible miracles never really happened? Might the gospel writers have embellished the story for the purpose of winning converts? Might miracles have been added by later copiers of gospel texts or editors of the earliest manuscripts? Or, did miracles actually occur as described, which in some cases were witnessed by multiple sets of eyes. If Jesus’ performed miracles then, would God perform a miracle today?

Does it matter if you believe in miracles?

No, not really. You can be a faithful child of God without having to decide if the miracles in the bible were coincidences, embellishments of gospel authors, early explanations for natural phenomenon not yet understood or if they were indeed a Divine intervention in the natural order. Belief in miracles is not a litmus test of a follower’s faithfulness.

But we are curious. It is interesting to wonder about the how and the why of miracles. Then... there are those moments when we wonder if real miracles occur today. Would there be hope for a miracle if we needed one, for ourselves or for another.

Miracles, signs and wonders in the bible are undeniably a part of the bible’s story, designed to glorify God, to show God’s compassion and to encourage faith. There are miracles of nature, like walking on water or turning water into 150 gallons of wine. There are miracles of healing: a blind man, lepers, a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years, people with demons