Not Mark Twain

This is Lectionary Year B, in which most of our gospel readings are from Mark. Each of the four Sundays of October we are reading from Mark chapter Ten, which tells what happens during Jesus’ journey from Galilee as He heads down toward Jerusalem. Mark mentions six things:

Jesus’ enemies try to trick him with a question about divorce.

Jesus receives little children and proclaims that the kingdom of God is like them.

A wealthy man asks Jesus about gaining eternal life and is told that all he needs to do is give away everything and follow Jesus; the man finds this too hard to do, and Jesus says that it is very hard indeed for us to do this but it’s the only way. Ever mindful of themselves, the disciples point out that they have done it; to which Jesus responds that the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Jesus tells his disciples that in Jerusalem he will be tormented and put to death, and that after three days he will rise again. Because this is a Lent or Holy Week theme, the lectionary doesn’t have us read it at this time.

James and John ask privately to sit on Jesus right and left hand in his glory. Jesus says he can’t promise that. The other ten disciples are angry with James and John. Jesus teaches that whoever wishes to be first must be slave of all, and that he himself came to give his life as a ransom for many (the NT Greek is πολλῶν which means “many”). It doesn’t say “all,” it says “many.”

Jesus and his disciples come to Jericho, where blind Bartimaeus asks to have his sight restored, and Jesus responds that his faith has made him well.

During our Bible Seminars this morning and tomorrow afternoon, I think we will have a go at Mark Ten instead of picking up where we left off last week. All are invited, all are welcome. Be in my office at Holy Nativity NLT ten o’clock this morning; or be in Jewell Hall at St. Thomas by the Sea NLT one o’clock tomorrow afternoon.

See you there!

Tom+