John J. Kilgallen

It is time to enter Jerusalem and its Temple area Jesus approaches Jerusalem from the east from the Jordan River area he must climb the Mount of Olives passing key towns of Bethany and Bethphage on its crown Once over the top of the Mountain Jesus can see Jerusalem before him this city is o

Mark gives us Jesus third passion resurrection prediction it seems reasonable to say that Mark had an eye on what he will soon report about the passion of Jesus as he gives us more detail about Jesus sufferings Again we note that here as in the earlier predictions Jesus asks his disciple

A fifth story Mark includes under the second passion resurrection prediction of Jesus has to do with little children finding access to Jesus Though no reason is given why people sought Jesus blessing it seems obvious to say that they trusted that through him the blessings of God would embrace

We have seen four stories that follow in a certain logic upon the first prediction of the passion resurrection conditions of discipleship the Transfiguration the mystery of Elijah who restores all things and the faith to call upon Jesus in prayer for healing We continued with the second

Still in Galilee Jesus predicts his suffering and resurrection a second time here as earlier and later he says he will die and rise as the Son of Man i e the person the OT has said would suffer then be glorified and would finally be judge of the world Messiah Lord Savior

The first series of stories after the first passion prediction finishes with a story of the healing of a boy possessed by a demon The beginning of this story continues Jesus descent from the mount of Transfiguration The lengthy story is quite picturesque with a number of places dedicated to

Mark has divided his work literarily now into three units each headed by Jesus prophecy that he will be killed and will rise from the dead In the first literary unit these is the Transfiguration story which we spoke of in no 27 There are two more stories to hear now The first has to do w

We notice now that Mark records three predictions by Jesus of his passion death and resurrection 8 31 9 31 10 33-34 From a literary point of view each of these three predictions serves as a heading for the stories which follow it That is each of the stories in each of the three groupin

With the announcement of Jesus death comes the serious news that Jesus disciple must be ready to carry his own cross and follow Jesus It is particularly for this news that Mark writes his Gospel He struggles to clarify the identity of Jesus now revealed as one destined to be killed but t