Deep Community Notes - Session 2

Deep Community Notes from our second study on Mk. (1.1-4/5) © MichaelHalcomb.com | 2009 Some Observations & Questions: •

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There are a couple of OT citations, what significance might they have? o Why is the Isa. quotation reworded by Mark?
Did Mark do this purposefully?
Did Mark mis-cite the Scriptures?
Was this merely a literary device? o Why is Isa. called out but Malachi cited? o Why is John the Baptizer linked to these passages? o Is there an echo of Genesis? Of Exodus? Jesus is given a number of titles (e.g. Messiah and Son of God), what are the significance of these? o Christological? o Socio-political? o Theological? o Religio-political? What is the meaning of “the / a beginning”? o Is it referring to Jesus? o To John? o To Jesus’ ministry? o To a specific beginning? o Does the lack of a definite article suggest that this is “a” beginning and not “the” beginning? o Does the beginning start in Mark or in Isa. and/or Malachi? o Is “beginning” a theme echoing back to creation or a theme for the resto fo the story? o Is “the beginning” concerned with establishing the credibility of Jesus or John, especially as they are linked to the prophets? o Do the prophetic texts have a predictive sense to them? Is Mark using hyperbole when he says “all” of Judea and Jerusalem? Is there a contrast here between agrarian / rural and city folk? Is there a valid contrast between city and countryside or wilderness? If so, what significance might this have? o Is the baptism a cleansing? Is it “free” purification to be able to enter back into Jerusalem or the Temple courts? o Is it important that the Jordan is “away” from the Temple (20 miles away)?

Focal Point: “The / A Beginning” • Stein: Vs. 1 acts as a Christological lens to read Mark’s entire narrative through • Healy: This is a title and is related to Genesis

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France: This may be a title or a prologue. Vs. 1 shows Mark’s urgency compared to the other Gospels, which have birth narratives; Mark jumps right into the story. Hooker: This refers to the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptizer Martin: This may be a title; “the beginning” refers to John Hurtado: Makes note of the titles of Jesus and OT themes and links Origen: The entire OT is summarized in John the Baptizer, who is a “type” of the OT; Mk. 1 stresses the significance of the unity between the two covenants / testaments Williamson: Mk. 1.1 is a title

Ancient Implications: • If this was written 40+ years after the fact, would people have been thinking “What does the ‘Good News’ have to do with a crucified criminal?” o Why hadn’t the people moved on if this was the case? o Might this mentality have anything to do with why people continue to “move on” today? o How does death = Good News for anyone? • If there’s a beginning, there must be an end; what is the end and is referred to in Mk? • If this was written during or near the time of the fall of the Jerusalem Temple, how would people have heard these words? • Is Mk. 1.1 and following written in the language of military conquest? If so, were there social, religious and political implications? o If so, what might the call be for Christians today? Are they to be a people trying to overthrow evil empires? o If this is the case, is it suggesting that only God, not the government, can save us? Might we keep this in mind today when voting, thinking about social, economic and political issues? o Was there religious oppression and does this challenge it?
Are evangelicals often oppressive with their views and beliefs today? How might we navigate this terrain?
Can this say anything about how to act / react towards religions that are oppressive?
Do we still tend to have the mentality today of Jesus as a conquering king that we are to imitate and follow? How might this notion of Christianity be helpful or hurtful?
Do we see here the critique of a monopolization of power and forgiveness? • If there’s Good News, doesn’t this mean there’s bad news as well? If the fall of the Temple was bad news for many at this point, was the Good News that God had moved out of the Temple and into the hearts of people? How might this be effective for living out the Good News in our lives today? • The fact that sins are forgiven through Christ alone is evident in this section of Mk. How does this factor into our roles in family, society, etc.?