Discipleship in Mark - Essay Example

Discipleship in Mark al Affiliation) Episodes in the gospel of Mark There are several episodes that are brought out in the gospel of mark. The episodes include the call of the first disciples, the call of Levi and the healing of Bartimaeus the blind man. Call of the first disciples The call that was made for the first disciples was when Jesus was walking besides the Sea of Galilee. As He was walking, he saw Simon and his brother cast their nets in the lake to fish as they were fishermen. His brother was Andrew1. He called them to follow him as He would make them fishers of men and not fish. The brothers left their nets and followed him. When Jesus went a little further according to the gospel of Mark, he saw James, the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat. They were also fishermen and were preparing their nets. He called them and they followed leaving their father and the man that was hired in the boat. The call of Levi and eating with disciples As Jesus was walking beside the lake, a big crowd came and he started his teachings to them. As he continued the walk, he saw the son of Alpheus, Levi siting at the booth of the tax collectors. He asked him to follow. Levi left what he was doing and followed. That day, he ate at Levis house with tax collectors and sinners. When the Pharisees saw him they asked the disciples why he was eating together with sinners. Jesus responded to that by telling them that he did not come for the righteous but the sinners. Blind man receives his sight Jesus and the disciples came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, collected with a big crowd, were coming out of the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus, was sitting by the wayside pleading for help.  When he got that it was Jesus, he began to shout so that Jesus, Son of David, could have mercy on him2.  Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more. Jesus told them to leave the blind man. Jesus then asked what he wanted. He needed sight. Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Difficulties in leadership The main factor that is brought out by Jesus as the key hindrance and difficulty in discipleship is wealth. Jesus had a lot to say in regard to discipleship and wealth. The main themes that he brought about making discipleship to be difficult is due to distractions, foolishness, hindrance and testing of the hear3t. In terms of foolishness, there was consideration of wealth and forfeit his life. In the book of Mark there is reasoning on what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit His life, foolish is storing treasure for self; not being rich toward God that wealth distracts a disciple from true priorities. According to the gospel of mark, cares that are given to the world, delight that one has on the riches of the world and desires for things will choke the word that a disciple is to deliver to the people. From this there is difficulty for the rich to enter heaven as there is hindrance in the faith by wealth. Wealth is a difficulty in discipleship as tests the heart. In the gospel of mark, an example is given where a poor widow contributes more than a wealthy person as they contribute out of abundance but not the faith that they have in the word. In the gospel in Mark 7:9-13, supporting extended family financially is affirmed.. Mark defined the essence of discipleship as one who was called by Jesus and who responded by following him. The rich young ruler was called but he never followed hence was not a disciple, the demoniac after exorcism wanted to follow but was not accepted because he was not called. Initiative always comes from Jesus. Failures of the disciples According to Mark, the disciples were called to be with Christ and to enjoy the revelation and yet they failed to commit themselves. In the end, there was reconciliation but it is unclear that they are trusted thereafter. According to Mark, the disciples failed to rely on Jesus in the Lake4. Though they turned to him shows a given amount of trust, nevertheless there is a sharp exchange, the disciples that treated Jesus to sarcasm which he replied with sarcasm When Jesus multiplied loaves, the disciples failed to appreciate his power in solving the difficulty, and instead they douse him with a lot of sarcasm. Their failure in understanding the multiplication is stipulated by Mark. Additionally, after the tradition dispute of the elders their comprehension problem is underlined by the phrase pointed out by Mark. They fail to rely calmly on Jesus in the storm on the Lake, though the fact that they turn to him at all shows a certain amount of trust; nevertheless there is a sharp exchange, the disciples treating Jesus to sarcasm and Jesus replying with the accusation of cowardice. Their failure to understand about the multiplication of loaves is pointed by Mark5. One of the disciples betrays Jesus, directly after the maximum symbol of friendship that they had. The friendship led them to sharing the same dish. Then the inner group of disciples falls asleep in the garden three times. Mark noted that Jesus’ disciples did not understand Him completely for which they failed in considering Him as the messiah. This clearly depicted the fact that even though Jesus was followed by several people, but hardly had anyone understood His teachings. Peter denied, James and John were after positions, Judas betrayed him, Thomas was not of the teaching of his master that says, believe and you will see, he reversed it, unless I see then I won’t believe. Conclusion It is seen in greater perspective that Mark portrayed the followers of Jesus as beginners who were not perfect. These allegations are true and are applicable to the twelve disciples, Mark more than any Gospel presented the apostles as ignorant, unperceptive and repeatedly failed Jesus. This is encouraging, for majority of Christian who follow Christ in their apostle. Against both of the ideas, Mark made it clear that coming of Jesus inaugurates the God’s kingdom as a reality on earth. Jesus said that time is fulfilled and God’s kingdom is near, therefore people need to repent and then believe in the news. The disciples were called to follow; ‘following’ is an important insight into the meaning of discipleship. They left their former professions to follow Jesus. Disciples are families of Christ as they are hearers; he showed them specifics and mysteries and to others through parables, were sent to preach hence apostles; to heal and to exorcise, he taught them while on the way or in the boat; a new pulpit. Discipleship involves relationship and trust. The disciples were commissioned to go and make disciples of all nations. For today’s disciples, the theme remains the same and it is for us to go with the Recognize, Receive and Respond to the Gospel call. Bibliography Achtemeier, Paul J., Joel B. Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. UK: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2001. Brown, Raymond Edward. The Death of the Messiah: From Gethsemane to the Grave: A Commentary on the Passion Narratives in the Four Gospels. USA: Doubleday, 1994. Bauckham, Richard.. Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2008. Bauckham, Richard. Gospel Women: Studies of the Named Women in the Gospels. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2002. Boring, M. Eugene. Mark: A Commentary. city: Presbyterian Publishing Corp, 2006. Burkett, Delbert. An Introduction to the New Testament and the Origins of Christianity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. D.Hooker Morna. Black’s New Testament Commentary, The Gospel According To Saint Mark Baker publishing Group Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1991. John P. Meier: Jesus the Jew - But What Sort of Jew? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxeKunPwmp4, Assessed on January 12, 2015. Discipleship. In Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: Inter Varsity Press, 2008 France, R. T. The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text.city: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2002. Moloney, Francis J. The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary. Washington DC: Baker Books 2012. Martin, George. The Gospel According to Mark: Meaning and Message. Chicago: Loyola Press, 2005. Williams, Joel F. Other Followers of Jesus: Minor Characters as Major Figures in Marks Gospel. city: A&C Black, 1994. Healy Mary . The Gospel Of Mark. Catholic Commentary On Sacred Scripture,USA:, Baker publishing Group Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2008 Read More