John J. Kilgallen

Mark has shown his readership the powers of Jesus then offered explanations for both the successes seed produced fruit – 4 8 and failures of his sowing and has shown God s work in the sowing of the kingdom and its invincible spread to include all nations Leaving all and followin

Following upon the central parable of the sowing if you do not understand this parable how will you understand any other is the parable of the lamp This small parable about light meant to shine is interpreted by the notions of secret come to light Given the next words of Jesus meanin

We are at another occasion somewhat vaguely Mark joins disparate episodes into his coherent story Mark introduces us to a situation noted before where Jesus teaches large crowds so large that this time he teaches from a boat But new here is a use of parables those stories which are fictiti

Mark makes much use of shocking contrast as he presents the public life of Jesus Messiah and Son of God While Jesus pursues his life s goal of obedience to his Father others begin to define their relationships to him Crowds look on him with great favor and travel long distances to enjoy bot

Mark s progression of stories shows Jesus carrying out the obedience he understood to be owed to Him who said You are My Son My Beloved on you My favor rests The stories are in the main stories of miracles but the stories often carry other affirmations about Jesus beyond the expression of

As Mark builds his story that shows Jesus to have the powers of the Messiah he also includes elements that go beyond miracle-working These three stories show some of these elements 1 Pious Jews were used to fasting though frequent fasting was not obligatory In this religious climate it is

From his baptismal experience Jesus knows the purpose of his life to preach a major element of which was to call people to repentance We consider three episodes which follow the statement of Jesus purpose in 1 38 Jesus cleanses a leper Surely not as astonishing an exercise of power as

After Jesus had spent time in the desert then called four companions to leave all and follow him Jesus and his four came to Capernaum a town on the west coast of the Sea of Galilee about twenty or so miles east of Nazareth Mark tells us four stories he has chosen about Jesus visit here Ma

The time of fulfillment which Jesus announces can well be understood as the fulfillment of the promise recorded by Jeremiah that God would one day create a new Covenant with His people it reflects the new covenant of the Last Supper a covenant in My blood Such good news is this th

After placing John the Baptist as the prophet to introduce with divine authority the One who is to come and now embarking on the development of Jesus as Messiah and Son of God how shall Mark actually introduce Jesus Mark fastens on the adult Jesus since the birth stories at least as they