OT Sources for the Gospel of Mark, chapters 2 and 3

60 thoughts on “OT Sources for the Gospel of Mark, chapters 2 and 3”

1. Excellent work as always, Neil. However, I feel that I must act as a devil’s advocate and enter a caveat. Some on this site seem rather over-excited by your methodological sleight of hand in the term ‘OT sources’. The implication is that Mark used a random dot-to-dot search through ‘scripture’ to invent an original narrative. While not entirely impossible in theory, it is inherently unlikely as the narrative is not outlined by the sources : a pre-existing template of some sort is ‘surely’ needed to organise the scriptural themes and vocabulary into a narrative.

   Methodologically, there is a parallel to the ways NT scholars extract fragments of ‘fact’ from the texts, practices you rightly and frequently deplore, quoting Moses Finley : “For the great bulk of the narrative we are faced with the ‘kernel of truth’ possibility, and I am unaware of any stigmata that automatically distinguish fiction from fact”. Likewise, there is no method, no external control, to prove that an OT allusion is the imaginative source of a Markan episode, rather than the expected way of telling a story (origin/historicity unknown).

   Consciously allusive writing is alien to us. The point of it was well put by D.A. Russell regarding Plutarch : “His linguistic position indeed reflects his thought : the Greek past was alive for him, and its language a living instrument, through every phrase of which the past might be evoked and seen to be continuous with the present”.

   Reply

   1. One position is that Paul has already pre-determined much of the scripture that Mark is using.

      r.g.price, in agreement with Tom Dykstra, holds that Mark is allegorizing the teachings of Paul.

      Reply

   2. The implication is that Mark used a random dot-to-dot search through ‘scripture’ to invent an original narrative.

      That is a most unlikely method. More plausible is that the passages referenced were part of thinking and discussion about the place of the “new Israel” or “people of God” who felt themselves apart from the traditional cultic practices. I don’t mean to suggest that our author somehow went looking for verses to somehow build in to a narrative. You see what happens when an author so patently is doing just that in the Gospel of Peter. The Gospel of Mark is most unlike such a forced effort to make verses fit into a story.

      We see the same process in the classics. Greek and Latin poets and authors regularly drew upon phrases and words and images that they knew well from Homer, for example, and it was the most natural thing in the world to weave those phrases and words and images into a story theme that was even in some ways a rewrite of the Homeric epics (e.g. Aeneid).

      In our culture today more of us may be familiar with a comparable process in films and music.

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   3. To further what db said, I actually hadn’t read David Oliver Smith’s book, Matthew, Mark, Luke and Paul before writing my book, and I now think that indeed the writer of Mark was far more heavily influenced by Paul than I had realized. It does appear that much of Mark’s scriptural focus was guided by Paul.

      But we also need to understand the broader background, because the works most often referenced by Mark, and also by Paul, are works that are also widely references in the DSS. When we look at the material from Qumran we see that the main scriptures they commented on were the works of the prophets (mainly Isaiah), the psalms, and the book of Daniel. They also did some commentary on Exodus. But they treated the psalms as prophecies certainly as we see the psalms being used in that way by Mark as well. Also, Daniel doesn’t feature strongly in Paul’s works, but Daniel was the most commented on work at Qumran and also features in Mark (one theory is that Daniel was actually written at Qumran).

      Basically, when we look at the works referenced in Mark what we find is that Mark makes very heavy use of 1 & 2 Kings in a somewhat unique way, but in terms of everything else that’s used, it fits very closely to the works that received the most attention from Paul and the Qumran writers. So this certainly shows knowledge of a common understanding of these scriptures and that Mark is working with some existing framework of exegesis.

      And the references certainly aren’t random. When we look at the content of the works being referenced they all tie together with common themes and related back to the story. In other words, this isn’t a matter of simply cutting and pasting random parts of the OT together to form new narratives. The works being referenced have relevant meaning to the story. The story is clearly being formed around the scripture.

      The references to 1 & 2 Kings often parallel the Gospel narrative, but references to the prophets typically all refer to passages about God’s punishment of, or displeasure with, the Jewish people. It’s more complicated than just that, but I think that to really understand Mark you have to not only read it at a superficial level, but also explore each passage that is referenced by the author and understand how the referenced passage extends and illuminates the superficial narrative.

      Reply

      1. but references to the prophets typically all refer to passages about God’s punishment of, or displeasure with, the Jewish people.

         Have you read: Watts, Rikki E. 2001. Isaiah’s New Exodus in Mark. Rev Upd Su edition. Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Academic.

         Watts argues for Mark being a narrative fleshing out of Isaiah’s theme of the new exodus God promised Israel after the Babylonian captivity.

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   4. Crack open the DSS. The authors tell you they are taking bits of bible and jamming them together with other bits of bible and interperating the texts in a particular manner. The results are usually far more tortured than anything in the gospels. Crack open modern “scholarship”; you are soon swimming about in daft. “Inherently unlikely” is terminology you can chuck: the MORE unlikely the methodology; the MORE likely you will find it in play might be the better rubric. Ancient or modern, these folk haven’t met a daft they didn’t want to automatically like, or a sensible they didn’t want to automatically reject.

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   5. Comment by Richard Carrier—27 October 2019—per Mark’s Use of Paul’s Epistles”. Richard Carrier Blogs. 25 October 2019.

      …is there any identifiable method to Mark’s selections from the Jewish Septuagint…?

      Yes. In fact, not only has that research been done, it’s mainstream now. Pretty much every scholar admits to it in some degree.

      To see how Mark riffed on the OT, what his purpose was and his techniques, see Randel Helms’ short introduction and Crossan’s Power of Parable, which I had already cited here. For more detailed scholarship, see MacDonald’s Two Shipwrecked Gospels and Brodie’s Birthing of the New Testament.

      I of course survey and discuss all of this and more (finding examples in such mainstream scholars as Allison, Evans, Crossley, et al.) in Ch. 10 of On the Historicity of the Gospels [Jesus].

      Reply

2. I agree Mark is a patchwork novel. I feel however that the focus on phraseology will lead us to looking at the seams and thread work rather than the patches themselves.

   In fact – I’m going to use this method to justify a theory I have about Mark. I’m beginning to agree more and more that the Jesus according to the Canon is ahistorical. However, I’m in hot pursuit of the real Jesus, who I believe is there somewhere.

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3. The only “method” used here is the same in any comparative literature studies. Read the sorts of works an author was known or likely to be familiar with and identify the evident influences. A few may just be coincidental but when there are so many then influences become the simplest explanation. We have numerous other texts from the Second Temple era and shortly afterwards that demonstrate the same sorts of borrowing.

   (By the way, I think the only set of allusions in the table above that I think are my own observation are the ones on Levi. But I would not be surprised to find some day that I once read of those somewhere else, too.

   For comparison’s sake, here is how crude a narrative looks when it is very evident that an author really is trying to force dots to come together to create a new story. It just doesn’t work very well, certainly not as well as we read in our canonical gospels. It’s from the Gospel of Peter:

   [10] And they brought two wrongdoers and crucified the Lord in the middle of them. But he was silent as having no pain.

   [11] And when they had set the cross upright, they inscribed that THIS IS THE KING OF ISRAEL.

   [12] And having put his garments before him, they divided them up and threw as a gamble for them.

   [13] But a certain one of those wrongdoers reviled them, saying: ‘We have been made suffer thus because of the wrong that we have done; but this one, having become Savior of men, what injustice had he done to you?’

   [14] And having become irritated at him, they ordered that there be no leg-breaking, so that he might die tormented.

   [15] But is was midday, and darkness held fast all Judea; and they were distressed and anxious lest the sun had set, since he was still living. [For] it is written for them: Let not the sun set on one put to death.

   [16] And someone of them said: ‘Give him to drink gall with vinegary wine.’ And having made a mixture, they gave to drink.

   [17] And they fulfilled all things and completed the sins on their own head.

   [18] But many went around with lamps, thinking that it was night, and they fell.

   [19] And the Lord screamed out, saying: ‘My power, O power, you have forsaken me.’ And having said this, he was taken up.

   [20] And at the same hour the veil of the Jerusalem sanctuary was torn into two.

   [21] And they drew out the nails from the hands of the Lord and placed him on the earth; and all the earth was shaken, and a great fear came about.

   I used to toy with the idea that the Gospel of Peter preceded the canonical gospels but no longer. The author is aware of what has been done with what became the canonical gospels and is trying to create his own gospel by “joining as many dots” as he can. As we can see, it is a rather unsophisticated result.

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4. Paul in Acts claims to be a Roman citizen. If Mark is reassembling patches of the Old Testament, to fill in, match Paul’s skeletal narrative? Then the Markian Pauline skeletal stitching is probably Greco Roman. Say, Homeric.

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5. Wasn’t the thesis of R.G. Price’s book “Deciphering the Gospels” that all of Mark was allusions to OT tropes, plus a bit of connective tissue added?

   He added that since so much of Mark was incorporated into the other gospels and Acts, that the authors of those books couldn’t tell the difference between fact and fiction, hence shouldn’t be considered factual, either. (I know this is a bit of an oversimplification.)

   I guess what I am asking is is there anything substantial in Mark that is not a reference to OT scripture?

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   1. Factually? References to Romans in Jerusalem c. 26 AD ?

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      1. Also the annual Roman festival of Romulus where his death and resurrection were reenacted in public passion plays.

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         1. were reenacted in public passion plays

            What is the source for this?

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            1. • The Thinker. “Jesus, Where Are You? The Missing Extrabiblical Evidence”. Atheism and the City.

               • Hickling, Stewart Ross (2017). “An evidentiary analysis of doctor Richard Carrier’s objections to the resurrection of Jesus Christ”. North-West University (South Africa), Potchefstroom Campus.

               3.2.4 Parallels between the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the myth of Romulus

               Not only does Carrier(2014:302) observe parallels between Osiris, Inanna, and Jesus Christ, but he also observes manyparallels with the resurrection account of Jesus Christ and the Romulan legend of ancient Rome. In his exposition of these parallels, Carrier writes:

               The Christian conception of Jesus’ death and resurrection appears to have been significantly influenced by the Roman conception of Romulus’s death and resurrection. Even if we discounted that for any reason, the Romulus parallels definitely establish that all these components were already part of a recognized hero-type, and are therefore not surprising or unusual or unexpected. The story of Jesus would have looked familiar, not only in the same way all translation stories looked familiar even when different in many and profound ways, but also in the very specific way that among such tales it looked the most like the story of Romulus, which was publicly acted out in passion plays every year. And this was the national founding hero of the Roman Empire. What better god’s tale to emulate or co-opt?

               —(pp. 88–89)

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               1. I mean the source, the ancient source, for the custom of “passion plays” acting out a Romulus event. What is that source?

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                  1. • No specific cite is given for passion play claim.

                     Carrier, Richard (2009). Not the Impossible Faith. Lulu. pp. 48, n. 27. ISBN 978-0-557-04464-1. “Plutarch, Romulus 27-28 (late 1st century) and the pre-Christian author Livy, From the Founding of the City 1.16.2-7 (written c. 15 B.C.); also Cicero, Laws 1.3, Republic 2.10 (c. 40 B.C.), Ovid, Fasti 2.491-512 (c. 10 A.D.),; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities 2.63.3 (c. 10 B.C.), Tertullian, Apology 21 (c. 200 A.D.).”

                  2. I can see no evidence for such a play in the ancient sources. None of your citations points me to a source that verifies there was such a play. Have I missed one? I don’t see it in Livy nor in Ovid. I do read some comments saying that the surviving evidence breaks off before we would have expected to see an account of the play. That’s only an apology for why there is no evidence. It is not evidence. Have you actually consulted the sources you have cited? Do any of them actually testify to such a play?

                  3. Plutarch (Life of Romulus 27-28):

                     [27] 3 . . . He disappeared on the Nones of July, as they now call the month, then Quintilis, leaving no certain account nor even any generally accepted tradition of his death, aside from the date of it, which I have just given. For on that day many ceremonies are still performed which bear a likeness to what then came to pass.
                     […]
                     [28] 1 . . . Julius Proculus by name, went into the forum and solemnly swore by the most sacred emblems before all the people that, as he was travelling on the road, he had seen Romulus coming to meet him, fair and stately to the eye as never before, and arrayed in bright and shining armour. 2 He himself, then, affrighted at the sight, had said: “O King, what possessed thee, or what purpose hadst thou, that thou hast left us patricians a prey to unjust and wicked accusations, and the whole city sorrowing without end at the loss of its father?” Whereupon Romulus had replied: “It was the pleasure of the gods, O Proculus, from whom I came, that I should be with mankind only a short time, and that after founding a city destined to be the greatest on earth for empire and glory, I should dwell again in heaven. So farewell, and tell the Romans that if they practise self-restraint, and add to it valour, they will reach the utmost heights of human power.

                  4. Thank you! Now that’s the only citation we needed! 🙂

                  5. There’s some more interesting stuff in Life of Romulus 27, –

                     [1] …[Romulus] taught the influential men at Rome also to seek after a form of government which was independent and without a king, where all in turn were subjects and rulers …

                     [3] Wherefore suspicion and calumny fell upon that body [the Senate] when he disappeared unaccountably a short time after. He disappeared on the Nones of July … [as above^^]

                     [4] … Romulus disappeared suddenly, and no portion of his body or fragment of his clothing remained to be seen … some conjectured that the senators, convened in the temple of Vulcan, fell upon him and slew him …

                     [6] Others think that it was neither in the temple of Vulcan nor when the senators alone were present that he disappeared, but that he was holding an assembly of the people outside the city near the so-called Goat’s Marsh, when suddenly strange and unaccountable disorders with incredible changes filled the air; the light of the sun failed, and night came down upon them, not with peace and quiet, but with awful peals of thunder and furious blasts driving rain from every quarter, [7] during which the multitude dispersed and fled, but the nobles gathered closely together; and when the storm had ceased, and the sun shone out, and the multitude, now gathered together again in the same place as before, anxiously sought for their king, the nobles would not suffer them to inquire into his disappearance nor busy themselves about it, but exhorted them all to honour and revere Romulus, since he had been caught up into heaven, and was to be a benevolent god for them instead of a good king. [8] The multitude, accordingly, believing this and rejoicing in it, went away to worship him with good hopes of his favour; but there were some, it is said, who tested the matter in a bitter and hostile spirit, and confounded the patricians with the accusation of imposing a silly tale upon the people, and of being themselves the murderers of the king.

                  6. Is “db” and “AI”?

                  7. Lowen Gartner, perhaps everything material, however small, has an element of individual consciousness.

                     Per Carrier (29 September 2019). “Will AI Be Our Moses?”. Richard Carrier Blogs.

                     The only thing AI can usefully do for us—and I mean the kind of AI DiCarlo imagines, which is an incredible technology we are nowhere near to achieving—is “find” the evidence that a conclusion is true and present it to us so we can independently verify it.

   2. I guess what I am asking is is there anything substantial in Mark that is not a reference to OT scripture?

      The casting out of Legion into the pigs? Though of course couched in motifs of the OT, such as the drowning of Pharaoh’s forces in the Red Sea.

      Though the procession of Jesus to the cross is a pastiche of OT allusions (160 such scriptures in chapters 11-16) they are all woven around a “parody” of a Roman Triumph:

      • Recognizing the Triumphant Conqueror in Mark’s crucifixion scene
      • Jesus as Counter-Emperor in the Gospel of Mark

      Reply

   3. Per MacDonald, Dennis R. (2000). “Mark and Mimesis”. The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark. Yale University Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-300-08012-4.

      I have come to conclude that Mark wanted his readers to detect his transvaluation of Homer.

      Per MacDonald, Dennis R. (2014). The Gospels and Homer: Imitations of Greek Epic in Mark and Luke-Acts. 1. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 2f. ISBN 978-1-4422-3053-8.

      In 2000, I published ”The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark” with Yale University Press. Since that time I have argued for imitations of classical Greek literature in several other Hellenistic Jewish and early Christian texts (see the Bibliography). Mark’s imitations of Homer can account for much of the information about Jesus in Mark that outstrips anything found in Paul or the lost Gospel. […] Mark’s authorial voice is different from that of Q/Q+ in large measure because he imitated or, better, emulated Homeric epic. One must not confuse these imitations with plagiarism insofar as the author advertised his literary debt and presented Jesus as superior to the likes of Achilles, Hector, and Odysseus.

      Reply

      1. MacDonald’s thesis does not contradict the point about Jewish Scripture allusions and inspirations. MacDonald argues for both and, not either or. He explains:

         Such eclecticism also disguised reliance on the primary target of imitation. Skilled authors were bees that took the best nectar from many blossoms to produce textual honey. According to Seneca, such apian authors should “blend those several flavours into one delicious compound that, even though it betrays its origin, yet it nevertheless is clearly a different thing from that whence it came.” One achieves the height of imitation, however, when “the true copy stamps its own form upon all the features which it has drawn from what we may call the original” so that “it is impossible for it to be seen who is being imitated.” (p. 6)

         Like the proverbial bee of ancient rhetoric, Mark harvested nectar from several blossoms — some Jewish and some Greek — and transformed them into gospel honey. (p. 96)

         Reply

         1. MacDonald argues for both and, not either or

            Carrier (25 October 2019). “Mark’s Use of Paul’s Epistles”. Richard Carrier Blogs:

            MacDonald has produced an entire book demonstrating that Mark built principally on transvaluing stories in the Jewish Septuagint, merely merging this with his employment of Homer to create a new, syncretized story that spoke to the wider world that was Mark’s actual market (hence why he wrote in Greek).

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6. I wonder if the author of Mark ever knew that people started believing his story literally.

   Reply

   1. I suspect not. He was most likely long dead by the time that became a widespread issue. We don’t find meaningful examples of people thinking the Gospels narrative was true until around 140 at the earliest.

      If we assume he wrote before 95 CE, then most likely he was dead by then. If he wrote later then maybe, but I personally don’t think he wrote later than 95 CE, though its possible, I view it more like 90% that he wrote before 95.

      Reply

7. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 7: Paralytic’s healing
   Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

   (Mark 2:1-12) LAW TO THE PAGANS

   To read my previous chapters
   https://vridar.org/2019/10/04/the-ot-sources-for-mark-1/#comment-101809

   
   Mark 2:1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house.
   2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door.
   And He preached the word to them.
   3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.
   4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.
   So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
   5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
   6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
   7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?“
   8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them,
   “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?
   9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say,
   ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?
   10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic,
   11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
   12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all,
   so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

   Here is my reading plan

   1 – THE OFFERING FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACCORDING TO THE MOSES’ LAW
   2 – THE GOOD NEWS
   3 – ” WALK IN MY STATUTES ! “, LAW, JUSTICE, PARALYSIS
   4 – THE HOUSE WHERE THE WORD OF GOD DWELLS, FAITH AND FORGIVENESS
   5 – THE LAW TO THE PAGANS
   6 – THE TIME PERIOD BETWEEN FORGIVENESS AND HEALING, THE SON OF MAN
   7 – THE TWO SONS OF MAN: THE REDEEMER AND THE JUDGE
   8 – THE SON OF GOD AND THE SON OF MAN ON EARTH AS REDEEMER
   9 – THE SON OF GOD AND JESUS
   10 – SYNTHESIS: THE SON OF GOD, JESUS, THE SON OF MAN
   11 – THE LITTER AND THE CROSS, THE CHRIST
   12 – THE CROSS AS ASSEMBLY OF 2 WOODS, THAT OF THE HEBREWS AND THAT OF THE PAGANS
   13 – THE BLASPHEMY
   14 – THE HARD-HEARTEDNESS OF SCRIBES AND THEIR HYPOCRISY
   15 – THE BEHAVIOUR OF HEBREWS AND PAGANS
   16 – THE PAGANS GO HOME
   17 – THE HOUSE AND THE WORD
   18 – THE SON OF MAN IN THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL
   19 – THE SON OF MAN IN THE BOOKS OF DANIEL AND ENOCH
   SUMMARY

   1 – THE OFFERING FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACCORDING TO THE MOSES’ LAW

   Leviticus 4 describes
   1 – The offering required in the Moses’ law. The offering depends on the sinner’s rank
   (priest 4:3, community 4:13,ruler 4:22, common people 4:26)
   2 – The ritual to be performed which always include the 4 following elements: the animals offering,
   the blood spilled at the altar, the fire, the Priest making intercession

   Leviticus 4 recalls several times that a sinner is the one who does something against any of the commandments of the
   Lord (4:20, 4:22, 4:27)

   Leviticus 4:3 if the anointed priest sins (2398), bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the Lord
   for his sin (2403) which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering (2403).

   13 ‘Now if the whole congregation of Israel sins (7686) unintentionally, and the thing is hidden from the
   eyes of the assembly, and they have done something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which
   should not be done, and are guilty;
   20 And he shall do with the bull as he did with the bull as a sin offering (2403); thus he shall do with
   it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

   22 ‘When a ruler has sinned (2398), and done something unintentionally against any of the commandments of
   the Lord his God in anything which should not be done, and is guilty,
   23 or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, he shall bring as his offering a kid of the
   goats, a male without blemish
   26 And he shall burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of the peace offering.
   So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin (2403) , and it shall be forgiven him.

   27 ‘If anyone of the common people sins (2398) unintentionally by doing something against any of the
   commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty,
   32 ‘If he brings a lamb as his sin offering (2403), he shall bring a female without blemish.
   35 He shall remove all its fat, as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering.
   Then the priest shall burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord.
   So the priest shall make atonement for his sin (2403), that he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2403.htm
   chatta’ah: sin
   Strong’s Hebrew 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

   2 – THE GOOD NEWS
   (See my previous Chapters)

   Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent (3340) and believe (4100)
   the good news (2098) !”

   Sin: disobedience to God’s Word
   Disease: divine punishment because of sin
   Repentance: sinner’s will to return to God
   Redemption of sins: forgiveness of sins through redemption (the Good News) instead of offering (Moses’s Law)
   Redemption of sins (in Isaiah): the suffering servant takes upon himself the sin of others and redeems it by
   offering his life
   Good News: redemption of sins is being fulfilled

   Repentance => Forgiveness (Healings) => Redemption (Jesus’ Death, Mark 15:24-37) => Salvation
   (entry into the kingdom of God, Mark 16:1-5)

   As a result, to be healed/redeemed/saved, Hebrews and Pagans have to recognize Jesus as the one who has power to
   forgive the sins.
   In a practical way, they have to manifest their faith in Jesus and beleive the Good News.

   3 – ” WALK IN MY STATUTES ! “, LAW, JUSTICE, PARALYSIS

   The righteous is the opposite of the sinner. The righteous is he who
   1- knows the way that leads to God
   2 – does what is right,
   3 – observes God’s ordinances and walks in his statutes
   (Isaiah 58:2, Isaiah 59:8-9, Isaiah 64:5, Ezekiel 36:27)

   Isaiah 58:2 For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways (1870), like a nation that does
   what is right (6666) and does not forsake the justice (4941) of their God, They ask Me for righteous (6664)
   judgments (4941); they delight in the nearness of God.” (BSB)

   Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice (4941) in their tracks (4570).
   They have turned them into crooked paths (5410); no one who treads on them will know peace.

   Isaiah 59:9 Therefore justice (4941) is far from us, and righteousness (6666) does not reach us. We hope
   for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

   Isaiah 64:5 You welcome those who gladly do right (6664), who remember Your ways (1870). Surely
   You were angry, for we sinned. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins?

   Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes (2706) and
   to carefully observe My ordinances (4941).

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1870.htm
   derek: way, road, distance, journey, manner
   Strong’s Hebrew 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4941.htm
   mishpat: judgment
   Strong’s Hebrew 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6664.htm
   tsedeq: rightness, righteousness

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6666.htm
   tsedaqah: righteousness
   Word Origin
   from the same as tsedeq

   MARK’S GOSPEL

   Mark is picking up on the same ideas, Jesus will bring a new law (a new justice) so that the sinners return to
   the right way, (Mark 2:17).

   Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
   I have not come to call the righteous (1342), but sinners (268).”

   https://biblehub.com/greek/1342.htm
   dikaios: correct, righteous, by impl. innocent

   https://biblehub.com/greek/268.htm
   hamartÓlos: sinful

   Mark chose to represent the pagans through the image of the paralytic even there is no paralytic but only lames in the
   Bible, (Isaiah 35:5,6).

   Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
   Isaiah 35:6 Then the lame (6455) will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy.
   For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

   The word “paralytic” is stronger than the word “lame” so as to point out that the pagans are fully unable to walk in
   God’s statutes since they do not know them.

   In the previous healing. Mark used the word “leper” to represent the Hebrews as they know God’s statutes but,
   from time to time, they leave the right way and walk by dark ways, (Isaiah 59:9 above).

   4 – THE HOUSE WHERE THE WORD OF GOD DWELLS, FAITH AND FORGIVENESS

   Mark 2:1 And again He (Jesus) entered Capernaum after some days,
   and it was heard that He was in the house.
   Mark 2:2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them,
   not even near the door. And He preached the word (3056, Logos) to them.

   The terms “house” and “Word” remind us of the tabernacle housing the ark and the ark containing the God’s Word.
   (See my Chapter 2h: The Ark)

   Mark 2:3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.

   four men => the four corners of the world, the nations surrounding Israel
   pronoun “They” => the pagans
   paralytic => the empty ark of pagans

   Mark 2:4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.
   So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

   they uncovered the roof => the access to the new Ark of the Covenant and its opening
   the bed on which the paralytic was lying => the empty ark of pagans

   Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,
   “Son, your sins are forgiven you.“

   1- Seeing the empty ark, Jesus sees the faith of the pagans. Jesus understands that the pagans too believe
   the Good News (Mark 1:15) and want their share

   2 – Jesus recognizes their act of faith and puts the Good News in their empty ark

   3 – Son, your sins are forgiven you => Jesus erases the pagans’ past state of darkness so that they could enter
   the New Covenant and live close to God.

   Mark 2:11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

   Jesus asks the pagans to leave with their filled ark and bring it back into their own home

   5 – THE LAW TO THE PAGANS

   To enter the New Covenant, the pagans only have to recognize the Good News as the Word of God.
   Their sins will thus be forgiven without having to make the offering, (see Leviticus 4).

   6 – THE TIME PERIOD BETWEEN FORGIVENESS (2:5) AND HEALING (2:12), THE SON OF MAN

   THE TIME PERIOD

   Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,
   “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

   6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts
   …
   9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise (1453),
   take up your bed and walk’?
   10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”
   11 He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise (1453), take up your bed, and go to your house.”

   12 Immediately he arose (1453), took up the bed, …

   https://biblehub.com/greek/1453.htm
   egeirÓ: to waken, to raise up

   Mark adds a scene where the scribes (negatively) react,

   1 – to highlight the time period between the proclamation of forgiveness (Mark 2:5) and the healing (Mark 2:12)
   2 – to explicitly express the relationship between forgiveness and healing (Mark 2:9)
   3 – to introduce a new concept, the Son of Man (Mark 2:10)

   The paralytic’s healing is shaped like the 2 previous healings (mother-in-law and leper)
   1 – first, the mutual recognition (act of faith accepted by Jesus)
   2 – then, the healing healing

   Mark again highlights the time period like he did before (Mark 1:33) for the sake of reminding that
   1 – The mutual recognition is a conversion
   2 – The forgiveness of sins is only a promise of redemption. The actual redemption will take place in Mark 15:24-37
   3 – The physical healing is only narrative. It represents the salvation and the entry into the kingdom of God
   that will take place in Mark 16:1-5

   THE SON OF MAN

   Mark adds a new element here: the Son of Man who forgives the sins and then redeems them.

   To understand the difference between Jesus and the son of man, it is very useful to associate
   the 2 verses 2:5 and 2:10. And read them like this.

   Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you (BY)
   the Son of Man (WHO) has power on earth to forgive sins ”

   Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
   Mark 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”

   The evangelist takes care to write “Jesus says to the paralytic“, (Mark 2:5) and (Mark 2:11).
   He never writes “Jesus forgives” or “Jesus heals”

   Mark thus separates Word and deed,
   1 – Jesus is the Word that announces the redemption and teaches it
   2 – The son of man is he who fufills the redemption by forgiving the sins and redeeming them

   This construction with 2 distinct images is required because:
   1 – By definition, the image which fulfills the redemption must die.
   2 – The Word, the message saying that the forgiveness of sins is fulfilled through redemption,
   must not die.
   Jesus will disappear at the end of the story but his Word/message will remain through his body put in the tomb.

   7 – THE TWO SONS OF MAN: THE REDEEMER AND THE JUDGE

   Mark speaks three times about the son of the man who will die and rise three days later, (8:31, 9:31, 10:33).

   Mark 8:27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi;
   Mark 8:31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the
   elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise (450) again.

   https://biblehub.com/greek/450.htm
   anistÉmi: to raise up, to rise

   Mark takes account of two views of justice
   1 – the teaching of the new Law i.e the law of redemption
   2 – the judgment according to the new law

   As a result, in Mark’s Gospel, there are 2 sons of Man
   1 – “The son of the man who dies” is the redeemer because he has to die in order to fulfill the new law
   2 – “The son of the man who will rise” is the judge who will come after the establishment of the kingdom
   of God (the kingdom where people will live according to the new law).

   THE SON OF THE MAN AS THE REDEEMER ON EARTH

   Mark 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”

   Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
   and to give His life a ransom for many.”

   Mark 14:41 Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough!
   The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners

   THE SON OF THE MAN AS THE JUDGE WHO WILL COME WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN

   Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him
   the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

   Mark 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

   Mark 15:62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power,
   and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

   JUSTICE IN OT SOURCES: PROCLAMATION AND JUDGMENT

   These two views of justice, proclamation and judgment, already exist in the books of Isaiah and Ezekiel.
   Proclamation => Isaiah 42:1,4 and Ezekiel 3:16,17
   Judgment => Isaiah 51:5, Isaiah 56:1 and Ezekiel 20:4,35

   Isaiah 42:1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
   I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice (4941) to the Gentiles. (NKJ)

   Isaiah 42:4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice (4941) in the earth;
   And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

   Isaiah 51:5 My righteousness (6664) is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge (8199) the
   peoples; The coastlands will wait upon Me, And on My arm they will trust.

   Isaiah 56:1 Thus says the LORD: “Keep justice (4941), and do righteousness, For My salvation is about
   to come, And My righteousness (6666) to be revealed.

   Ezekiel 3:16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
   Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel.
   Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.

   Ezekiel 20:4 Will you judge (8199) them, will you judge them, son of man?
   Confront them with the abominations of their fathers

   Ezekiel 20:35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations,
   where I will enter into judgment (8199) with you face to face

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4941.htm
   mishpat: judgment
   Word Origin
   from shaphat

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8199.htm
   shaphat: to judge, govern

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6664.htm
   tsedeq: rightness, righteousness

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6666.htm
   tsedaqah: righteousness
   Word Origin
   from the same as tsedeq

   8 – THE SON OF GOD, THE SON OF MAN ON EARTH AS REDEEMER

   Question: Why does the son of man forgive sins and not Jesus ?
   (Mark 2:5) Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you
   (Mark 2:10) (BY) the Son of Man (WHO) has power on earth to forgive sins”,

   Answer: because God alone can forgive sins, (Mark 2:7)
   Mark 2:7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?

   Jesus cannot fulfill this role because he is the result of the merger between the Son of God and Jesus of Nazareth and
   therefore integrates a divine and a human dimension. The human dimension of Jesus prevents him from forgiving sins.

   In order for sins to be forgiven by God without any human intervention, Mark uses 2 intermediate images

   1 – The Son of God who acts only according to his father’s will
   Mark 14:36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me;
   nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

   2 – The Son of Man on earth who is the image of the Son of God and therefore acts like him

   In the expression “Son of Man”, it is necessary to focus on the word “Son” in order to grasp that
   “Son of Man on earth” only carries the thought of being “aligned to God” or “obedient to God”

   God => Son of God => Son of Man on earth as redeemer

   This literary building allows to break the connection between God and the “Son of Man on earth”
   before he dies in order to redeem sins.

   The rupture occurs when Pilate releases Barabbas. Barabbas means the son of father, the son of (God the) Father.
   (See my Chapter 2g: Jesus)

   Mark 14:36 And He (Jesus) said, “Abba, Father”
   Mark 15:15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them;
   and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

   God => X X X X X => Son of Man on earth as redeemer

   Mark reuses the title “Son of Man” with his own manner

   9 – THE SON OF GOD AND JESUS
   (See my Chapter 2g: Jesus)

   Jesus is the God’s Word that announces the redemption and teaches it to Hebrews and pagans

   A – Mark builds the Jesus character (Mark 1:10,11) as a two dimensional character with a divine dimension to
   communicate with God and a human dimension to teach to men the message about redemption.
   The divine dimension comes from “Jesus, Son of God”
   The human dimension comes from “Jesus of Nazareth”
   God => Jesus (divine dimension + human dimension)

   B – When Pilate releases Barabbas

   1 – The Jesus character loses his divine dimension and the connection between God and Jesus as human dimension is broken
   God => X X X X X => Jesus (human dimension)

   2 – Jesus does not return to Jesus of Nazareth.
   He remains a peculiar character since his boby is the bread (Mark 14:22) and his blood is the fruit of vine
   (Mark 14:24,25)

   3 – Jesus will no longer talk to men, his last words will be for God alone (Mark 15:34).
   He will say “My God, My God” and not “Abba, Father”.

   Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
   saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

   This Mark 15:34 verse highlights the broken connection between God and Jesus as a simple human figure.
   Jesus as a simple human figure is forsaken and will die.

   C – The boby of Jesus remains

   The Jesus character will disappear at the end of the story but his Word (message) will remain through his body
   (the spiritual bread) put in the tomb

   After 3 days, the stone will be rolled away and the new Word of God, the Good News, will be available to mankind.
   (See my Chapter 2i: First Synthesis)

   The Word, the message saying that the forgiveness of sins is fulfilled through redemption, must not die.
   Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. (BSB)

   10 – SYNTHESIS: THE SON OF GOD, JESUS, THE SON OF MAN

   (Step 1) Building of the character “Jesus”, (Mark 1:10,11)
   (Step 2) Liberation of Barabbas, (Mark 15:15)
   (Step 3) Death of Jesus, (Mark 15:37)
   (Step 4) Opening of the tomb, (Mark 16:1-8)

   THE SON OF GOD AND JESUS

   (Step 1) God => Jesus (divine dimension + human dimension)
   (Step 2) God => X X X X X => Jesus (human dimension)
   (Step 3) God => X X X X X => Body of Jesus (the spiritual bread)
   (Step 4) God => X X X X X => Word of Jesus (the spiritual bread)

   THE SON OF GOD AND THE SON OF MAN

   (Step 1) God => Son of God => Son of Man on earth as redeemer
   (Step 2) God => X X X X X => Son of Man on earth as redeemer
   (Step 3) God =>
   (Step 4) God => ? ? ? ? ? ? => Son of Man as Judge

   Mark separates Word and deed
   1 – Jesus is the Word that announces the redemption and teaches it
   2 – The son of man on earth is he who fufills the redemption by forgiving the sins and redeeming them

   This construction with 2 distinct images is required because :
   1 – By definition, the image which fulfills the redemption must die.
   2 – The Word, the message saying that the forgiveness of sins is fulfilled through redemption, must not die.
   Jesus will disappear at the end of the story but his Word/message will remain through his body put in the tomb

   In Mark’s Gospel, the Son of Man represents two views of justice
   1 – The teaching of the new Law (the forgiveness of sins through redemption) => Son of Man on earth as redeemer
   2 – The judgment according to the new law => Son of Man as Judge

   The Redeemer is the main figure up to chapter 12. After, Mark will associate the 2 figures (Redeemer and Judge) by
   using the word “cloud” as Isaiah.

   Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud (5645), and your sins like a mist (6051).
   Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.

   Notice also that Jesus alone uses the expression “Son of Man” and never says “I am the Son of Man”

   11 – THE LITTER AND THE CROSS, THE CHRIST

   THE POOR BECOMING RICH

   Mark 2:4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was.
   So when they had broken through, they let down the bed (2895) on which the paralytic was lying.

   Mark 2:12 Immediately he (the paralytic) arose, took up the bed (2895)

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2895.htm
   krabattos: a camp bed
   Usage: a bed, mattress, mat of a poor man.
   the litter (Aramaic Bible in Plain English)

   The litter, on which the paralytic is lying, expresses emptiness and spiritual poverty.
   The paralytic is poor because he does not know the true wealth, the God’s Word.

   The paralytic, carrying his litter, represents the pagans who now possess the God’s Word (the Good News)
   and can walk in God’s statutes.

   THE CROSS AS A TESTIMONY, THE CHRIST

   “Take up the litter” will become “Take up the cross”.
   The cross will testify the belonging to the new community, the one that will live according to the Good News.

   Marc 8:29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him,
   “You are the Christ.”

   Marc 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them,
   “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me

   Marc 9:41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ,
   assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

   THE CROSS AND THE CHRIST, 2 TIME-INDEPENDENT SYMBOLS

   The cross is the signifier, the object which represents
   1 – the redemption
   2 – the union of hebrews and pagans living according to the law of redemption.
   The Christ is the signified, the concept that the cross refers to.

   The cross (the signifier) and Christ (the signified) exist in Mark’s tale and will remain in time after the end of tale
   (Mark 10:29,30).

   Mark 10:29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or
   brothers or sisters or father or mother [or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,
   Mark 10:30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time houses and brothers and sisters and
   mothers and children and lands, with persecutions and in the age to come, eternal life.

   THE INVERSION

   Notice also the inversion brought by the Good News i.e. redemption instead of offering (Mark 10:31).

   Mark 10:31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

   The Hebrews who first received the God’s Word (the Moses’ Law) will become the last
   if they do not leave this law in favour of the Good News.

   The last to receive the God’s Word, the pagans who came to take the Good News, will become the first.

   12 – THE CROSS AS ASSEMBLY OF 2 WOODS, THAT OF THE HEBREWS AND THAT OF THE PAGANS

   THE EXPECTATION FOR A REUNIFIED KINGDOM IN THE BOOKS OF EZEKIEL AND ISAIAH
   (See my Chapter 2c: The sea of Galilee)

   Ezekiel 37:16 “As for you, son of man, take a stick (6086) for yourself and write on it:
   ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.’ Then take another stick (6086) and write on it,
   ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.’

   Ezekiel 37:19 say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the stick(6086) of Joseph,
   which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions;
   andI will join them with it, with the stick (6086) of Judah, and make them one stick,
   and they will be one in My hand.”

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6086.htm
   ets: tree, trees, wood

   Isaiah 5.7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah
   are His pleasant plant.

   Isaiah 11.12 He will set up a banner for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, And
   gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth.

   THE WOOD OF HEBREWS AND THE WOOD OF PAGANS

   Mark takes up the idea again but the 2 woods to be assembled become that of the hebrews and that of the pagans.
   The assembly will be done in Mark 15:21 verse and the written inscription in Mark 15:26 verse.

   Mark 15:21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus,
   as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.

   Mark 15:26 And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

   The gospel of Mark is a movement from division to unity.
   At this point (Mark 2:1-12), Jesus established a common law to both hebrews and pagans.
   This common law (the GoodNews) is based on the forgiveness of sins through redemption.
   The Good News has just healed a leper/Hebrew and a paralytic/Pagan who believed them.
   In the chapters to come and up to chapter 12, Jesus will call for unity and point out the misdeeds of division.

   THE CARPENTER

   The carpenter is the one who shapes and assembles the pieces of wood to restore the house of God (2 Chronicles 24:12).
   He also shapes the wood into the figure (8403) of a man (Isaiah 44:13)

   2 Chronicles 24:12 Then the king and Jehoiada would give the money to those who supervised the labor on the
   house of the LORD to hire stonecutters and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, as well as workers in
   iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD. (NKJ)

   Isaiah 44:13 The carpenter (2790) stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and
   marks it with a compass.
   He shapes it into the figure (8403) of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. (ESV)

   Mark’s Gospel

   Mark 6:3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And
   are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

   The question suggests that Jesus is the carpenter who will assemble the wood of hebrews and the wood of pagans.

   THE CHI LETTER

   The Chi letter is the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet, (uppercase Χ).
   It is also the first letter of the word “Christos”, the Greek word for Messiah (“the anointed one”).
   This letter may also evoke the assembly of 2 sticks, the cross.

   Notice also that the shape of St Andrew’s cross is an X.
   Andrew is the first pagan called by Jesus
   and the paralytic/pagan is the first to bear the symbol that will become the cross.

   https://biblehub.com/greek/5547.htm
   Christos: the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ

   https://biblehub.com/greek/5548.htm
   chriÓ: to anoint

   13 – THE BLASPHEMY

   Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,
   “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
   Mark 2:6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
   Mark 2:7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?“

   Mark 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”

   Notice that Mark is careful to speak of the Son of Man only in Mark 2:10.
   In this way, the scribes see a man forgiving and not the Son of Man

   The scribes see a man forgiving the sins and immediately accuse him of blasphemy.

   By saying “Son, your sins are forgiven you.“,
   Jesus signs his death warrant because blasphemy is sufficient cause to deserve death in Mark’s Gospel.

   Mark 14:63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
   Mark 14:64 You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?”
   And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

   The Moses’ law considers the blasphemy in Leviticus 24 but there are no verses about the forgiveness of sins

   Leviticus 24:16 And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death.
   All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land.
   When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death.

   14 – THE HARD-HEARTEDNESS OF SCRIBES AND THEIR HYPOCRISY

   Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
   Mark 2:6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,

   Mark 2:7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?“
   Mark 2:8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves,
   He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?

   The scribes have just shown that they have a heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26,27) and that they are hypocritical

   Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;
   I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
   Ezekiel 36:27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes,
   and you will keep My judgments and do them.

   SCRIBES’ HYPOCRISY

   The scribes understand what it means to forgive the sins because they know the texts to the letter
   and therefore the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53.

   The scribes accuse Jesus of blasphemy and so they deny the pagans the right to have their sins redeemed.
   But there was no opposition to redemption of the hebrew’s sins in the previous scene. (See my Chapter 6: Leper healing)

   Mark did not make the scribes appear in the leper scene whereas he makes them react in the scene of the parilytic/pagan

   In this way, he points out that the scribes accept the redemption of sins for the Hebrews alone
   but refuse it to the pagans.

   The matter is not the forgiveness of sins through the offering (Moses’ Law) in favor of redemption (Good News).
   The matter is the entry of the pagans.

   15 – THE BEHAVIOUR OF HEBREWS AND PAGANS

   THE HEBREWS

   The Hebrews prevent the pagans from accessing the Word of Jesus.

   Mark 2:2 Immediately many(the hebrews) gathered together, so that there was no longer room
   to receive them, not even near the door.And He preached the word to them.

   Mark 2:3 Then they (pagans) came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.

   Mark 2:4 And when they (the pagans) could not come near Him because of the crowd (the hebrews),
   they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through,
   they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

   THE AMAZEMENT OF HEBREWS AND PAGANS

   Mark 2:12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all,
   so that all were amazed (1839) and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

   After his healing, the pagan testifies by going out in the presence of them all.

   The hebrews and the pagans who were outside are amazed.
   Mark uses the verbs amaze (1839) and astonish (2284, Mark 1:27) to mean a partial perception of events.
   Mark is referring to the hebrews discovering the manna in the desert. (See my Chapter 3: The Unclean Spirit)

   https://biblehub.com/greek/1839.htm
   existÉmi: to displace, to stand aside from
   Usage: (lit: I remove from a standing position), (a) in trans. tenses: I astonish, amaze, (b) in intrans.
   tenses: I am astonished, amazed; I am out of my mind, am mad.

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2284.htm
   thambeÓ: to astonish

   16 – THE PAGANS GO HOME

   Mark 2:11 He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed,
   and go to your house.”

   Jesus asks the pagans to leave with their filled ark and bring it back into their own home
   Jesus implicitly asks the pagans to cross the sea.

   See my Chapter 2c: The sea of Galilee
   Deuteronomy 30:11 For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you,
   nor is it far off.
   13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and
   bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it
   14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it

   Later, Jesus will cross the sea and go to the pagan land.

   Mark 6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there,
   Mark 6:54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him,
   Mark 6:55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds
   those who were sick to wherever they heard He (Jesus) was

   17 – THE HOUSE AND THE WORD

   THE HOUSE WHERE THE WORD OF JESUS DWELLS.

   Mark 2:1 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the
   house. (NKJ)
   Mark 2:2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not
   even near the door. And He preached the word to them.

   Mark 3:20 Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered,
   so that He and His disciples could not even eat. (BSB)
   His disciples could not even eat the spiritual food, the Word

   Mark 7:17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd,
   His disciples asked Him concerning the parable
   the parable => the spiritual message, the Word

   THE HOUSE WHERE THE WORD OF GOD DWELLS

   Mark 2:26 how he (David) went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the
   showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”
   the showbread => the spiritual bread

   THE COMMON HOUSE OF HEBREWS AND PAGANS WHERE THE WORD OF JESUS DWELLS.

   Mark 1:29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew,
   with James and John
   James and John bring the nets i.e. the Good News

   THE HOUSE OF PAGANS WHERE THE WORD OF JESUS WILL DWELL.
   Mark 2:11 He said to the paralytic,“I say to you, arise, take up your bed,
   and go to your house.”
   The bed => the ark filled with the Good News

   Mark 5:19 But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them
   how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.” (BSB)
   The testimony => the Good News

   THE HOUSE WHERE THE WORD OF GOD IS CORRUPTED

   Mark 2:15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners
   also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him

   Mark 5:38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who
   wept and wailed loudly.

   Marc 11:17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer
   for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

   THE HOUSE WHERE THE WORD MUST BE ONE

   Mark 3:25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

   18 – THE SON OF MAN IN THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL

   The expression “Son of man” appears 93 times in the book of Ezekiel.
   In this book, the Son of Man is Ezekiel to whom God commands

   At this point, I just point out the most obvious parallels between Mark and Ezekiel.

   Ezekiel 1:26 Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire,
   and on the throne high above was a figure (1823) like that of a man (120). (BSB)
   28 The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy
   day. This was the appearance of the likeness (1823) of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it,
   I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/120.htm
   adam: man, mankind

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1823.htm
   demuth: likeness, similitude

   Ezekiel 2:1 “Son of man (120),” He said to me (Ezekiel), “stand up on your feet and I will
   speak to you.”
   Ezekiel 2:2 And as He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I heard Him
   speaking to me
   Ezekiel 2:3 “Son of man,” He said to me: “I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious
   nation that has rebelled against Me. To this very day they and their fathers have rebelled against Me.

   Ezekiel 2:8 But you, son of man, listen to what I tell you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious
   house. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
   Ezekiel 2:9 Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll (4039),

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4039.htm
   megillah: a scroll

   Ezekiel 3:16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
   Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel.
   Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.

   Ezekiel 3:20 Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a
   stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous acts
   he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood.

   Ezekiel 3:21 “However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin
   and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.”

   Ezekiel 3:24 Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet. He spoke with me and said, “Go, shut
   yourself inside your house.

   Ezekiel 3:25 And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes, and you will be bound so that
   you cannot go out among the people.

   Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes,
   and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.

   Ezekiel 20:4 Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the
   abominations of their fathers

   Ezekiel 20:35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, where I will enter into judgment with
   you face to face.

   Ezekiel 20:36 Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt,
   so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord GOD.

   Ezekiel 36:19 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered throughout the lands.
   I judged them according to their ways and their deeds.

   Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone
   out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

   Ezekiel 36:27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My
   judgments and do them.

   Ezekiel 37:3 Then He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones come to life?” “O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only
   You know.”

   Ezekiel 37:4 And He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and tell them,
   ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

   Ezekiel 37:5 This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones:
   I will cause breath to enter you, and you will come to life.

   Ezekiel 37:16 “As for you, son of man, take a stick (6086) for yourself and write on it:
   ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.’ Then take another stick (6086) and write on it,
   ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.’

   Ezekiel 37:19 say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the stick(6086) of Joseph,
   which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions;
   andI will join them with it, with the stick (6086) of Judah, and make them one stick,
   and they will be one in My hand.”

   Ezekiel 37:26 And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will
   establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary among them forever.

   Ezekiel 37:27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people.

   Ezekiel 45:9 For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Cease your violence and
   oppression, and do what is just and right. Stop dispossessing My people, declares the Lord GOD.’

   19 – THE SON OF MAN IN THE BOOKS OF DANIEL AND ENOCH

   The expression “Son of man” also appears in the books of Daniel and Enoch.
   In these books, the Son of Man is no longer a man but a figure linked to the Ancient/Head of Days.

   Daniel 7:13 In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like a Son of Man coming with the
   clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.

   Enoch 46.1 And there I saw one who had a head of days [i.e. was old], and his head was white like wool;
   and with him was a second whose countenance was like the appearance of a man, and his countenance was full of
   agreeableness, like one of the holy angels.

   2. And I asked one of the angels, who went with me, and who showed me all the secrets, concerning this son of
   man, who he was and whence he was, and why he goes with the Head of days?

   3. And he answered and said to me: “This is the Son of man, who has justice, and justice dwells with him,
   and all the treasures of secrecy he reveals, because the Lord of the spirits has chosen him, and his portion overcomes
   all things before the Lord of the spirits in rectitude to eternity

   SUMMARY

   In this scene, Jesus heals a paralytic/pagan. Mark uses the scene to make explicit the theme of the gospel that
   is the forgiveness of sins through redemption.
   John had announced it (Mark 1:7,8) and then Jesus (Mark 1:15). Jesus has already forgiven sins twice, first by healing
   the mother-in-law/Israel and then the leper/Hebrew.
   The forgiveness of sins through redemption replaces the forgiveness of sins through offering.
   The Moses’ law is thus deeply amended because the sin and its opposite, the justice, are the foundations of it.

   Justice has two aspects:
   1 – the law, the commandments that God gives to his people to guide them
   2 – the judgment.

   Obedience to God (justice) is living God’s Word, it brings salvation whereas disobedience to God (sin) brings exclusion
   and sickness.

   Jesus brings a new law, the Good News, which sets sinners free since Jesus takes upon Himself their sins to redeem them.

   To benefit from the new law, it is enough to believe the Good News and manifest his faith in Jesus.

   The new law is offered to Hebrews and pagans without any distinction between them.

   The opening to the pagans causes hostility from scribes (Mark 2:7) and some of the Hebrews (Mark 1:45). They accept the
   redemption for themselves but deny it to the pagans.

   The notion of redemption is part of the Jewish expectation. It is described in the book of Isaiah, the chapter 53 about
   the Suffering Servant.

   With Jesus, the expectation becomes reality but this raises some technical problems that the gospel writer has to solve.
   1 – How to write a book that advocates the forgiveness of sins through redemption when the notion of redemption implies
   the death of the Redeemer?
   Would not the death of the Redeemer also kill the idea of redemption?
   2 – Since God alone can forgive sins, how can sins be forgiven on earth without human intervention?

   The answer is a figure that already exists in books such as Ezekiel. Daniel and Enoch.
   This figure is the Son of Man.

   Mark reuses this figure with his own manner so that God intervenes on earth through 2 figures according to this model.

   God => Son of God => Son of Man on earth as redeemer

   This model allows to break the connection between God and the Son of Man before he dies to redeem the sins.
   To do this, it is enough to remove the Son of God from the model, Pilate will do it by releasing Barabbas, the son of
   (God the) father.

   God => X X X X X => Son of Man on earth as redeemer

   In Mark’s Gospel, the Son of Man is a divine figure not a man. He loses his divine dimension when the connection is
   broken. All that is divine must not die.

   Mark also separates Word and deed

   1 – Jesus is the Word that announces the redemption and teaches it
   2 – The son of man as redemeer is he who fufills the redemption by forgiving the sins and redeeming them

   In this way, the message about redemption does not die. The Word of Jesus is temporarily locked in a tomb.

   Mark also introduces another figure, the Christ and a sign, the cross.

   The Christ and the cross represent the union of hebrews and pagans living according to the law of redemption.
   The Christ and the cross are time-independent notions.

   The last chapters of the Gospel will tell us a little more about the Son of Man and Christ.

   At this point, I am going on studying the Chapter 2 in order to show that the first two chapters make a coherent unit
   defining the Good News.

   NEXT STEPS

   (Mark 2:13-28) Levi the son of Alphaeus, John and the Word, Sabbath
   (Mark 1-2) Second synthesis

   Some Readings

   https://www.amazon.fr/Canon-Biblical-Interpretation-Zondervan/dp/031052329X
   Canon and Biblical Interpretation
   Craig Bartholomew, ‎Scott Hahn, ‎Robin Parry – 2010 – ‎Religion
   pages 131-132 about the Son of Man are available online

   http://www.bible-parole-et-paroles.com/2017/11/le-fils-de-l-homme.html
   French text about the Son of Man

   http://readingreligion.org/books/goy
   Israel’s Multiple Others and the Birth of the Gentile

   Reply

8. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 8: Levi son of Alphaeus
   Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

   (Mark 2:13-17) CHANGE OF NAME AND CIRCUMCISION

   Mark 2:13 Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him,
   and He taught them there. (BSB)
   Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi (3018) son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth.
   “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.
   Mark 2:15 While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with
   Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him.
   Mark 2:16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His
   disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
   Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
   I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners (268).”

   Here is my reading plan

   1 – FIRST READING TO GET AN OVERVIEW
   2 – CHANGE OF NAME AND CIRCUMCISION OF FLESH
   3 – CIRCUMCISION OF HEART
   4 – LEVI BECOMES MATTHEW
   5 – LEVI AND THE LEVITES (OT SCRIPTURES)
   6 – LEVI AND THE LEVITES (MARK’S GOSPEL)
   7 – PHYSICIAN AS HEALER AND EMBALMER (OT SCRIPTURES)
   8 – PHYSICIAN AS HEALER/TEACHER AND EMBALMER (MARK’S GOSPEL)
   9 – SON OF ALPHAEUS
   10 – THE ALPHEUS AND ORONTES RIVERS
   11 – TYCHE OF ANTIOCH AND SCRIPTURES
   12 – MIGDAL AND MARY OF MAGDALA
   13 – SYENE AND SIMON OF CYRENE
   14 – RAMATHAIM AND JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA
   15 – CHANGE OF NAME AND CHANGE OF ROLE, FIRST STEP
   SUMMARY

   1 – FIRST READING TO GET AN OVERVIEW

   Mark 2:13 Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him,
   and He taught them there.

   Jesus returns near the sea, the border between the hebrews and the pagans but also the symbolic place where Jesus can
   teach both the hebrews and the pagans.

   Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi (3018) son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth (5058)
   “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up (450) and followed (190) Him.

   Jesus calls Levi who represents the priests performing the rituals of Moses’ law. The word “tax booth” evokes the
   entrance fee and refers to the ritual after child’s birth described in Leviticus 12.
   According to this ritual, the child is circumcised and then the mother brings the priest the offerings required by the
   Moses’ law to cleanse her.

   Using the word “tax booth”, Mark portrays Levi’s role in a negative way since Levi appears as the one who collects the
   tax to have the child enter community of Hebrews.

   Mark does this to mean that the circumcision of the flesh is not part of the Good News and will not be the sign of the
   new covenant.

   Mark 2:15 While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors (5057) and sinners were
   eating with Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him.

   Mark goes on negatively portraying Levi (and his role) by having tax collectors and sinners eating at his house.

   In this way, he means that
   1 – Levi does not provide the good spiritual food.
   2 – circumcisers and sinners are not on the right way to return to God

   So why does Jesus eat with them?

   Mark 2:16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His
   disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

   The scribes ask the question that questions us as readers

   Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor (2395), but the
   sick. I have not come to call the righteous (1342), but sinners (268).”

   Jesus reminds us that his mission is to bring sinners back to God.
   He does not come to call those who were righteous before him i.e. the Hebrews fully following the Moses’ law.

   Jesus’ answer raises a problem because he does not criticize the righteous hebrews but he criticizes the priests who
   represent and teach the Moses’ law. Moreover, Jesus brings a new justice, the Good News.

   https://biblehub.com/greek/3018.htm
   Leuis: Levi.

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3878.htm
   Levi: a son of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him

   https://biblehub.com/greek/5058.htm
   telÓnion: tax office
   Word Origin: from telÓnÉs

   https://biblehub.com/greek/5057.htm
   telÓnÉs: tax collector
   (literally, “paying-at-the-end”)
   (5057/tel?nes) is derived from telos (“a tax at the end”) and oneomai (“to buy”).

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2395.htm
   iatros: a physician, (Mark 2:17, Mark 5:26)
   Word Origin: from iaomai

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2390.htm
   iaomai: to heal (Mark 5:29)

   https://biblehub.com/greek/268.htm
   hamartÓlos: sinful (Mark 2:15,16,17), (Mark 8:38), (Mark 14:41)

   https://biblehub.com/greek/1342.htm
   dikaios: correct, righteous, by impl. Innocent (Mark 2:17), (Mark 6:20)
   “Righteous” relates to conformity to God’s standard (justice).

   2 – CHANGE OF NAME AND CIRCUMCISION OF FLESH

   ABRAM => ABRAHAM

   Genesis 17:5 No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a
   father of many nations.

   Once Abram is renamed Abraham in Gen 17:5, he is never again referred to as Abram

   JACOB =>ISRAEL

   Genesis 32:28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have
   struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”

   “Jacob” and “Israel” continue to be used throughout the Genesis narrative.

   ABRAM IS RENAMED ABRAHAM AND HE IS CIRCUMCISED.

   Genesis 17:4 “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.

   Genesis 17:5 No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a
   father of many nations.

   Genesis 17:8 And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land
   of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”

   Genesis 17:10 This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male
   among you must be circumcised.

   Genesis 17:11 You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant
   between Me and you.

   THE RITUAL AFTER CHILD’S BIRTH

   Leviticus 12:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,

   Leviticus 12:2 “Say to the Israelites, ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be
   unclean for seven days, as she is during the days of her menstruation.

   Leviticus 12:3 And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

   Leviticus 12:6 When the days of her purification are complete, whether for a son or for a daughter, she
   is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a
   young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.

   Leviticus 12:7 And the priest will present them before the LORD and make atonement for her; and she shall
   be ceremonially cleansed from her flow of blood. This is the law for a woman giving birth, whether to a
   male or to a female.

   Leviticus 12:8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young
   pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement for
   her, and she will be clean.’?”

   3 – CIRCUMCISION OF HEART

   CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEARTS !

   Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.

   Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah
   and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it,
   because of your evil deeds.

   WHAT DOES CIRCUMCISION OF HEART MEAN ?

   Deuteronomy 30:6 and Mark 12:30 verses define it in the same way: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
   all your soul”

   Deuteronomy 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and
   you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.

   Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all
   your strength.’

   CIRCUMCISION OF HEARTS WITHOUT CIRCUMCISION OF FLESH

   By presenting the circumcision of the flesh in a negative way (Mark 2:14) and disqualifying Levi’s teaching (Mark 2:15),

   Mark clarifies what the Good News mean
   1 – The sign of new covenant will no longer be circumcision of flesh but the cross.
   2 – The teaching will be based on circumcision of heart.

   Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi (3018) son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth (5058).
   “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.

   Mark 2:15 While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Him
   and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him.

   4 – LEVI BECOMES MATTHEW

   CHANGE OF NAME

   After Mark 2:14-15, we will never hear of Levi again. This reminds us of Abram in Gen 17:5, once Abram is renamed
   Abraham, he is never again referred to as Abram.

   Like Abram who accepted the covenant with God, Levi accepted the new covenant based on the Good News since he follows
   Jesus. As a result, Levi will be renamed Matthew (Mark 3:18). This new name reflects his new role inside the new
   covenant. He will provide the bread, the spiritual bread as Word/Gift of God.

   Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi (3018) son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth
   (5058). “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.

   Mark 2:15 While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were
   eating with Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him.

   Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew (3156), Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon
   the Canaanite, (KJV)

   https://biblehub.com/greek/3156.htm
   Matthaios: Matthew
   Word Origin: variant reading for Maththaios, q.v.

   https://biblehub.com/greek/3102b.htm
   Maththaios: Matthew, one of the twelve apostles

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4993.htm
   Mattithyah or Mattithyahu: “gift of Yah,”
   Word Origin: from mattath and Yah
   NASB Translation: Mattithiah (8).

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3050.htm
   Yah: the name of the God of Israel
   Word Origin: contr. from Yhvh
   NASB Translation: GOD (1), LORD (49).

   CHANGE OF ROLE

   Levi represents the priest who performs the birth ritual (circumcision of flesh) to have the child enter community of
   Hebrews (Mark 2:14)

   By changing his name, the character “Levi” mutates. He will play the same role as Mattithiah (1 Chronicles 9:31),
   another levite in charge of providing bread.

   The bread prepared by Mattithiah and his brothers was the law of Moses (1 Chronicles 9:31-32). The bread provided by
   Matthew and the other disciples will be the Good News (Mark 6:41), (Mark 8:6).

   Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth (5058).

   1 Chronicles 9:31 A Levite named Mattithiah (4993), the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted
   with baking the bread (2281).
   1 Chronicles 9:32 Some of their Kohathite brothers were responsible for preparing the rows of the showbread
   (3899) every Sabbath.

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2281.htm
   chabittim: flat cakes, bread wafers

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3899.htm
   lechem: bread, food

   Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke
   the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people.
   And He divided the two fish among them all (the hebrews).

   Mark 8:6 And He directs the crowd to recline on the ground. And having taken the seven loaves,
   having given thanks, He broke them and kept giving them to His disciples, that they might
   set before them. And they set it before the crowd (the pagans).

   CHANGE OF SIGN

   By following Jesus, Levi will also carry the cross, the sign of the new covenant.

   Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth (5058).
   “Follow (190) Me,” He told him, and Levi got up (450) and followed (190) Him.

   Mark 8:34 Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone
   wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up (142) his cross and follow (190) Me.

   5 – LEVI AND THE LEVITES (OT SCRIPTURES)

   The role of Levites is described in various books such as Numbers, Leviticus, 1 Chronicles.

   THE SONS OF AARON AND THE OTHER LEVITES

   In the book of Numbers, Aaron’s sons have a higher rank than other levites. The sons of Aaron are the
   anointed priests (Numbers 3:3,10) and the other levites assist them (Numbers 3:6,7,9) but the Levites
   of any rank belong to God (Numbers 3:12,13).

   Numbers 3:1 This is the account of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

   Numbers 3:2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, then Abihu, Eleazar,
   and Ithamar.

   Numbers 3:3 These were Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.

   Numbers 3:5 Then the LORD said to Moses,

   Numbers 3:6 “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

   Numbers 3:7 They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting,
   attending to the service of the tabernacle.

   Numbers 3:9 Assign the Levites (3881) to Aaron and his sons; they have been given exclusively to him from among
   the Israelites.

   Numbers 3:10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any
   outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”

   Numbers 3:11 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

   Numbers 3:12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every
   firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me,

   Numbers 3:13 for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I
   consecrated to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are Mine; I am the LORD.”

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3881.htm
   Leviyyi or Levi: descendant of Levi

   MIRIAM, AARON AND MOSES ARE DESCENDANTS OF LEVI

   Numbers 26:59 and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She was also a daughter of Levi, born to Levi
   in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.

   THE TEACHING OF THE LAW.

   Leviticus 10:8 Then the LORD said to Aaron,

   Leviticus 10:9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, or
   else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.

   Leviticus 10:10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and
   the unclean,

   Leviticus 10:11 so that you may teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them
   through Moses.”

   THE PERFORMING OF RITUALS

   Some examples already studied
   1 – the ritual after child’s birth (Leviticus 12)
   2 – the law about leprosy (Leviticus 13) and the ritual for cleansing healed lepers (Leviticus 14)
   3 – the sin offering (Leviticus 4)

   THE SERVICE OF THE TABERNACLE

   Numbers 1:49 “Do not number the tribe of Levi in the census with the other Israelites.

   Numbers 1:50 Instead, you are to appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, all its
   furnishings, and everything in it.

   They shall carry the tabernacle and all its articles, care for it, and camp around it.

   OTHER LEVITE ACTIVITIES (SPICES, BREAD)

   1 Chronicles 9:29 Others were put in charge of the furnishings and other articles of the sanctuary, as
   well as the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices.

   1 Chronicles 9:30 And some of the sons of the priests mixed the spices

   1 Chronicles 9:31 A Levite named Mattithiah (4993), the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted
   with baking the bread (2281). BSB

   1 Chronicles 9:32 Some of their Kohathite brothers were responsible for preparing the rows of the
   showbread every Sabbath.

   6 – LEVI AND THE LEVITES (MARK’S GOSPEL)

   In Mark’s gospel, there are two institutions that represent the Moses’ law and its teaching: the synagogue and the
   temple. Mark always portrays them negatively.

   The purpose is to say that the synagogue and the temple no longer teach and spread the Word of God.

   The synagogue

   Mark 1:23 => The first man in the synagogue has an unclean spirit

   Mark 3:1 => The second man in the synagogue has a withered hand

   Mark 5:38 => Jesus beholds a commotion when he comes to the house of the ruler of the synagogue,

   The temple

   Mark refers to the temple by using the words: scribe, priest, Levi, doctor, high priest

   Mark 1:22 => The scribes teach without authority

   Mark 2:8 => The scribes are hard at heart

   Mark 1:40 => The priests do not heal leprosy

   Mark 2:14 => Levi, the priest in charge of ritual after child’s birth, is portrayed as a tax collector.

   Mark 5:25 => The doctors are unable to heal the wife suffering from bleeding

   THE STRAYING OF THE LEVITES

   Priests may also fail and lead people down the wrong way.

   Leviticus 4.3 if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD
   for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.

   In Mark’s Gospel, the Levites/priests became the merchants who corrupted the meaning of the offerings. Mark portrays
   them as “money changers” and “doves sellers” (Mark 11:15)

   Mark reuses Ezekiel 48:11,14 to write Mark 11:15-17

   Ezekiel 48:11 It will be for the consecrated priests, the descendants of Zadok, who kept My charge and
   did not go astray (8582) as the Levites did when the Israelites went astray.

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8582.htm
   taah: to err

   Ezekiel 48:13 Bordering the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an area 25,000
   cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide. The whole length will be 25,000 cubits, and the width 10,000 cubits.

   Ezekiel 48:14 They must not sell or exchange any of it, and they must not transfer this best
   part of the land, for it is holy to the LORD

   Mark 11:15 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out
   those who were buying and selling there.
   He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.

   Mark 11:16 And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

   Mark 11:17 Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared,
   “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?
   But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’?”

   Mark 11: When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him.

   THE END OF THE LEVITES

   Mark 14:62 But Jesus remained silent and made no reply. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the
   Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

   Mark 14:63 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power
   and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

   Mark 14:63 At this, the high priest tore (1284) his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses?

   The high priest represents the upper class of the Levites, the sons of Aaron. He understood that Jesus was talking
   about the renewal of Israel. He shreds his clothes to mean that his role is over.

   7 – PHYSICIAN AS HEALER AND EMBALMER (OT SOURCES)

   HEALER

   Isaiah 53:4 Surely He (The Suffering Servant) took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we
   considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted.

   Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment
   that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed (7495).

   Hosea 7:1 When I heal Israel (7495), the iniquity of Ephraim will be exposed, as well as the crimes of
   Samaria. For they practice deceit and thieves break in; bandits raid in the streets.

   EMBALMER

   Genesis 50:2 And Joseph directed the physicians (7495) in his service to embalm his father Israel
   So they embalmed him,

   2 chronicles16:12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady became
   increasingly severe. Yet even in his illness he did not seek the LORD, but only the physicians (7495).
   2 chronicles16:14 And he was buried in the tomb that he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid
   him on a bier that was full of spices and various blended perfumes; then they made a great fire in his honor.

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7495.htm
   rapha: to heal
   NASB Translation
   become fresh (3), completely healed (1), heal (24), healed (22), healer (1), healing (2), heals (3),
   physician (1), physicians (4), purified (2), reappeared (1), repaired (2), take care (1)

   8 – DOCTOR AS HEALER/TEACHER AND EMBALMER (MARK’S GOSPEL)

   The doctor is the one who heals the sickness of the soul by bringing the Word of God.

   HEALER/TEACHER

   Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor (2395), but the sick.
   I have not come to call the righteous (1342), but sinners (268).”

   Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

   Mark 5:26 She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians (2395), and had spent all she had,
   but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

   EMBALMER

   The word “doctor” (Mark 2:17) contains a double meaning, it also refers to embalming (Mark 14:3,8) and (Mark 16:1).

   Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor (2395), but the sick.
   I have not come to call the righteous (1342), but sinners (268).”

   Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman
   came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on
   Jesus’ head.

   Mark 14:8 She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial.

   Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices
   so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2395.htm
   iatros: a physician, (Mark 2:17, Mark 5:26)
   Word Origin: from iaomai

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2390.htm
   iaomai: to heal (Mark 5:29)

   9 – SON OF ALPHAEUS

   Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi (3018) son of Alphaeus (256)

   https://biblehub.com/greek/256.htm
   Alphaios: Alphaeus (Mark 2:14 , Mark 3:18)

   Alphaeus refers to the Alpheus river whose waters were said to pass beneath the Ionian Sea and
   rise again. (See my next paragraphs)

   In Mark’s gospel, the expression “son of Alphaeus” points out the disappearance of an old world and its renewal/rebirth
   The current scene annonces the disappearance of the Levites (the priesthood of old Israel) in favor of Jesus’disciples.
   Levi => Matthew

   The expression will be used a second time (Mark 3:18) to indicate the renewal/rebirth of Israel.

   Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus,
   Simon the Canaanite (KJV)

   In Mark’s gospel, the new world expected in Isaiah is being fufilled and becomes the kingdom of God.

   Isaiah (51:16, 65:17, 66:22, 62:2) => Expectation for new heavens and a new earth
   Mark 1:15 => the kingdom of God is near

   Isaiah 51:16 I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to
   establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’?”

   Isaiah 65:17 For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be
   remembered, nor will they come to mind.

   Isaiah 66:22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,”
   declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure.

   Isaiah 62:2 Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name
   that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.

   Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near, Repent and believe in
   the gospel!”

   10 – THE ALPHEUS AND ORONTES RIVERS

   The Alpheus river and its features, disappearance and resurgence, are quoted by authors such as Ovid, Virgil, Strabo.
   Strabon also identifies the Alpheus river and the Orontes river which flows near Antioch because both rivers have the
   same features.

   ALPHEUS RIVER

   https://www.britannica.com/topic/Alpheus
   https://www.britannica.com/place/Alpheus-River#ref171279
   Alpheus River, also spelled Alpheius, Modern Greek AlfiÓs PotamÓs, river, the longest of the
   Peloponnese (Modern Greek: PelopÓnnisos), Greece, rising near DhaviÁ in central Arcadia (ArkadÍa), with a course of
   about 70 miles (110 km).
   …
   The shallow, gravelly stream receives its name from the ancient river god of the Peloponnese, Alpheus, whose
   waters were said to pass beneath the Ionian Sea and rise again in the fountain of Arethusa near Syracuse, Sicily.
   The legend may have been inspired by the fact that the river disappears several times into the limestone Arcadian
   mountains and reemerges after flowing some distance underground.

   OVID (43 BC – 17/18 AD)
   https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arethusa-Greek-mythology#ref106034
   Alpheus, however, made his way beneath the sea and united his waters with those of the spring. According
   to Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book V, Arethusa,

   VIRGIL (70 BC – 19 BC)
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfeios
   In the Aeneid, Virgil describes the Alpheus as flowing under the sea to resurface at Ortygia on Sicily,
   or “so runs the tale”

   STRABO (64 or 63 BC – AD 24)
   https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/6B*.html#2.9
   STRABO GEOGRAPHY Book VI, Chapter 2

   9 … and again, the water near the Arcadian Asea is first forced below the surface and then, much later,
   emerges as both the Eurotas and the Alpheius;

   ORONTES RIVER

   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orontes_River
   Among the most important cities located on the river nowadays are Homs, Hama, Jisr al-Shughur, and Antakya (the ancient
   Antioch, which was also known as “Antioch on the Orontes”).

   STRABO (64 or 63 BC – AD 24)
   https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/6B*.html#2.9
   STRABO GEOGRAPHY Book VI, Chapter 2

   9 …The cavern near Mataurus contains an immense gallery through which a river flows invisible for a
   considerable distance, and then emerges to the surface,
   as is the case with the Orontes in Syria, which sinks into the chasm (called Charybdis) between Apameia and
   Antiocheia and rises again forty stadia away.
   …
   and again, the water near the Arcadian Asea is first forced below the surface and then, much later, emerges as both the
   Eurotas and the Alpheius;
   and hence the belief in a certain fabulous utterance, that if two wreaths be dedicated separately to each of the
   two rivers and thrown into the common stream,
   each will reappear, in accordance with the dedication, in the appropriate river.

   http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/16B*.html#2.7
   STRABO GEOGRAPHY Book XVI, Chapter 2

   7 The Orontes River flows near the city. This river has its sources in CoelÊ-Syria; and then, after
   flowing underground, issues forth again; and then, proceeding through the territory of the Apameians into that of
   Antiocheia, closely approaches the latter city and flows down to the sea near Seleuceia.

   11 – TYCHE OF ANTIOCH AND SCRIPTURES

   https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tyche
   Greek goddess
   Tyche, in Greek religion, the goddess of chance, with whom the Roman Fortuna was later identified; a capricious
   dispenser of good and ill fortune

   https://museum.classics.cam.ac.uk/collections/casts/tyche-antioch
   The protecting deity of the city. Roman copy reduced in size of a bronze original.
   This sculpture is full of symbols and metaphor. The female figure represents the luck or good fortune, Tyche, of the
   city of Antioch, in modern Turkey.

   She is seated on a rock, with her feet on a swimming male figure (a personification of the river Orontes), both
   symbols of the city’s topography.
   She holds a sheaf of wheat representing prosperity,
   and wears a turreted crown symbolising security.

   In early Hellenistic times, when this copy was made, Antioch became the second biggest city of the east
   Mediterranean, after Alexandria; a large number of other cities adopted Tyche as their symbol at this time

   Date: Roman. Original: c.300 BCE
   Sculptor: Of original: Eutychides, pupil of Lysippos
   Provenance: Found in Rome

   https://en.vikidia.org/wiki/Tyche#/media/File:Tyche_Antioch_Vatican_Inv2672.jpg
   A statue of Tyche at the Vatican.
   The Tyche (Fortune) of Antioch. Marble, Roman copy after a Greek bronze original by Eutychides of the 3rd century BC.

   Notice again
   1 – The swimmer at his feet, which represents Orontes
   2 – His hand holding the ears of wheat, symbol of wealth and fertility.
   3 – His head surrounded by a crown of crenellated towers which evokes the walls of the city

   Now, let us look at the link with the scriptures

   THE EARS OF GRAIN (BOOK OF RUTH AND MARK’S GOSPEL)

   Ruth 2:2 Ruth the Moabitess (a pagan) asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather
   fallen grain (7641) behind someone with whom I find favor?” Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.”

   Mark 2:23 On the Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to make their way,
   picking some heads of grain (4719).

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7641.htm
   shibbol or shibboleth: ear (of grain)

   https://biblehub.com/greek/4719.htm
   stachus: a head of grain

   Ears of grain represents the God’s Word that God’s people have to work in order to get the spiritual food, the
   spiritual wealth

   Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman
   came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard.
   She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.

   The expression “expensive perfume” refers to the spiritual wealth and reminds us the ears of grain
   The word “alabaster” also evokes the material used to make a statue.

   THE TOWER AND THE VINEYARD (BOOK OF ISAIAH AND MARK’S GOSPEL)

   Isaiah 5:2 He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower
   (4026) in the middle and dug out a winepress as well.
   He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour!

   Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall
   around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower (4444).
   Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4026.htm
   migdal or migdalah: a tower

   https://biblehub.com/greek/4444.htm
   purgos: a tower

   REBIRTH/RENEWAL (Mark 2) => EMBALMING (Mark 14) => REBIRTH/RENEWAL (Mark 16)

   The Alpheus river => The Orontes river flowing near Antioch

   The Son of Alpheus (Mark 2:14) => The woman who looks like the Tyche of Antioch (Mark 14:3)
   => The wifes who embalm the body (Mark 14:8 Mark 16:1)

   Mark 14:8 She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial.

   Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary (3137) Magdalene (3094), Mary the mother of James, and
   Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.

   12 – MIGDAL AND MARY OF MAGDALA

   MIGDAL

   Joshua 15:37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad (4028), (BSB)

   Joshua 19:38 Iron, Migdal-el (4027), Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh. There were nineteen cities,
   along with their villages. (BSB)

   Genesis 35:21 Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder (4029). (NIV)

   Genesis 11:4 “Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower (4026) that reaches to the
   heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.”
   (The Tower of Babel)

   Isaiah 5:2 He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower (4026)
   in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the
   fruit it produced was sour!

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4026.htm
   migdal or migdalah: a tower

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4027.htm
   Migdal-el: “tower of God”

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4028.htm
   Migdal-gad: “tower of Gad
   from migdal and Gad

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1408.htm
   Gad: “fortune,” a Bab. god.

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4029.htm
   Migdal-eder: “flock tower,”
   Word Origin: from migdal and eder

   MARK’S GOSPEL

   Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a
   wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower (4444).
   Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

   Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary (3137) Magdalene (3094), Mary the mother of James, and Salome
   bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.

   https://biblehub.com/greek/3137.htm
   Maria or Mariam: Mary
   Word Origin: of Hebrew origin Miryam

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4813.htm
   Miryam: the sister of Aaron and Moses

   https://biblehub.com/greek/3094.htm
   MagdalÉnÉ: Magdalene, of Magdala

   Miryam (the Moses’ sister) + migdal (reference to the Tyche of Antioch) => Mary (3137) of Magdala (3094)

   Miryam (hebrew name) + migdal (reference to pagan goddess) => Mary (3137) of Magdala (3094)

   Mary of Magdala represents the new community of hebrews and pagans living according to the Good News.

   13 – SYENE AND SIMON (4613) OF CYRENE (2956)

   Ezekiel 29:10 therefore I am against you and against your rivers. I will turn the land of Egypt into a
   ruin, a desolate wasteland from Migdol (4024) to Syene (5482) , and as far as the border of Cush.

   Ezekiel 30:6 For this is what the LORD says: The allies of Egypt will fall, and her proud strength will
   collapse. From Migdol (4024) to Syene (5482) they will fall by the sword within her,
   declares the Lord GOD

   Mark 15:21 Now Simon (4613) of Cyrene (2956), the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his
   way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4024.htm
   Migdol: a city on the N.E. border of Egypt

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5482.htm
   Cveneh: Syene

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2956.htm
   KurÉnaios: of Cyrene

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2957.htm
   KurÉnÉ: Cyrene, a city in N. Africa

   https://biblehub.com/greek/4613.htm
   SimÓn: Simon

   Simon (Hebrew name) + Syene (pagan town) => Simon (4613) of Cyrene (2956) carrying the cross

   The cross
   1 – sign of the new covenant
   2 – assembly of 2 woods : that of the hebrews and that of the pagans (See my Chapter 7: Paralytic’s healing)

   14 – RAMATHAIM AND JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA

   RAMATHAIM

   1 Samuel 1:1 Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim (7436) -zophim in the hill
   country of Ephraim.
   He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite

   1 Samuel 2:11 Then Elkanah went to his home at Ramah (7413). But the boy ministered to the LORD
   before Eli the priest.

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7436.htm
   Ramathayim Tsophim: “double height of watchers,” a city in Ephraim
   Word Origin: from ramah and tsaphah

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7413.htm
   ramah: height, high place
   Word Origin: from rum

   Ezekiel 37:16 “And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for
   the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of
   Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’

   Ezekiel 37:17 Then join them together into one stick, so that they become one in your hand.

   Joseph (the wood of Joseph) + Ramathaim (the wood of Ephraim) => the reunited kingdom of Israel.
   (See my Chapter 2c: The sea of Galilee)

   JOSEPH THE SON OF JACOB

   Genesis 41:39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph (3130) , “Since God has made all this known to you, there is
   no one as discerning and wise as you.

   Genesis 41:40 You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with
   regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

   Genesis 41:41 Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.”

   Genesis 50:2 And Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him,

   Genesis 50:5 my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb
   that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.”

   Genesis 50:6 Pharaoh replied, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”

   JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA

   Mark 14:8 She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial.

   Mark 15:43 Joseph (2501) of Arimathea (707), a prominent Council member who himself was
   waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.

   Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth,
   and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the
   tomb.

   Joseph the son of Jacob and Joseph of Arimathea share the same features
   1 – they are high-ranking advisors
   2 – they take the body to place it in a tomb

   Joseph (son of Jacob) + Ramathaim (high-ranking advisor) => Joseph of Arimathea

   Joseph of Arimathea as the high-ranking advisor who takes the body of Jesus to place it in a tomb

   https://biblehub.com/greek/707.htm
   Harimathaia: Arimathea,
   of Hebrew origin, cf. Ramah

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7413.htm
   ramah: height, high place
   Word Origin
   from rum

   15 – CHANGE OF NAME IN MARK’S GOSPEL, FIRST STEP

   Zabulun => Zebedee (See my Chapter 2b: The Four Disciples)

   Levi (a Levite) => Mattithiah (another Levite) => Matthew (a disciple)

   Alpheus river => Orontes river => Tcyhe of Antioch (swimmer, the ears of wheat,
   Tower/Migdal) => Magdala

   Miryam (Moses’ sister) + migdal (Tyche of Antioch) => Mary of Magdala, the
   new community of hebrews and pagans

   Simon (Hebrew name) + Syene (pagan town) => Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross

   Cross = sign of the new covenant + assembly of 2 woods, that of the hebrews and that of the pagans

   Joseph (the wood of Joseph) + Ramathaim (the wood of Ephraim) => the reunited kingdom of
   Israel

   Joseph (son of Jacob) + Ramathaim (high-ranking advisor) => Joseph of Arimathea who
   places the body of Jesus in a tomb

   SUMMARY

   This scene teaches us that circumcision of the flesh is not part of the Good News.

   The sign of the new covenant will be the cross. The Hebrews and the Pagans will have to carry the cross (Mark 8:34),
   sign of inversion (Mark 2:11) and assembly of 2 woods, that of the hebrews and that of the pagans.

   To get the message across the hebrews and pagans, Mark writes a scene where Levi, the priest in charge of performing
   the ritual, is negatively portrayed.

   Mark describes him as a tax collector, the one who collects the tax to have the child enter community of Hebrews.
   We will never hear of Levi again.

   Jesus gave him a new role and renamed him Matthew to reflect that role. Levi became Matthew, one of the disciples who
   provide the good spiritual bread, the Good News.

   To understand the scene, we have to know the OT sources
   1 – Genesis 17:4-14 => abram is renamed abraham and he is circumcised.
   2 – 1 Chronicles 9:31,32 => Mattithiah the Levite and some of their brothers are in charge of preparing the bread

   In the last verse (Mark 2:17), Jesus reminds us that his mission is to bring sinners back to God.

   He does not come to call those who were righteous before him i.e. the Hebrews fully following the Moses’ law.

   Jesus’ comment raises a problem because he does not criticize the righteous hebrews but he criticizes the priests who
   represent and teach the Moses’ law. Moreover, Jesus brings a new justice, the Good News.

   Jesus will specify his message to the Hebrews in the following verses.

   Knowledges about the Alpheus and Orontes rivers are helpful to grasp the notion of renewal contained in the expression
   “son of alphaeus” and to identifie characters close to the Tyche of Antioch.

   Like the river Alpheus and the river Orontes, Levi disappears in one form and reappears in another form.
   Levi the circumciser mutates and becomes Matthew the disciple in charge of providing the bread.

   NEXT STEPS

   (Mark 2:18-28) John and the Word, Sabbath
   (Mark 1-2) Second synthesis

   Some readings

   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyche
   https://www.livius.org/articles/concept/tyche-of-antioch/
   https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195393361/obo-9780195393361-0240.xml
   Biblical Studies Levi/Levites

   Reply

9. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 9: John and the Word, Sabbath
   Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

   (Mark 2:18-28) OLD AND NEW WORD OF GOD

   Here is my reading plan

   1 – FIRST READING TO GRASP THE MEANING AND THE COHERENCE
   2 – THE BRIDEGROOM
   3 – THE GARMENTS
   4 – THE WINE
   5 – THE HEADS OF GRAIN
   6 – SYNTHESIS ABOUT THE SYMBOLS (GARMENTS, WINE, HEADS OF GRAIN)
   7 – ACHIMELEC AND ABIATHAR
   8 – JONATHAN SON OF ABIATHAR AND JOHN AS JAMES’ BROTHER
   9 – JONATHAN SON OF SAUL AND JOHN AS JAMES’ BROTHER
   10 – JOHN THE BAPTISER AND HIS DISCIPLES
   11 – SYNTHESIS ABOUT JOHN
   12 – FROM INCOMPATIBILITY TO REPLACEMENT
   13 – THE SABBATH

   SUMMARY

   1 – FIRST READING TO GRASP THE MEANING AND THE COHERENCE

   Mark 2:18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting.
   So people came to Jesus and asked,
   “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?” (BSB)

   “The disciples of John the Baptiser and the Pharisees abstain from food” => They do not eat the Good News
   because they did not leave their father’s law, the Moses’ Law.

   “The disciples of Jesus do not fast” => They eat the Good News

   The word “fast” refers to the spiritual food, the Word of God.

   In this last sequence which ends the first two chapters, Mark puts in opposition the new and the old Word.

   New Word of God = The Good News
   Old Word of God = Moses’ Law + Prophecies

   Mark 2:19 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them?
   As long as He is with them, they cannot fast.

   The guests of the bridegroom are the Hebrews who received the Word of God through Moses and the prophets.

   God is the bridegroom of Israel because God has already made a covenant/marriage with it, this covenant beeing based on
   the Moses’ Law (Exodus 24:8 and Exodus 34:27)

   Jesus is the link between God and his people (The Hebrews, Israel). He is among them to bring the new food/Word

   As a result, the guests of the bridegroom (the hebrews) cannot refuse the new food/Word

   Mark 2:20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them;
   then they will fast.

   Jesus reminds that the link between the bridegroom/God and the hebrews is temporary. When Jesus will no longer be there
   to provide and teach the Good News, men will have to study the new Word by themselves and extract the spiritual food.
   That day, the task will be more difficult and the food less abundant.

   Mark 2:21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull
   away from the old, and a worse tear will result.

   Mark uses the image of clothing to oppose old and new Words and points out that they are incompatible.

   New cloth => The Good News
   Old garment => Moses’ Law and prophecies

   In the bible, the garments represent the spiritual state of man and may convey the idea of salvation.

   Mark 2:22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins,
   and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”

   Mark repeats the same thing with a second image

   New wine => The Good News
   Old wineskins => Moses’ Law and prophecies

   In the bible, wine is often associated with bread (the spiritual bread)

   Wine also refers to the fruit of the vine, the blood of Jesus (Mark 14:24).

   Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads
   of grain as they walked along.

   Mark takes up the theme of the Word with a new image. The heads of grain represent the Word of God that men have to
   work so as to extract the spiritual bread.
   The disciples are preparing for the time when Jesus will no longer be there and they begin to seek Word by themselves.
   They catch the Word where it is like Ruth gleaning the ears of corn, no matter when it happens.

   Mark 2:24 So the Pharisees said to Him,
   “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

   The Pharisees interpret the law literally and do not see that Jesus’ disciples are seeking the Word of God.

   The disciples of John dissociate themselves from the Pharisees by not participating in the polemic about the Sabbath.
   In this way they show that they accept that the other Hebrews leave the old Word in favor of the Good News.
   John and his disciples are therefore the Hebrews who go on living according to the Moses’ law but do not oppose Jesus
   and the Good News.
   In other words, they are the Hebrews who have understood that the old Word will not save Israel and accept that the new
   generation move to the Good News.

   Mark 2:25 Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and
   in need?

   Mark makes Jesus answer by quoting an episode about David. Mark reinterprets it in his own way, David is hungry means
   that he needs the Word of God.

   Mark 2:26 During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated
   bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”

   Mark goes on reinterpreting the episode by quoting Abiathar instead of Achimelec.

   He does it because Abiathar is Jonathan’s father.

   In the bible there are several Jonathan. Among them are Jonathan son of Abiathar and Jonathan son of Saul.
   Mark reused their features to create his own characters named John (John as James’ brother and John the Baptiser)

   Mark 2:27 Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

   Mark concludes the polemic about the Sabbath by recalling the first Sabbath (Exodus 16:29-31).

   “The Sabbath was made for man” => God established the first Sabbath and on that day God gave manna to his
   people, manna is both the law and spiritual food.
   (See my paragraph: THE SABBATH)

   “not man for the Sabbath” => The Sabbath is the work of God, so man is not allowed to change it.

   Mark 2:28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

   But the Son of Man has the sabbath day in his power, and may rule it as he desires since he is a divine figure who acts
   on earth according to God’s will.
   (See my Chapter 7: PARALYTIC’S HEALING)

   Mark suggests here that there will be other thing than the Sabbath when the kingdom of God is established (Mark 16:1-8)
   The kingdom of God is the new earth and the new heavens, where the righteous hebrews and the righteous pagans will live
   according to the new Word of God (the Good News).

   2 – THE BRIDEGROOM

   Isaiah 54:5 For your husband (1166) is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of
   Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.

   Isaiah 62:4 No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called
   Hephzibah, and your land Beulah(1166) ; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His
   bride (1166).

   Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries (1166) a young woman, so your sons will marry (1166) you;
   and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1166.htm
   baal: to marry, rule over

   MARK’S GOSPEL

   God is the bridegroom of Israel.

   Jesus brings Israel the new Word of God so that God makes a new covenant/marriage with Israel and save it (Mark 1:30).

   Mark 1:30 Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her.
   The mother-in-law represents Israel as bride.

   Jesus is the temporary link (Mark 2:20 and Mark 9:19) between God and men since he integrates a human and a
   divine dimension

   Mark 2:20 But the time will come when the bridegroom (3566) will be taken from them;
   then they will fast.

   Mark 9:19 “O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I
   put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”

   https://biblehub.com/greek/3566.htm
   numphios: a bridegroom

   3 – THE GARMENTS

   Generally speaking, the garments refer to the spiritual state of man. The image of clothing is used in a lot of
   situations.

   1 – The original sin and the primitive man
   2 – The Spirit
   3 – The God’s Word
   4 – The salvation
   5 – A divine figure or the presence of God
   6 – The teaching
   7 – The priesthood
   8 – The one who is highest among his brothers
   9 – The inheritance
   9 – The death and the escape from death

   THE ORIGINAL SIN AND THE PRIMITIVE MAN

   Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked;
   so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.

   Genesis 3:21 And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.

   THE SPIRIT

   2 Kings 2:13 Elisha also picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah, and he went back and
   stood on the bank of the Jordan.

   2 Kings 2:14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters.
   “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and
   to the left, and Elisha crossed over.

   2 Kings 2:15 When the sons of the prophets who were facing him from Jericho saw what had happened,
   they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before
   him.

   Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit
   descending on Him like a dove.

   THE WORD OF GOD (MOSES’ LAW, VOICE OF PROPHETS, GOOD NEWS)

   2 Kings 1:8 “He was a hairy man,” they answered, “with a leather belt around his waist.” “It was
   Elijah the Tishbite,” said the king.

   Jeremiah 13:1 This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it
   around your waist, but do not let it touch water.”

   Mark 1:6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was
   locusts and wild honey.

   Mark 2:21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk (46) cloth (4470) on an old garment (2440). If he
   does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result.

   John’s clothing refer to
   1 – the exodus and the Moses’ law since the camel is the animal living in the desert.
   2 – the prophets since he wears a belt around his loins like the prophets Elijah and Jeremiah.

   John the Baptiser wears the old garments (the old Word given to the Hebrews) while Jesus brings the new garments (the
   Good News).

   https://biblehub.com/greek/46.htm
   agnaphos: uncarded, undressed

   Usage: unshrunken, new
   Word Origin from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and the same as gnapheus

   https://biblehub.com/greek/4470.htm
   rhakos: a rag

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2440.htm
   himation: an outer garment, a cloak, robe
   Usage: a long flowing outer garment, tunic.

   THE SALVATION

   Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with
   garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress,
   as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

   Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments (2440), I will be healed.”

   Mark 6:56 And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces
   (58) and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak (2440).
   And all who touched Him were healed

   Bartimeus’ Healing

   Bartimeus throws off his cloak to mean that he leaves the Moses’ Law. as a result, he is healed.

   Mark 10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David,
   have mercy on me!”
   Mark 10:48 Many people admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David,
   have mercy on me!”
   Mark 10:50 Throwing off (577) his cloak (2440), Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus.
   Mark 10:52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” And immediately he received his sight
   and followed Jesus along the road.

   The Triumphal Entry

   Many people throw and spread their cloaks to mean that they leave the Moses’ Law (the old garments) and put their hope
   in Jesus and the Good News

   Mark 11:7 Then they (two of His disciples) led the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks (2240)
   over it, and He sat on it.
   Mark 11:8 Many in the crowd spread (4766) their cloaks (2240) on the road, while others spread branches
   they had cut from the fields.
   Mark 11:10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
   “Hosanna in the highest!”

   The cloaks over the colt (Mark 11:7)
   1 – remind of the worn-out sacks over the donkeys (Joshua 9:3-5)
   2 – convey the ideas of deceit and replacement (Joshua 9:3-5)

   Joshua 9:3 But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
   Joshua 9:4 acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and
   old wineskins, cracked and mended.
   Joshua 9:5 They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies,
   and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.

   A DIVINE FIGURE OR THE PRESENCE OF GOD

   Daniel 7:9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was
   white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.

   Enoch 46.1 And there I saw one who had a head of days [i.e. was old], and his head was white
   like wool;
   and with him was a second whose countenance was like the appearance of a man, and his countenance was
   full of agreeableness, like one of the holy angels.

   Mark 9:2 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by
   themselves. There He was transfigured before them.

   Mark 9:3 His clothes (2440) became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them.

   Mark 16:5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe (4749)
   sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

   https://biblehub.com/greek/4749.htm
   stolÉ: equipment, apparel

   THE TEACHING

   Mark contrasts the Jesus’ teaching with that of the scribes, those who walk around in long robes

   Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority,
   and not as the scribes.

   Mark 12:38 In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long
   robes (4749), to receive greetings in the marketplaces (58),

   https://biblehub.com/greek/58.htm
   agora: an assembly, place of assembly

   THE PRIESTHOOD

   Exodus 28:3 You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom,
   to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest.

   Exodus 28:4 These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a
   turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve
   Me as priests.

   Ezekiel 42:14 Once the priests have entered the holy area, they must not go out into the outer court until they
   have left behind the garments in which they minister, for these are holy. They are to put on other
   clothes before they approach the places that are for the people.”

   THE ONE WHO IS HIGHEST AMONG HIS BROTHERS

   Leviticus 21:10 The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his
   head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his
   garments

   Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an
   alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard.
   She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.

   Mark 14:63 At this, the high priest tore his clothes (5509) and declared, “Why do we need any more
   witnesses?

   Mark 15:20 After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple [robe] and put His own clothes (2440)
   back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

   The clothes of the high priest reflect his role as intercessor between God and men. He tears off his clothes because he
   understood that his role is over.

   Jesus keeps his clothes which will be shared a little later.

   Jesus is not the new high priest. He is the one who receives the anointing and the one who is highest among his brothers

   https://biblehub.com/greek/5509.htm
   chitÓn: a tunic
   Usage:a tunic, garment, undergarment.

   THE INHERITANCE

   In Ezekiel, the inheritance goes hand in hand with the word “division”

   Ezekiel 45:1 “When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance, you are to set aside a portion for the LORD,
   a holy portion of the land 25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide. This entire tract of land will be holy.

   Ezekiel 47:21 You are to divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.

   Ezekiel 47:22 You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners who dwell among you and
   who have children. You are to treat them as native-born Israelites; along with you, they shall be allotted an
   inheritance among the tribes of Israel.

   In Mark’s gospel, the pagans take their rightful part of inheritance by dividing the Jesus’ garments

   Mark 15:24 And they (the soldiers) crucified Him. They also divided His garments (2240)
   by casting lots to decide what [each of them] would take.

   THE DEATH AND THE ESCAPE FROM DEATH

   Mark 14:51 One young man who had been following Jesus was wearing a linen cloth (4616) around his body.
   They caught hold of him,
   Mark 14:52 but he pulled free of the linen cloth (4616) and ran away naked.

   Mark 15:56 So Joseph bought a linen cloth (4616), took down the body of Jesus,
   wrapped it in the cloth (4616) , and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock.
   Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb

   https://biblehub.com/greek/4616.htm
   sindÓn: fine linen cloth

   4 – THE WINE

   In the bible, the image of bread and wine appears in a lot of situations so as to express

   1 – Prosperity
   2 – Salvation
   3 – Understanding
   4 – Joy
   5 – Inheritance

   PROSPERITY

   Genesis 27:28 May God give to you (Jacob) the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth—an abundance
   of grain (1715) and new wine (8492)

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1715.htm
   dagan: corn, grain (of cereals)

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8492.htm
   tirosh: must, fresh or new wine

   SALVATION

   2 Kings 18:32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own—a land of grain (1715) and new wine
   (8492), a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey—so that you may live and not die.
   But do not listen to Hezekiah, for he misleads you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’

   UNDERSTANDING

   Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.
   Proverbs 9:2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
   Proverbs 9:4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she (Wisdom ) says to him who lacks
   judgment.
   Proverbs 9:5 “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
   Proverbs 9:6 “Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.“

   JOY

   Ecclesiaste 9:7 Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has
   already approved your works:

   INHERITANCE

   Isaiah 65:8 This is what the LORD says: “As the new wine is found in a cluster of grapes, and men say,
   ‘Do not destroy it, for it contains a blessing,’ so I will act on behalf of My servants; I will not destroy them all.

   Isaiah 65:9 And I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and heirs from Judah; My elect will possess
   My mountains, and My servants will dwell there.

   MARK’S GOSPEL

   Mark 2:22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins,
   and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”

   The new wine refers to the Good News while the old wineskins suggest the Moses’ Law.
   The wine also refers to the fruit of the vine (Mark 14:24), the blood of Jesus that will save Israel

   5 – HEADS OF GRAIN

   The heads of grain represent the Word of God that men have to work so as to extract the spiritual bread.

   Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of
   grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.” “Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied.

   Ruth 3:15 And he (Boaz)told her (Ruth), “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he
   shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl. Then he went into the city.

   Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the
   heads of grain as they walked along.

   6 – SYNTHESIS ABOUT THE SYMBOLS (GARMENTS, VIN, HEADS OF GRAIN)

   Mark evokes the Word of God through different images: the clothes, the wine, the heads of grain.

   Without ever naming the old and the new Word, Mark suggests the following associations

   New cloth => The Good News
   Old garment => Moses’ Law and prophecies

   New wine => The Good News
   Old wineskins => Moses’ Law and prophecies

   These implicit associations
   1 – recall the deceit of the Gibeonites and the deceit of Jacob
   2 – convey the idea of replacement

   The Deceit of the Gibeonites

   Joshua 9:3 But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
   Joshua 9:4 acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and
   old wineskins, cracked and mended.
   Joshua 9:5 They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies,
   and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy .

   Jacob overtakes Esau by stealing Isaac’s blessing

   Genesis 27:27 So he (Jacob) came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed
   him (Jacob) and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.
   Genesis 27:28 May God give to you (Jacob) the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth—an
   abundance of grain (1715) and new wine (8492)

   Genesis 27:35 But Isaac replied, “Your brother (Jacob) came deceitfully and took your blessing.”
   Genesis 27:36 So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice. He
   took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

   Genesis 27:37 But Isaac answered Esau: “Look, I have made him (Jacob) your master and given him all his
   relatives as servants; I have sustained him (Jacob) with grain (1715) and new wine (8492). What is left that I
   can do for you, my son?”

   TO SUM UP

   Mark negatively depicts the old Word of God in order to supplant it with the Good News that will save Israel.

   2 Kings 18:32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own—a land of grain (1715) and new wine
   (8492), a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey—so that you may live and not die. But
   do not listen to Hezekiah, for he misleads you when he says, ‘The LORD will deliver us.’

   7 – ACHIMELEC AND ABIATHAR

   ACHIMELEC AND DAVID

   David Takes the Consecrated Bread at Nob

   1 Samuel 21:1 Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David,
   he trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”
   1 Samuel 21:3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”
   1 Samuel 21:4 “There is no common bread on hand,” the priest replied, “but there is some consecrated
   bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.”
   1 Samuel 21:6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of
   the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.

   ABIATHAR AND DAVID

   Abiathar was the only one of the priests to escape from Saul’s massacre in Nob, when his father (Ahimelech) and the
   priests of Nob were slain on the command of Saul (1 Samuel 22:19).

   He fled to David at Keilah, taking with him the ephod (1 Samuel 22:20)

   He remained with David and became priest (1 Samuel 30:7).

   He was of great service to David, especially at the time of the rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel 15:24-30).

   Saul Slays the Priests of Nob

   1 Samuel 22:19 He (Saul) also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women,
   children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.
   1 Samuel 22:20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and
   he fled to David.

   David Delivers Keilah

   1 Samuel 23:6 Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to
   David at Keilah.

   1 Samuel 30:7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the
   ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,

   David Flees Jerusalem

   2 Samuel 15:23 Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the
   king (David) crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness.
   2 Samuel 15:24 Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the
   covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people
   had passed out of the city.

   2 Samuel 15:29 So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.
   2 Samuel 15:30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered,
   and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.

   Notice also that the different books are not fully compliant about the genealogical relationship between Ahimelech and
   Abiathar

   1 Samuel 22:20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar,
   and he fled to David.
   Abiathar is son of Ahimelech

   2 Samuel 8:17 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was
   secretary.
   Ahimelech is son of Abiathar

   8 – JONATHAN SON OF ABIATHAR AND JOHN AS JAMES’ BROTHER

   A – JONATHAN BRINGS GOOD NEWS

   1 Kings 1:42 As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan (3129) the son of Abiathar the priest arrived.
   “Come in,” said Adonijah (son of David) , “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”

   B – JONATHAN MAKES A PAIR WITH AHIMAAZ SON OF ZADOK

   2 Samuel 15:27 The king (David) also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city
   in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan (3083).

   2 Samuel 15:36 Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz (290) son of Zadok (6659) and Jonathan son of Abiathar,
   are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”

   2 Samuel 17:17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and
   pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen
   entering the city.

   2 Samuel 17:20 When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and
   Jonathan?” “They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they
   returned to Jerusalem.

   2 Samuel 17:21 After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to
   inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against
   you.”

   C – AHIMAAZ ALSO BRINGS GOOD NEWS

   2 Samuel 18:27 The watchman said, “The first man appears to me to be running like
   Ahimaaz son of Zadok. ” “This is a good man,” said the king (David).
   “He comes with good news.”

   D – THE HEBREW NAMES

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3083.htm
   Yehonathan: “the LORD has given,”
   NASB Translation
   Jehonathan (2), Jonathan (120), Jonathan’s (2).

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/290.htm
   Achimaats: “my brother is wrath”
   Word Origin : from ach and the equiv. of Maats
   ach: a brother
   Maats: a man of Judah
   NASB TranslationAhimaaz (15).

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/251.htm
   ach: a brother

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6659.htm
   Tsadoq NASB Translation Zadok (52), Zadok’s (1).
   Word Origin from the same as tsedeq

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6664.htm
   tsedeq: rightness, righteousness

   E – MARK’S GOSPEL: JAMES AND JOHN

   * The pairs *

   Mark 1:19 Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee (2199) and his brother John
   (2491). They were in a boat, mending their nets.

   Mark 1:20 Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired
   men and followed Him.

   James and John make another pair because they are brothers. They have also left the old nets (their father Zebedee’s
   law, the Moses’ law) to carry the new nets (the Good News).

   Ahimaaz/Achimaats (Son of Zadok) and Jonathan (Son of Abiathar) => James and John (the 2
   brothers, the 2 righteous men)

   Achimaats (Ach = brother)
   Zadok (tsedeq => reference to righteousness)

   The gift of God (his Word) *

   Jonathan (“the LORD has given”) => John son of Zebedee (“Yah has bestowed”)

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2491.htm
   IÓannÉs: John
   Word Origin: of Hebrew origin Yochanan

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3110.htm
   Yochanan: Johanan

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2199.htm
   Zebedaios: Zebedee
   Word Origin of Hebrew origin Zebadyah

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2069.htm
   Zebadyah or Zebadyahu: “Yah has bestowed,”
   Word Origin from zabad and Yah

   9 – JONATHAN SON OF SAUL AND JOHN AS JAMES’ BROTHER

   A – JONATHAN LEAVES HIS FATHER TO SERVE DAVID

   1 Samuel 14:49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan (3129), Ishvi, and Malchishua. His two daughters
   were named Merab (his firstborn) and Michal (his younger daughter).

   1 Samuel 18:1 After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit
   together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

   1 Samuel 18:2 And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

   1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

   1 Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic,
   his sword, his bow, and his belt.

   1 Samuel 19:1 Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But
   Jonathan delighted greatly in David,

   1 Samuel 19:2 so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in
   the morning; find a secret place and hide there.

   B – JAMES AND JOHN LEAVE THEIR FATHER ZEBEDEE

   Mark 1:20 Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired
   men and followed Him.

   C – JAMES AND JOHN ARE READY TO FOLLOW JESUS UNTIL DEATH.

   Mark 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to
   do for us whatever we ask.”
   Mark 10:36 “What do you want Me to do for you?” He inquired.
   Mark 10:37 They answered, “Grant that one of us may sit at Your right hand and the other at Your left in
   Your glory.”
   Mark 10:38 “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink,
   or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?”
   Mark 10:39 “We can,” the brothers answered. “You will drink the cup that I drink,” Jesus said, “and you
   will be baptized with the baptism that I undergo.

   I point out that James and John are not the 2 robbers
   Mark 15:27 Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left.

   D – JAMES AND JOHN ARE RIGHTEOUS MEN

   “Righteous” relates to conformity to God’s standard (justice)
   James and John are righteous men because they are ready to do whatever the new Word requires, even if they have to die.

   10 – JOHN THE BAPTISER AND HIS DISCIPLES

   JONATHAN SON OF SAUL AND JOHN THE BAPTISER EAT HONEY

   1 Samuel 14:29 “My father (Saul) has brought trouble to the land,” Jonathan replied. “Just look at
   how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.

   Mark 1:6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was
   locusts and wild honey.

   Honey refers to the manna that God gave the Hebrews when he established the first Sahhat (Exodus 16:29-31).
   The manna represents the commandments of God and the sipritual bread

   Exodus 16:28 Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep My commandments
   and instructions?
   Exodus 16:29 Understand that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day He will
   give you bread for two days. On the seventh day, everyone must stay where he is; no one may leave his place.”
   Exodus 16:30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
   Exodus 16:31 Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted
   like wafers made with honey.

   Note also that John also eats locusts, the insects that destroy the crops (the Word of God).

   JOHN REPRESENTS THE OLD WORD OF GOD.

   John’s garments (the camel’s hair) and his food (locusts and wild honey) refer to the exodus and the Moses’ Law.
   His leather belt around his waist refers to the prophets and their voices.

   Mark confirms this with the following verse

   Mark 2:18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus
   and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?”

   The disciples of John do not eat the Good News because they did not leave their father’s law, the Moses’ Law.

   However, the disciples of John dissociate themselves from the Pharisees by not participating in the polemic about the
   Sabbath (Mark 2:24).
   In this way they show that they accept that the other Hebrews leave the old Word in favor of the Good News.
   John and his disciples are therefore the Hebrews who go on living according to the Moses’ law but do not oppose Jesus
   and the Good News.

   JOHN IS A RIGHTEOUS MAN

   Mark considers John as a righteous man because he and his disciples do not oppose the Good News.
   The behaviour of the disciples reflects the teaching of their leader (Mark 2:24).

   Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy
   man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.

   John’s words are the old Words of God and not the Good News. This again confirms that John did not leave the law of his
   fathers
   In Mark 6:20, “John is a righteous man” means that he is righteous according the Moses’ law

   11 – SYNTHESIS ABOUT JOHN

   WHY IS JOHN NAMED JOHN ?

   The name Jonathan is close to Johanan, the Hebrew form of IÓannÉs/John

   Jonathan (“the LORD has given”) => IÓannÉs/John son of Zebedee (“Yah has bestowed”)

   Jonathan leaves his father Saul => John leaves his father Zebedee

   Ahimaaz/Achimaats (Son of Zadok) and Jonathan (Son of Abiathar) => James (Israel as righteous people) and John
   (Israel’s brother)

   Achimaats (Ach= brother)
   Zadok (tsedeq = righteousness)

   Jonathan (Son of Abiathar) and Achimaats (Son of Zadok) bring the good news =>
   John and James provide the new nets (the Good News)

   Jonathan (Son of Saul), servant entirely devoted to David => John and James ready to follow Jesus until death

   Jonathan (Son of Saul) eats honey => John the Baptiser eats honey

   THE RIGHTEOUS MEN

   Old Word of God = Law of Moses + Prophecies => John the Baptiser
   New Word of God = The Good News => (James and John)

   John the Baptiser represents the hebrews who go on living according to the Moses’ Law and do not oppose the new
   Word of God.
   He is a righteous man because he does not oppose the Good News.

   James and John represents the hebrews who leave their father’s law (the Moses’ Law) to follow Jesus (the Good
   News)
   James and John are righteous men because they are ready to do whatever the Good News require, even if they have to die

   John the Baptiser is a righteous man according the Moses’ Law and John the James’ brother is a righteous man according
   the Good News.
   As a result, Mark named them John, a name that refers to Jonathan (“the LORD has given”).
   What God gives is his Word.

   STRONG CODES

   Jonathan (h3083, h3129) => IÓannÉs/John (g2149)
   Zebedee (g2199)
   Israel/Jacob (h3290) => James (g2385)
   Ahimaaz/Achimaats (h290, h251), Son of Zadok (h6659, h6664)

   Jonathan (“the LORD has given”) => IÓannÉs/John son of Zebedee (“Yah has bestowed”)

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3083.htm
   Yehonathan: “the LORD has given,”

   NASB Translation
   Jehonathan (2), Jonathan (120), Jonathan’s (2).
   the son of Abiathar (2 Samuel 15:27)

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3129.htm
   Yonathan: Jonathan
   the son of Abiathar (1 Kings 1:42)
   the son of Saul (1 Samuel 14:49)

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2491.htm
   IÓannÉs: John
   Word Origin: of Hebrew origin Yochanan

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3110.htm
   Yochanan: Johanan

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2199.htm
   Zebedaios: Zebedee
   Word Origin of Hebrew origin Zebadyah

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2069.htm
   Zebadyah or Zebadyahu: “Yah has bestowed,”
   Word Origin from zabad and Yah

   Jacob/Israel => James

   Genesis 32:28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob (3290), but Israel ;

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3290.htm
   Yaaqob: a son of Isaac

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2384.htm
   IakÓb: Jacob, the son of Isaac
   Word Origin: of Hebrew origin Yaaqob

   https://biblehub.com/greek/2385.htm
   IakÓbos: James

   Ahimaaz/Achimaats, Son of Zadok => brother and justice

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/290.htm
   Achimaats: “my brother is wrath”
   Word Origin : from ach and the equiv. of Maats
   ach: a brother
   Maats: a man of Judah
   NASB Translation Ahimaaz (15).

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/251.htm
   ach: a brother

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6659.htm
   Tsadoq NASB Translation Zadok (52), Zadok’s (1).
   Word Origin from the same as tsedeq

   https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6664.htm
   tsedeq: rightness, righteousness

   11 – FROM INCOMPATIBILITY TO REPLACEMENT

   INCOMPATIBILITY

   Mark has already mentioned the incompatibility between the Old and the new Word (Mark 1:23-24)

   Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue: (BSB)
   Mark 1:24 saying, “What to us and to You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know
   who You are, the Holy One of God!” (BLB)
   The man in the synagogue represents the Hebrews who do not want to leave their father’s law, the old Word of God.

   Mark goes on through 2 images, clothing and wine (Mark 2:21-22).
   The clothing represents the spiritual state of man and the wine associated with the bread represents spiritual food.

   Mark 2:21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull
   away from the old, and a worse tear will result. (BSB)

   Old garment => Old Word
   New piece => New Word

   Mark 2:22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and
   both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”

   Old wineskins => Old Word
   New wine => New Word

   REPLACEMENT

   Mark associates characters with the different stages related to the Word of God.

   Old Word of God = Law of Moses + Prophecies => John the Baptiser
   New Word of God = The Good News => James and John

   In his story, Mark will make John the baptiser die while James and John will escape from death.
   In this way, Mark means that the hebrews following the Good News will live while the others will die.

   12 – THE SABBATH

   THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST SABBATH

   On the first Sabbath, God gives manna to his people. Manna is both the commandments and the spiritual food.

   Exodus 16:22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much food—two omers per person—and all the leaders
   of the congregation came and reported this to Moses.

   Exodus 16:23 He (Moses) told them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of complete
   rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Then set aside
   whatever remains and keep it until morning.’?”

   Exodus 16:25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a Sabbath to the LORD.
   Today you will not find anything in the field.

   Exodus 16:28 Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and
   instructions?

   Exodus 16:29 Understand that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day He will
   give you bread for two days. On the seventh day, everyone must stay where he is; no one may leave his place.”

   Exodus 16:30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

   Exodus 16:31 Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted
   like wafers made with honey.

   Exodus 31:15 For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the
   LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.

   THE SABBATH IN MARK’S GOSPEL

   The Sabbath is the day when the hebrews study the Word of God.

   Mark 1:2 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue
   on the Sabbath and began to teach.
   Jesus teaches the Good News for the first time

   Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished.
   “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such
   miracles?

   On the day of Sabbath, the Jesus’ disciples seek the Word of God

   Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of
   grain as they walked along.

   THE SON OF MAN, LORD OF THE SABBATH

   Mark 2:27 Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

   “The Sabbath was made for man” => On the day of Sabbath, God gives the spiritual food to his people,
   “not man for the Sabbath” => The Sabbath is the work of God so the man is not allowed to modify it.

   Mark 2:28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

   But the Son of Man has the sabbath day in his power, and may rule it as he desires since he is a divine figure who acts
   on earth according to God’s will.

   Jesus cannot modify the Sabbath because he integrates a divine and a human dimension. His human dimension prevents him
   from modifying the Sabbath.
   To know more about the son of man, (see my Chapter 7: paralytic’s healing)

   BEYOND THE SABBATH, THE COMING KINGDOM OF GOD

   Mark 15:42 Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before
   the Sabbath),
   Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God
   boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
   Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth,
   and placed it in a tomb

   On the day before the Sabbath, Joseph asks for the body of Jesus
   The body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, is the ark of the covenant that contains the Good News

   Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over (1230), Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome
   bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.
   Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise,
   they went to the tomb.

   “the Sabbath is over” => “beyond the sabbath”
   “The 3 wifes enter the tomb” => “The 3 wifes enter the kingdom of God”

   https://biblehub.com/greek/1230.htm
   diaginomai: to go through, to elapse
   Word Origin from dia and ginomai

   https://biblehub.com/greek/1223.htm
   dia: through, on account of, because of

   https://biblehub.com/greek/1096.htm
   ginomai: to come into being, to happen, to become

   Mark suggests here that there will be other thing than the Sabbath when the kingdom of God is established.
   The kingdom of God is the new earth and the new heavens where the righteous will live according to the new Word of God.

   In the kingdom of God, the Word of God will be stripped of their earthly appearance (body and clothing). The hebrews
   and pagans who believe the Good News will enter it.

   SUMMARY

   OLD AND NEW WORD OF GOD

   In this last sequence which ends the first two chapters, Mark evokes the old and new Word of God and places them in
   opposition through the images of food, clothing and wine.

   Old Word of God = Law of Moses + Prophecies
   New Word of God = The Good News

   Mark evokes the Word of God by using terms that convey a double meaning
   1 – to fast => to abstain from spiritual food (the Word od God)
   2 – to pick the heads of grain => to seek spiritual food
   3 – to be hungry => to need spiritual food

   Mark places them in opposition by suggesting the following associations

   New cloth => The Good News
   Old garment => Moses’ Law and prophecies

   New wine => The Good News
   Old wineskins => Moses’ Law and prophecies

   THE HEBREWS’ BEHAVIOUR IN THE FACE OF CHANGE

   Mark distinguishes 3 groups

   1 – The Pharisees who do not eat the Good News and oppose them by saying that picking the heads of grain is unlawful on
   the Sabbath
   2 – The disciples of John the Baptiser who do not eat the Good News but do not say that picking the heads of grain is
   unlawful on the Sabbath
   In this way they show that they accept that the other Hebrews leave the old Word in favor of the Good News.
   3 – The disciples of Jesus who do not fast (they eat the Good News) and seek the Word of God by picking the heads of
   grain on the Sabbath

   JOHN, THE RIGHTEOUS MAN

   Mark associates the Word to righteous men who will represent it

   1 – Old Word of God = Law of Moses + Prophecies => John the Baptiser
   2 – New Word of God = The Good News => James and John

   “Righteous” relates to conformity to God’s standard (justice)
   James and John are righteous men because they are ready to do whatever the Good News requires, even if they have to die.
   John the Baptiser is a righteous man because he does not oppose the Good News

   The disciples of John (Mark 2:18) => direct reference to John the Baptiser

   David and Abiathar (Mark 2:25-26) => the pair Achimaats (son de Zadok) and Jonathan (son of Abiathar) => the
   pair of brother James and John (new nets = Good News)

   Jonathan (son of Saul and David’s servant) => the pair of brother James and John (the righteous men)

   The name Jonathan is close to Johanan, the Hebrew form of IÓannÉs/John

   Jonathan (“the LORD has given”) => IÓannÉs/John son of Zebedee (“Yah has bestowed”)

   What God gives is his Word. Zebedee received the old Word while his 2 sons leave it in favor of the Good News.

   INCOMPATIBILITY AND REPLACEMENT

   Mark mentions the incompatibility between the Old and the new Word through images such as clothing and wine.

   In his story, Mark will make John the baptiser die while James and John will escape from death.
   In this way, Mark means that the hebrews following the Good News will live while the others will die.

   THE SABBATH

   Mark suggests here that there will be other thing than the Sabbath when the kingdom of God is established since the Son
   of Man has the sabbath day in his power, and may rule it as he desires

   The Sabbath is the work of God so the man is not allowed to modify it.

   The Sabbath also evokes the old Word since God gave manna (the spiritual bread) to his people when he established the
   first Sabbath (Exodus16:28-31)

   NEXT STEP
   (Mark 1-2) Second synthesis

   Reply

10. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE

    Here is my reading plan

    1 – MY PREVIOUS CHAPTERS
    2 – OVERVIEW
    3 – MORE DETAILED READING TO HIGHLIGHT THE MESSAGE AND GRASP THE COHERENCE OF THE NARRATIVE
    4 – THE MESSAGE (TEACHING)
    5 – TECHNICAL VIEW: THE PROMISE OF REDEMPTION AND SALVATION
    6 – TECHNICAL VIEW: JESUS AND THE SON OF MAN
    7 – OT SOURCES AND REINTERPRETATION
    8 – DOUBLE MEANING: VARIOUS WAYS TO EVOKE THE WORD OF GOD
    9 – DOUBLE MEANING: DIFFICULT EXPRESSIONS
    10 – OLD WORD VERSUS GOOD NEWS: INCOMPATIBILTY AND REPLACEMENT
    11 – CHARACTERS
    12 – JESUS OF NAZARETH AND THE TEMPORARY NAZIRITE (BOOK OF NUMBERS)
    13 – JESUS (OF NAZARETH AND CHRIST), OT SOURCES
    * OT SOURCES
    * JESUS OF NAZARETH (THE NAZIRITE AND THE CROWNED HEAD)
    * JESUS CHRIST (THE ANOINTED HEAD)
    * THE CHRIST, THE KING, THE CROWN AND THE CROSS
    * SYNTHESIS
    14 – NAME AND COMMON NOUN WITH THEIR STRONG’S CONCORDANCE
    SUMMARY

    1- MY PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

    The essential basics to make a Midrashic Reading
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 1: Another remission of sins
    Mark 1:1-20
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 2a: The Good News, The Kingdom
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 2b: The Four Disciples
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 2c: The sea of Galilee
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 2d: The Biblical Desert
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 2e: The Biblical Time
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 2f: John
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 2g: Jesus
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 2h: The Ark
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 2i: First Synthesis
    Mark 1:21-45 and Mark 2
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 3: The Unclean Spirit
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 4: The mother-in-law
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 5: The first prayer
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 6: Leper healing
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 7: Paralytic’s healing
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 8: Levi son of Alphaeus
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 9: John and the Word, Sabbath

    2 – OVERVIEW

    Note: The terms ‘Hebrews’ and ‘Israel’ are used to designate the people who received the Law of Moses. They refer to
    the people of exodus and all their distant descendants.

    Mark 1:1-20 God gives a new Word

    These verses announce the new Word of God (the Good News) and highlights its 2 features:
    1 – The redemption of sins (Mark 1:7) that will be fulfilled according to the Isaiah’s prophecy
    (Isaiah 53:10-12 The suffering servant)
    2 – The opening to the pagans (Mark 1:16,17).

    Mark 1:21-28 The Unclean Spirit

    In this scene, Jesus teaches for the first time. His aim is to cast the old spirit (old Word of God) and put the new
    spirit (the Good News) in the heart of the hebrews.

    Mark 1:29-34 Chapter 4: The mother-in-law’s healing

    This scene describes:
    1 – The new covenant that God (the bridegroom) offers to Israel (the mother-in-law)
    2 – The first forgiveness of sins through redemption

    Mark 1:35-39 The first prayer

    This sequence makes the transition between the 2 previous scenes where Jesus went to the sinners and the 2 following
    scenes where the sinners will go to Jesus.
    The prayer evokes the meeting with God in order to obtain his spiritual food. Jesus himself is in need of it.
    So, He goes to the desert, the place where God gave the very first manna to the Hebrews and then the law of Moses

    Mark 1:40-45 Leper’s healing

    This scene shows that the forgiveness of sins through redemption (the Good News) is more efficient than the forgiveness
    through offering (the Moses’ Law).
    The leper is an hebrew sinner who wants to be saved. So, he goes to Jesus and manifests his faith.

    Mark 2:1-12 Paralytic’s healing

    This scene shows that the forgiveness of sins through redemption (the Good News) is also offered to pagan people.
    The paralytic represents the pagans who do not yet own the Word of God but want it in order to be saved.
    The pagans cannot walk in God’s statutes because they do not know them.

    Mark 2:13-17 Levi son of Alphaeus

    This scene learns us that the circumcision of flesh (the Sign of the Covenant) is not part of the Good News.

    Mark 2:18-28 Incompatibilty and replacement

    In this last sequence, Mark tells us that the Good News are not compatible with the Moses’ law and the voice of
    prophets. As a result, the Good News will supplant the previous statutes and ordinances.
    However, the Hebrews may choose to go on living according to Moses’ law, but in that case they must not oppose
    the new teaching (message) brought by the Good News.

    3 – MORE DETAILED READING TO HIGHLIGHT THE MESSAGE AND GRASP THE COHERENCE OF THE NARRATIVE

    * MARK 1:1-20 GOD GIVES A NEW WORD (to read more, see my Chapter 2i)

    These verses announce the new Word of God (the Good News) and highlights its 2 features:
    1 – the redemption of sins (Mark 1:7) according to the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 53:10-12)
    2 – the opening to the pagans (Mark 1:16,17).

    The time has come (Mark 1:7,15) when a redeemer will take upon himself the sins of the Hebrews and redeem them.
    These Good News bring a new spirit (Mark 1:8,10) since the redemption liberates people from sin and lightens the law of
    Moses.
    What’s more, redemption is also offered to pagans (Mark 1:16,17).

    To understand the sequence, one needs to know
    1 – Isaiah 53:10-12 (the suffering servant)
    2 – Ruth 4:7,8 (who does not take the right to redeem takes off his sandals)

    Mark 1:4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the
    forgiveness of sins.

    “sin” => disobedience to God’s Word, sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:2)
    “repentance” => sinner’s will to return to God
    “forgiveness of sins” => God forgives sins so that sinners return to him, God alone can forgive sins (Mark 2:7)
    “proclaiming a baptism of repentance” => John announces a new way of forgiving the sins, it will replace the
    priest’s intercession (Leviticus 4) and the offering.

    Mark 1:6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist.

    “camel” => Exodus (manna, Moses’ Law)
    “a leather belt around his waist” => the clothing of the prophets (2 Kings 1.8 Elijah the Tishbite)
    John wears the old garments. They symbolise the old Word that God transmitted through Moses and the prophets.

    Mark 1:7 And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose
    sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

    “After me will come One” => John announces the new Word that comes after him.
    “to untie the straps of the sandals” => who does not take the right to redeem takes off his sandals (Ruth 4:7,8)
    “I am not worthy to untie the straps of the sandals” => John will not oppose the one who comes to take
    the right to redeem the sins.

    Mark 1:8 I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

    Water baptism refers to exodus and entry to the promised land.
    This act symbolises
    1 – admission into the hebrew community
    2 – acceptance of the covenant based on the laws that God gave to Moses (Exodus 24:8-18, Exodus 34:27-28)

    In Mark’s gospel
    1 – Water baptism of repentance means forgiveness of sins through priest’s intercession and offering (Leviticus 4)
    2 – Spirit baptism of repentance means forgiveness of sins through redemption (Isaiah 53:10-12)

    Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the
    Jordan.

    “Jesus came” => Jesus reveals his human dimension as we can imagine the arrival of a man.

    “Nazareth” is built from the hebrew root “N.Z.R” from which derives “NAZAR” (5144), “NAZIR” (5139), “NEZER” (5145).
    These words mean “consecrated” or “crown”

    In Mark’s gospel, “Nazareth” means the most powerful character, the consecrated one who is above his brothers (Mark
    1:24), the one who wears the crown (Mark 10:47).
    (See my 2 paragraphs about Jesus of Nazareth)

    “baptized by John” => Jesus enters the hebrew community to change it from within.

    Mark 1:10 And immediately going up from the water, he saw the heavens tearing open and the Spirit
    descending as a dove upon Him.

    “from the water” => Jesus leaves the spirit (tought) of old Israel
    “the Spirit descending upon Him” => The most powerful character receives the new spirit. He becomes the ark of
    the new covenant which contains the new Word of God (the Good News)
    “as a dove” => the dove that came out of Noah’s ark (Genesis 8:6-13) and came back with good news (the
    freshly plucked olive leaf testifying that the flood waters are receding)

    Mark 1:11 And a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My Son, the beloved; in You I am well
    pleased.”

    “a voice came out of the heavens: You are My Son” => Mark highlights the Jesus’ divine dimension
    Due to his human and divine dimension, Jesus is the link between God and mankind

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He (Jesus) said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and
    believe in the gospel!”

    “The time is fulfilled” => The time of redemption is now
    “Repent and believe in the gospel” => return to God through redemption

    Mark 1:16 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee He (Jesus) saw Simon and his brother Andrew.
    

    “Sea of Galilee” => the symbolic border between the hebrews and the pagans (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)
    “Simon (a hebrew name) and Andrew (a greek name)” => the new community of hebrew and pagan people
    “brother” => hebrews and pagans will be equal

    Mark 1:17 “Come, follow Me,”

    The Good News are offered to both hebrews and pagans. They will erase the barriers between them.

    Mark 1:18 And immediately, having left the nets, they followed Him.

    “the nets” => the Word of God as a tool to catch (convert) the fish (sinners)
    “left the nets” => Simon and Andrew left the old Word of God
    “they followed Him” => they accept the Good News

    Mark 1:19 …, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John … mending their nets.

    ‘Zebedee’ sounds like ‘Zebulun’, the gift of God (Genesis 30:20)
    Zebedee represents the old Word of God

    Mark 1:20 … Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee … and followed Him

    “left their father Zebedee” => James and John left the law of their father Zebedee (the old Word of God)
    ” followed Him” => they accept the Good News, James and John will provide the new nets (the Good News)

    * MARK 1:21-28 THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT (to read more, see my Chapter 3)

    In this scene, Jesus teaches for the first time. His aim is to cast the old spirit (old Word of God) and put
    the new spirit (the Good News) in the heart of the hebrews.

    The man with the unclean spirit represents the Hebrews who reject the new teaching (the Good News)

    To understand the scene, one needs to grasp the parallel between the Jesus’ first teaching on the Sabbath day
    and the first manna (Exodus16:14-16) that God gave to the hebrews when he etablish the first Sabbath
    (Exodus16:23-29).

    The teaching of Jesus represents the new spiritual food while the manna represents the very first spiritual food.

    * On the Sabbath

    Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on
    the Sabbath and began to teach.

    ‘First teaching on the Sabbath day’ = the new manna given to the hebrews on the Sabbath day

    * The astonishment of hebrew people

    The Hebrews are astonished (Mark 1:22,27) like their fathers receiving their very first manna (Exodus16:15,31).

    Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and
    not as the scribes.
    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching
    with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

    * Opposition to Good News

    A man grasps the full scope of the teaching and raises the matter
    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know
    who You are—the Holy One of God!”

    ‘What do You want with us’ => Old and new Words are not compatible.
    ‘Have You come to destroy us?’ => Good News are intended to supplant the Moses’ Law
    Mark portrays the man as unclean because he begins by opposing the new spirit contained in the Good News.

    * The Nazirite and the Holy One of God

    The man also discerns the high rank of Jesus. By saying ‘Nazareth’, he identifies Jesus as the Nazirite, the Holy One
    described in the Book of Numbers

    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You
    are—the Holy One of God!”

    “Nazareth” => Nazirite, consecrated
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5144.htm nazar: consecrate

    “You are—the Holy One of God!” => the Nazirite must be holy to the Lord (Numbers 6:5,8)
    (See my 2 paragraphs about Jesus of Nazareth)

    * Power to act and Authority

    Mark 1:22 …He taught as one who had authority (1849), and not as the scribes.
    Mark 1:27 … A new teaching with authority (1849) ! He commands even the unclean spirits,
    and they obey Him!”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1849.htm exousia: power to act, authority

    * Other comment

    This scene happened in the synagogue, the place where the hebrews study the Word of God. In the next scene, Jesus will
    leave the synagogue in favor of another house.

    * MARK 1:29-34 THE MOTHER-IN-LAW’S HEALING (to read more, see my Chapter 4)

    This scene describes:
    1 – the new covenant that God (the bridegroom) offers to Israel (the mother-in-law)
    2 – the first forgiveness of sins through redemption

    In order to understand the scene, one needs to know the very short book of Ruth so as to identify the themes about
    mutual recognition, redemption, deferred redemption and secret.

    In this book, Boaz the redeemer and Ruth his pagan handmaid recognise each other (Ruth 3:9-11). The next step will be
    the marriage, the actual redemption of the handmaid (Ruth 1:1-11).
    Between the time of recognition and actual redemption, Boaz tells Ruth to keep the secret
    (Ruth 3:12-13) because another redeemer has the right to redeem her before him.

    * From the synagogue to the home of Simon (hebrew name) and Andrew (pagan name)

    This move means that the new covenant is offered to all people, hebrew and pagan.

    Mark 1:29 As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and
    John to the home of Simon and Andrew.

    * The sick mother-in-law

    The sick mother-in-law represents Israel still living according to the law of Moses.

    Mark 1:30 Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever,

    * Mutual recognition and healing

    Jesus goes to the mother-in-law because he wants her to return to God according to the Good News. He helps her to show
    her that he has the power to redeem her sin.
    The mother-in-law is healed because she has recognised Jesus as the redeemer.

    Mark 1:31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she
    began to serve them.

    “So He went to her” => Jesus initiates the mutual recognition
    …
    “The fever left her” => end of the mutual recognition

    (Ruth 3:9-11) Ruth (the pagan handmaid) goes to Boaz (the redeemer) and Boaz recognises her as a woman of noble
    character

    The mother-in-law is healed because her sins have been forgiven.
    We will have to wait for the “Mark 2:9” verse to read the explicit equivalence between forgiveness and healing.
    Mark 2:9 Which is easier, …, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up
    your bed and walk’?

    At this point, sins are forgiven because the Redeemer has taken them upon himself to redeem them
    The next step will be the redemption of sins.

    * An odd verse to mean the deferred redemption

    Because the redemption has not yet taken place, the mother-in-law’s healing is only apparent.
    Actual healing will take place when the Redeemer sheds the blood of the new covenant (Mark 15)

    In order to clarify this point, Mark adds the following sequence where an odd verse (Mark 1:33) represents the delay
    between the promise of redemption (Mark 1:32) and the actual redemption (Mark 15).

    Mark 1:32 … the people brought to Jesus all the sick … => promise of redemption (apparent
    healing)
    Mark 1:32 The whole town gathered at the door => delay, deferred
    redemption
    Mark 1:34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases …=> redemption (actual healing)

    Mark 1:34″ is a shortcut to Mark 15

    “Mark 1:33” represents the time needed to widespread the Good News and overcome oppositions.
    Then Jesus will enter Jerusalem, the city where he will redeem the sins

    (Ruth 4:1-11) Boaz redeems Ruth in front of the elders gathered at the city gates.

    * Synthesis about forgiveness, healing, redemption

    1- The forgiveness of sin is a promise of redemption
    2 – The apparent healing represents the forgiveness and the promise
    3 – In order to get forgiveness, the sinner has to recognise Jesus as the Redeemer (mutual recognition = conversion).
    4 – The redemption is deferred
    5 – The actual healing (redemption) will take place when the Redeemer sheds the blood of the new covenant (Mark 15)

    To sum up: Here are the 4 steps about healing/redemption
    1 – ‘mutual recognition’
    2 – ‘forgiveness of sin’ = ‘promise of redemption’ = ‘apparent healing’
    3 – delay
    4 – ‘redemption’ = ‘actual healing’

    * Secrecy

    The widespreading of Good News generates opposition. To reduce them, Jesus will ask for secrecy.
    Mark takes the theme of secrecy from the book of Ruth (Ruth 3:14) and so he adds a plot to his story.

    Mark 1:34 ..But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

    Mark 1:44 “See that you don’t tell anyone.
    Mark 1:45 But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no
    longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places.

    * The sick people and the demons

    Mark 1:32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed,
    Mark 1:33 and the whole town gathered at the door.
    Mark 1:34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons.

    the sick people => those who accept the Good News through mutual recognition (wanted conversion)
    the demons => those on whom Jesus imposes the Good News (forced conversion)

    * At sunset

    The Mark’s symbolic story takes place from sunset to sunrise. There is a single sunset and a single sunrise in Mark’s
    Gospel.

    At sunset, Jesus puts the Good News in the hearts of the sinners, it is the time of mutual recognition and
    conversion.
    At sunrise, it will be the time of salvation (Mark 16:1-8)

    Mark 1:32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick
    Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.

    * The bridegroom

    Jesus is not the bridegroom, he is the link that allows the interaction between God and men.

    In the bible, there are a lot of verses about the bridegroom, the invisible God who begets and the woman who gives
    birth (Isaiah 62:5, Isaiah 66:7-9, Ruth 4:13, …)

    The healed mother-in-law (Israel as a bride) will be able to give birth to children of God.

    * Simon’s mother-in-law

    Due to the new covenant (marriage), Simon as Andrew’s brother, is no longer an hebrew, son of Israel/Jacob since he
    belongs to the new community. As a result, Israel, as mother of the hebrews, became the Simon’s mother-in-law.

    * ‘Forgiveness of sins’ equates healing

    The mother-in-law’s scene shows that healing equates ‘forgiveness of sins through redemption’
    Mark will say it explicitly in ‘Mark 2:9’ verse

    Healing is both a promise of redemption and the redemption itself since we are sure that the promise will come true

    * Faith

    Jesus initiated the mutual recognition so that the mother-in-law could be healed.

    In the next healings, the leper and the paralytic will go to Jesus so as to initiate the mutual recognition and be
    healed. In other words, they will manifest their faith in Jesus.

    Mark will use the word ‘faith’ for the first time in ‘Mark 2:5’ verse

    * MARK 1:35-39 THE FIRST PRAYER (to read more, see my Chapter 5)

    This sequence makes the transition between the 2 previous scenes where Jesus went to the sinners and the 2 following
    scenes where the sinners will go to Jesus.

    The prayer evokes the meeting with God in order to get his spiritual food. Jesus himself is in need of it. He
    goes to the desert, the place where God gave the manna to the Hebrews and then the law of Moses

    * Jesus prays to get the spiritual food

    In our context, Jesus does not seek the old Word of God but he needs the new Word to refuel with it so as to go
    on preaching in the villages and synagogues of Galilee.

    Mark 1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place
    to pray.
    Mark 1:38 But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for
    that is why I have come.”

    Mark will express the need for God’s Word in other verses

    Mark 2:25 Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were
    hungry and in need?
    Mark 11:12 The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

    * His companions search for him to get the spiritual food

    Without Jesus, the disciples are devoid of the Word of God, so they search for Jesus to get it again.
    Note that the disciples are the first people to come to Jesus.

    Mark 1:36 Simon and his companions searched for him,

    Mark prepares the next scene

    Mark 1:39 He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
    
    Since Jesus teaches in the synagogues, the Hebrews will begin to know his teaching and come to him.

    * MARK 1:40-45 LEPER HEALING (to read more, see my Chapter 6)

    This scene shows that the forgiveness of sins through redemption (the Good News) is more efficient than the forgiveness
    through offering (the Moses’ Law).

    Mark chose the right example, because the Moses’ laws about leprosy only consider the examination of sore and the
    cleansing but say nothing about the healing itself.
    According to Leviticus 13, the priest must first examine the sore and then the leper relies on God’s will to be healed.
    After his healing, the man has to return to the priest and bring his offerings so that the priest performs the
    cleansing ritual and declare him clean (Leviticus 14)

    To understand the scene, it is important to note that the Leviticus does not say anything about how the leper is
    healed

    The leper is an hebrew sinner who wants to be saved. For this reason, he goes to Jesus and manifests his faith.

    * Act of faith

    The act of faith is his request for cleansing (Mark 1:40). In this way, he asks Jesus for healing because he knows that
    he must be healed before being cleansing.

    Since ‘healing’ means ‘forgiveness of sins through redemption’, the leper thus shows that he recognises Jesus as the
    redeemer.

    Jesus sees the leper’s faith. Through his word and his raised hand (power, authority), Jesus tells him that his sins
    will be redeemed (Mark 1:41)

    The apparent healing (Mark 1:42) represents the promise of redemption. What’s more, man is also made clean

    a) The sinner initiates the mutual recognition
    Mark 1:40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can
    make me clean.”

    b) End of mutual recognition
    Mark 1:41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He
    said. “Be clean!”

    c) Forgiveness of sins = promise of redemption = Apparent healing
    Mark 1:42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.

    * An odd request

    Mark adds a request (Mark 1:44) which is no longer necessary since man is cleansed.

    Mark 1:44 go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing,

    * The Good News and the Moses’ Law

    By requesting the leper to make an offering, Jesus indicates that the Hebrews may go on living under the other Moses’
    laws not in relationship with the forgiveness of sins.

    The keypoint is the forgiveness of sins through redemption not the other Moses’ laws such as the ritual or food laws.

    * Opposition and secrecy

    The spread of the good News leads to a hebrew reaction against Jesus. As a result, Jesus asks for secrecy to reduce the
    oppositions before he enters Jerusalem, the city where he will redeem the sins

    Mark 1:44 “See that you don’t tell anyone.
    Mark 1:45 Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that
    Jesus could no longer enter a town openly…

    * Mark prepares the next scene, the arrival of pagans

    Until now, Jesus has been speaking to the Hebrews living in the northern kingdom, the Galilee.
    Mark prepares the next scene by moving Jesus to the desert, an open and symbolic space where people other than the
    Hebrews will come and know the good News. The pagans will now enter the scene and take the new manna (the Good News)

    Mark 1:45 … But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.
    

    * MARK 2:1-12 PARALYTIC’S HEALING (to read more, see my Chapter 7)

    This scene shows that the forgiveness of sins through redemption (the Good News) is also offered to pagan people.
    The paralytic represents the pagans who do not yet own the Word of God but want it in order to be saved.
    The pagans cannot walk in God’s statutes because they do not know them.

    Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully
    observe My ordinances.

    Note that the parilytic >on his mat reminds of the mother-in-law sick in bed
    Mark 1:30 Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever,
    Mark 2:4 …, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.

    * Act of faith

    The house where Jesus teaches remind us of the tabernacle housing the ark and the ark containing the God’s Word.
    Jesus symbolises the new ark containing the Good News
    The parilytic carried by 4 men symbolises the empty ark of the pagans.

    The pagans will show their faith by being obstinate in their quest to get the Good News.

    a) The pagans initiate the mutual recognition

    Mark 2:3 Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.

    ‘four men’ => the four corners of the world, the nations surrounding Israel
    pronoun ‘They’ => the pagans
    ‘paralytic’ => the empty ark of pagans

    b) Obstinacy of the pagans

    Mark 2:4 Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made
    an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.

    ‘unable to get to Jesus’ => the hebrews prevent the pagans from accessing to the Good News
    “they uncovered the roof ” => the pagans do not give up, they find another solution by uncovering the roof of the
    tabernacle that houses the ark (Jesus).

    c) End of mutual recognition

    Mark 2:4 … and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith,

    Seeing the empty ark, Jesus sees the faith of the pagans.

    Jesus understands that the pagans too believe the Good News (Mark 1:15) and want their share.
    As a result, Jesus will fill the ark of the pagans with the Good News

    Note that Mark uses the word “faith” for the first time.

    Faith and forgiveness of sins

    Jesus explicitly says that faith in Good News forgives the sins.

    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven
    you.“

    * Equivalence between forgiveness of sins and healing

    Mark 2:9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise,
    take up your bed and walk’?

    Through this question, Mark equates “Your sins are forgiven you” and “Arise, take up your bed and walk”

    * The delay between forgiveness of sins and healing

    Mark adds a controversy that delays healing and brings 2 technical precisions

    a) Beginning of the scene
    Mark 2:6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts,

    b) First technical precision: Forgiveness of sins = healing
    Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up,
    pick up your mat, and walk’?

    c) End of the scene and second technical precision
    Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins
    …” He said to the paralytic,

    * Apparent healing

    Mark 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them
    all.

    The healing is apparent because the redemption has not yet taken place

    * The Son of Man, the figure who will redeem the sins

    Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said
    to the paralytic,

    Mark adds this figure to separate Word and deed
    1 – Jesus is the figure who announces the Good News and teaches it
    2 – The son of man is the figure who fufills the redemption by taking the sins upon him so as to redeem them

    Jesus cannot forgive the sins because he has a human dimension.
    In order for sins to be forgiven by God without any human intervention, Mark has created a divine figure who acts on
    earth according to God’s will.
    (See my paragraph TECHNICAL VIEW: JESUS AND THE SON OF MAN)

    * The scribes are opposed to opening to the pagans

    Mark did not make the scribes appear in the leper scene whereas he makes them react in this scene.
    In this way, he points out that the scribes accept the redemption of sins for the Hebrews alone but refuse it to the
    pagans.
    The matter is not the forgiveness of sins through redemption. The matter is the opening to the pagans.

    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are
    forgiven you.”
    Mark 2:6 And some of the scribes were sitting there
    Mark 2:7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?“
    …
    Mark 2:10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the
    paralytic,

    Notice that Mark is careful to speak of the Son of Man only in ‘Mark 2:10’ verse. In this way, the scribes see a man
    forgiving the sins and not the Son of Man. As a result, they immediately accuse Jesus of blasphemy.
    By saying “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”, Jesus signs his death warrant because blasphemy is sufficient cause to
    deserve death in Mark’s Gospel (Mark 14:64).

    The pagan takes up his mat (litter)

    Mark 2:11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
    Mark 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all.

    The mat (litter), on which the paralytic is lying, expresses emptiness and spiritual poverty.
    The paralytic is poor because he does not know the true wealth, the God’s Word.

    The paralytic, carrying his litter, represents the pagans who now possess the God’s Word (the Good News) and can walk
    in God’s statutes. Note the inversion.

    “Take up the litter” will become “Take up the cross”. The cross will be the sign of inversion and the sign of
    the new covenant.

    * The pagans go home

    Mark 2:11 He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
    Jesus asks the pagans to leave with their ark filled with the Good News. They will bring it back to shelter it in their
    own tabernacle.
    Jesus also implicitly asks the pagans to cross the sea again (Deuteronomy 30:11-14) to go home.

    * A forgiveness without offering

    The pagans’ sins are forgiven without the sin offering required by the Moses’ law (Leviticus 4)

    *Introduction to the next scene

    Mark has begun to evoke the sign of the covenant by writing “Take up the litter”, he will now expand on this point

    * MARK 2:13-17 LEVI SON OF ALPHAEUS (to read more, see my Chapter 8)

    This scene learns us that circumcision of the flesh (the sign of the old covenant) is not part of the Good News.

    The sign of the new covenant will be the cross. The hebrews and the pagans will have to carry the cross (Mark 2:12,
    Mark 8:34), sign of inversion (Mark 2:11) and assembly of 2 woods, that of the hebrews and that of the pagans.

    I remind the main verses about the sign of the old Covenant
    Genesis 17:11 You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the
    covenant between Me and you.
    Leviticus 12:3 And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

    To understand the scene, we have to know these OT sources
    1 – Genesis 17:4-14 => Abram is renamed Abraham and he is circumcised. We will never hear of Abram
    2 – 1 Chronicles 9:31,32 => Mattithiah the Levite and some of their brothers are in charge of
    preparing the bread

    Levi refers to the Levites, the priests. They acts as intercessors between God and men and receive
    the offerings required by the law of Moses (Book of Leviticus).

    I quote again Mark 1:44
    Mark 1:44 go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses commanded for your cleansing,
    “ (Leviticus 14: Healed lepers’ cleansing)

    In our context, Levi represents more particularly the priests performing the ritual after child’s birth, (Leviticus 12:
    child’s circumcision and mother’s cleansing).

    * A message to Hebrews and pagans

    Mark 2:13 Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him, and He taught them
    there.
    “sea” => the symbolic border between the hebrews and the pagans (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).

    * Levi, the priest in charge of performing the ritual after child’s birth
    According to the Moses’ law, the child is circumcised and the mother brings the priest what Moses commanded for
    her cleansing (Leviticus 12).

    Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth.

    “Tax booth” evokes the entrance fee.
    In our context, it refers to circumcision required to enter the covenant that God made with Abraham (Genesis
    17:10-14) and the hebrews (Leviticus 12:3).
    What’s more, “tax booth” may also refer to offerings that the Moses’ law commands

    * Mark negatively portrays Levi

    Mark 2:15 While Jesus was dining at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with
    Him and His disciples—for there were many who followed Him.

    Mark describes Levi as a tax collector, the one who collects the tax to have the child enter community of Hebrews.

    Mark goes on negatively portraying Levi (and his role) by having tax collectors and sinners eating at his house.
    In this way, he means that
    1 – Levi does not provide the good spiritual food.
    2 – circumcisers and sinners are not on the right way to return to God

    * Change of role and change of name

    Mark 2:14 … “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.

    Jesus will give Levi a new role and a new name compliant with the role. Levi the circumciser will become Matthew (1
    Chronicles 9:31,32), one of the disciples who will provide the good spiritual bread, the Good News. We will never hear
    of Levi.

    * Levi, son of Alphaeus

    Levi disappears in one form and reappears in another form like the Alpheus river.

    The Alpheus river and its features, disappearance and resurgence, are quoted by authors such as Ovid, Virgil, Strabo.
    (See my Chapter 8 to access their texts about the Alpheus and Orontes rivers)

    In this scene, Mark transforms Levi. He will reuse this literary technique to other characters.

    * The righteous and sinners

    Mark 2:17 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

    Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to
    carefully observe My ordinances.

    A righteous is a person who lives according to the Word of God, i.e. he walks in his statutes and carefully
    observes his ordinances.
    A sinner is the opposite of the righteous one

    These definitions raise a problem since Jesus brings a new Word that comes after the Word transmitted by Moses and the
    prophets. So, what is the right Word?

    Mark will clarify this point in the next sequence.

    MARK 2: 18-28 JOHN AND THE WORD, SABBATH (to read more, see my Chapter 9)

    In this last sequence, Mark tells us that the Good News are not compatible with the Moses’ law and the voice of
    prophets. As a result, the Good News will supplant the previous statutes and ordinances.

    However, the Hebrews may choose to go on living according to Moses’ law, but in that case they should not oppose
    the new teaching (message) brought by the Good News.

    John the baptiser is the figure who represents the Hebrews keeping the Moses’ law and not opposing the Good
    News. So, John the baptiser is a righteous according to the Moses’ law,

    Another John, the James’ brother, will represent the Hebrews who follow Jesus. He will be a righteous
    according the Good News

    Mark also tells us why he chose the name John and remind us that Jesus is the temporary link between God
    and mankind.

    * The righteous and sinners

    Mark writes 2 scenes to distinguish righteous from sinners and identify them.

    a) In the first scene (Mark 2:18), Mark associates the Pharisees with the disciples of John the Baptiser.
    Both groups are fasting, which means that they are not eating the spiritual food brought by the Good News. Therefore
    they go on living according to Moses’ law.

    Mark 2:18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and
    asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?”

    “to fast” => to abstain from spiritual food (the Word of God)

    b) In the second scene (Mark 2:23-24), Mark dissociates the Pharisees from the disciples of John.
    The disciples of John do not participate in the contreversy over the Sabbath, which means that they do not oppose
    Jesus and the Good News

    Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the
    heads of grain as they walked along.
    Mark 2:24 So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
    
    The heads of grain symbolise the Word of God that men have to work so as to extract the spiritual bread (Ruth 2:7)
    “To pick the heads of grain” => to seek the spiritual food

    * Incompatibility between old and new Word of God

    Old Word of God = Law of Moses + Prophecies
    New Word of God = The Good News

    Mark places them in opposition by suggesting the following associations

    New cloth => The Good News
    Old garment => Moses’ Law and prophecies

    New wine => The Good News
    Old wineskins => Moses’ Law and prophecies

    John the Baptiser wears the old garments. The camel’s hair refers to Exodus and the belt around his loins refers to the
    prophets Elijah and Jeremiah.
    Jesus the savior brings the garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10)

    In the bible, wine is often associated with bread (the spiritual bread)
    Wine also refers to the fruit of the vine, the blood of Jesus (Mark 14:24).

    * The supplanting of the old Word and the end of Sabbath

    The Sabbath is the strong symbol that represents the old Word since God gave the very first manna (the spiritual
    bread) to his people when he established the first Sabbath (Exodus16:14-31)

    Mark has already used this symbol by making Jesus teach for the first time on the Sabbath.
    In these last verses, Mark quotes the word 5 times and announces that the Sabbath will be repealed.

    Mark 2:28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

    The Son of Man has the sabbath day in his power, and may rule it as he desires since he is a divine figure who acts on
    earth according to God’s will.
    Mark suggests here (Mark 2:28) that there will be other thing that the Sabbath when the kingdom of God is established
    (Mark 16:1-8)

    Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over
    The end of the Sabbath means that the new Word has just supplanted the old one.

    * Why did Mark choose the name John ?

    1- The name Jonathan is close to Johanan, the Hebrew form of IÓannÉs/John
    Jonathan (“the LORD has given”) => IÓannÉs/John son of Zebedee (“Yah has bestowed”)

    2 – In the bible there are several Jonathan. Among them are Jonathan son of Abiathar and Jonathan son of Saul.

    Mark reused their features to create his own characters named John (John as James’ brother and John the Baptiser)

    The pair (2 Samuel 15:27, …) Ahimaaz (son de Zadok) and Jonathan (son of Abiathar) => the
    pair of brother James and John.
    Ahimaaz (2 Samuel 18:27) and Jonathan (1 Kings 1:42) brought the good news to the king => James and John
    will follow Jesus to bring the Good News (new nets)

    Jonathan leaves his father Saul (1 Samuel 18:1-4) => John leaves his father Zebedee (Mark 1:20)

    * Mark’s reinterpretation

    Mark reinterprets an old episode (1 Samuel 21:1-6) by quoting Abiathar instead of Ahimelec.
    He does this to justify the choice of the name ‘John’: Jonathan is son of Abiathar

    Mark 2:25 Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry
    and in need?
    “to be hungry” => to need spiritual food
    Note the parallel with
    Mark 11:12 The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

    Mark 2:26 During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he (David) entered the house of God and ate the
    consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. …”

    Abiathar instead of Ahimelec because Jonathan is son of Abiathar

    * The temporary link

    Jesus is the temporary link (Mark 2:20 and Mark 9:19) between God and men since he has a human and a divine dimension

    Mark 2:20 But the time will come when the bridegroom (3566) will be taken from them; then they
    will fast.

    Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of
    grain as they walked along.

    “To pick the heads of grain” => to seek the spiritual food
    Jesus’ disciples are preparing themselves for the time when Jesus will no longer be there and they begin to seek
    Word by themselves.

    Mark 9:19 “O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I
    put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”

    THE NEED FOR GOD’S WORD (a few interesting parallels)

    Mark 1:36 Simon and his companions searched for him,
    Mark 2:23 … His disciples began to pick the heads of grain
    Mark 2:25 … what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
    Mark 11:12 The next day, when they had left Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

    4 – THE MESSAGE (TEACHING)

    God gives Israel the Good News and offers it a new covenant based on these Good News.

    The main features are
    1 – the forgiveness of sins through redemption as described in the prophecy of Isaiah
    2 – the opening to the pagans

    In a practical way
    1 – The new forgiveness of sins frees the sinners since the Son of Man erases their sins by taking them upon him.
    2 – The Good News are also offered to the pagans, Israel is no longer the covenant people. It has to integrate a new
    and wider covenant where hebrews and pagans will be equal.
    3 – The circumcision of flesh is no longer the sign of the new covenant, the barriers between Hebrews and pagans are
    coming down
    4 – The priests lose their role as intercessors between God and men about the forgiveness of sins.
    since it is now the son of man who erases them
    5 – The Good News will supplant the old Word because they are no longer compatible.
    6 – The Hebrews who want to keep the ritual and food laws can enter the new covenant if they recognise Jesus as the
    Redeemer.
    7 – The Hebrews who want to go on living according to the Moses’ law must not oppose the teaching of the Good News.

    To sum up: the Good News removes the barriers between hebrew and pagan people and go beyond the prophecy of
    Isaiah.

    5 – TECHNICAL VIEW: THE PROMISE OF REDEMPTION AND SALVATION

    THE REMISSION OF SINS ACCORDING TO MARK

    1 – Repentance (sinner’s will to return to God)
    2 – Forgiveness of sins (God’s will) => the Redeemer takes the sins upon himself to redeem them
    3 – Delay
    4 – Redemption of sins,

    In the narrative, the redemption cannot be immediate because it would mean the death of the redeemer. The forgiveness
    will therefore be a promise of redemption so as to postpone the death of the redeemer and continue the story.

    THE STEPS OF HEALING/REDEMPTION (TEMPLATE)

    1 – ‘mutual recognition’
    2 – ‘forgiveness of sin’ = ‘promise of redemption’ = ‘apparent healing’
    3 – delay
    4 – ‘redemption’ = ‘actual healing’

    Healing is both the promise of redemption and its fulfilment since we are sure that the promise will come true,
    As a result, there is a mixture of present and future tense.

    LEPER’S HEALING (MODEL VARIANT)

    1 – Faith

    a) The leper initiates the mutual recognition
    Mark 1:40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make
    me clean.”

    b) End of mutual recognition
    Mark 1:41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He
    said. “Be clean!”

    2 – Forgiveness of sins = promise of redemption = Apparent healing

    Mark 1:42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.

    3 – Delay (deferred redemption)

    4 – Redemption of sins = Actual Healing

    Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a
    ransom for many.”
    Mark 15:37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.
    Jesus pays the ransom to redeem sins

    PARALYTIC’S HEALING (MODEL VARIANT)

    1 – Faith

    a) The pagans initiate the mutual recognition
    Mark 2:3 Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.
    Mark 2:4 Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an
    opening …

    b) End of mutual recognition
    Mark 2:4 … and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

    2 – Forgiveness of sins = promise of redemption

    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.
    ”

    3 – Delay (deferred healing)

    Mark adds a contreversy that delays healing and brings 2 technical precisions

    a) Beginning of the contreversy
    Mark 2:6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts,

    b) First technical precision: Forgiveness of sins = healing
    Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up,
    pick up your mat, and walk’?

    c) End of the contreversy and second technical precision
    Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He
    said to the paralytic,

    4 – Apparent healing

    Mark 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them
    all.

    5 – Delay (deferred redemption)

    6 – Redemption of sins = Actual Healing
    (Mark 15:37 Jesus pays the ransom to redeem)

    MOTHER-IN-LAW’S HEALING (MODEL VARIANT)

    1 – Mutual recognition => Forgiveness of sins = promise of redemption = Apparent healing

    Jesus initiates the mutual recognition
    Mark 1:31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and
    she began to serve them.

    2 – Delay (deferred redemption)

    3 – Redemption of sins = Actual Healing
    (Mark 15:37 Jesus pays the ransom to redeem)

    EXPULSION OF AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT (MODEL VARIANT)

    1 – Jesus’ Authorit => The unclean spirit (or demon) is apparently casted out
    Mark 1:40 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”
    Mark 1:41 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud
    shriek.

    2 – Delay (deferred redemption)

    3 – Redemption of sins => The unclean spirit (or demon) is actually casted out
    (Mark 15:37 Jesus pays the ransom to redeem)

    THE FULL CHAIN OF REDEMPTION AND SALVATION

    1 – ‘mutual recognition’ and ‘faith’ (Mark 1:15 “the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe
    in the gospel!”
    2 – ‘forgiveness of sin’ = ‘promise of redemption’ = ‘apparent healing’
    3 – delay
    4 – ‘redemption’ = ‘actual healing’ (Mark 15:37 Jesus breathes His last)
    5 – delay
    6 – salvation (Mark 16:1-8 Entry into the kingdom of God)

    6 – TECHNICAL VIEW: JESUS AND THE SON OF MAN

    MARK SEPARATES WORD AND DEED

    1 – Jesus is the figure who announces the Good News and teaches it
    2 – The son of man is the figure who fufills the redemption by taking the sins upon him so as to redeem them
    Jesus cannot forgive the sins because he has a human dimension.

    In order for sins to be forgiven by God without any human intervention, Mark has created a divine figure who acts on
    earth according to God’s will.

    So, in Mark’s Gospel, the Son of Man is a fully divine figure who fulfills on earth what God alone can do: the
    forgiveness of sins (Mark 2: and the abrogation of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28 and Mark 16:1)
    The 2 notions are linked since the end of the Sabbath means the end of the old Word in favor of the Good News that
    advocates a new forgiveness of sins

    This construction with 2 distinct figures is also required because:
    1 – By definition, the figure who fulfills the redemption must die.
    2 – The Word, the message saying that the forgiveness of sins is fulfilled through redemption, must not die.
    

    At the end of the story:
    1 – Jesus will disappear but his Word (message) will remain through his body put in the tomb.
    2 – Mark will mutate his 2 figures (Jesus and the Son of Man) so that they lost their divine dimension. All that is
    divine must not die.

    To sum up

    God = = => Jesus (divine dimension + human dimension) => Men
    God = = = > Son of Man on earth as redeemer

    At the end of the story, Jesus and the Son of Man lose their divine dimension before disappearing. This is the scene
    where Pilate frees Barabbas (the son of the Father).

    The connection between God and the 2 figures is then broken.

    God x-x-x Jesus (human dimension)
    God x-x-x Son of Man on earth as redeemer

    AUTHORITY AND POWER

    Jesus and the Son of Man make a pair whose authority and power come from God.
    Note also that Jesus alone uses the expression ‘Son of Man’.

    Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He (Jesus) taught as one who had authority
    (1849), and not as the scribes.

    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with
    authority (1849)! He (Jesus) commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

    Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority (1849) on earth to forgive sins…”
    He said to the paralytic,

    Mark 2:28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1849.htm exousia: power to act, authority

    * Jesus reaches out his hand

    The raised hand symbolises the help and the power coming from God.

    Mark 1:40 …(The leper) begged him: “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
    Mark 1:41 … Jesus reached out his hand … “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
    Mark 1:42 And immediately … the man was cleansed.

    Here is a parallel with the Isrealites crying out to the LORD for help and Moses stretching out his hand

    Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and there were the Egyptians coming after
    them! The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the LORD for help.
    Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back with a
    powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided,

    7 – OT SOURCES AND REINTERPRETATION

    MAIN IDEAS *

    Isaiah 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good
    news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the
    captives and freedom to the prisoners, (BSB)

    The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me => the Spirit descending as a dove upon Jesus
    the LORD has anointed Me => Jesus will be anointed and Christ means ” anointed”
    to preach good news => Jesus will preach the Good News
    the poor => the pagans (they do not have true wealth i.e. the Word of God)
    to bind up the brokenhearted => to heal the sinners
    freedom to the prisoners => the Good New will frees man from sin through the redeemer

    NEW FORGIVENESS OF SINS *

    * OT sources: The suffering servant

    Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His
    soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD
    will prosper in His hand.

    Isaiah 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge
    My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

    Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong,
    because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the
    sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

    * Mark’s gospel: The Son of Man on earth as redeemer

    Mark 8:31 Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by
    the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again.

    Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a
    ransom for many.”

    Mark 15:37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.

    NEW HEART AND NEW SPIRIT *

    Ezekiel 36.26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the
    heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
    Ezekiel 36.27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep
    My judgments and do them.

    NEW COVENANT

    Isaiah 59:20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those in Jacob who turn from transgression
    .” This is the LORD’s declaration.

    Isaiah 59:21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit who is on you, and
    my words that I have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or
    from the mouths of your children’s children, from now on and forever,” says the LORD.

    Isaiah 61:8 For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and injustice; I will faithfully reward my people
    and make a permanent covenant with them.

    Jeremiah 31:31 “Look, the days are coming”–this is the LORD’s declaration–“when I will make a new
    covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

    Jeremiah 31:32 This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them
    by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt–my covenant that they broke even though I am their master”–the
    LORD’s declaration.

    Jeremiah 31:33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”–the
    LORD’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and
    they will be my people.

    NEW HEAVENS, NEW EARTH *

    * OT sources

    Isaiah 51:16 I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to
    establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’ ”

    Isaiah 65:17 For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be
    remembered, nor will they come to mind.

    Isaiah 66:22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure
    before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure.

    * From Isaiah to Mark’s Gospel

    “New heavens and new earth” => the kingdom of God
    “My words in your mouth” => Mark’s gospel
    “former things will not be remembered” => Mark’s gospel will supplant all that was before it (the Moses’
    Law and the voice of prophets)

    Mark 1:14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel
    of God.
    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the
    gospel!”

    Reply

11. 8 – DOUBLE MEANING: VARIOUS WAYS TO EVOKE THE WORD OF GOD

    Net: The tool to catch/convert the sinners. The old nets represent the Moses’ Law while the new nets represent
    the Good News
    Simon and Andre leave their nets (the Moses’ Law) and follow Jesus.

    Father: The law of their father i.e. the Moses’ Law
    James and John leave their father Zebedee (the law of their father) and follow Jesus

    The garments:
    New cloth => The Good News
    Old garment => Moses’ Law and prophecies
    John the baptiser represents the Moses’ Law and the voice of the prophets because he wears the old clothes.
    “camel” => Exodus (Manna, Moses’ Law)
    “a leather belt around his waist” => the clothing of the prophets
    Jesus (which means savior) brings the garments of salvation (the Good News).

    Bread: spiritual bread. The Jesus’ boby (Mark 14:22)

    Food:
    to fast => to abstain from spiritual food
    to pick the heads of grain => to seek spiritual food
    to be hungry => to need spiritual food
    to pray => to need spiritual food

    Heads of grain: the God’s Word that people have to work in order to extract the spiritual food
    Mark (Ruth 2:7)

    Fruit of the vine: The Jesus’ blood (Mark 14:24)

    New wine => The Good News
    Old wineskins => Moses’ Law and prophecies

    Jesus will shed his blood to fulfill the promise of redemption, what is the essential content of the Good News

    The dove: it refers to Noah’s ark. The dove brings good news on the second come back (the olive branch
    testifying that the waters are receding).
    In our context, the dove brings the Spirit descending from heavens

    Spirit: the thought of those who wrote the Mark’s Gospel.

    Holy spirit: The writers’ thought emanates from God. God breathes his spirit into the body of man.

    Ark of the covenant:
    By receiving the spirit brought by the dove, Jesus becomes the ark that contains the Good News

    The House: it represents the tabernacle that shelters the ark of the covenant. As a result, it is the place
    where the God’s Word dwells.
    In Mark’ Gospel, there are several houses, the main one is the House where Jesus teaches the Good News but there is
    also the house of Levi where the sinners eat an evil word.

    Baptism: It symbolises admission into a community and acceptance of its rules
    Water baptism refers to exodus and entry to the promised land. It symbolises the acceptance of the covenant based on
    the laws that God gave to Moses
    Spirit baptism refers to the new spirit that the Good News convey. All that will lead to the kingdom of God

    The desert: the place where God gives the very first Manna to hebrew people. Then will come the laws given to
    Moses.
    Manna and laws represent the Word of God as spiritual food and ordinances.

    Sabbath: It is the strong symbol that represents the old Word because God gave the very first manna (the
    spiritual bread) to hebrew people when he established the first Sabbath (Exodus16:14-31)

    Covenant: Marriage

    The Bridegroom: In the bible, there are a lot of verses about the bridegroom, the invisible God who begets and
    the woman who gives birth (Isaiah 62:5, Isaiah 66:7-9, Ruth 4:13, …)
    In Mark’s Gospel, God is the bridegroom of Israel, He gives Israel a new Word to make a new covenant. He heals Israel
    (his bride) so that she gives birth to children of God.

    Righteous: A righteous is a person who lives according to the Word of God, i.e. he walks in his statutes and
    carefully observes his ordinances.
    John the baptiser is a righteous according the Moses’ law
    James and John will the righteous according the Good News

    Sinner: A sinner is the opposite of the righteous one

    NAMES MEANING ‘GIFT OF GOD’

    Zedebee ( “Yah has bestowed,”) represents the old Word

    John (IÓannÉs:Greek, Johanan:Hebrew) is close to Jonathan (“the LORD has given”)

    James and John leave their father Zebedee (the old gift, the Moses’ Law) to follow Jesus
    who brings the new gift, They will provide the new nets (the new gift, the Good News) so that the
    fishermen/disciples catch/convert the sinners.

    OT SOURCES

    Bread and Word:

    Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you
    nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but
    on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

    Fishermen and Nets:

    Isaiah 19:8 Then the fishermen will mourn, all who cast a hook into the Nile will lament, and those
    who spread nets on the waters will pine away.

    Garments of salvation, Righteousness, Bridegroom:

    Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with
    garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress,
    as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

    The invisible god who begets and the woman who gives birth:

    Isaiah 66:9 “Will I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver (3205) it?” says the LORD; “or
    will I who deliver (3205), close the womb?” says your God.

    Ruth 4:13 Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the LORD granted conception to
    her, and she gave birth (3205) to a son.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3205.htm yalad: to bear, bring forth, beget

    9 – DOUBLE MEANING: DIFFICULT EXPRESSIONS

    Mark 1:7 to untie the strap of His sandals
    Who does not take the right to redeem takes off his sandal
    OT sources: (Ruth 4:7,8) and (Isaiah 53:10-12)

    Mark 1:7 I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals
    John will not stand in the way of the one who comes to take the right of redemption

    Mark 1:16, Mark 2:13 Beside the Sea
    The sea is the symbolic border between the hebrew and pagan people
    OT sources: (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

    Mark 1:33the whole town gathered at the door
    The verse means that the redemption is deferred, there will be a delay between the promise of redemption and the actual
    redemption
    OT sources: (Ruth 4:1-11)

    Mark 2:14-16 tax booth, tax collector
    The tax refers to the entrance fee. In our context, it is the fee to enter into the covenant that God made with
    Abraham. The tax represents the symbol of this covenant, i.e. circumcision.
    OT sources: (Genesis 17:4-14)

    Mark 2:14 Levi, son of Alphaeus
    In Mark’s Gospel, Levi son of Alphaeus is the priest in charge of collecting the entrance fee i.e. the circumcision
    His name and role will be changed, he will become Matthew the disciple who provides the spiritual bread.
    OT Sources: (Genesis 17:4-14) and (1 Chronicles 9:31,32)

    Mark 2:14 son of Alphaeus
    The expression ‘Son of Alphaeus’ means that a character may disappear in one form and reappear in another form
    like the Alpheus river.
    The Alpheus river and its features, disappearance and resurgence, are quoted by authors such as Ovid, Virgil, Strabo.
    Sources: see my Chapter 8 to access their texts about the Alpheus and Orontes rivers

    Mark 2:10, Mark 2:28 Son of Man
    The Son of Man is a fully divine figure who fulfills on earth what God alone can do: the forgiveness of sins and the
    abrogation of the Sabbath
    OT sources:
    1 – Ezekiel; The expression “Son of man” appears 93 times in the book of Ezekiel. In this book, the Son of Man is
    Ezekiel to whom God commands
    2 – Enoch and Daniel: In their book, the Son of Man is a heavenly figure.

    10 – OLD WORD VERSUS GOOD NEWS: INCOMPATIBILTY AND REPLACEMENT

    Mark 1:6 John the baptiser represents the Moses’ law and the voice of the prophets, for he wears the old garments.
    Mark 1:7 John announces the new Word that comes after him
    Mark 1:8 John announces the baptism of spirit that comes after the baptism of water.
    Mark 1:14 John will speak no more, the Good News become the Word of God
    Mark 1:15 Jesus proclaims the Good News, redemption is now
    Mark 1:17-18 Simon and Andrew leave their nets (the old Word) to follow Jesus
    Mark 1:19-30 James and John leave their father’s law (the Moses’ law) to follow Jesus
    Mark 1:24 The man in the synagogue grasps the incompatibility between the Good News and the old Word
    Mark 1:19 The teaching of the Word moves from the synagogue to the house of Simon and Andrew.
    Mark 1:40-42 Jesus shows that Good News are more efficient than the Moses’ Law.
    Mark 2:21-22 Jesus uses images of clothes and wine to signify the incompatibility between Good News and the old Word.
    Mark 2:28 Jesus announces that the Good News will supplant what was before them i.e. the Moses’ law and the voice of
    the prophets

    11 – CHARACTERS

    Jesus: A figure both divine and human who is the link between God and mankind. He brings the new Word of God,
    the Good News that advocate the redemption of sins

    Son of Man on earth: The fully divine figure who forgives and redeems the sins

    Jesus of Nazareth: The man in the synagogue alone used this expression, which means that he recognised the power
    of Jesus and identified him as a Nazirite (Numbers 6)

    John the Baptiser: He represents the Hebrews keeping the Moses’ law and not opposing the Good News. John the
    baptiser is a righteous according to the Moses’ law,

    James and John: They represent the Hebrews who follow Jesus and carefully observe his ordinances. James and
    John will be righteous according to the Good News

    Simon and Andrew: The hebrews and pagans living according to the Good News. The imperfect people who may sin
    but return to God

    Zebedee: He represents the Hebrews living according to the Moses’ law

    Man with an unclean spirit: the Hebrews who reject the Good News

    Demons: The fallen angels who oppose the Word of God

    Mother-in-law: Israel as a bride

    Leper: an hebrew sinner who wants to be saved

    Paralytic: a pagan who wants to live according to the Good News

    Levi: Levi refers to the Levites, the priests (Leviticus Book). In our context, he represents more particularly
    the priests performing the ritual after child’s birth, (Leviticus 12: child’s circumcision and mother’s cleansing).

    Pharisees: The hebrews who reject the Good News

    Scribes: Those who know the Moses’ law to the letter. According to the ‘Berean Study Bible’ translation,
    the scribes are Pharisees
    (Mark 2:17 When the scribes who were Pharisees … BSB)

    12 – JESUS OF NAZARETH AND THE TEMPORARY NAZIRITE (NUMBERS 6)

    NAZARETH (NAZAR + ETH)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5144.htm nazar: consecrate
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted
    Word Origin: from nazar
    NASB Translation: consecrated ones (1), Nazirite (9), Nazirites (2), one distinguished (2), untrimmed
    vines (2).

    ‘Eth’: Jesus has the same features as the temporary nazirite (Numbers 6)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6256.htm eth: time
    Word Origin probably from anah
    NASB Translation: …, period (1), season (10), …, time (226), timely (1), times (27), when (8),
    …, year (2)

    THE NAZIRITE

    Numbers 6:2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of
    a Nazirite (5139), to separate himself to the LORD,

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted

    THE HOLY ONE

    The man in the synagogue (Mark 1:24) discerns the high rank of Jesus. By saying ‘Nazareth’, he identifies Jesus as the
    Nazirite, the Holy One described in the Book of Numbers

    Numbers 6:5 For the entire period of his vow of separation (5145), no razor shall pass over his head.
    He (the Nazirite) must be holy until the time of his separation to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of
    his head grow long.

    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You
    are—the Holy One of God!”
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5145.htm nezer: consecration, crown, Naziriteship

    THE DEFILEMENT WITH A DEAD BODY

    Jesus does not defile himself by going near a dead body because the girl (Mark 5:39) and the young man (Mark 9:26)
    did not die.

    Numbers 6:7 Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile
    himself, because the crown of consecration (5145) to his God is upon his head.

    Mark 5:39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but
    asleep.”

    Mark 9:26 After shrieking and convulsing him violently, the spirit came out. The boy became like a corpse,
    so that many said, “He is dead.”

    THE FRUIT OF THE VINE

    Jesus will never drink the fruit of the vine before the end of his Naziriteship

    Numbers 6:4 All the days of his separation, he is not to eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not
    even the seeds or skins.

    Mark 14:25 Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink
    it anew in the kingdom of God.”

    THE OFFERINGS OF BREAD AND WINE AT THE END OF NAZIRITESHIP

    Before he disappears, Jesus will make the offerings of bread (Mark 14.22) and wine (Mark 14.23)

    Numbers 6:13 Now this is the law of the Nazirite when his time of separation is complete: He must be
    brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

    Numbers 6:15 and a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers
    smeared with oil, and their grain offering and their drink offerings.

    Mark 14.22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the
    disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”

    Mark 14.23 Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

    12 – JESUS (OF NAZARETH AND CHRIST), THE OT SOURCES

    Due to his divine dimension, Jesus has a singular rank that places him above his hebrew brothers. The anointing and the
    crown will illustrate this higher rank.

    *The term ‘CHRIST’ makes the link between anointing and higher rank.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5547.htm Christos: the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ

    The term ‘NAZARETH’ makes the link between nazirite, crown and higher rank.

    ‘Nazareth’ (Nazar + Eth) is built from the hebrew root “N.Z.R” from which derives “NAZAR” , “NAZIR” , “NEZER”.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5144.htm nazar: consecrate

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5145.htm nezer: consecration, crown, Naziriteship

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted
    Word Origin: from nazar
    NASB Translation: consecrated ones (1), Nazirite (9), Nazirites (2), one distinguished (2), untrimmed
    vines (2).

    The term ‘ETH’ indicates the temporary nature of Jesus among men

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6256.htm
    eth: time
    Word Origin probably from anah
    NASB Translation: …, period (1), season (10), …, time (226), timely (1), times (27), when (8),
    …, year (2)

    OT SOURCES *

    I will quote a few verses that combine higher rank, anointing and crown.

    Note the strong parallel between the Nazirite (Numbers 6) and the priest (Leviticus 21) who does not shred his clothes

    Note also that Jesus brings the garments of salvation and that he will not tear his garments.

    The parallel between the Nazirite (Numbers 6) and the priest (Leviticus 21)

    Numbers 6:2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a
    Nazirite (5139), to separate/consecrate (5144) himself to the LORD,

    Numbers 6:5 For the entire period of his vow of separation (5145), no razor shall pass over his head.
    He (the Nazirite) must be holy until the time of his separation to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of
    his head grow long.

    Numbers 6:7 Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile
    himself, because the crown of consecration (5145) to his God is upon his head.

    Leviticus 21:10 The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his
    head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his
    garments

    Leviticus 21:11 He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his
    father or mother.

    Leviticus 21:12 He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration (5145)
    of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5144.htm nazar: consecrate
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5145.htm nezer: consecration, crown, Naziriteship
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted

    To sum up:

    Nazirite ( consecrate, holy) => Priest (highest among his brothers)
    Nazirite (crown of consecration is upon his head) => Priest (consecration of the anointing oil)
    Nazirite (must not defile a dead body) => Priest (must not defile a dead body)

    * Joseph (the prince of his brothers) receives Jacob’s blessing on his forehead.

    Genesis 49:26 The blessings of your father (Jacob) have surpassed the blessings of the ancient
    mountains and the bounty of the everlasting hills. May they rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow
    (6936) of the prince (5139) of his brothers.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted

    * The direct relationship between crown and anointing

    Exodus 29:6 Put the turban on his head and attach the holy diadem/crown (5145) to the turban.
    Exodus 29:7 Then take the anointing (4886) oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

    Judges 9:14 Finally all the trees said to the thornbush (329) , ‘Come and reign over us.’
    Judges 9:15 But the thornbush (329) replied, ‘If you really are anointing (4886) me as king over
    you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars
    of Lebanon.’

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4886.htm mashach: to smear, anoint
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/329.htm atad: a bramble, buckthorn, also a city in Canaan

    JESUS OF NAZARETH (THE NAZIRITE AND THE CROWNED HEAD) *

    * Mark associates ‘Jesus’ and ‘Nazareth’

    Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee

    * Mark highlights the relationship between Nazareth and Nazirite

    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know
    who You are the Holy One of God!”

    Why does the man add the expression ‘of Nazareth’ ?

    He does it because he heard Jesus and understood that Jesus’ teaching means the end of Israel living according to the
    law of Moses.
    He expresses this by saying “What do You want with us ?” and “Have You come to destroy us?”

    The man also grasped that such a message is brought by a higher rank figure. As a result, he identifies Jesus as a
    Nazarite by adding ‘of Nazareth’ and he goes on the identification by saying “You are the Holy One of God” because the
    nazirite must be Holy (Numbers 6:5)

    To sum up: In the verse, Nazareth refers to the Nazirite and to him who is the highest
    among his brothers.

    * Mark highlights the relationship between Nazareth and the crown

    Mark 10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David,
    have mercy on me!”

    Why does the blind man say ‘Son of David’ just after hearing ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ ?

    He does it because he immediately associates Nazareth with the crown of the king. This is why he says
    “Son of David”

    Mark 10:51 “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Rabboni,” said the blind man, “let me
    see again.”

    ‘let me see again’ => the blind man knows that Jesus has the power to heal him

    To sum up: In the sequence (Mark 10:47-51), Nazareth refers to the crown and to him who has the
    power.

    * Jesus will wear the crown (Mark 15:17) of thorns like the thorn bush (Judges 9:14).

    Mark 15:17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His
    head,

    Judges 9:14 Finally all the trees said to the thornbush , ‘Come and reign over us.’

    JESUS CHRIST (THE ANOINTED HEAD) *

    Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God.
    Mark 8:29 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ
    (5547).”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5547.htm Christos: the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ

    * The Anointing at Bethany

    Jesus is anointed (Mark 14:3) like the priest highest among his brothers (Leviticus 21:10) or
    the thornbush reigning over the trees (Judges 9:15).

    Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an
    alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’
    head.

    Leviticus 21:10 The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his
    head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his
    garments

    Judges 9:15 But the thornbush (329) replied, ‘If you really are anointing (4886) me as king over
    you,

    THE CHRIST, THE KING, THE CROWN AND THE CROSS *

    Mark 14:61 … Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
    Mark 14:62 “I am,” said Jesus,

    Mark 15:2 So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus
    replied.
    Mark 15:17 … and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head,

    * Jesus Christ, the king on the Cross

    Mark 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

    By placing Jesus Christ on the cross, Mark associates Christ with the Cross.

    * Mark reinterprets Ezekiel 37:16-20 (One Kingdom: stick of Ephraim and stick of Judah)

    The Markan’s cross is an assembly of 2 woods, that of the hebrews and that of the pagans

    The first letter of the word “Christos” is the Chi letter (uppercase Χ).
    ‘X’ represents the cross and the Christ as redeemer of hebrew and pagan people

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5547.htm Christos: the Anointed One, Christ
    Original Word: Χριστ?ς, ο?, ?

    SYNTHESIS *

    The terms ‘Nazareth’ and ‘Christ’ identify the high rank of Jesus. Both words also refer to the head.
    nazareth => crowned head
    jesus => anointed head

    The head also symbolizes the spirit, the thought and the leader
    John the Baptist, who represents the ancient word, will lose his head.
    His death will be a new way of saying that the old Word will be replaced by the Good News.

    13 – NAME AND COMMON NOUN WITH STRONG’S CONCORDANCE

    JESUS
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2424.htm IÉsous: Jesus or Joshua

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3091.htm Yehoshua: “the LORD is salvation,”
    NASB Translation: Jeshua (28), Joshua (219).

    NAZARETH (NAZAR + ETH)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6256.htm eth: time

    The hebrew words “NAZAR”, “NAZIR”, “NEZER” come from the hebrew root “N.Z.R”
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5144.htm nazar: consecrate

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted
    Word Origin from nazar
    NASB Translation: consecrated ones (1), Nazirite (9), Nazirites (2), one distinguished (2), untrimmed vines (2).

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5145.htm nezer: consecration, crown, Naziriteship

    CHRIST

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5547.htm Christos: the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ

    ZEBEDEE AND ZEBULUN

    Zebedee comes from the hebrew root “Z.B.D” (zabad, zebed) and expresses the Gift of God i.e. His Word
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2199.htm Zebedaios: Zebedee, the father of James and John
    Word Origin of Hebrew origin Zebadyah (h2069)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2069.htm Zebadyah or Zebadyahu: “Yah has bestowed,”
    from zabad (2064) and Yah

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2064.htm zabad: bestow upon, endow with
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2065.htm zebed: endowment, gift

    https://biblehub.com/genesis/30-20.htm
    Genesis 30:20 God has given (2064:zabad) me a good gift (2065:zebed) … And she (Leah) named
    him Zebulun (2074)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2074.htm Zebulun: a son of Jacob

    JOHN

    John (IÓannÉs:Greek, Johanan:Hebrew) is close to Jonathan (“the LORD has given”)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2491.htm IÓannÉs: John
    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin Yochanan/ Johanan

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3083.htm Yehonathan: “the LORD has given,”
    NASB Translation: Jehonathan (2), Jonathan (120), Jonathan’s (2).

    JAMES (Jacob/Israel => James)

    Genesis 32:28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob (3290), but Israel ;

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3290.htm Yaaqob: a son of Isaac

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2384.htm IakÓb: Jacob, the son of Isaac
    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin Yaaqob

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2385.htm IakÓbos: James

    SIMON (Simeon => Simon)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8095.htm Shimon: a son of Jacob,
    NASB Translation: Shimeon (1), Simeon (43).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4613.htm Simon

    CAPERNAUM

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2584.htm Kapernaoum: Capernaum
    Word Origin: variant reading for Kapharnaoum, q.v.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2746b.htm Kapharnaoum: Capernaum
    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin kaphar and Nachum

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3723.htm kaphar: a village

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5151.htm Nachum: an Israelite prophet
    Word Origin: from nacham

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5162.htm nacham: to be sorry, console oneself

    BREATH, WIND, SPIRIT

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7307.htm ruach: breath, wind, spirit
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4151.htm pneuma: wind, spirit
    https://biblehub.com/greek/417.htm anemos: wind

    GOSPEL, WORD
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2098.htm euaggelion: good news
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3056.htm logos: a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech

    SUMMARY

    The detailed study of the two first chapters gives a good idea of what the gospel is about.
    It is a symbolic account that advocates the removal of barriers between hebrew and pagan people.

    In Mark’s Gospel, God speaks again to his people. He gives a new Word (the Good News).
    The key point is the forgiveness of sins, which will no longer be performed according to the Moses’ law, but according
    to another model described in the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 53:10-12 the suffering servant).
    This model, reinterpreted by Mark, frees the hebrews and pagans from sin since a third person takes upon himself the
    sins to redeem them.

    From the beginning, John the baptiser announces the new forgiveness of sins through an OT expression (Mark 1:7 to untie
    the sandals).
    When Jesus heals the paralytic, he uses 4 times the expression ”to forgive the sins” and he says explicitly that
    forgiveness equates healing (Mark 2:9) and that faith is needed to get forgiveness (Mark 2:5)

    The forgiveness is a first step where the redeemer takes upon himself the sins. He must then redeem them by shedding
    the blood.
    In the narrative, the redemption cannot be immediate because it would mean the death of the redeemer.
    The forgiveness will therefore be a promise of redemption so as to postpone the death of the redeemer and continue the
    story.
    As a result, there is a mixture of present and future tense since we are sure that the promise will come true,
    So, a healing is both a promise of redemption (apparent healing) and the redemption itself (actual healing)

    The forgiveness through redemption goes hand in hand with the opening to pagans.
    Mark writes it from the beginning, since Simon (an hebrew name) and Andrew (a pagan name) are brothers (Mark 1:16-17).

    The redemption for all is illustrated by 2 healings: that of the leper (hebrew) and that of the paralytic (pagan).
    Then Mark adds the Levi’s call to indicate that the circumcision of flesh is not part of the Good News

    Mark constantly evokes the Word of God through images such as food, clothing, wine or other words such as spirit,
    baptism, teaching, house, righteousness, Sabbath.
    He also evokes the Word of God through characters: John the baptiser represents the old Word while James and John
    represent the new Word (the Good News).

    At the end of the second chapter, Mark uses the images of the clothes and the wine to tell us that the Good News are
    not compatible with the previous Words transmitted by Moses and the prophets.
    In the very last verse (Mark 2:28), he announces that the Good News will supplant the previous Words by evoking the end
    of Sabbath.

    Mark’s characters have a particular characteristic, they can evolve and even mutate.
    Levi (son of Alphaeus) is a good example. After his call, his role and his name will change. We will never hear of
    Levi. However, he will reappear in another form like the Alpheus river.

    The main character, Jesus, is a complex figure who represents the temporary link between God and mankind.
    His role is to teach the Good News i.e. the redemption. To fulfill this role, Mark gives the character a divine and
    human dimension.
    The human dimension of Jesus prevents him from forgivening the sins because the forgiveness of sins is a divine
    prerogative (Mark 2:7).
    In order to forgive and redeem the sins wihout any human intervention, Mark creates a fully divine figure (the son of
    man) who will die to redeem the sins.

    At the end of his story, Mark will make sure that the new Word of God does not die and Mark will also
    remove the divine dimension from his characters because all that is divine must not die.

    Mark constructs his narrative by using and reinterpreting scenarios and expressions coming from OT sources. It
    is the first feature.
    The second one is the constant use of the double meaning.
    Consequently, to grasp the meaning and coherence of the narrative, it is necessary to identify the most relevant OT
    sources and to detect the double meaning.

    The first two chapters introduces the main elements needed to understand the narrative.
    The chapters 3-13 will provide the missing elements.
    The chapters 14-16 will be the final assembly that consolidates the whole gospel.
    Everything I have written about chapters 3-16 is a first view. I needed to do this work because the Mark’s Gospel is a
    web of connection.

    NEXT STEPS
    (Mark 3-7) the withered hand, the kingdom, the apostles and brothers, the divided house, parables, miracles,
    food laws , …, third synthesis.

    About Nanine Charbonnel and Maurice Mergui
    I mention their names in the tag list because I was very interested in their work, especially about the double
    meaning. Thanks to this, I discovered another way of reading the gospels.
    However my comments are not a copy and paste of their work because I have also integrated other readings.

    Reply

    1. Update: Jesus the man with three identities/faces (Nazarene, Christ, Son of God)

       1 – THE WORD ‘NAZARENE’ AND ITS 2 MEANINGS: NAZIRITE AND CROWN
       2 – JESUS THE NAZARENE AND HIS ROLE AS A TEACHER
       3 – JESUS THE CHRIST AND HIS ROLE AS A TEACHER
       4 – JESUS THE SON OF GOD AND HIS ROLE AS A HEALER
       5 – FORGIVENESS OF SINS: HEALING AS REPRESENTATION OF FORGIVENESS
       6 – FORGIVENESS OF SINS: INTERACTION BETWEEN GOD AND THE SON OF GOD THROUGH THE SON OF MAN
       7 – FORGIVENESS OF SINS: THE DELAY BETWEEN RECEIVING THE WORD AND HEALING
       8 – FORGIVENESS OF SINS: SYNTHESIS
       9 – THE MOMENT WHEN JESUS BECOMES THE NEW MAN WITH HIS 3 IDENTITIES: (MARK 1:10,11)
       10 – OT SOURCES
       SUMMARY
       SOME READINGS

       1 – THE WORD ‘NAZARENE’ AND ITS 2 MEANINGS: NAZIRITE AND CROWN

       A – NAZARENE/NAZIRITE: The time of separation to the LORD and the Holy One

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3479.htm NazarÉnos: a Nazarene (Mark 1:24)

       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted (Numbers 6:2)
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5144.htm nazar: consecrate (Numbers 6:5)
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5145.htm nezer: consecration, Naziriteship (Numbers 6:5)

       Mark 1:24 saying, “What [regards] us and You, Jesus the Nazarene (3479)? You came to destroy us; I have known You, who You are—the Holy One of God.” (Literal Standard Version)

       Numbers 6:2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite (5139), to separate himself to the LORD, (BSB)
       Numbers 6:5 For the entire period of his vow of separation (5145), no razor shall pass over his head. He must be holy until the time of his separation (5144) to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of his head grow long.

       The equivalence between Nazarene and Nazirite lies in
       1 – The building of the words. The greek word ‘Nazarenos’ and the hebrew word ‘nazir’ are built from the Hebrew root ”N-Z-R”
       2 – The time of separation to the LORD: Jesus will spend all his time serving God
       3 – The term ‘Holy’: Jesus will behave like the Nazirite described in Numbers 6 (no alcoholic beverages, …)

       B – NAZARENE AND CROWN

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3479.htm NazarÉnos: a Nazarene (Mark 10:47)

       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5145.htm nezer: crown (2 Kings 11:12 and 2 Chronicles 23)

       Mark 10:47 and having heard that it is Jesus the Nazarene (3479), he (Bartimeus) began to cry out, and to say, “The Son of David—Jesus! Deal kindly with me”;

       Thanks to his ear, the blind man establishes the link between Nazarene and the king’s crown because he has identified the hebrew root “N-Z-R” of the word Nazarene

       2 Kings 11:12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown (5145) on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed (4886) him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”

       The equivalence between Nazarene and crown lies in
       1 – The building of the words. The greek word ‘Nazarenos’ and the hebrew word ‘nezer/ crown’ are built from the Hebrew root “N-Z-R”
       2 – The reference to the king David (the crown on the king’s head)

       2 – JESUS THE NAZARENE AND HIS ROLE AS A TEACHER

       Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach (1321).
       Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at His teaching (1322), because He taught (1321) as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
       Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
       Mark 1:24 saying, “What [regards] us and You, Jesus the Nazarene (3479)? You came to destroy us; I have known You, who You are—the Holy One of God.” (Literal Standard Version)

       https://biblehub.com/greek/1321.htm didaskÓ: to teach
       First occurrence in Mark 1:21
       https://biblehub.com/greek/1322.htm didachÉ: doctrine, teaching

       Mark tells us here that Jesus’ teaching is not that of the scribes. The word “scribes” refers to the books of Moses (the Torah) and the books of the prophets
       The man identifies the teaching Jesus as Jesus the Nazarene. By putting this expression in the mouth of the man, the sequence (Mark 1:21-24) begins the first teaching period, that of Jesus the Nazarene

       3 – JESUS THE CHRIST AND HIS ROLE AS A TEACHER

       https://biblehub.com/greek/5547.htm Christos: the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4886.htm mashach: to smear, anoint

       Mark 8:29 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ (5547).”

       Mark 8:31 Then He began to teach (1321) them (the disciples) that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again.

       Mark 8:34 Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

       Peter identifies Jesus as the Christ and immediately Jesus teaches
       The sequence (Mark 8:29,31) begins the second teaching period, that of Christ

       4 – JESUS THE SON OF GOD AND HIS ROLE AS A HEALER

       Mark 3:10 For He had healed (2323) so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.
       Mark 3:11 And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

       The unclean spirits identify Jesus as the Son of God because they saw Jesus healing the sick

       5 – FORGIVENESS OF SINS: HEALING AS REPRESENTATION OF FORGIVENESS

       Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up (1453), pick up your mat, and walk’?

       Mark 2:11 “I tell you, get up (1453), pick up your mat, and go home.”
       Mark 2:12 And immediately the man got up (1453), picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

       https://biblehub.com/greek/1453.htm egeirÓ: to waken, to raise up

       6 – FORGIVENESS OF SINS: INTERACTION BETWEEN GOD AND THE SON OF GOD THROUGH THE SON OF MAN

       Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

       Mark 2:7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

       Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic,

       B – The interaction between earth and heaven through the Son of Man

       <= = = = = = Earth = = = = = = = => – – – / / – – – – – <= = Heaven = =>

       B1 – Repentance
       man => Jesus as Son of God = = = = => Son of Man = = => God of Israel

       B2 – Forgiveness of sins
       man <= Jesus as Son of God <= = = = = Son of Man <= = = God of Israel

       C – Two video clips illustrating the interaction through a ball or a boomerang

       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTBi4ExpTrw 0mn23 – 0mn59
       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsGXOyeaQqo 2mn35 -3mn55

       The man in the first boat => Balloon/Boomerang => The man in the second boat

       The man in the first boat <= Balloon/Boomerang <= The man in the second boat

       Equivalences
       1 – Balloon/Boomerang => Son of Man
       2 – The man in the first boat => Jesus as Son of God
       3 – The man in the second boat => God
       4 – Repulsion/Attraction => Forgiveness of sins

       Synthesis

       The son of man is the entity which enables the interaction between God and Jesus as Son of God.
       The Son of Man has the power to forgive sins on earth because God has given him this power

       Thanks to the interaction through the Son of Man, Jesus retains his full human nature.
       Keep in mind the 2 video clips, the one who throws the ball is not the ball. So Jesus is not the Son of Man.

       7 – FORGIVENESS OF SINS: THE DELAY BETWEEN RECEIVING THE WORD AND HEALING

       Mark 1:32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed,
       Mark 1:33 and the whole town (4172) gathered at the door (2374).
       Mark 1:34 And He healed (2323) many who were ill with various diseases (3554) and drove out many demons

       A – First way of reading the sequence

       Mark 1:32 => People hear the new Word of God and receive it in their hearts
       Mark 1:34 => Sins are immediately forgiven

       B – Second way of reading the sequence

       Mark 1:32 => People hear the new Word of God and receive it in their hearts
       Mark 1:33 => The period in which people are gathered at the door because they must learn and serve the new Word before entering the kingdom
       Mark 1:34 => God opens the door of the kingdom by forgivening the sins. When God forgives, the Son of Man takes upon himself the sins of others and redeems them

       The transfer of sins is implied in the expression “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet” (Mark 1:2) because Isaiah wrote how the suffering servant was crushed for the sins of others (Isaiah 53)
       The redemption of sins is implied in the expression “to untie the straps of sandals” (Mark 1:7) because this expression refers to the right of redemption (Ruth 4:7,8).

       Mark will describe the transfer and the redemption in his chapitre 15

       8 – FORGIVENESS OF SINS: SYNTHESIS

       A – First Healing: The encounter with Jesus and then the healing

       Mark 1:31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.

       B1 – First Explanation: The delay between the encounter and healing

       Mark 1:32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed,
       Mark 1:33 and the whole town gathered at the door (2374).
       Mark 1:34 And He healed (2323) many who were ill with various diseases (3554) and drove out many demons

       B2 – Second Explanation: Healing as the image of forgiveness

       Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?

       B3 – Third Explanation: Interaction between God and the Son of God through the Son of Man

       Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
       Mark 2:7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
       Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic,

       C – Explicit association between healing and Son of God

       Mark 3:10 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.
       Mark 3:11 And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

       9 – THE MOMENT WHEN JESUS BECOMES THE NEW MAN WITH HIS 3 IDENTITIES: (MARK 1:10,11)

       A – Presentation of Mark’s Gospel and its main character, Jesus

       Mark 1:1 This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
       https://biblehub.com/greek/2098.htm euaggelion: good news

       B – The theme of the gospel: The repentance for the forgiveness of sins

       Mark 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance (3341) for the forgiveness of sins.

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3341.htm metanoia: change of mind, repentance

       C – Cleansing of a common man named Jesus

       Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

       D – God chooses Jesus and gives him the new spirit. At this point, Jesus becomes the Nazarene and the Christ

       Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit (4151) descending on Him like a dove.
       https://biblehub.com/greek/4151.htm pneuma: wind, spirit

       E – The voice from heaven adds the identity of Son of God

       Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit (4151) descending on Him like a dove.
       Mark 1:11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

       F – God tests the new man as he tested the Isrealite men during the Exodus

       Mark 1:12 At once the Spirit (4151) drove Jesus into the wilderness,
       Mark 1:13 and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.

       G – Jesus’ identity as Nazarene is made explicit and his role as teacher is asserted

       Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. (BSB)
       Mark 1:24 saying, “What [regards] us and You, Jesus the Nazarene (3479)? You came to destroy us; I have known You, who You are—the Holy One of God.” (Literal Standard Version)

       H – Jesus’ identity as Son of God is made explicit and his role as healer is asserted

       Mark 3:10 For He had healed (2323) so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.
       Mark 3:11 And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

       I – Jesus’ identity as Christ is made explicit and his role as teacher is asserted

       Mark 8:29 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ (5547).”
       Mark 8:31 Then He began to teach (1321) them (the disciples) that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again.

       J – More about ‘Jesus from Nazarene’ and ‘Jesus the Nazarene’

       J1 – Jesus from Nazareth, the common man who is cleansed

       Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth (3478) in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. (BSB)

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3478.htm Nazara or Nazaret or Nazareth

       J2 – Jesus from Nazareth receives the spirit and becomes Jesus the Nazarene

       Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3479.htm NazarÉnos: a Nazarene

       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted (Numbers 6:2)
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5145.htm nezer: crown (2 Kings 11:12 and 2 Chronicles 23)

       K – Synthesis

       The transformation of the common man named Jesus into a new man occurs when the heavens break open (Mark 1:10,11)

       10 – OT SOURCES

       A – Cleansing before receiving the new spirit

       A1 – Cleansing

       Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

       https://biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/36.htm (A New Heart and a New Spirit)
       Ezekiel 36:25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.

       A2 – New Spirit

       Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.

       https://biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/36.htm (A New Heart and a New Spirit)
       Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
       https://biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/36.htm (A Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel)
       Ezekiel 36:3 the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.

       B – Jesus the Nazarene

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3479.htm NazarÉnos: a Nazarene (Mark 1:24)

       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted (Numbers 6:2)
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5144.htm nazar: consecrate (Numbers 6:5)
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5145.htm nezer: consecration, Naziriteship (Numbers 6:5)

       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5145.htm nezer: crown (2 Kings 11:12 and 2 Chronicles 23)

       See my paragrah: The word ‘nazarene’ and its 2 meanings: nazirite and crown
       https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/6.htm (The Nazirite Vow)
       https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_kings/11.htm (Joash Anointed King of Judah)
       https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_chronicles/23.htm (Joash Anointed King of Judah)

       C – Jesus the Christ

       https://biblehub.com/greek/5547.htm Christos: the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4886.htm mashach: to smear, anoint

       Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.

       https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/61.htm (The Year of the LORD’s Favor)
       Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed (4886) Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

       https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_kings/19.htm (The LORD Speaks to Elijah at Horeb)
       1 Kings 19:16 You are also to anoint (4886) Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to succeed you as prophet.

       D – The voice from heaven adding the identity of Son of God

       Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
       Mark 1:11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

       https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/1.htm (The Two Paths)
       https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/2.htm
       Psalms 2:7 I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.

       E – The Two Paths and the will of God: Reward or Punishment

       Mark 1:11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

       https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/28.htm (The Curses of Disobedience)
       Deuteronomy 28:63 Just as it pleased (7797) the LORD to make you prosper and multiply, so also it will please (7797) Him to annihilate you and destroy you. And you will be uprooted from the land you are entering to possess.
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7797.htm sus or sis: to exult, rejoice

       F – Jesus the savior

       https://biblehub.com/greek/2424.htm IÉsous: Jesus or Joshua
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3091.htm Yehoshua: “the LORD is salvation

       https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/35.htm
       Psalms 35:9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult (7797) in His salvation.

       G – Forgiveness/Redemption of sins

       Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
       Mark 2:7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

       https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/43.htm (Israel’s Only Savior)
       Isaiah 43:14 Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake, I will send to Babylon and bring them all as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice (7440).
       Isaiah 43:25 I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

       Note that Jesus says “Son, your sins are forgiven” but does not say “Son, I forgive your sins”

       SUMMARY

       A – Jesus the new man

       The sequence (Mark 1:10,11) transforms Jesus into a new man with 3 identities

       <= = Heaven = => – – – – – – – / / – – – – – – – – <= = Earth = = = = = = = = = =>

       God of Israel = = => Spirit = = = = = = = = = = => Jesus as Nazarene and Christ (Mark 1:10)

       God of Israel = = => Voice from heaven = = = = => Jesus as Son of God (Mark 1:10,11)

       B – Jesus as Nazarene (Nazirite) and then Christ (the anointed one) will teach the Good News whose main content is the forgiveness of sins

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3479.htm NazarÉnos: a Nazarene (Mark 1:24)
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted (Numbers 6:2)

       https://biblehub.com/greek/5547.htm Christos: the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ (Mark 8:29)
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4886.htm mashach: to smear, anoint

       C – Jesus as Son of God is the man who can say “your sins are forgiven” but Jesus does not forgive sins because God alone can forgive sins. Jesus only interact with God through a entity named “the son of Man” so that the sins are forgiven.

       The result of the interaction is the forgiveness of sin and the image of forgiveness is healing.

       <= = = = = = Earth = = = = = = = = => – – – – / / – – – – – <= Heaven =>

       C1 – Repentance
       man => Jesus as Son of God = = = = => Son of Man = = => God of Israel

       C2 – Delay

       C3 – Forgiveness of sins
       man <= Jesus as Son of God <= = = = = Son of Man <= = = God of Israel

       So, we must read the healings by bearing in mind 2 notions
       1 – The time management (the time when men hear/receive the Word and repent and then the time when God forgives)
       2 – The interaction through the Son of Man. When God grants his forgiveness, he asks the Son of Man to take upon himself the sins of repentant men.

       D – Jesus as Nazarene (the crowned one)
       For further Study

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3479.htm NazarÉnos: a Nazarene (Mark 10:47)
       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5145.htm nezer: crown (2 Kings 11:12 and 2 Chronicles 23)

       E – The beloved son (Mark 12:6) in the vineyard parable is not the Son of God (Mark 1:10,11)
       For further Study

       F – In short, Jesus as Nazarene and then Christ teaches the new forgiveness of sins. Jesus as Son of God heals the sicks, which means that he interacts with God so that sins are forgiven.

       The interaction through the Son of man allows Jesus to retain his human nature.
       Keep in mind the 2 video clips, the one who throws the ball is not the ball. So Jesus is not the Son of Man
       Keep in mind that Jesus says “Son, your sins are forgiven” but does not say “Son, I forgive your sins”

       Note: This update mainly focuses on the first 2 chapters of Mark’s gospel. It will be enriched and integrated into my forthcoming synthesis of the first 8 chapters.

       Some readings

       http://www.lionelwindsor.net/2009/11/20/jesus-the-son-of-man-as-presented-in-the-gospel-of-john/
       Introduction
       …
       , ‘The central aim of the Johannine christology is to expound the intimate relationship between Jesus and God. For this purpose John takes over the idea of the Son of Man, [. . .]’. He endeavours to demonstrate how the title ‘Son of Man’ is the Gospel’s vehicle for expressing the increasingly apparent unity of will between Jesus and God

       My comment: I read the same thing in Mark’s gospel if I replace intimate relationship by interaction

       Reply

       1. Ever keep up with this aspect of those wily Nazarenes [Nasara]: https://thegreatsecretofislam.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/21.07.22-challenging-the-standard-islamic-narrative.pdf

          Your etymology of the Nazarene as the ‘crowned one’ brings to mind how as an epithet ‘the muhammad’ originally meant something like ‘anointed one’ or ‘praised one’ [as Ohlig wrote in his long paper on the subject]

          Reply
12. Pingback: Jesus Christ Created as an Epitome of Old Testament Figures (1) — Charbonnel and Jésus-Christ, Sublime Figure de Papier – Vridar

13. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 11: The withered hand
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 3:1-6) SYNAGOGUE RULERS MUST TEACH THE GOOD NEWS

    Here is my reading plan

    1 – FIRST READING TO GET AN OVERVIEW
    2 – HEALING
    3 – A HEALING ON THE SABBATH DAY IN THE SYNAGOGUE
    4 – THE WITHERED HAND
    5 – STAND UP AMONG US!
    6 – STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND!
    7 – A MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT AND A MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND
    8 – THE TEACHING HOUSES: THE SYNAGOGUE AND THE TEMPLE
    9 – A NEW TEACHING INSIDE THE SYNAGOGUE AND THE TEMPLE
    10 – WHAT IS LAWFUL ON THE SABBATH?
    11 – DESTRUCTION AND DESTROYERS
    12 – OLD WORD VERSUS GOOD NEWS: INCOMPATIBILTY AND REPLACEMENT
    13 – MARK PREPARES THE NEXT SCENE
    SUMMARY

    1 – FIRST READING TO GET AN OVERVIEW

    Mark 3:1 Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered (3583) hand was
    there.

    Once again Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day.
    Once again, he meets a man. This time, the man does not have an unclean spirit but a withered hand.

    The man with a withered hand represents the synagogue rulers in charge of teaching the Word of God.
    His hand is withered for he goes on teaching the old Word while God gives a new Word (the Good News).
    The withered hand also refers to the withered tree that no longer bears fruit.

    Mark 3:2 In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the
    Sabbath.

    ‘In order to accuse Jesus’ => Setting up the plot

    ‘Heal’ => Healing equates forgiveness of sins, this is the message that the Good News teach (Mark 2:9).

    Mark 3:3 Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up (1453) among us.”

    ‘Stand up among us’ => Jesus asks the synagogue rulers to leave the old Word of God in favor of the Good News.

    Mark 3:4 And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil,
    to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.

    ‘He asked them’ => Jesus speaks to those opposed to change

    ‘Which is lawful’ => Jesus contrasts the true meaning of the Sabbath day with its literal interpretation.

    * True meaning of Sabbath (according to the Good News)
    ‘to do good on the Sabbath, to save life’ => To heal (spiritual healing which means to forgive the sins)
    (Mark 2:9)

    * Literal interpretation of Sabbath (according to the Law of Moses)
    ‘to do evil, to destroy it’ => To heal (physical healing)

    Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to
    the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.

    ‘Jesus looked around at them’ => Will Jesus’ opponents change their minds to follow him?

    ‘Jesus looked around at them with anger’ => Jesus’ failure and anger

    ‘Sorrow at their hardness of heart’ => Jesus’ opponents go on following the Moses’ Law

    ‘Stretch out your hand’ => Jesus uses his authority/power to impose the Good News

    ‘So he stretched it out’ => Finally, the man accepts the conversion to the Good News. As a result, his sin is
    forgiven and he is healed.

    ‘it was restored‘ => From now, the synagogue rulers will teach the Good News. They regain their
    role as teachers of the Word of God.

    ‘they were silent’ => The purpose of the story is to teach the Good News, therefore the opponents will remain
    silent.

    Mark 3:6 At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might
    kill Jesus.

    Mark identifies two groups that want to kill Jesus

    2 – HEALING
    (to read more, see my Chapter 10)

    HEALING: FULFILMENT OF ISAIAH’S PROPHECY

    Healing equates forgiveness of sins. Jesus explicitly says it in (Mark 2:9) verse

    Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say,
    ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?

    Good News teaches us that the Son of Man forgives the men’s sins by taking them upon himself (Mark 2:10) in
    order to redeem them (Mark 8:31, Mark 10:45).

    Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive
    sins…” He said to the paralytic,

    Mark 8:31 Then He began to teach (1321) them that the Son of Man must suffer many things
    and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise
    again.

    Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a
    ransom for many.”

    OT SOURCES: THE SUFFERING SERVANT

    Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His
    soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the
    LORD will prosper in His hand.

    Isaiah 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge
    My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

    Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong,
    because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the
    sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

    He will bear their iniquities => The Son of Man forgives the sins by taking them upon himself (Mark 2:10)

    To cause Him to suffer => The Son of Man must suffer many things (Mark 8:31)

    He has poured out His life unto death => The Son of Man gives his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45)

    HEALING: TECHNICAL VIEW

    * Apparent and actual healing

    The forgiveness is a first step where the redeemer takes upon himself the sins. He must then redeem them by shedding
    the blood.
    In the narrative, the redemption cannot be immediate because it would mean the death of the redeemer.
    The forgiveness will therefore be a promise of redemption so as to postpone the death of the redeemer and continue the
    story.
    As a result, there is a mixture of present and future tense since we are sure that the promise will come true,
    So, a healing is both a promise of redemption (apparent healing) and the redemption itself (actual healing)

    * Jesus and the Son of Man

    The main character, Jesus, is a complex figure who represents the temporary link between God and mankind.
    His role is to teach the Good News i.e. the redemption. To fulfill this role, Mark gives the character a divine and
    human dimension.
    The human dimension of Jesus prevents him from forgivening the sins because the forgiveness of sins is a divine
    prerogative (Mark 2:7).
    In order to forgive and redeem the sins wihout any human intervention, Mark creates a fully divine figure (the son of
    man) who will die to redeem the sins.

    3 – A HEALING ON THE SABBATH DAY IN THE SYNAGOGUE

    Jesus has already entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day in order to teach the new Word of God (the Good News) and
    put it into the hearts of the Hebrews.

    Mark writes a new scene where Jesus enters the synagogue once again on the Sabbath day.
    Jesus will heal a man with a withered hand to mean that the synagogue rulers must teach the Good News.

    The Sabbath is the day dedicated to God and to the study of his Word. It is also the strong symbol that represents the
    old Word since God gave the very first manna (the spiritual bread) to his people when he established the first Sabbath
    (Exodus16:14-31)

    4 – THE WITHERED HAND

    The man with a withered hand represents the rulers of the synagogue in charge of teaching the Word of God
    His hand is withered for he goes on teaching the old Word while God gives a new Word (the Good News)
    As a result he separated from God and became a sinner.

    At this level, a first parallel appears with the Jeroboam’s hand (1 Kings 13:4) which becomes dry because he opposes
    the man of God.

    Mark 3:1 Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered (3583) hand was there.

    Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the
    man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.

    1 Kings 13:4 Now when King Jeroboam, who was at the altar in Bethel, heard the word that the man of God
    had cried out against it, he stretched out his hand and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched
    out (7971) toward him withered, so that he could not pull it back.

    THE THEME OF DRYNESS IN MARK’S GOSPEL

    Mark 3:1 Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered (3583) hand was there.

    Mark associates dryness and root to refer to the tree that is to bear fruit (Mark 4:6), (Mark 11:20-21).

    Mark 4:6 But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered (3583)because
    they had no root.

    Mark 11:20 As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered (3583) from
    its roots.
    Mark 11:21 Peter remembered it and said, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered (3583).”

    Mark also associates dryness with the woman who is to give birth to God’s children (Mark 5:29).

    Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped (3583), and she sensed in her body that she was healed of
    her affliction. (BSB)
    Mark 5:29 And immediately her flow of blood was dried up, and she knew in the body that she was healed
    from the affliction. (BLB)

    In our context (Mark 3:1), the withered hand symbolises the teaching of the ancient Word that does not bear fruit.
    In other Words, the old Word prevents the conversion of the pagans and is no longer suitable with the world in which
    the Hebrews live.
    Consequently, it must be replaced and the Good News must be taught.

    OT SOURCES

    Here are some verses to illustrate, May be the best one is (Hosea 9:16) verse. It combines the terms ‘withered’, ‘root’
    and expressions ‘bear fruit’, ‘bear children’.

    Hosea 9:16 Ephraim is struck down; their root is withered (3001); they cannot bear fruit. Even
    if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs.

    Ezekiel 19:1 “As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel

    Ezekiel 19:10 Your mother (Israel) was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was
    fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters.

    Ezekiel 19:12 But it (vine/Israel) was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind
    dried up (3001) its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered (3001); the fire
    consumed them.

    Jeremiah 50:12 your mother (Babylon) will be greatly ashamed; she who bore you will be disgraced.
    Behold, she will be the least of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

    Psalms 22:15 My strength is dried up (3001) like a potsherd , and my tongue sticks to the roof of my
    mouth. You lay me in the dust of death.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3001.htm yabesh: to be dry, dried up, or withered

    5 – STAND UP AMONG US!

    Jesus asks the synagogue rulers to join him so that they may be healed (saved).

    Mark 3:3 Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up (1453) among us.”

    STRONG’S CODE 1453: USAGE IN MARK’S GOSPEL

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1453.htm egeirÓ: to waken, to raise up

    Mark 1:31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped (1453) her up. The fever left her,
    and she began to serve them.

    Mark 2:11 “I tell you, get up (1453) , pick up your mat, and go home.”

    Mark 3:3 Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up (1453) among us.”

    Mark 4:27 Night and day he sleeps and wakes (1453), and the seed sprouts and grows, though he
    knows not how.

    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you,
    get up (1453)!”

    Mark 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up (1453).

    Mark 16:6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was
    crucified. He has risen (1453) ! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.

    6 – STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND!

    The outstretched hand symbolises the power and will coming from God and His salvation.

    Mark 1:41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out (1614) His hand and touched the (leprous) man.
    “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” (BSB)

    Jesus reaches out his hand to mean that the son of man forgives the leper’s sin and will redeem it.

    In (Mark 3:5) verse, the idea of salvation is strengthened by the word ‘restored’

    Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said
    to the man, “Stretch out (1614) your hand.” So he stretched (1614) it out, and it was restored (600).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1614.htm ekteinÓ: to extend
    https://biblehub.com/greek/600.htm apokathistÉmi: to restore, give back

    OT SOURCES ABOUT THE (OUTSTRETCHED) HAND

    Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out (5186) his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back with
    a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided

    By stretching out his hand, Moses means that God is going to act in order to save his people

    Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a
    guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper
    in His hand.

    OT SOURCES ABOUT THE REVIVAL AND SALVATION OF ISRAEL

    Isaiah 44:26 who confirms the message of his servant and fulfills the counsel of his messengers; who says to
    Jerusalem, “She will be inhabited,” and to the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt,” and I will restore
    (6965) her ruins;

    Isaiah 49:6 he says, “It is not enough for you to be my servant raising up (6965) the tribes of Jacob and
    restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be my salvation
    (3444) to the ends of the earth.”

    Isaiah 49:8 This is what the LORD says: I will answer you in a time of favor, and I will help you in the day
    of salvation (3444). I will keep you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people, to restore (6965)
    the land, to make them possess the desolate inheritances,

    SYNTHESIS

    The rulers of the synagogue, and by extension Israel, must keep their place by adhering to the new Word of God
    In other words, since the Hebrew people (Israel) was the first to receive the Word of God, it must now accept the new
    Word. Otherwise it will be rejected and will be left behind the pagans who accept the new Word.

    Mark repeats what he has already said: (Mark 2:19 the guests of the bridegroom cannot fast), which means that the
    Hebrews (Israel) must eat the new manna (the new Word) that God gives them.

    I quote again the verse
    Mark 2:19 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as
    He is with them, they cannot fast.

    7 – A MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT AND A MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND

    A MAN IN THE SYNAGOGUE

    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:

    Mark 3:1 Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered (3583) hand was there.

    JESUS COMMANDS

    Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”

    Mark 3:5 … Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was
    restored.

    IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE TO JESUS

    Mark 1:26 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.

    Mark 3:5 …So he stretched it out, and it was restored.

    THE THEME OF DESTRUCTION

    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy (622) us? I know who
    You are—the Holy One of God!”

    Mark 3:6 At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill (622)
    Jesus.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/622.htm apollumi: to destroy, destroy utterly

    8 – THE TEACHING HOUSES: THE SYNAGOGUE AND THE TEMPLE

    Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue
    on the Sabbath and began to teach (1321).

    Mark 11:15 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out
    those who were buying and selling there …
    Mark 11:17 Then Jesus began to teach (1321) them, …

    https://biblehub.com/greek/strongs_1321.htm didaskÓ: to teach

    9 – A NEW TEACHING INSIDE THE SYNAGOGUE AND THE TEMPLE

    JESUS ENTERS, TEACHES AND THEN CASTS OUT THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT.

    Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue
    on the Sabbath and began to teach.

    Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”

    JESUS COMMANDS TO TEACH THE GOOD NEWS

    Mark 3:3 Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.”

    Mark 3:5 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out (1614) your hand.” So he stretched (1614) it out,
    and it was restored.

    JESUS ENTERS, DRIVES OUT THOSE WHO PERVERT THE SPIRIT OF THE TEMPLE AND THEN TEACHES

    Mark 11:15 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out
    those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of
    those selling doves.

    Mark 11:17 Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called
    a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”

    JESUS ANNOUNCES THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE

    Mark 13:1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the
    magnificent stones and buildings!”

    Mark 13:2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another;
    every one will be thrown down.”

    THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE

    Mark 15:38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

    The temple is no longer the tabernacle where the Word of God dwells

    10 – WHAT IS LAWFUL ON THE SABBATH?

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1832.htm exesti: it is permitted, lawful

    Mark 3:4 And He asked them, “Which is lawful (1832) on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save
    life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.

    Mark contrasts the meaning of the Sabbath according to the Good News with its literal interpretation
    according to the Law of Moses.

    The true meaning of Sabbath (to do good on the Sabbath, to save life) :

    1 – (Mark 1:21) To teach the new Word of God
    2 – (Mark 2:23,24) To seek the new Word of God
    3 – (Mark 1:26), (Mark 3:2,5) Spiritual healing to convert hebrew people to the new Word of God

    The literal interpretation of Sabbath (to do evil on the Sabbath, to destroy)

    1 – (Mark 1:21) To teach a Word that does not come from Moses or the prophets
    2 – (Mark 2:23,24) To work (to pick the heads of grain)
    3 – (Mark 3:2,5) Physical healing

    Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on
    the Sabbath and began to teach.

    Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the
    heads of grain as they walked along.
    Mark 2:24 So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful (1832) on the
    Sabbath?”

    Mark 3:1 Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there.
    Mark 3:2 In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.

    Mark 3:4 And He asked them, “Which is lawful (1832) on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save
    life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.

    11 – DESTRUCTION AND DESTROYERS

    https://biblehub.com/greek/622.htm apollumi: to destroy, destroy utterly

    Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue
    on the Sabbath and began to teach.

    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy (622) us? I know
    who You are—the Holy One of God!”

    Mark 3:6 At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might
    kill (622) Jesus.

    Mark 11:17 Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called
    a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”
    Mark 11:18 When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill (622) Him.
    For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

    Mark 13:1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the
    magnificent stones and buildings!”
    Mark 13:2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another;
    every one will be thrown down.”

    Those who oppose Jesus understand that Good News will supplant the old Word. As a result, they want to destroy Jesus in
    order to go on living according to the old Word.
    The death of Jesus represents their refusal to accept the Good News.

    In the current scene (Mark 3:1-6), Mark identified the first groups wanting to destroy Jesus.
    This is an interesting point in terms of the narrative, but it didn’t learn us that Jesus was going to die.

    In fact, the death of Jesus is announced from the beginning of the gospel (Mark 1:7) through the message it conveys:
    the forgiveness of sins (through the redemption) is fulfilled by the death of the Redeemer.

    12 – OLD WORD VERSUS GOOD NEWS: INCOMPATIBILTY AND REPLACEMENT

    Mark 1:6 John the baptiser represents the Moses’ law and the voice of the prophets, for he wears the old garments.
    Mark 1:7 John announces the new Word that comes after him
    Mark 1:8 John announces the baptism of spirit that comes after the baptism of water. Mark 1:14 John will speak no more,
    the Good News become the Word of God

    Mark 1:15 Jesus proclaims the Good News, redemption is now
    Mark 1:17-18 Simon and Andrew leave their nets (the old Word) to follow Jesus
    Mark 1:19-30 James and John leave their father’s law (the Moses’ law) to follow Jesus

    Mark 1:24 The man in the synagogue grasps the incompatibility between the Good News and the old Word
    Mark 1:26 Jesus puts the Good News in the hearts/minds of the hebrews so that the new Word grows like a seed.
    Mark 1:29 The teaching of the Word moves from the synagogue to the house of Simon and Andrew.
    Mark 1:40-42 Jesus shows that Good News are more efficient than the Moses’ Law.

    Mark 2:21-22 Jesus uses images of clothes and wine to signify the incompatibility between Good News and the old Word.
    Mark 2:28 Jesus announces that the Good News will supplant what was before them i.e. the Moses’ law and the voice of
    the prophets

    Mark 3:5 The synagogue rulers must teach the Good News

    13 – MARK PREPARES THE NEXT SCENE

    Mark 3:6 At this, the Pharisees went out
    Mark 3:7 So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea …

    SUMMARY

    The current scene (Mark 3:1-6) tells us that the synagogue rulers must teach the Good News.

    It is a new step in a story that describes the replacement of the old Word of God.

    The man with a withered hand represents the synagogue rulers in charge of teaching the Word of God
    His hand is withered for he goes on teaching the old Word while God gives a new Word (the Good News). As a result he
    separated from God and became a sinner.
    The withered hand also refers to the withered tree that no longer bears fruit.

    Jesus asks the rulers of the synagogue to join him so that they may be saved. (Mark 3:3 “Stand up among us.”)
    The rulers of the synagogue, and by extension Israel, must keep their place by adhering to the new Word of God
    In other words, since the Hebrew people (Israel) was the first to receive the Word of God, it must now accept the new
    Word. Otherwise it will be rejected and will be left behind the pagans who accept the new Word.

    In the current scene (Mark 3:1-6), Mark identified the first groups wanting to destroy Jesus.
    This is an interesting point in terms of the narrative, but it didn’t learn us that Jesus was going to die.
    In fact, the death of Jesus is announced from the beginning of the gospel (Mark 1:7) through the message it conveys:
    the forgiveness of sins (through the redemption) is fulfilled by the death of the Redeemer.

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 3:7-35) the kingdom, the apostles and brothers, the divided house
    (Mark 4-7) parables, miracles, John’s death, …, food laws, …, Third synthesis.

    My previous chapter:Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

14. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 12: The Kingdom
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 3:7-12) THE NEW INHERITANCE: THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE GARMENTS

    Here is my reading plan

    1 – FIRST READING TO GET AN OVERVIEW
    2 – THE SEA: THE BORDER, THE TEACHING AND THE BOAT
    3 – THE JORDAN: THE EASTERN BORDER
    4 – THE LAND OF CANAAN, THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE DIVISION BY CASTING LOTS
    5 – MORE ABOUT THE LAND OF CANAAN AND THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
    6 – GALILEE, AN HEBREW LAND
    7 – JUDEA, THE HEBREW LAND
    8 – JERUSALEM
    9 – IDUMEA/EDOM: THE RED COLOR, THAT OF GARMENT OF SPLENDOR AND THAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE
    10 – THE REGION BEYOND THE JORDAN
    11 – THE VICINITY OF TYRE AND SIDON
    12 – “TO TOUCH JESUS” OR “TO TOUCH THE GARMENTS OF SALVATION”
    13 – THE CROWD AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS
    14 – THE SON OF GOD, VARIOUS BEHAVIORS, SECRECY
    SUMMARY

    1 – FIRST READING TO GET AN OVERVIEW

    Mark 3:7 So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee,
    Judea,

    The sea is the border between the Hebrews who received the Moses’ law and the pagans who
    don’t know it.

    Mark begins to list the various lands people come from to follow Jesus.

    In Mark’s gospel, Galilee and Judea are hebrew lands.

    Mark 3:8 Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The
    large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.

    Jerusalem => The city where Jesus will shed his blood (the fruit of the vine) to redeem sins.

    Idumea => Idumea is a specific land since Jesus will not teach there.
    The interest of Idumea is due to its equivalence with Edom. In the bible, Edom is a pagan land, the word evokes the red
    color and the garment of splendor (Isaiah 63:1,2).
    The red color also refers to Esau, the twin of Jacob/Israel (Genesis 25:24-30).

    The region beyond the Jordan => the pagan land where people do not know God

    The vicinity of Tyre and Sidon => the land where people serve other gods than the God of Israel

    Mark 3:9 Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush
    (2346) Him.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2346.htm thlibÓ: to press, afflict

    “crush Him” => allusion to the wine press so as to evoke the fruit the vine and the blood of Jesus
    (Mark 14:23-25).

    “a boat ready for Him” => Jesus will soon use it to teach the hebrews and pagans (Mark 4:1,2).

    Mark 3:10 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing (1968) forward
    to touch Him.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1968.htm epipiptÓ: to fall upon
    from Word Origin: from epi and piptÓ
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4098.htm piptÓ: to fall

    The crowd sees Jesus healing. As a result, the crowd falls upon Him to be healed.

    The behavior of the crowd must be put in perspective with the behavior of the unclean spirits (next verse).

    The unclean spirits see the same healings but they cry out “You are the Son of God!”.
    The unclean spirits have understood that the healings are forgiveness of sins (Mark 2:9) while the crowd has only seen
    physical healings.

    “To touch him” => allusion to the garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10) worn by Jesus the savior

    Mark 3:11 And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell (4363) down before Him and cried out,
    “You are the Son of God!”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4363.htm prospiptÓ: to fall upon, fall prostrate before
    Word Origin: from pros and piptÓ

    “the unclean spirits saw Him” => the unclean spirits saw Jesus forgiving the sins.

    As a result, they fall down before Him and cry out, “You are the Son of God!” because they know that the forgiveness
    of sins is a divine prerogative (Mark 2:7).

    Mark 3:12 But He warned them sternly not to make Him known.

    “Not to make Him known” => Jesus asks for secrecy so as to reduce oppositions before he enters Jerusalem, the
    city where he will shed his blood (the fruit of the vine) to redeem sins.

    “Them” => Jesus makes this request to the unclean spirits who grasp the true meaning of healing.

    2 – THE SEA: THE BORDER, THE TEACHING AND THE BOAT

    OT SOURCES: THE SEA AS A BORDER

    The sea is the border between the Hebrews who received the Moses’ law and the pagans who
    don’t know it.

    Deuteronomy 30:11 For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you,
    nor is it far off.
    13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring
    it to us, that we may hear it and do it
    14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE SEA AS A PLACE TO ADDRESS HEBREWS AND PAGANS

    The call of the first disciples: Simon (an hebrew name) and Andrew (a pagan name)

    Mark 1:16 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew.
    They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
    Mark 1:17 “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

    The first common teaching for hebrews and pagans: the end of circumcision

    Mark 2:13 Once again Jesus went out beside the sea. All the people came to Him, and He
    taught them there.
    Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth.
    “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.

    The boat ready for Jesus

    Mark 3:7 So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from Galilee,
    Judea,
    Mark 3:9 Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him

    Jesus gets into the boat to teach hebrews and pagans

    Mark 4:1 Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him
    that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore.
    Mark 4:2 And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said,

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE SEA AS BORDER

    The first crossing over the sea to teach the pagans

    Mark 5:1 On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes.
    Mark 5:2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was
    coming from the tombs.

    The second crossing over the sea to teach the pagans

    Mark 6:53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and moored the boat.
    Mark 6:54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE MUTIPLE HEALINGS PERFORMED NEAR THE SEA

    Multiple healings before crossing the sea

    Mark 3:7 So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea,
    Mark 3:10 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.

    Multiple healings after crossing the sea

    Mark 6:54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus
    Mark 6:55 and ran through that whole region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was

    3 – THE JORDAN: THE EASTERN BORDER

    OT SOURCES: THE EASTERN BORDER OF THE LAND OF CANAAN

    Numbers 34:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
    Numbers 34:2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be
    allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries:

    Numbers 34:10 And your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham,
    Numbers 34:11 then go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east
    of the Sea of Chinnereth,
    Numbers 34:12 Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea.

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE EASTERN BORDER OF THE HEBREW LANDS

    Mark 4:35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other
    side.”
    Mark 5:1 On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes.

    4 – THE LAND OF CANAAN, THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE DIVISION BY CASTING LOTS

    OT SOURCES: Land Division West of the Jordan

    Joshua 14:1 Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan,
    as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of
    Israel.
    Joshua 14:2 Their inheritance was assigned by lot (1486) for the nine and a half tribes, as the
    LORD had commanded through Moses.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1486.htm goral: a lot (for casting)

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He (Jesus) said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and
    believe in the gospel!”

    Land of Canaan => The kingdom of God on earth (the hebrew and pagan lands)

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM (THE SALVATION)

    Mark 15:24 And they crucified Him. They (the pagan soldiers) also divided His garments by casting (906)
    lots (2819) to decide what each of them would take.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/906.htm ballÓ: to throw, cast
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2819.htm klÉros: a lot

    The tribes of Israel inherits the Land of Canaan by casting lots => The pagans divides the garments
    of salvation by casting lots in order to take their share of salvation

    Salvation refers to the salvation of the soul, the spiritual dimension of the kingdom.
    Mark 8:36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

    I recall that Jesus means savior
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2424.htm IÉsous: Jesus or Joshua, of Hebrew origin Yehoshua
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3091.htm Yehoshua: “the LORD is salvation,”

    And I quote again Isaiah 61:10
    Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God;
    for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness,
    as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

    The garments of Jesus are therefore the garments of salvation that God gives to men

    Jesus is only the temporary link between God (the bridegroom) and men.
    Mark 2:20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them

    Jesus teaches the Good News, a new forgiveness of sins which leads to salvation.

    Actual forgiveness of sins: Jesus pays the ransom to redeem sins
    Mark 15:37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.
    Salvation: Entry into the kingdom of God
    Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.
    Mark 16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away…
    The open tomb is the symbolic place where the new Word of God dwells and reigns.

    5 – MORE ABOUT THE LAND OF CANAAN AND THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

    To read more
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_states_and_dynasties

    WESTERN LAND OF THE JORDAN (THE LAND OF CANAAN) AND EASTERN LAND OF THE JORDAN

    The second hebrew generation crosses the Jordan river opposite Jericho so as to conquer the Land of Canaan.

    The second hebrew generation is circumcised in the Jericho plain. The manna ceases.

    Before entering the land of Canaan, Moses distributes the land east of the Jordan River to two and half tribes
    (Reuben,Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh).

    All tribes participate in the conquest of the land of Canaan.

    After the conquest, Joshua and the chiefs distribute the land of Canaan to nine and a half tribes. Each tribe
    receive its portion by casting lots.

    The descendants of Joseph are the two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim.

    No portion of the land is given to the Levites, except for cities.

    Six cities have a special status, the “six cities of refuge” where a person who kills someone unintentionally may
    flee there.

    Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3)
    The second generation circumcised and the end of Manna (Joshua 5:1-12)
    The Inheritance East of the Jordan (Joshua 13) (Numbers 32:1–42) (Deuteronomy 3:12–22)
    Land division West of the Jordan: The land of Canaan divided by casting lot (Joshua 14-19)
    The Boundaries of Canaan (Numbers 34:1-15)
    Moses sees the land of Canaan and dies without entering it (Deuteronomy 32:48-52)
    Forty-Eight Cities for the Levites (Numbers 35:1–8) (1 Chronicles 6:54–81)
    Six Cities of Refuge (Joshua 20) (Numbers 35:9–34) (Deuteronomy 4:41–43) (Deuteronomy 19:1–14)

    The Map
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/12_Tribes_of_Israel_Map.svg

    THE UNITED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL

    According to the Bible, a united kingdom of Israel existed in the time of David and Solomon and then it was divided.

    THE DIVIDED KINGDOM

    The first Book of Kings describes the split of the unified kingdom into northern and southern parts
    The southern kingdom is composed of the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, Jerusalem is the capital.
    The other tribes form the northern kingdom. Shechem is the capital.

    1 Kings 12: 21 And when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of
    Benjamin, …, to fight against the house of Israel
    1 Kings 12:25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out
    from there and built Penuel.

    The Map
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Kingdoms_of_Israel_and_Judah_map_830.svg

    EXPECTATION FOR A REUNITED KINGDOM

    Isaiah 5.7 For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of
    Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry
    of distress.

    One Nation with One King (Ezekiel 37:15-28)

    Ezekiel 37:16 “<And you, son of man, take a single stick (6086) and write on it:
    ‘Belonging to Judah and to the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick (6086) and
    write on it: ‘Belonging to Joseph—the stick of Ephraim—and to all the house of Israel associated with
    him.’
    Ezekiel 37:17 Then join them together into one stick, so that they become one in your hand.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6086.htm ets: tree, trees, wood

    Ezekiel 37:22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will
    rule over all of them. Then they will no longer be two nations and will never again be divided into two
    kingdoms.

    HASMONEAN DYNASTY

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmonean_dynasty

    Judea gained full independence and expanded into the neighboring regions of Samaria, Galilee, Iturea,
    Perea, and Idumea.
    The major source of information about the origin of the Hasmonean dynasty is the books 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees.

    The Map
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmonean_dynasty#/media/File:Hasmonean_kingdom.jpg

    6 – GALILEE, AN HEBREW LAND

    OT SOURCES:

    Naphtali’s inheritance (Joshua 19:32-39)
    Galilee is located in the hill country of Naphtali and Kedesh is a city of refuge

    Joshua 20:7 So they set apart Kedesh (6943) in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali,
    Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1551.htm galil
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6943.htm Qedesh: “sanctuary,”

    *Galilee, a northern land near Tyre

    1 Kings 9:10 Now at the end of the twenty years during which Solomon built these two houses, the house of
    the LORD and the royal palace
    1 Kings 9:11 King Solomon gave twenty towns in the land of Galilee (1551) to Hiram king of Tyre,
    who had supplied him with cedar and cypress logs and gold for his every desire

    MARK’S GOSPEL: AN HEBREW LAND

    The first land where Jesus begins to proclaim the Good News

    Mark 1:14 And after the delivering up of John, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel
    of God (Berean Literal and Aramaic Bible)

    Jesus teaches in the synagogues of Galilee

    Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue
    on the Sabbath and began to teach
    Mark 1:28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee

    Mark 1:39 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

    Mark 3:1 Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there.

    Jesus announces the new covenant that God (the bridegroom) offers to Israel (the mother-in-law)

    Mark 1:31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she
    began to serve them.

    Jesus shows to hebrew people that the Good News is more efficient than the Moses’ laws.

    Mark 1:40 Then a leper (an hebrew) came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can
    make me clean.”
    Mark 1:42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.

    The pagans come to Galilee to take their share of Good News and then leave.

    Mark 2:11 “I tell you (paralytic/pagan), get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

    7 – JUDEA, THE HEBREW LAND

    OT SOURCES: THE END OF EXODUS

    CROSSING THE JORDAN OPPOSITE JERICHO

    Joshua 3:16 So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
    Joshua 3:17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the
    middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the
    Jordan.

    THE SECOND GENERATION CIRCUMCISED AND THE END OF MANNA (JOSHUA 5:1-12)

    Joshua 5:5 Though all who had come out were circumcised, none of those born in the wilderness on the
    journey from Egypt had been circumcised.
    Joshua 5:8 And after all the nation had been circumcised, they stayed there in the camp until they
    were healed.

    Joshua 5:11 The day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate unleavened bread and roasted
    grain from the produce of the land.
    Joshua 5:12 And the day after they had eaten from the produce of the land, the manna ceased. There was
    no more manna for the Israelites, so that year they began to eat the crops of the land of Canaan

    JUDAH’S INHERITANCE (JOSHUA 15:1-12)

    Joshua 15:1 Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of
    Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary:
    …
    Joshua 15:5 The eastern border was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan.

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE HEBREW LAND

    Mark begins his story in the same way as Isaiah. Both address the same audience, the people of Judea and Jerusalem.

    Isaiah 1:1 This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw
    during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

    Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,
    who will prepare Your way.”
    Mark 1:5 People went out to him (John) from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea.
    Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

    THE PARALLELS BETWEEN 2 SCENES: JOHN NEAR THE JORDAN RIVER AND JESUS NEAR THE SEA

    Scene 1: John addresses the hebrews and announces them a new forgiveness of sins.

    Mark 1:4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the
    forgiveness of sins
    Mark 1:5 People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing
    their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

    Scene 2: Jesus heals many people coming from hebrew and pagan lands.
    Healing equates forgiveness of sins (Mark 2:9) .

    Mark 3:7 So Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, accompanied by a large crowd from
    Galilee, Judea,
    Mark 3:8 Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. …
    Mark 3:10 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.

    JESUS COMES TO JUDEA AND BEGINS TO TEACH

    Mark 10:1 Then Jesus left that place and went into the region of Judea, beyond the Jordan. Again the
    crowds came to Him and He taught them, as was His custom.

    JESUS HEALS BARTIMAEUS NEAR JERICHO

    The scene takes place near Jericho, the first city after the crossing of the Jordan River (Joshua 3:16)

    Mark 10:46 Next, they came to Jericho. And as Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho
    with a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road

    Mark 10:50 Throwing off his cloak (2440), Bartimaeus jumped up and came to Jesus.
    Mark 10:52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” …

    Bartimaeus throws off his old cloak, which means that he leaves the Moses’ Law. As a result, he is healed
    (his sins are forgiven).

    8 – JERUSALEM

    OT SOURCES:

    DAVID CONQUERS JERUSALEM

    2 Samuel 5:6 Now the king (David) and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who
    inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel
    you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”

    2 Samuel 5:7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David)

    THE ARK BROUGHT TO JERUSALEM (SAMUEL AND CHRONICLES )

    2 Samuel 6:12 Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that
    belongs to him, because of the ark of God.”
    So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David
    with rejoicing

    1 Chronicles 15:11 David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah,
    Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
    1 Chronicles 15:12 And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your
    relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place
    I have prepared for it.

    THE ARK ENTERS THE TEMPLE

    2 Chronicles 5:1 So all the work that Solomon had performed for the house of the LORD was
    completed.
    …
    2 Chronicles 5:7 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place in the
    inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, beneath the wings of the cherubim.

    THE HOLY CITY WHERE THE UNCIRCUMCISED (PAGANS) WILL NO LONGER ENTER

    Isaiah 52:1 Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O
    Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.

    THE FEET ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES AND THE GOOD NEWS

    Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news (1319),
    who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

    Zechariah 14:3 Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle.
    Zechariah 14:4 On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the
    Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving to the
    north and half to the south.

    MARK’S GOSPEL:

    THE FEET ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES (MARK 11:1) AND THE GOOD NEWS (MARK 11:15,17)

    Mark 11:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany
    at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples

    Mark 11:15 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out
    those who were buying and selling there …
    Mark 11:17 Then Jesus began to teach them, …

    JESUS FULFILLS THE GOOD NEWS

    Jesus fulfills the new Word of God by shedding his blood in order to redeem the sins
    Mark 15:37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.

    As a result, the temple as a symbol of the old Word is destroyed
    Mark 15:38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

    (Mark 15:38 reinterprets Zechariah14:4)

    Zechariah 14:4 On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the
    Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the
    mountain moving to the north and half to the south.

    9 – IDUMEA/EDOM: THE RED COLOR => ESAU, THE GARMENT OF SPLENDOR, THE FRUIT OF THE VINE

    EDOM => IDUMEA

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/123.htm edom: the name of a condiment
    Word Origin: from the same as adom
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/122.htm adom: red

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2401.htm Idoumaia: Idumea, a region South of Judea
    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin edom

    OT SOURCES:

    EDOM, A PAGAN LAND

    Joshua 15:1 Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of Edom
    (123), to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary:

    Isaiah 34:5 When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom
    (123), upon the people I have devoted to destruction.
    Isaiah 34:6 The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, …

    EDOM => RED COLOR => ESAU, THE TWIN OF JACOB

    Genesis 25:24 When her (Rebecca) time came to give birth, there were indeed twins (8380) in her womb
    Genesis 25:25 The first one came out red (132), covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him
    Esau
    Genesis 25:26 After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8380.htm taom: twins
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/132.htm admoni: red, ruddy

    Genesis 25:30 He (Esau) said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red (122) stew, for I am
    famished.” (That is why he was also called Edom (123).)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/122.htm adom: red
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/123.htm edom: the name of a condiment

    EDOM => THE RED COLOR, THAT OF GARMENT OF SPLENDOR AND THAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE

    Isaiah 63:1 Who is this coming from Edom (123), from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments?
    Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming
    vindication, mighty to save.”

    Isaiah 63:2 Why are Your clothes red (122), and Your garments like one who treads the
    winepress (1660) ?

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/122.htm adom: red
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/123.htm edom: the name of a condiment
    Word Origin: from the same as adom
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1660.htm gath: a wine press

    Isaiah 52:1 Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of
    splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised (6189) and unclean will no longer enter you.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/899.htm beged: apparel
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8597.htm tipharah: beauty, glory
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6189.htm arel: having foreskin (uncircumcised)

    MARK’S GOSPEL:

    EDOM => RED COLOR => ESAU (THE TWIN) => THOMAS (ONE OF THE TWELVE)
    Mark 3:16 These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter),
    Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the
    Cananite,

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2381.htm ThÓmas: “the twin,”

    RED COLOR => THE BLOOD OF JESUS (THE FRUIT OF THE VINE)

    Mark 14:23 Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
    Mark 14:24 He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
    Mark 14:25 Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I
    drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”

    THE WINE PRESS

    Mark 14:32 Then they came to a place called Gethsemane (1068), and Jesus told His disciples, “Sit
    here while I pray.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1068.htm GethsÉmani: Gethsemane
    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin gath
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1660.htm gath: a wine press

    RED COLOR => THE PAGAN GARMENT OF SPLENDOR: THE PURPLE ROBE (THE PALUDAMENTUM)

    Mark 15:17 They (the soldiers) dressed Him in a purple robe (4029), twisted together a crown of
    thorns, and set it on His head
    Mark 15:18 And they began to salute Him: “Hail, King of the Jews!”

    Mark 15:20 After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe (4029) and put His own clothes back
    on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4209.htm porphura: purple fish, purple dye, purple cloth
    Usage: a purple garment, indicating power or wealth.

    So as to salute Jesus as a king, the roman soldiers temporarily dress Jesus in their own garment of splendor,
    the red paludamentum

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paludamentum
    In Republican and Imperial Rome, the paludamentum was a cloak or cape fastened at one shoulder, worn
    by military commanders (e.g. the legionary Legatus)
    As supreme commander of the whole Roman army, Roman emperors were often portrayed wearing it in their
    statues (e.g. the Prima Porta Augustus) and on their coinage.
    The paludamentum was generally crimson, scarlet, or purple in colour, or sometimes white.

    I point out that the garments of splendor are not the own garments of Jesus.

    Mark 15:20 After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on
    Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

    The own garments of Jesus are the garments of salvation

    Mark 15:24 And they crucified Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what
    each of them would take
    See my Chapter : “The land of Canaan, the kingdom of God and the division by casting lots”

    TO SUM UP

    Step 1: The red garment of splendor

    Idumea/Edom => The red color and the pagans
    Isaiah 63:1, Isaiah 52:1 => Edom, The red garment of splendor
    Roman source => The red paludamentum worn by military commanders and emperors.
    Mark’s gospel => The roman soldiers temporarily dress Jesus in their own garment of splendor
    (the red paludamentum) so as to salute the king/emperor

    Step 2: The garments of salvation

    Idumea/Edom => The red color and the pagans
    Isaiah 63:2 => Edom, the fruit of the vine
    Isaiah 61:10 => The garment of salvation
    Mark’s gospel => The roman soldiers (the uncircumcised pagans) dress Jesus in his own garments
    (the garments of salvation) and then divide them by casting lots in order to take their share of salvation.

    10 – THE REGION BEYOND THE JORDAN, THE PAGAN LAND

    OT SOURCES

    The Inheritance East of the Jordan (Joshua 13:8-33)
    1 – Reuben’s Inheritance
    2 – Gad’s Inheritance
    3 – Manasseh’s Eastern Inheritance

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE PAGAN LAND BEYOND THE SEA

    To make this clear, Mark writes that people feed pigs there.

    Mark 4:35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other
    side.”
    Mark 5:1 On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes.

    Mark 5:14 Those tending (1006) the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the
    people went out to see what had happened

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1006.htm boskÓ: to feed

    Leviticus 11:7 And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it
    is unclean for you.
    Leviticus 11:8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

    11 – THE VICINITY OF TYRE AND SIDON, THE LAND WHERE PEOPLE SERVE OTHER GODS

    OT SOURCES:

    ASHER’S INHERITANCE

    Joshua 19:24 The fifth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Asher:
    …
    Joshua 19:28 It went on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.

    Joshua 19:29 The border then turned back toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre,
    turned toward Hosah, and came out at the Sea

    THE LAND WHERE PEOPLE SERVE BAAL OR OTHER GODS

    1 Kings 16:31 And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat,
    he (Ahab son of Omri) even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal (856) king of the Sidonians,
    and he then proceeded to serve and worship [Baal].

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/856.htm Ethbaal: “with Baal,” a king of Sidon
    from eth and Baal

    Judges 10:6 And again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They served the Baals
    (1168), the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram (758), Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and
    Philistines. Thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/758.htm Aram: Syria and its inhab
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1168.htm The same as ba’al; Baal, a Phoenician deity — Baal, (plural) Baalim.

    MARK’S GOSPEL:

    THE LAND WHERE PEOPLE SERVE OTHER GODS THAN THE GOD OF ISRAEL

    Mark uses the word Syrophoenician to evoke Baal and the gods of Aram (Syria)

    Mark 7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre.

    Mark 7:26 Now she was a Greek woman of Syrophoenician (4949) origin, and she kept asking Jesus to drive
    the demon out of her daughter

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4949.htm Surophoinikissa: a Syrophoenician (woman)

    12 – “TO TOUCH JESUS” OR “TO TOUCH THE GARMENTS OF SALVATION”

    Mark 3:10 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to
    touch (680) Him.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/680.htm haptomai: touch

    To Touch Jesus => To touch his garments of salvation => To be healed

    Below are other verses setting the equivalences

    Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and
    touched (680) His cloak
    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch (680) His garments, I will be healed.”
    To touch His garments = To be healed

    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who
    touched (680) My garments?”
    Mark 5:31 His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched
    (680) Me?’”
    To touch the garments of Jesus = To touch Jesus

    Jesus the savior wears the garments of salvation
    Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God;
    for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness,

    13 – THE CROWD AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS

    *THE CROWD CRUSHES JESUS

    Mark 3:8 Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd
    came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.
    Mark 3:9 Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd (3793) would not
    crush (2346) Him.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3793.htm ochlos: a crowd, multitude, the common people
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2346.htm thlibÓ: to press, afflict

    THE CROWD COMES TO SEIZE JESUS IN GETHSEMANE

    Mark 14:32 Then they came to a place called Gethsemane (1068), and Jesus told His disciples, “Sit
    here while I pray.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1068.htm GethsÉmani: Gethsemane
    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin gath
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1660.htm gath: a wine press

    Mark 14:43 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd
    (3793) armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, scribes, and elders.

    Mark 14:46 Then the men seized Jesus and arrested Him

    THE CROWD CONDEMNS JESUS TO SHED HIS BLOOD

    Mark 15:14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify
    Him!”
    Mark 15:15 And wishing to satisfy the crowd (3793), Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had
    Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

    14 – THE SON OF GOD, VARIOUS BEHAVIORS, SECRECY

    Mark 1:1 This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

    FOR THE FIRST TIME, MARK PUTS THESE WORDS IN THE MOUTH OF HIS CHARACTERS.

    Mark 3:11 And when the unclean (169) spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out,
    “You are the Son of God!”

    THE BEHAVIOR OF THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS (SCENE 1, SCENE 2)

    * Scene 1 (Mark 1:22-27) => The man with an unclean spirit cries out” the Holy One of God”

    Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority,
    and not as the scribes.
    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean (169) spirit cried out in the synagogue:
    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who
    You are—the Holy One of God!”

    The man with an unclean spirit grasps the full scope of the teaching. As a result, he discerns the high
    rank of Jesus.
    By saying “Nazareth, the Holy One of God”, he identifies Jesus as the Nazirite, the Holy One described in the Book of
    Numbers.
    To read more, see my Chapter 10: Second synthesis

    * Scene 2 (Mark 3:10,11) => The unclean spirit cry out “the Son of God”

    Mark 3:10 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.
    Mark 3:11 And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down (4363) before Him and cried out, “You
    are the Son of God!”

    The unclean spirits see Jesus healing the sicks. As a result, they cry out “Son of God” because they know that
    1 – healing means forgiveness of sins (Mark 2:9)
    2 – the forgiveness of sins is a divine prerogative (Mark 2:7)

    THE BEHAVIOR OF THE PEOPLE (THE SAME SCENES)

    * Scene 1 (Mark 1:22-27) => People do not fully understand the teaching

    Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority,
    and not as the scribes.
    …
    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with
    authority!

    * Scene 2 (Mark 3:10,11) => People only see physical healings

    Mark 3:10 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to
    touch Him.

    SECRECY

    Mark 1:34 But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

    Mark 3:11 And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the
    Son of God!”
    Mark 3:12 But He warned them sternly not to make Him known.

    Jesus asks for secrecy so as to reduce oppositions before he enters Jerusalem, the city where he will redeem the sins.
    To read more, see my Chapter 10: Second synthesis

    SYNTHESIS

    * Greek words: “piptÓ”, “epi”, “pros”

    Mark 3:10 … all who had diseases were pressing forward (1968) to touch Him.
    Mark 3:11 … the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before (4363) Him

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1968.htm epipiptÓ: to fall upon
    from Word Origin: from epi and piptÓ
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4363.htm prospiptÓ: to fall upon, fall prostrate before
    Word Origin: from pros and piptÓ

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4098.htm piptÓ: to fall
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1909.htm epi: on, upon
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4314.htm pros: advantageous for, at (denotes local proximity),
    toward (denotes motion toward a place)

    * Man with an unclean spirit, unclean spirits, demons

    The man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:24) => “Jesus of Nazareth … You are—the Holy One of God!”
    The unclean spirits (Mark 3:11) => “You are the Son of God!”
    The unclean spirits (Mark 3:11) => Jesus warns them sternly not to make Him known.
    The demons (Mark 1:34) => Jesus does not allow them to speak, because they knew who He was.

    The man with an unclean spirit considers Jesus a Nazirite (a Nazirite is a man).
    The unclean spirits and demons refer to fallen angels in the book of Enoch.

    The man with an unclean spirit, the unclean spirits and demons fully understand the teaching of Jesus and oppose Him.

    SUMMARY

    Mark lists the various lands people come from so as to follow Jesus.

    In Mark’s gospel
    1 – Galilee and Judea are hebrew lands.
    2 – The region beyond the Jordan is the pagan land where people live without knowing God.
    3 – The vicinity of Tyre and Sidon is the land where people serve other gods than the God of Israel
    4 – Jerusalem is the city where Jesus will shed his blood (the fruit of the vine) to redeem sins.

    Jesus will go to these various lands so as to sow the new Word of God.

    The purpose of the gospel is the unification of these various lands through the new Word: one kingdom of God with
    one Word (the Good News).

    Idumea is a specific land since Jesus will not teach there.
    The interest of Idumea is due to its equivalence with Edom.
    In the bible, Edom is a pagan land, the word evokes the red color and the garment of splendor (Isaiah 63:1).

    The red color refers to Esau, the twin of Jacob/Israel (Genesis 25:24-30).
    In the next sequence, one of the apostles will be named Thomas, which means twin.

    The red color also evokes the wine press (Isaiah 63:2) and blood.
    Mark reinforces this reference to blood by writing that the crowd crushes Jesus (Mark 3:9).
    Note that Jesus asks for a boat to avoid that but he does not get into the boat.

    At the end of the gospel, Mark will reinterpret (Isaiah 63:1) in this way: So as to salute Jesus as a king, the roman
    soldiers will temporarily dress Jesus in their own garment of splendor, the red paludamentum.

    In the current sequence, Mark refers to other garments, the own garments of Jesus. He writes that the sick
    people want to touch Jesus (Mark 3:10), which means that the sick people want to touch his garments of salvation.

    The own garments of Jesus (the savior) are the garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10)
    At the end of gospel, the roman soldiers (the pagans) will divide them by casting lots in order to take their share of
    salvation.

    Mark ends the sequence by contrasting 2 behaviors in the face of the healings

    1 – The crowd (the sick people) see only physical healings (Mark 3:10).
    As a result, the crowd falls upon Jesus to be healed.

    2 – The unclean spirits grasp the true meaning of healing (Mark 3:11): they know that healing means forgiveness of sins
    (Mark 2:9) and they know that the forgiveness of sins is a divine prerogative (Mark 2:7).
    As a result, the unclean spirits cry out “You are the Son of God!” (Mark 3:11).

    Then Jesus warns them sternly not to make Him known (Mark 3:12) so as to reduce oppositions before he enters Jerusalem,
    the city where he will shed his blood (the fruit of the vine) to redeem sins.

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 3:13-35) The apostles and brothers, the divided house
    (Mark 4-7) parables, miracles, John’s death, …, food laws, …, Third synthesis.

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 11: The withered hand
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-124918

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

15. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 13: The apostles
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 3:13-20) The generation to whom Jesus teaches the Good News

    1 – OVERVIEW
    2 – EXPLORING THE LAND OF CANAAN (THE 12 SPIES)
    3 – EXPLORING THE KINGDOM OF GOD (THE 12 APOSTLES)
    4 – ESAU/EDOM AND JACOB: THE TWIN BROTHERS
    5 – JACOB/ISRAEL AND HIS 12 SONS, MARK’S REINTERPRETATION
    6 – SIMON/PETER: THE SINFUL AND REPENTANT PEOPLE
    7 – JAMES AND JOHN: ISRAEL, THE GIFT OF GOD AND THE FIRE OF JUDGEMENT
    8 – ANDREW: THE GREEK ROCK
    9 – PHILIP: THE KING AND THE GREEK POPULATIONS
    10 – BARTHOLOMEW: THE KING AND THE ARAMEAN POPULATIONS
    11 – MATTHEW: THE MAN WHO MUTATED AND PREPARES THE BREAD
    12 – THOMAS: THE RED TWIN OF ISRAEL
    13 – THE SONS OF ISRAEL: 4 BROTHERS VERSUS 4 APOSTLES
    14 – JAMES SON OF ALPHAEUS: THE REBIRTH OF ISRAEL
    15 – THADDAEUS: THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL
    16 – SIMON THE CANANITE: THE CONQUEST OF THE LAND THAT GOD GIVES
    17 – JUDAS ISCARIOT: THE BETRAYAL
    18 – ISCARIOT (THE MAN OF KERIOTH): THE DESTRUCTION AT THE TIME OF JUDGEMENT
    19 – JUDAS ISCARIOT: THE END OF JEWISH ROYALTY
    20 – SYNTHESIS: THE 12 APOSTLES
    21 – THE HOUSE, THE WORD AND THE CROWD
    22 – ANOTHER SOURCE: THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES
    SUMMARY

    1 – OVERVIEW

    Mark 3:13 Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.

    “Jesus went up on the mountain” => reference to Moses going up to Mount Nebo so as to view the land of Canaan
    (Deuteronomy 32:48-52)

    “called for those He wanted” => Jesus is the one who chooses men worthy to come to him

    Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to
    preach,

    “He appointed twelve of them” => reference to Moses appointing 12 tribal leaders so as to explore the land of
    Canaan (Numbers 13:1-16)

    “to preach” => to spread to the Good News so as to convert the inhabitants of the new land that God gives

    Mark 3:15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

    “to have authority to drive out demons” => to defeat those who oppose the Good News

    Mark 3:16 These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter),

    Simon/Peter represents the new people of God made up of hebrews and pagans. This people is the imperfect people who can
    sin but repent.
    Peter, as a rock, evokes the God’s house to be built

    Mark 3:17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),

    James represents Israel as the people who received the old Word and who now receive the new one i.e. the Good News.
    John represents the Good News.

    “Zebedee” => the Word of God as a gift
    “Thunder” => the Word of God as a law to be observed so as to escape the fire of judgment

    “Son of” => the new generation and inheritance

    Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite,

    “Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas” represents the pagans who will spread the Good News

    “James the son of alphaeus, Thaddeus and Simon the cananite” represents the sons of Israel who will spread the
    Good News.

    Mark 3:19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

    Judas Iscariot (the man of Kerioth) represents those who oppose Jesus and his message.
    Judas also symbolizes the jewish royalty.

    Mark 3:20 Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples
    could not even eat.

    “home” => The tabernacle where the Word of God dwells.

    “once again a crowd gathered” => The verse reminds us of the paralytic’s scene where the crowd prevents access
    to the Word of God.

    “To eat” => To take the new food i.e. the Good News. Jesus and the apostles need them to perform their mission

    2 – EXPLORING THE LAND OF CANAAN

    MOSES GOES UP TO THE MOUNT NEBO AND SEES THE LAND OF CANAAN

    Deuteronomy 32:48 On that same day the LORD said to Moses
    Deuteronomy 32:49 Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab across from
    Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites as their own possession

    MOSES APPOINTS 12 TRIBAL LEADERS

    Numbers 13:1 And the LORD said to Moses,
    Numbers 13:2 “Send out for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.
    From each of their fathers’ tribes send one man who is a leader among them.”

    Numbers 13:4 and these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur;
    Numbers 13:5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;
    Numbers 13:6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;
    Numbers 13:8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;
    Numbers 13:10 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;
    Numbers 13:11 from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi;
    …
    Numbers 13:16 These were the names of the men Moses sent to spy out the land; and Moses gave to Hoshea son of
    Nun the name Joshua.

    SENDING OUT THE TWELVE AND INTRUCTIONS

    Numbers 13:18 See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many.

    Numbers 13:20 Is the soil fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous, and bring back
    some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

    THE MISSION OF THE 12 SPIES

    Numbers 13:21 So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward
    Lebo-hamath.

    Numbers 13:22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai (8526),
    the descendants of Anak, dwelled. It had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8526.htm Talmay: a father-in-law of David, also a descendant of Anak

    THE REPORTS OF THE 12 SPIES

    Among the twelve spies sent by Moses to recognise the land of Canaan, Caleb and Joshua are the only ones to praise the
    Promised Land.

    Numbers 13:25 After forty days the men returned from spying out the land.
    Numbers 13:26 and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of
    Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land
    Numbers 13:27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey,
    and this is its fruit.
    Numbers 13:28 Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and
    fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there.

    Numbers 13:30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession
    of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!”

    Numbers 13:32 So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out: “The land we
    explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature.
    Numbers 13:33 We even saw the Nephilim (5303) there—the descendants of Anak that come from the
    Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5303.htm Nephilim: “giants,”

    THE PEOPLE REBEL

    Numbers 14:2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said
    to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!
    Numbers 14:3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will
    become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

    Numbers 14:6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out
    the land, tore their clothes
    Numbers 14:7 and said to the whole congregation of Israel, “The land we passed through and explored is
    an exceedingly good land.

    Numbers 14:11 And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will
    they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them?

    GOD’S JUDGMENT

    Numbers 14:24 But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I
    will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.

    Numbers 14:30 Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb
    son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

    Numbers 14:38 Of those men who had gone to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son
    of Jephunneh remained alive.

    3 – EXPLORING THE KINGDOM OF GOD

    JESUS GOES UP ON MOUNTAIN

    Mark 3:13 Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted,

    JESUS APPOINTS 12 APOSTLES

    Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles (652), to accompany Him, to be sent
    out to preach,

    Mark 3:16 These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter),
    Mark 3:17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of
    Thunder”),
    Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,
    Mark 3:19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/652.htm apostolos: a messenger, one sent on a mission, an apostle

    SENDING OUT THE TWELVE AND INTRUCTIONS

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority
    over unclean spirits.
    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in
    their belts—

    THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

    Mark 6:12 So they set out and preached that the people should repent.
    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

    THE REPORTS OF THE APOSTLES

    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and
    taught.

    THE SINFUL AND UNBELIEVING GENERATION

    Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of
    Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

    Mark 9:19 “O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I
    put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”

    GOD’S JUDGMENT: THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE GOOD NEWS WILL DIE.

    Mark 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of
    eternal sin.”

    Mark 11:17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of
    prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers (3027).”

    Mark 15:27 Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers (3027), one on His right and one on His left.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3027.htm lÉstÉs: a robber

    GOD’S JUDGMENT: THOSE WHO SERVE THE GOOD NEWS WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

    Mark 15:40 And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother
    of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

    Mark 15:41 These women had followed Jesus and ministered (1247) to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were
    many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.

    Mark 16:5 When they (the 3 women) entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting
    on the right side, and they were alarmed.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1247.htm diakoneÓ: to serve, minister

    THE PARELLELS BETWEEN THE 2 EXPLORATIONS

    1 – The land of Canaan => the kingdom of God
    2 – The 12 spies => the 12 apostles
    3 – The people rebel => the sinful and unbelieving generation
    4 – Only 2 spies enter the land of Canaan => 3 women enter the tomb and see a young man
    5 – Joshua changes his name => Most apostles change their name
    6 – Talmai, a descendant of Anak (the Giants) => (Bar Talmai = Bartholomew)

    THE GRASSHOPPERS AND THE GIANTS (NUMBERS 13:27,32,33) AND (MARK 1:6)

    Numbers 13:27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey,
    and this is its fruit.
    Numbers 13:32 … “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are
    great in stature.
    Numbers 13:33 We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We
    seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”

    Mark 1:6 And John was clothed in camel’s hair and a belt of leather around his waist; and he is eating
    locusts and wild honey.

    John is eating wild honey => the land of Canaan as a gift of God
    John is eating locusts => the grasshoppers against the giants to conquer the land of Canaan

    4 – ESAU AND JACOB, THE TWIN BROTHERS

    ESAU (THE FIRST-BORN) AND JACOB (THE TWIN OF ESAU)

    Genesis 25:24 When her (Rebecca) time came to give birth, there were indeed twins (8380) in her womb
    Genesis 25:25 The first one came out red (132), covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him
    Esau
    Genesis 25:26 After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob (3290).

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8380.htm taom: twins
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/132.htm admoni: red, ruddy
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3290.htm Yaaqob: a son of Isaac

    ESAU IS ALSO CALLED EDOM

    Genesis 25:30 He said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red (122) stew, for I am famished.” (That is why
    he (Esau) was also called Edom (123).)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/122.htm adom: red
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/123.htm edom: the name of a condiment

    JACOB SUPPLANTS ESAU AND GETS THE FIRSTBORN BLESSING

    Genesis 27:27 So he (Jacob) came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him
    (Jacob) and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.
    Genesis 27:28 May God give to you (Jacob) the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth—an
    abundance of grain (1715) and new wine (8492)

    Genesis 27:35 But Isaac replied, “Your brother (Jacob) came deceitfully and took your blessing.”
    Genesis 27:36 So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice. He
    took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

    Genesis 27:37 But Isaac answered Esau: “Look, I have made him (Jacob) your master and given him all his
    relatives as servants; I have sustained him (Jacob) with grain and new wine. What is left that I can do for you,
    my son?”

    5 – JACOB AND HIS 12 SONS, MARK’S REINTERPRETATION

    Genesis 35:22 … Jacob had twelve sons:

    Genesis 35:23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and
    Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
    Genesis 35:24 The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.
    Genesis 35:25 The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.
    Genesis 35:26 And the sons of Leah’s maidservant Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who
    were born to him in Paddan-aram.

    BIRTH OF THE FIRST 11 SONS

    (Genesis 29:32-35) Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah
    Ruben => the firstborn, son of Leah
    …
    (Genesis 30:1-24) Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph,
    Zebulun => 10th, son of Leah
    Joseph => 11th, son of Rachel

    JACOB IS RENAMED ISRAEL
    Genesis 32:28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob (3290), but Israel
    BIRTH OF BENJAMIN
    (Genesis 35:16-20)
    JACOB/ISRAEL PUTS EPHRAIM BEFORE MANASSEH

    Genesis 48:1 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he (Joseph) set out with
    his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

    Genesis 48:14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the
    younger; and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn.

    Genesis 48:20 So that day Jacob blessed them ( Manasseh and Ephraim) and said: “By you shall Israel
    pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’ ” So he (Jacob) put Ephraim before
    Manasseh.

    JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS
    Genesis 49:1-28
    THE DEATH OF JACOB
    Genesis 49:29-35
    JOSEPH BURIES HIS FATHER

    Genesis 50:13 They carried him (Jacob) to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at
    Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
    Genesis 50:14 After Joseph had buried his father, he returned to Egypt with his brothers

    THE MAIN POINTS

    1 – The change of name: Jacob is named Israel
    2 – The younger supplants the firstborn: Jacob supplants Esau and Jacob/Israel puts Ephraim before Manasseh
    3 – Joseph buries his father

    MARK’ S REINTERPRETATION

    Apostles

    Jacob/Israel => James son of Zebedee
    Jacob/Israel => James son of Alphaeus

    Simeon => Simon/Peter
    Simeon => Simon the cananite

    Levi => (Levi son of Alphaeus) => Matthew

    Judah => Judas Iscariot

    Joseph => Thaddeus

    Esau (the twin brother of Jacob) => Thomas

    Other characters

    Zebulun => Zebedee, the father of James and John
    Simeon => Simon of Cyrene
    Joseph => Joseph of Arimathea

    The brothers of Jesus

    Jacob => James
    Jacob => James the less

    Simeon => Simon
    Judah => Judas
    Joseph => Joses

    6 – SIMON/PETER: THE SINFUL AND REPENTANT PEOPLE

    Mark 3:16 These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter),

    THE THEME OF SUPPLANTING

    Simon refers to Simeon, the second son of Jacob.

    Simon, as the first apostle, means that the younger Word (the Good News) will supplant the first Word (the Moses’ law),

    SIMON, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NEW PEOPLE OF GOD

    In a first step, Simon is a son of Israel (Mark 1:16).
    Andrew is his brother so as to mean that the Greeks will join the sons of Israel to make a new community.
    Mark 1:16 And passing by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon,
    casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
    Then, Israel becomes the Simon’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:30) due to the new covenant that God makes with mankind. At
    this point, Simon is no longer a son of Israel.
    Mark 1:30 Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever,
    Simon/Peter represents the sons of Israel and the pagans who follow Jesus. (Mark 3:16)
    Mark 3:16 These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter),
    Change of name and change of role
    Simon => a son of Israel and a fisherman
    Simon/Peter => the first apostle who represents the new people of God

    SIMON, THE SINFUL MAN

    Simon-Peter is not the perfect disciple because he denies Jesus (Mark 14:71). However, he soon becomes aware of his sin
    (Mark 14:72).

    Note also that Simon is the name of the one who denies (Mark 14:37).

    Mark 14:37 And He comes and finds them sleeping. And He says to Peter, “Simon are you asleep? Were you
    not able to watch one hour?

    Mark 14:71 But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!”

    Mark 14:72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time.

    Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three
    times.” And he broke down and wept.

    SIMON, THE REPENTANT MAN

    At the end of the Gospel, a new Simon appears and plays a positive role as he carries the cross.

    Mark 15:21 And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, coming
    from the country, that he might carry His cross.

    PETER, THE ROCK TO BUILD THE HOUSE OF GOD

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4074.htm Petros: Peter
    Word Origin: a noun akin to petra, used as a proper name

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4073.htm petra: a (large mass of) rock
    (a single occurrence in Mark’s Gospel)

    The tomb cut out of the rock represents the house where the Word of God dwells. Below is the parallel between (Mark
    15:46) and (Isaiah 51:1).

    Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it
    in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock (4073).

    Isaiah 51:1 “Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock
    (6697) from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6697.htm tsur: rock, cliff

    THE HOUSE TO BE BUILT IS THE NEW COMMUNITY LIVING ACCORDING TO THE GOOD NEWS

    Mark 15:21 And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus,
    coming from the country, that he might carry His cross.

    Simon of Cyrene will bring the message of the cross (the Good News) to the greeks (Alexander)
    and the romans (Rufus).

    SYNTHESIS

    Simon/Peter represents the new people of God made up of hebrews and pagans. This people is the imperfect people who can
    sin but repent.

    Peter, as a rock, evokes the God’s house to be built. This house will be the new community living according to the Good
    News

    7 – JAMES AND JOHN: ISRAEL, THE GIFT OF GOD AND THE FIRE OF JUDGEMENT

    ZEBULUN/ZEBEDEE => THE WORD OF GOD AS A GIFT

    Genesis 30:20 God has given (2064) me a good gift (2065) … And she (Leah) named him
    Zebulun (2074)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2064.htm zabad: bestow upon, endow with
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2065.htm zebed: endowment, gift
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2074.htm Zebulun: a son of Jacob

    Zebedee noun is akin to Zebulun. Zebedee comes from the hebrew root “Z.B.D” (zabad, zebed) and means the Gift of
    God

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2199.htm Zebedaios: Zebedee, the father of James and John
    Word Origin of Hebrew origin Zebadyah (h2069)
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2069.htm Zebadyah or Zebadyahu: “Yah has bestowed,”
    from zabad (2064) and Yah
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3050.htm Yah: the name of the God of Israel
    Word Origin: contr. from Yhvh
    In Mark’s gospel, Zebedee refers to the old Word of God i.e. the law of Moses and the prophecies
    James and John leave the law of their father Zebedee to follow Jesus (Mark 1:20)

    Mark 1:20 Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the
    hired men and followed Him.

    JAMES SON OF ZEBEDEE AND HIS BROTHER JOHN => ISRAEL WHO RECEIVES THE NEW WORD OF GOD

    Mark 3:17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),

    JAMES refers to ISRAEL as the people who received the old Word and who now receive the new one
    JOHN (2491): John noun evokes the gift of God.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2491.htm IÓannÉs: John
    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin Yochanan/ Johanan

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3083.htm Yehonathan: “the LORD has given,”
    NASB Translation: Jehonathan (2), Jonathan (120), Jonathan’s (2).

    The pair (James, John) symbolizes Israel receiving and accepting the Good News.
    James represents Israel as the people of the covenant who receive the Word of God.
    John represents the new Word that God gives.
    Change of Word and change of name
    The first pair (Jacob/Israel, John the Baptist) => Israel who received the law of Moses
    The second pair (James, John ) => Israel who receives the Good News

    James and John are sons of Zebedee because they represent the new generation who receives the new Word as
    the gift of God. They comes after Zebedee and John the Baptist.

    To highlight that the new Word is also given to Israel, John is the brother of James.

    THUNDER => THE WRATH OF GOD AND THE FIRE OF JUDGEMENT

    Isaiah 66:24 “As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for
    their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”

    Jeremiah 4:3 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:
    Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah
    and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it,
    because of your evil deeds.

    Deuteronomy 7:4 because they (the pagans) will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods.
    Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.

    THUNDER => THE GOOD NEWS AS A LAW AND THE JUDGEMENT ACCORDING THIS LAW

    The Good News must be served

    Mark 1:31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to
    serve (1247) them.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1247.htm diakoneÓ: to serve, minister

    The mother-in-law/Israel is healed because she has received and believed the Good News. In return, she must serve the
    new Word by observing it fully.

    The judgement according to the Word/Law of God

    Mark 4:24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured
    to you, and even more will be added to you.

    the measure you use => the Good News as a Law
    it will be measured to you => the judgement according to the Good News

    The fire of judgement

    Mark 9:49 For everyone will be salted with fire.
    Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among
    yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

    “salt” => salt gives flavour to food
    “everyone will be salted” => everyone will receive the spiritual food that has flavour .i.e. the Good News
    “everyone will be salted with fire” => Everyone will be judged, He who does not serve the Good News will suffer
    the wrath of God.

    JOHN AS SON OF THUNDER => THE GOOD NEWS AS A NEW LAW TO JUDGE THE PEOPLE

    Mark 3:17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of
    Thunder”),

    “Thunder” => the fire of judgement, the wrath of God
    “son of thunder” => the new generation who receives the new law and will be judged according it
    “John named Boanerges” => John as the other side of the Good News i.e. the new law to judge the people who
    received them

    JAMES AND JOHN => THE RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE WHO WILL ESCAPE THE WRATH OF GOD

    Mark 3:17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of
    Thunder”),

    James and John are ready to serve the Good News until death (Mark 10:38,39).
    As a result, they will be judged as righteous and will escape the wrath of God

    Mark 10:38 “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or
    be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?
    Mark 10:39 “We can,” the brothers answered.

    I point out that James and John are not the 2 robbers
    Mark 15 :27 Along with Jesus, they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left.

    SYNTHESIS

    James represents Israel as the people who received the old Word and who now receive the Good News.

    John represents the Good News with their 2 sides: the gift of God and the law to be observed so as to escape the fire
    of judgment

    The pair (James, John) symbolizes the new generation who receive the Good News and wholeheartedly serve them. As a
    result, they will be judged as righteous people and will escape the wrath of God

    In other words, Israel is invariant as the repository of the Word. The variation comes from its content, the Word (John
    the Baptist => John).

    8 – ANDREW: THE GREEK ROCK

    https://biblehub.com/greek/406.htm Andreas: “manly,” Andrew
    Word Origin from anÉr
    https://biblehub.com/greek/435.htm anÉr: a man

    The greek man who will join the sons of Israel to make a single community
    Mark 1:16 And passing by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net
    into the sea; for they were fishermen.
    The common house that shelters the sons of Israel and the greeks
    Mark 1:29 And immediately having gone forth out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and
    Andrew, with James and John.
    The new house of God to be rebuilt

    Mark 13:1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the
    magnificent stones and buildings!”
    Mark 13:2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on
    another; every one will be thrown down.”
    Mark 13:3 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and
    Andrew asked Him privately,

    “opposite the temple” => the destruction of the temple and its replacement by a new house of God
    “Peter” => the rock from which the stones are extracted so as to build the new house of God
    “James” => Israel as the people of the covenant
    “John” => the Good News that will dwell in the new community/house of God
    “Andrew” => the greek populations as member of the community/house

    SYNTHESIS

    Andrew only appears at the beginning and end of the gospel. He represents the greek/pagan populations who will join
    Israel to build the new community/house of God.

    9 – PHILIP: THE KING AND THE GREEK POPULATIONS

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5376.htm Philippos: Philip

    Philip refers to king Philip of Macedonia
    1 Maccabees 1:1 This history begins when Alexander the Great, son of Philip of Macedonia,

    PHILIP THE BROTHER OF HEROD

    Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this,

    Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of
    his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.

    Philip is a greek king and therefore a pagan. Marrying Philip’s wife means marrying the greek culture and behaving like
    a pagan. Mark expresses the pagan behavior by writing that Herod is the brother of the pagans.

    Change of name and change of role
    King Herod => the jewish king who must serve the God of Israel
    Herod, brother of Philip => the man who behaves like a pagan

    PETER PROCLAIMS TO GRECO-ROMAN WORLD THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST

    Mark 8:27 Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way,
    He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say I am?”
    Mark 8:29 But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ”

    Caesarea => the roman world
    Philippi => the greek world

    SYNTHESIS

    Philip represents the greek populations. His name evokes the power because he refers to king Philip of Macedonia,
    father of Alexander the Great.

    10 – BARTHOLOMEW: THE KING AND THE ARAMEAN POPULATIONS

    https://biblehub.com/greek/918.htm Bartholomaios: “son of Tolmai,”
    Word Origin: of Aramaic origin => bar and Talmay

    OT SOURCES: TALMAI, KING OF GESHUR

    2 Samuel 3:2 And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
    2 Samuel 3:3 and his second, Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite;
    and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai (8526), king of Geshur (1650);

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8526.htm Talmay a father-in-law of David, also a descendant of Anak
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1650.htm Geshur: a territory East of the upper Jordan

    OT SOURCES: TALMAI, A DESCENDANT OF THE GIANTS

    Numbers 13:22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai (8526),
    the descendants of Anak, dwelled….

    Numbers 13:33 We even saw the Nephilim (5303) there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim
    (5303)! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5303.htm Nephilim: “giants,”

    OT SOURCES: THE ARAMAIC LANGUAGE

    2 Kings 18:26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak
    to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on
    the wall.”

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE ARAMAIC LANGUAGE

    Mark 3:17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of
    Thunder”),

    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to
    you, get up!”

    Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means,
    “Be opened!”).

    Mark 15:34 At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which
    means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

    SYNTHESIS

    Bartholomew represents the aramean populations because his name derives from an aramaic origin.
    Bartholomew evokes the power because he refers to Talmai as king of Geshur and Talmai as a descendant of the giants.

    In Mark’s gospel, Jesus speaks in Aramaic since people understand it (2 Kings 18:26)

    11 – MATTHEW, THE MAN WHO MUTATED AND PREPARES THE BREAD

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3156.htm Matthaios: Matthew
    Word Origin: variant reading for Maththaios, q.v.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3102b.htm Maththaios: Matthew

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4993.htm Mattithyah or Mattithyahu: “gift of Yah,”
    Word Origin: from mattath and Yah (Yhvh)

    CHANGE OF NAME AND CHANGE OF ROLE

    (Mark 2:13-17) Levi the circumciser mutates and becomes Matthew the apostle in charge of preparing the bread

    Levi son of Alphaeus => Levi, the priest in charge of ritual after child’s birth
    Matthew => the apostle in charge of preparing the bread i.e. the Good News as gift of God

    1 Chronicles 9:31 A Levite named Mattithiah (4993), the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was
    entrusted with baking the bread.

    (To read more see my Chapter 8: Levi son of Alphaeus)

    SYNTHESIS: MATTHEW IS A NAME USED AS QUALIFIER

    Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas,

    The proper name is used as a qualifier to give more information about Andrew, Philip and Bartholomew
    The qualifier means that the greek and aramean pagans have accepted the Good News and that their leaders will spread
    them.

    Note also that Matthew does not refer to a direct descendant of Jacob/Israel.

    12 – THOMAS: THE RED TWIN OF ISRAEL

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2381.htm ThÓmas: “the twin,”

    ESAU/EDOM: THE RED TWIN OF JACOB/ISRAEL

    Genesis 25:24 When her (Rebecca) time came to give birth, there were indeed twins (8380) in her womb

    Genesis 25:25 The first one came out red (132), covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him
    Esau

    Genesis 25:26 After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8380.htm taom: twins
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/132.htm admoni: red, ruddy

    Genesis 25:30 He (Esau) said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red (122) stew, for I am
    famished.” (That is why he was also called Edom (123).)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/122.htm adom: red
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/123.htm edom: the name of a condiment

    EDOM: THE PAGAN LAND AT THE EXTREME SOUTHERN BOUNDARY

    Joshua 15:1 Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of
    Edom (123), to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary:

    Joshua 15:21 These were the southernmost cities of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the
    border (123) of Edom:

    (To read more about Edom/Idumea, see my Chapter 12: the Kingdom)

    SYNTHESIS: THOMAS IS A NAME USED AS QUALIFIER

    Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas,

    The proper name is used as a second qualifier to give more information about Andrew, Philip and Bartholomew

    The qualifier means that the greek and aramean populations will be the twin of Israel.

    Mark will later add another red twin, the Romans.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4504.htm Rhouphos: “red,” Rufus
    Word Origin: of Latin origin

    12 – THOMAS: THE RED TWIN OF ISRAEL

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2381.htm ThÓmas: “the twin,”

    ESAU/EDOM: THE RED TWIN OF JACOB/ISRAEL

    Genesis 25:24 When her (Rebecca) time came to give birth, there were indeed twins (8380) in her womb

    Genesis 25:25 The first one came out red (132), covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him
    Esau

    Genesis 25:26 After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8380.htm taom: twins
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/132.htm admoni: red, ruddy

    Genesis 25:30 He (Esau) said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red (122) stew, for I am
    famished.” (That is why he was also called Edom (123).)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/122.htm adom: red
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/123.htm edom: the name of a condiment

    EDOM: THE PAGAN LAND AT THE EXTREME SOUTHERN BOUNDARY

    Joshua 15:1 Now the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah extended to the border of
    Edom (123), to the Wilderness of Zin at the extreme southern boundary:

    Joshua 15:21 These were the southernmost cities of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the
    border (123) of Edom:

    (To read more about Edom/Idumea, see my Chapter 12: the Kingdom)

    SYNTHESIS: THOMAS IS A NAME USED AS QUALIFIER

    Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas,

    The proper name is used as a second qualifier to give more information about Andrew, Philip and Bartholomew

    The qualifier means that the greek and aramean populations will be the twin of Israel.

    Mark will later add another red twin, the Romans.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4504.htm Rhouphos: “red,” Rufus
    Word Origin: of Latin origin

    Reply

16. 13 – THE SONS OF ISRAEL: 4 BROTHERS VERSUS 4 APOSTLES

    THE SONS OF JACOB/ISRAEL

    Genesis 35:22 … Jacob (3290) had twelve sons:

    Genesis 35:23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon (8095), and Levi, and Judah
    (3063), and Issachar, and Zebulun:
    Genesis 35:24 The sons of Rachel were Joseph (3130) and Benjamin.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3290.htm Yaaqob: a son of Isaac
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8095.htm Shimon, Simeon: a son of Jacob
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3063.htm Yehudah: a son of Jacob
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3130.htm Yoseph: a son of Jacob

    THE 4 BROTHERS OF JESUS: THE SONS OF ISRAEL LIVING ACCORDING TO THE OLD WORD

    Mark 6:3 Is this not … brother of James (2385), Joses (2500), Judas (2455), and Simon (4613) ?
    (NKJ)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2385.htm IakÓbos: James
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2500.htm IÓsÉs: Joses, an Israelite name
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2455.htm Ioudas: Judah, Judas
    https://biblehub.com/greek/strongs_4613.htm SimÓn: Simon

    Their names are akin to that of Jacob and his sons so as to mean that the Jesus’ brothers are the sons of Israel.

    Jacob => James
    Simeon => Simon
    Judah => Judas
    Joseph => Joses

    The brothers of Jesus are the sons of Israel who go on living according to the law of their father. They don’t
    understand what Jesus is doing and consider that he is out of his mind.

    Mark 3:21 When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He
    is out of His mind.”

    THE 4 APOSTLES: THE SONS OF ISRAEL SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS

    Mark 3:18 …, James (2385) son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon (4613) the Cananite,
    Mark 3:19 and Judas (2455) Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

    Change of name and change of role

    James => James the son of Alphaeus,

    Joses => Thaddeus

    Simon => Simon the Cananite
    Judas => Judas Iscariot

    The names of the 4 apostles change to distinguish them from their brothers and to mean that their role changes. From
    now, they will spread the Good News.

    SYNTHESIS

    The 4 Apostles represent the sons of Israel who accept the Good News while the 4 brothers of Jesus represent the sons
    of Israel who go on living according to the old Word.

    The 4 apostles will join the other apostles to spread the same Word of God, the Good News.

    14 – JAMES THE SON OF ALPHAEUS: THE REBIRTH OF ISRAEL

    JAMES REFERS TO JACOB/ISRAEL
    SON OF ALPHAEUS

    Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus
    Mark 3:18 … James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite;

    The expression “son of Alphaeus” evokes the disappearance in one form and reappearance in another form.
    (To read more see my Chapter 8: Levi son of Alphaeus)

    SYNTHESIS:
    James the son of alphaeus represents Israel and his rebirth/renewal thanks to the Good News.

    15 – THADDEUS: THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2280.htm Thaddaios: Thaddaeus
    Phonetic Spelling: (thad-dah’-yos)

    ARAMAIC OR HEBREW ORIGIN: LIST OF AKIN WORDS

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7699.htm shad: breast

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2306.htm chadi: breast (1 Occurrence, Daniel 2:32)
    (Aramaic) corresponding to chazeh

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2373.htm chazeh: breast (of animals)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2436.htm cheq: bosom

    OT SOURCES

    Joseph receives the blessing of the breast and becomes the prince of his brothers.

    Genesis 49:22 Joseph is a fruitful vine—a fruitful vine by a spring, whose branches scale the wall.

    Genesis 49:24 Yet he steadied his bow, and his strong arms were tempered by the hands of the Mighty (46) One
    of Jacob, in the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

    Genesis 49:25 by the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you, with
    blessings of the heavens above, with blessings of the depths below, with blessings of the breasts (7699) and
    womb.

    Genesis 49:26 The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of the ancient mountains and the
    bounty of the everlasting hills. May they rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince (5139) of his
    brothers.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7699.htm shad: breast
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted

    Joseph saves his family from famine

    Genesis 49:12 If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you go and take back
    grain to relieve the hunger of your households.

    SYNTHESIS

    Thaddeus refers to Joseph the son of Jacob. He represents the son of Israel who will save his brothers by giving them
    the new grain i.e. the Good News

    Below are the elements that refer to Joseph
    1 – the comparison between the list of 4 brothers and the list of 4 apostles
    2 – the aramaic or hebrew origin (Chadi/Shad/Cheq => Thaddaios/Thaddaeus)
    3 – Joseph receives the blessing of the breast and womb.
    4 – Joseph is the prince of his brothers
    5 – Joseph saves his family from famine

    16 – SIMON THE CANANITE: THE CONQUEST OF THE LAND THAT GOD GIVES

    * Simon

    Simon refers to Simeon, the second son of Jacob. Note again that Mark ignores Ruben the firstborn

    The Cananite (2581)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2581.htm Kananaios: Cananaean

    OT SOURCES: THE LAND OF CANAAN

    THE LAND THAT GOD GIVES

    Numbers 13:2 Send out for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan (3667), which I am giving to the
    Israelites. From each of their fathers’ tribes send one man who is a leader among them.”

    Numbers 14:25 Now since the Amalekites and Canaanites (3669) are living in the valleys, turn back
    tomorrow and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3667.htm Kna’an: Canaan
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3669.htm Kna’aniy: Canaanite

    THE LAND TO BE CONQUERED.

    Numbers 13:30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the
    land, for we can certainly conquer it!”

    SYNTHESIS

    Simon the cananite refers to the land of Canaan and its conquest.

    Simon the cananite represents the sons of Israel spreading the Good News over the new land (the kingdom of God) in
    order to conquer/convert its inhabitants.

    17 – JUDAS ISCARIOT: THE BETRAYAL

    * Judas
    Judas refers to Judah, the fourth son of Jacob.

    OT SOURCES: THE SALE OF JOSEPH

    Judah suggests that Joseph be sold into slavery instead of killing him

    Genesis 37:18 Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to
    kill him.
    Genesis 37:23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the robe of many colors
    he was wearing—
    Genesis 37:24 and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, with no water in it.
    Genesis 37:26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover
    up his blood?
    Genesis 37:27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our
    brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed.

    MARK’S GOSPEL: SHAME AND DESTRUCTION TO THAT MAN WHO BETRAYS

    Judas sells Jesus to the chief priests (Mark 14:10-11) and betrays him

    Mark 3:19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed (3860) Jesus.

    Mark 14:10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray (3860)
    Jesus to them.
    Mark 14:11 They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look
    for an opportunity to betray (3860) Jesus.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3860.htm paradidÓmi: to hand over, to give or deliver over, to betray
    Word Origin from para and didÓmi
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1325.htm didÓmi: to give (in various senses lit. or fig.)

    Betrayal => shame and destruction

    Mark 14:21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe (3759) to that man by whom
    He is betrayed (3860)! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3759.htm ouai: alas! woe! (an expression of grief or denunciation)

    18 – ISCARIOT: THE MAN WHO WILL BE DESTROYED AT THE TIME OF JUDGMENT

    ISCARIOT

    The derivation is from the Hebrew lsh-Kerioth, “a man of Kerioth,’ a city of the tribe of Judah.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2469.htm IskariÓtÉs:Iscariot, surname of Judas
    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin => ish and qirya

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/376.htm ish: man

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7152.htm Qeriyyoth:
    Kerioth-hezron, a city in Judah (1 Occurrence)
    Kerioth a city in Moab (3 Occurrences)

    KERIOTH-HEZRON, A CITY IN JUDAH TOWARD THE BORDER OF EDOM

    Joshua 15:21 These were the southernmost cities of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the border
    of Edom (123):
    Joshua 15:25 Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (7152) (that is, Hazor)

    KERIOTH AND BOZRAH (2 CITIES IN MOAB) => JUDGMENT AND DESTRUCTION

    Jeremiah 48:20 Moab is put to shame, for it has been shattered. Wail and cry out! Declare by the Arnon that
    Moab is destroyed.
    Jeremiah 48:21 Judgment has come upon the high plain—upon Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath,
    Jeremiah 48:24 upon Kerioth (7152), Bozrah (1224), and all the towns of Moab, those far and
    near.

    BOZRAH (A CITY IN EDOM) => RED GARMENT OF SPLENDOR AND WINE PRESS

    Isaiah 63:1 Who is this coming from Edom (123), from Bozrah (1224) with crimson-stained garments?
    Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication,
    mighty to save.”
    Isaiah 63:2 Why are Your clothes red (122), and Your garments like one who treads the winepress
    (1660)?

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1224.htm Botsrah: Bozrah, “fortress”
    a city in Moab (Jeremiah 48:24),
    a city in Edom (Isaiah 63:1), (Isaiah 34:6), (Jeremiah 49:13,22), (Amos 1:12)

    THE DESTRUCTION BY FIRE

    Judgment on Israel’s Neighbors (Amos 1)

    Amos 1:12 So I will send fire upon Teman to consume the citadels of Bozrah.”

    Judgment on Moab, Judah, and Israel (Amos 2)
    Amos 2:2 So I will send fire against Moab to consume the citadels of Kerioth.

    Amos 2:5 So I will send fire upon Judah to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”

    I already quoted other verses, see my previous paragrah “James and John: Israel, the gift of god and the fire of
    judgement”

    KERIOTH AND BOZRAH

    Kerioth refers to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:21,25)
    Kerioth also evokes shame and destruction at the divine judgment (Jeremiah 48:20,21,24).

    Bozrah evokes the pagans, the robe of splendor and the wine press (Isaiah 63:1,2)

    It is interesting to note that (Jeremiah 48:24) verse associates Kerioth with Bozrah
    The connection between Keriot and Bozrah can also be seen in the following way.

    Keriot
    Because he delivers Jesus over to the pagans, Judas is guilty of eternal sin (Mark 3:29). As a result, he becomes “the
    man of Keriot”, which means the man who will be destroyed by the fire at divine Judgement.
    Bozrah
    The pagans will dress Jesus in their own garment of splendor and then in his own garment of salvation.
    Then the wine press will extract the blood of Jesus (the fruit of the vine).
    The blood of Jesus will thus redeem the sins of repentant people (Mark 3:28) but his blood will not redeem the eternal
    sin (Mark 3:29) of Judas.

    Mark 3:28 Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they
    utter.
    Mark 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of
    eternal sin.”

    “blaspheme against the Holy Spirit” => opposition to the new spirit that the Good News bring.

    SYNTHESIS

    Iscariot derives from the Hebrew lsh-Kerioth, “a man of Kerioth”

    Judas Iscariot (the man of Kerioth) represents the fate of man opposed to Good News. He will not get salvation and will
    be destroyed by fire at the divine judgment.

    19 – JUDAS ISCARIOT, THE END OF JEWISH ROYALTY

    OT SOURCES: JUDAH, THE JEWISH ROYALTY

    JACOB BLESSES JUDAH

    Genesis 49:8 Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies;
    your father’s sons shall bow down to you.

    Genesis 49:10 The scepter (7626) will not depart from Judah, nor the staff (2710) from between his feet, until
    Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7626.htm shebet: rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2710.htm chaqaq: to cut in, inscribe, decree

    JUDAH IS A DISTANT ANCESTOR OF KING DAVID.

    Ruth 4:12 And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of
    the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.

    Ruth 4:18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,
    Ruth 4:19 Hezron was the father of Ram,Ram was the father of Amminadab,
    Ruth 4:20 Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon,
    Ruth 4:21 Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed,
    Ruth 4:22 Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.

    DAVID, KING OF ISRAEL

    2 Samuel 7:8 Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I
    took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.

    2 Samuel 7:12 And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your
    descendant (2233) after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom.

    2 Samuel 7:16 Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2233.htm zera: a sowing, seed, offspring

    THE JEWISH EXPECTATION OF ONE NATION WITH ONE KING

    Ezekiel 37:15 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
    Ezekiel 37:16 “And you, son of man, take a single stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Judah and to the
    Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to Joseph—the stick of
    Ephraim—and to all the house of Israel associated with him.’
    Ezekiel 37:17 Then join them together into one stick, so that they become one in your hand.

    Ezekiel 37:25 They will live in the land that I gave to My servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They will
    live there forever with their children and grandchildren, and My servant David will be their prince (5387) forever.
    

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5387.htm nasiy’: captain

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE END OF JEWISH ROYALTY

    The destruction of Judas as symbol of the jewish royalty goes hand in hand with the destruction of Judas as betrayal.
    The expression “Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus” (Mark 3:19) announces the 2 destructions: the fire for the eternal
    sinner and the death of Jesus as Jewish king.

    The death of the jewish king means the death of jewish hope for an independent nation.
    The sons of Israel will have to live in a Greco-Roman world (Mark 8:27 Caesarea Philippi).

    20 – SYNTHESIS: THE 12 APOSTLES

    Simon-Peter represents the new people of God made up of hebrews and pagans. This people is the imperfect people
    who can sin but repent.

    Peter, as a rock, evokes the God’s house to be built. This house will be the new community living according to
    the Good News.

    James represents Israel as the people who received the old Word and who now receive the Good News.

    John represents the Good News with their 2 sides: the gift of God and the law to be observed so as to escape the
    fire of judgment.

    The pair (James, John) symbolizes the people who receive the Good News and wholeheartedly serve them. As a
    result, they will be judged as righteous people and will escape the wrath of God

    Andrew represents the greek populations who will join the son of Israel to build the new community/house of God.

    Philip represents the greek populations. His name evokes the power because he refers to king Philip of
    Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great.

    Bartholomew represents the aramean populations. His name evokes the power because he refers to Talmai as king of
    Geshur and Talmai as a descendant of the giants.
    Jesus will speak in Aramaic to evoke the aramean populations

    Thomas represents the pagans (arameans, greeks and romans) as the twins of Israel.

    Matthew represents the pagans who have accepted the Good News and who will spread them.

    James the son of alphaeus represents Israel and his rebirth/renewal thanks to the Good News
    The expression “son of Alphaeus” evokes the disappearance in one form and reappearance in another form.

    Thaddeus represents the son of Israel who will save his other brothers by giving them the new grain i.e. the
    Good News
    Thaddeus refer to Joseph who saved his hebrew brothers from famine and became the prince of his brothers after the
    blessing of the breast.

    Simon the cananite represents the sons of Israel spreading the Good News over the new land (the kingdom of God)
    in order to conquer/convert its inhabitants.
    “Cananite” refers to the land of Canaan and its conquest.

    Judas Iscariot (the man of Kerioth) represents the fate of man opposed to Good News. He will not get salvation
    and will be destroyed by fire at the divine judgment.

    Judas Iscariot also symbolizes the end of jewish hope for an independent nation, which means that the sons of
    Israel will have to live in a Greco-Roman world

    ANOTHER VIEW ABOUT THEIR ROLE

    James represents Israel as the people of the covenant who received the old Word and who now receive the Good
    News.

    John represents the Good News

    James and John the people who wholeheartedly serve the Good News. As a result, they will be judged as righteous
    people and will escape the wrath of God

    Simon/Peter represents the imperfect people who can sin but repent.

    Judas Iscariot (the man of Kerioth) represents the eternal sinners who will be destroyed by fire at the divine
    judgment.

    Judas Iscariot (the man of Kerioth) also symbolizes the end of jewish hope for an independent nation

    James the son of alphaeus, Thaddeus and Simon the cananite represents the sons of Israel who will spread
    the Good News

    Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas represents the pagans who will spread the Good News

    Simon/Peter and Andrew represents the God’s house to be built i.e. the new community living according to the
    Good News.

    THE QUALIFIERS

    Zebedee => the Word of God as a gift
    Son of Zebedee => the new generation who receives the Good News as gift of God

    Thunder => the fire of judgement, the wrath of God,
    Son of thunder => the new generation who receives the Good News as a law to be observed so as to escape the fire
    of judgment

    Son of alphaeus => the disappearance in one form and reappearance in another form, which means renewal/rebirth

    Iscariot (the man of Kerioth) => shame and destruction by fire at the divine judgment.

    The cananite => the land that God gives and its conquest i.e. its conversion to the Good News

    THE PROPER NAMES USED AS A QUALIFIER

    Thaddeus => the salvation of Israel

    Matthew => the new bread/Word that the apostles must spread

    Thomas => the twinning with the sons of Israel

    21 – THE HOME, THE WORD AND THE CROWD (MARK 3:20)

    HOME

    “Home”, without any other precision, indicates the tabernacle where the Word of God dwells.

    THE PARALLEL WITH THE PARALYTIC’S SCENE

    The hebrew crowd prevents the pagans from taking their share of the Word i.e. the Good News>

    Mark 2:1 … And when the people heard that He was home,
    Mark 2:2 they (the hebrew crowd) gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even
    outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them.
    Mark 2:4 Since they (the paralytics/pagans) were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered
    the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.

    The hebrew crowd prevents Jesus and his disciples from taking the new food i.e. the Good News

    Mark 3:20 Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could
    not even eat.

    THE NEED FOR THE WORD OF GOD (MARK 3:20)

    The apostles need it to perform their mission.
    Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to
    preach,
    Mark 3:15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

    “to preach” => to teach and spread the Good News
    “to have authority to drive out demons” => to defeat those who oppose the Good News

    MARK PREPARES THE NEXT SCENE

    Mark 3:20 Then Jesus went home
    Mark 3:21 When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is
    out of His mind.”

    Jesus is at home, his family will come to get him because he is out of his mind.

    22 – OTHER SOURCE: THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Maccabees%201&version=GNT
    (GNT) Good News Translation

    1 M 1:1 This history begins when Alexander the Great, son of Philip of Macedonia,

    1 M 2:1 During that time, a priest of the Jehoiarib family named Mattathias, who was the son of
    John and the grandson of Simeon, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Modein.

    1 M 2:2 Mattathias had five sons: John (also called Gaddi),
    1 M 2:3 Simon (also called Thassi),
    1 M 2:4 Judas (also called Maccabeus),
    1 M 2:5 Eleazar (also called Avaran), and Jonathan (also called Apphus).

    SIMON SON OF MATTATHIAS, LEADER AND HIGH PRIEST UNTIL A TRUE PROPHET APPEARS (1 M 14:41)

    1 M 14:27 Often when wars broke out in the country, Simon son of Mattathias, a priest of the Jehoiarib
    family, and his brothers risked their lives in protecting our nation, our Temple, and our Law against our
    enemies. They have brought great glory to our nation.

    1 M 14:35 When the people saw Simon‘s patriotism and how he wanted to bring glory to his nation, they
    made him their leader and High Priest…

    1 M 14:41 Therefore, the Jews and their priests are happy to have Simon and his descendants as their
    leaders and High Priests, until a true prophet appears.

    SIMON SON OF MATTATHIAS (WIKIPEDIA)

    He became the first prince of the Hebrew Hasmonean Dynasty. He reigned from 142 to 135 BCE.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Thassi

    SUMMARY

    The number 12 reminds us of the 12 sons of Jacob and the 12 tribal leaders that Moses sent to explore the land of Canaan
    before conquering it
    Jesus appoints 12 apostles so as to spread the Good News and convert the inhabitants of the new land i.e. the kingdom
    of God.

    THE MAIN APOSTLES WHO WILL PLAY A SPECIAL ROLE
    James represents Israel as the people of the covenant
    John represents the Good News with their 2 sides, the gift of God and the fire of jugement
    Simon/Peter represents the hebrew and pagan people who can sin but repent.

    Judas Iscariot (the man of Kerioth) represents the eternal sinners who will be destroyed by fire at the divine
    judgment. He also symbolizes the end of jewish hope for an independent nation

    THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GENERATION TO WHOM JESUS TEACHES THE GOOD NEWS.
    Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas symbolize the pagan populations who believe the Good News.
    James the son of alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the cananite symbolize the sons of Israel who leave the
    law of their fathers to follow Jesus
    What the names and qualifiers mean

    Andrew, Philip => the greek populations
    Bartholomew => the aramean populations
    Matthew => the new bread/Word that the apostles must spread
    Thomas => the twinning with the sons of Israel
    The son of alphaeus => the rebirth of Israel
    Thaddeus => the salvation of Israel
    The cananite => the land that God gives and its conquest i.e. its conversion to the Good News

    SIMON/PETER AND ANDREW
    Peter, as a rock, evokes the God’s house to be built. This house will be the new community living according to
    the Good News.
    Andrew represents the greek/pagan community who will join the sons of Israel so as to build the new house of God.
    THE MEANING OF THE SEQUENCE
    1 – Good News are a gift of God that will save the sons of Israel and the pagans.
    2 – Good News are as a law to be observed so as to escape the fire/thunder of judgment
    3 – Apostles will have to spread the Good News to convert other hebrews and pagans
    4 – The sons of Israel will have to live in a Greco-Roman world.
    MARK REINTERPRETS THE OT SOURCES
    1 – The theme of supplanting since he ignores Rubens the firstborn
    2 – The change of name that goes hand in hand with the change of role
    3 – The gift of God and the fire of judgment
    4 – The land as a gift to be conquered (the honey but also the grasshoppers against the giants)

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 3:21-35) the divided house.
    (Mark 4-7) parables, miracles, John’s death, …, food laws, …, miracles.
    (Mark 8:1-26) miracles, third synthesis.

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter:

    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 12: The kingdom
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-128605

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

17. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 14: The divided house
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 3:21-35) A call for unity and the definition of unclean spirit

    1 – OVERVIEW
    2 – JESUS GOES HOME TO SPEAK TO HIS FAMILY (THE SONS OF ISRAEL)
    3 – THE SCRIBES, JERUSALEM, SATAN AND THE DEMONS
    4 – BEELZEBUL: THE BAAL WHO IS NOT THE GOD OF ISRAEL
    5 – THE ETERNAL DIVISION/SEPARATION FROM THE GOD/ROCK OF ISRAEL
    6 – THE DIVISION/OPPOSITION WITHIN A COMMUNITY
    7 – THE WORD AS A SOURCE OF DIVISION AMONG THE SONS OF ISRAEL
    8 – THE STRONG MAN, THE TIED MAN AND THE PLUNDERED HOUSE
    9 – THE TEMPORARY SINS OF MEN AND THE ETERNAL SIN AGAINST GOD
    10 – THE DIVIDED FAMILY
    11 – THE WILL OF GOD
    12 – SYNHTESIS ABOUT THE DIVIDED KINGDOM/HOUSE/FAMILY
    13 – THE EXTENDED FAMILY (SONS OF ISRAEL, PAGANS, VARIOUS GENERATIONS)
    14 – THE SYNAGOGUE AND THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM
    15 – THE ROCK AND THE HOUSE OF GOD
    16 – BEELZEBUL, THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT AND THE DEMONS
    17 – WHAT DOES CASTING THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT MEAN ?
    18 – PARALLEL WITH THE PARALYTIC’S HEALING
    19 – NARRATIVE VIEWS
    FIRST SUMMARY ABOUT DIVISION
    SECOND SUMMARY ABOUT MARK’S GOSPEL

    1 – OVERVIEW

    Mark 3:21 When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out
    of His mind.”

    “to take custody of Him” => His family wants him to return to the Moses’ law.
    “He is out of His mind” => His family considers that he is mistaken by teaching the Good News

    Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by
    Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

    “scribes who had come down from Jerusalem” => first relationship between the scribes and Jerusalem

    “Beelzebul” = Baal (a pagan god) + Zebul (house)

    “He is possessed by Beelzebul” => First accusation: The scribes accuse Jesus of wanting to separate the sons of
    Israel from their God by leading them to Baal.

    “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons” => Second accusation: The scribes accuse Jesus of
    getting his power from the prince of the demons

    Mark 3:23 So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out
    Satan?

    Jesus refutes the allegations by pointing out the lack of logic in the second accusation: “How can someone rise against
    himself?”

    Mark 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
    The divided kingdom refers to the Kingdom of Israel and evokes another division, which is the complete separation of
    Israel from his God by serving and worshiping Baal

    Mark 3:25 If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
    The divided house refers to the house of Israel and also evokes the complete separation of the God/Rock from which
    Israel was hewn.

    Mark 3:26 And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.

    Jesus describes the Satan’s division in order to warn the sons of Israel about the danger of disunity.
    The message is:
    If the sons of Israel separate themselves from their God and divide among themselves, they cannot stand; their end will
    come

    Mark 3:27 Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the
    strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

    Israel is a strong man when he serves his God and walks in his way otherwise he becomes a sinner. The sinful man will
    suffer the wrath of God, the chains of exile (Jeremiah 40:1-3) and delivery to plunderers (Isaiah 42:24,25).
    The message is: If you do not obey God, you separate yourself from him and you will suffer his wrath

    Mark 3:28 Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies,
    as many as they utter.

    “the sons of men” => the sons of Israel and the pagans

    “the sons of men will be forgiven all sins” => the disobedience to God (the sin) is a temporary separation that
    God forgives
    “the sons of men will be forgiven blasphemies” => the blasphemies are also a temporary separation that God
    forgives

    Mark links ‘sins of men’ and ‘blasphemies of men’ so as to introduce another blasphemy in the next verse

    Mark 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of
    eternal sin.”

    “Whoever” => the sons of Israel and the pagans

    “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit” => The opposition to the new spirit that the Good News bring
    “he is guilty of eternal sin” => whoever opposes the Good News will suffer the eternal punishment/separation

    Mark 3:30 Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

    Jesus concludes his speech about the division by making the equivalence between division and unclean spirit

    Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him,
    “mother and brothers stood outside” => they do not beleive the Good News

    Mark 3:32 and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are
    outside, asking for You.”

    The crowd materializes the separation/incomprehension between Jesus and his family

    Mark 3:33 But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”
    Are those who stand outside my true brothers?

    Mark 3:34 Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My
    brothers!

    Those seated in a circle are those who beleive the Good News
    Jesus says that those seated in a circle are his true family

    Mark 3:35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”

    “Whoever” => the sons of Israel and the pagans
    Those who do the will of God are the true family of Jesus

    SYNTHESIS

    The family of Jesus (the sons of Israel) does not undertand him (Mark 3:21)

    The double accusation (Mark 3:22) of the scribes serves as an introduction to Jesus’ speech about the
    division/separation

    At the same time, Jesus evokes the separation within the same community (Mark 3:23-26) and the eternal separation from
    the God/Rock of Israel (Mark 3:24,25)

    Then Jesus evokes another separation from God which is disobedience to God.
    If the sons of Israel do not obey their God, they separate themselves from him. They will suffer his wrath (Mark 3:27)
    instead of being protected from their enemies

    Jesus continues his speech about the disobedience to God i.e. the sin
    He specifies that all sins will be forgiven (Mark 3:28) except the opposition to new Word of God (Mark 3:29)

    Thus, the sin is a temporary separation from God while the opposition to his Word is an eternal separation.

    Jesus concludes his speech about the division by making the equivalence between division and unclean spirit (Mark 3:30)

    Then Jesus makes a distinction among the sons of Israel. There are two classes of people
    1 – those who are outside (Mark 3:31,32), which means the sons of Israel who remain faithful to the old Word
    2 – those who are within (Mark 3:34), which means the true sons of Israel who beleive the Good News

    Jesus makes it clear that the sons of Israel must leave the Moses’ law and serve the Good News in order to do his will
    (Mark 3:35)

    In his speech, Jesus also addresses all men i.e. the sons of Israel and the pagans
    1 – the sins of men will be forgiven (Mark 3:28) except the opposition to the Good News (Mark 3:29)
    2 – Whoever does the will of God is his brother (Mark 3:35)

    2 – JESUS GOES HOME TO SPEAK TO HIS FAMILY (THE SONS OF ISRAEL)

    “Home”, without any other precision, indicates the tabernacle where the Word of God dwells (Mark 3:20 and Mark 2:1,2)

    Mark 3:20 Then Jesus went home, and once again …

    Mark 2:1 … And when the people heard that He was home,
    Mark 2:2 … as Jesus spoke the word to them.

    The family of Jesus => The sons of Israel who have already received the Word of God i.e. the Moses’ law and the
    prophecies.

    Mark 3:20 Then Jesus went home,

    Mark 3:21 When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is
    out of His mind.”

    “to take custody of Him” => His family wants him to return to the Moses’ law.
    “He is out of His mind” => His family considers that he is mistaken by teaching the Good News

    3 – ACCUSATION, JERUSALEM, SATAN AND THE DEMONS

    THE POWER/ AUTHORITY TO DRIVE OUT DEMONS

    Mark 1:34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons
    Mark 1:39 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

    Mark 3:15 … and to have authority to drive out demons

    ACCUSATION

    The scribes, who come from Jerusalem, accuse Jesus of getting his power from Satan, the prince of the demons (Mark
    3:22,23)

    Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He (Jesus) is possessed
    by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
    Mark 3:23 So Jesus (2424) called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan
    drive out Satan?

    Satan accuses Joshua the high priest but God chooses Jerusalem (Zachariah 3:1,2)

    Zachariah 3:1 Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD,
    with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
    Zachariah 3:2 And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has
    chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2424.htm IÉsous: Jesus or Joshua,
    Usage: Jesus; the Greek form of Joshua

    THE DEMONS

    The demons know Jesus and Jesus does not allow them to speak (Mark 1:34)
    Mark 1:34 But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

    God speaks to Satan and rebukes him (Zachariah 3:2)
    Zachariah 3:2 And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan!

    4 – BEELZEBUL: THE BAAL WHO IS NOT THE GOD OF ISRAEL

    MARK’S GOSPEL: “Beelzebul” = Baal (a pagan god) + Zebul (house)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1168.htm Ba’al: Baal ,a heathen god
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2073.htm zebul: elevation, height, lofty abode
    Word Origin: from zabal
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2082.htm zabal: probably to dwell

    Mark 3:22 … “He is possessed (2192) by Beelzebul,” BSB
    Mark 3:22 … “He has (2192) Beelzebul,” BLB

    “Beelzebul” evokes Baal or the house of Baal

    OT SOURCES

    AHAZIAH AND BAAL-ZEBUB THE GOD OF EKRON

    Ahaziah, the king of Samaria, has just been wounded. Immediately he sends his messengers to Baal-zebub and ignores the
    God of Israel.
    Because of this, God through the voice of Elijah announces that the king will surely die

    2 Kings 1:1 After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.

    2 Kings 1:2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured
    himself. So he sent messengers and instructed them: “Go inquire of Baal-zebub (1176), the god of Ekron, whether
    I will recover from this injury.”

    2 Kings 1:3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up to meet the messengers of the
    king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are on your way to inquire of
    Baal-zebub (1176), the god of Ekron?’

    2 Kings 1:4 Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘You will not get up from the bed on which you are lying.
    You will surely die.’ ” So Elijah departed.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1176.htm Baal-zebub Word Origin: from Baal and zebub
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1168.htm Ba’al: Baal
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2070.htm zebub: a fly

    AHAZIAH (KING OF ISRAEL) SERVES AND WORSHIPS BAAL

    2 Kings 22:51… Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria two
    years.
    2 Kings 22:53 Ahaziah served and worshiped Baal (1168) , provoking the LORD, the God of Israel,
    to anger, just as his father had done.

    ISRAEL WORSHIPS BAAL OF PEOR

    Numbers 25:1 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with
    the daughters of Moab,
    Numbers 25:2 who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these
    gods.
    Numbers 25:3 So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against
    them.
    Numbers 25:5 So Moses told the judges of Israel, “Each of you must kill all of his men who have
    joined in worshiping Baal of Peor (1187).”

    5 – THE ETERNAL DIVISION/SEPARATION FROM THE GOD/ROCK OF ISRAEL

    Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”
    and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

    “TO HAVE BEELZEBUL” => TO SERVE OTHER GODS THAN THE GOD OF ISRAEL

    “Beelzebul” = Baal (a pagan god) + Zebul (house)

    Mark 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
    The divided kingdom refers to Israel or the king of Israel serving and worshiping Baal. This division means the
    complete separation of Israel from his God

    “TO HAVE BEELZEBUL” => TO ENTER THE HOUSE OF ANOTHER GOD

    “Beelzebul” = Baal (a pagan god) + Zebul (house)

    Mark 3:25 If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
    The divided house refers to Israel or the king of Israel entering the house of Baal to serve and worship him
    The house also refers to the rock from which Israel was hewn.
    This division means the abandonment of the God who made Israel and the refusal of his salvation

    OT SOURCES ABOUT THE ROCK OF ISRAEL

    Isaiah 44:8 Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses!
    Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock (6697); I know not one.”
    
    Isaiah 51:1 “Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock
    (6697) from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn.

    Deuteronomy 32:18 You (Israel) ignored the Rock (6697) who brought you forth; you forgot the
    God who gave you birth.

    Isaiah 17:10 For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and failed to remember the Rock (6697)
    of your refuge (4581). Therefore, though you cultivate delightful plots and set out cuttings from exotic vines

    Deuteronomy 32:16 But Jeshurun/Israel (3484) grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged.
    He (Israel) abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock (6697) of his salvation.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4581.htm maoz or mauz: a place or means of safety, protection
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6697.htm tsur: rock, cliff
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3484.htm Yeshurun: “upright one,” poetic name for Israel

    Jacob blesses Joseph
    Genesis 49:24 Yet he steadied his bow, and his strong arms were tempered by the hands of the Mighty One of
    Jacob, in the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

    6 – THE DIVISION/OPPOSITION WITHIN A COMMUNITY

    Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and,
    “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
    Mark 3:23 So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out
    Satan?

    Mark 3:24 If a kingdom [the kingdom of Israel] is divided against itself, it cannot stand .
    Mark 3:25 If a house [the house of Israel)] is divided against itself, it cannot stand.

    Mark 3:26 And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.

    Jesus describes the Satan’s division in order to warn the sons of Israel about the danger of disunity. The message is:
    If Israel is divided and rised against himself, it cannot stand; its end will come.

    OT SOURCE
    1 Chronicles 21:1 Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel

    7 – THE WORD AS A SOURCE OF DIVISION AMONG THE SONS OF ISRAEL

    The old Word versus the Good News: What is lawful ?

    Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the
    heads of grain as they walked along.
    Mark 2:24 So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful (1832) on the Sabbath?”

    Mark 3:3 Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.”
    Mark 3:4 And He asked them, “Which is lawful (1832) on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life
    or to destroy it?” But they were silent.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1832.htm exesti: it is permitted, lawful

    8 – THE STRONG MAN, THE TIED MAN AND THE HOUSE PLUNDERED

    Mark 3:27 Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first
    ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

    THE STRONG MAN => THE RIGHTEOUS MAN WHO WALKS IN THE WAY OF GOD

    Deuteronomy 11:8 You shall therefore keep every commandment I am giving you today, so that you
    may have the strength (2388) to go in and possess the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,

    Deuteronomy 11:9 and so that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give
    them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2388.htm chazaq: to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen

    THE TIED MAN => THE SINFUL MAN WHO SUFFERS THE WRATH OF GOD

    The sinful man will be bound in chains and exiled (Jeremiah 40:1-3)

    Jeremiah 40:1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the
    guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah
    who were being exiled to Babylon.

    Jeremiah 40:2 The captain of the guard found Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God decreed this
    disaster on this place,

    Jeremiah 40:3 and now the LORD has fulfilled it; He has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned
    against the LORD and have not obeyed His voice, this thing has happened to you.

    THE PLUNDERED HOUSE => THE SINNER’S HOUSE THAT GOD DELIVERS TO THE PLUNDERERS

    Isaiah 42:24 Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against
    whom we have sinned? They were unwilling to walk in His ways, and they would not obey His law.

    Isaiah 42:25 So He poured out on them His furious anger and the fierceness of battle. It enveloped
    them in flames, but they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

    TO TIE UP THE STRONG MAN => TO MAKE HIM SINNER SO THAT HE LOSES THE PROTECTION OF GOD

    SYNTHESIS

    Mark 3:27 Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties up the
    strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

    The message is
    If you do not walk in the ways of your God, you separate yourself from him and your are sinners
    As a result we will suffer his wrath

    9 – THE TEMPORARY SINS OF MEN AND THE ETERNAL SIN AGAINST GOD

    THE ETERNAL SIN AGAINST GOD

    Mark 1:8 I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
    Mark 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal
    sin.”

    THE TEMPORARY SINS OF MEN AND THE ETERNAL SIN AGAINST GOD

    Mark 3:28 Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many
    as they utter.
    Mark 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of
    eternal sin.”

    OT SOURCE

    1 Samuel 2.23 “Why are you doing these things?” Eli said to his sons. “I hear about your wicked deeds
    from all these people.
    1 Samuel 2.25 If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man
    sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD
    intended to put them to death.

    MARK’S REINTERPRETATION: 1 SAMUEL 2.23,25 => MARK 3:28,29

    “Eli said to his sons” => Truly I tell you, the sons

    “a man sins against another man” => the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies

    “a man sins against the LORD” => whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit

    “guilty of eternal sin” => the LORD intended to put them to death

    In Mark’s gospel, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the opposition to the new spirit that the Good News bring

    10 – THE FAMILY OF JESUS

    THE FAMILY WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS

    Mark 3:21 When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out
    of His mind.”
    “to take custody of Him” => His family wants him to return to their father’s law.
    “He is out of His mind” => His family considers that he is mistaken by teaching another Word

    Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon
    Him,
    Mark 3:32 and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside,
    asking for You.”

    At this point, the Jesus’ family stands oustide

    QUESTION

    Mark 3:33 But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”
    Are those who stand outside my true brothers?

    THE TRUE FAMILY WHO BELEIVE THE GOOD NEWS

    Mark 3:34 Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My
    brothers!
    “those seated in a circle around him” are the true family of Jesus

    Mark 3:35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
    “those who do the will of God” are the true family of Jesus.

    THE CROWD AS AN OBSTACLE AND SEPARATOR

    The crowd symbolizes the separation/division between Jesus and his hebrew brothers living according to the Moses’ law.
    What’s more, they communicate through a third person

    Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him,
    Mark 3:32 and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are
    outside, asking for You.”

    We have to distinguish between
    “those who are outside” => The sons of Israel who keep the old Word
    “the crowd sitting around Him” => Obstacle and separator
    “those seated in a circle around Him” => The true family of Jesus

    11 – THE WILL OF GOD

    Mark 1:1 This is the beginning of the gospel (2098) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

    Mark 1:14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the
    gospel!”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2098.htm euaggelion: good news

    Mark 3:35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”

    “whoever does the will of God” => Whoever believes in the gospel of God does the will of God

    12 – SYNTHESIS ABOUT THE DIVIDED KINGDOM/HOUSE/FAMILY

    The sons of Israel are those who have already received the law of Moses and the prophecies. Mark identifies them
    by using the terms kingdom, house, family.

    The expressions ‘divided kingdom’ and ‘divided house’ also contain other meanings.
    The divided kingdom refers to the kingdom of Israel and the complete separation of Israel from his God by
    serving and worshiping other gods
    The divided house also refers the house of Israel and the complete separation of the God/Rock from which Israel
    was hewn.

    DIVISION/SEPARATION FROM GOD

    1 – First charge against Jesus

    Mark 3:22 He is possessed by Beelzebul,
    The scribes accuse Jesus of wanting to separate the sons of Israel from their God by leading them to Baal

    2 – Jesus’ answer

    Mark 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
    If the sons of Israel leave their God by worshiping Baal or other gods, they cannot stand.

    Mark 3:25 If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
    If the sons of Israel leave the God/Rock from which Israel was hewn, they cannot stand

    DIVISION/SEPARATION WITHIN THE SAME COMMUNITY

    1 – Second charge against Jesus

    Mark 3:22 “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
    The scribes accuse Jesus of getting his power from the prince of the demons

    2 – Jesus’ answer

    Mark 3:23 “How can Satan drive out Satan?
    How can satan give the power to drive out himself ?

    Mark 3:26 And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has
    come.

    Jesus speaks of Satan’s division in order to say this:
    If the sons of Israel are divided and rise against themselves , they cannot stand; their end will
    come

    JESUS ASKS THE SONS OF ISRAEL TO BECOME STRONG MEN AGAIN

    Mark 3:27 Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties
    up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

    Israel (the sons of Israel) is a strong man when he serves his God and walks in his way, otherwise he becomes a sinner.
    The sinful man will suffer the wrath of God, the chains of exile (Jeremiah 40:1-3) and delivery to plunderers (Isaiah
    42:24,25).

    The message is: If you do not walk in the ways of your God, you separate yourself from him and your end will
    come

    THE SONS OF ISRAEL MUST NOT OPPOSE THE GOOD NEWS

    Mark 3:28 Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they
    utter.

    Mark 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal
    sin.”

    All sins and blasphemies will be forgiven except opposition to Holy Spirit i.e. the Word of God.

    In other words, the sons of Israel can remain faithful to the law of Moses as long as they do not oppose the Good News
    (Mark 3:28,29)

    THE SONS OF ISRAEL WHO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE MOSES’ LAW

    Mark 3:21 When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out
    of His mind.”
    Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon
    Him,
    Mark 3:32 and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside,
    asking for You.

    THE SONS OF ISRAEL WHO BELEIVE THE GOOD NEWS

    Mark 3:34 Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My
    brothers!
    Mark 3:35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”

    13 – THE EXTENDED FAMILY (SONS OF ISRAEL, PAGANS, VARIOUS GENERATIONS)

    Mark 3:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...”

    Mark 3:28 Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they
    utter.

    Mark 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of
    eternal sin.”

    Mark 3:35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”

    The expression ‘sons of men’ identifies the sons of Israel and the pagans. The pronoun ‘whoever’ refers to ‘sons
    of men’.
    So Jesus says
    1 – that sins will be forgiven in the same way whether the man is a son of israel or a pagan
    2 – that he who makes the will of God is his brother whether the man is a son of israel or a pagan

    Notice that the ‘Son of Man’ is a divine figure while the ‘sons of men’ are sinners

    BROTHER, SISTER AND MOTHER

    The terms ‘brother’, ‘sister’ represent the current generation who receives the Good News
    The term ‘mother’ represents either the previous generation or the next generation

    Brother/sister of Jesus => the sons of Israel who remain faithful to the old Word
    True brother/sister of Jesus => the sons of Israel and the pagans who do the will of God

    Mother of Jesus => the Israelites women who gave birth to the sons of Israel
    True mother of Jesus => the women who will give birth to children of God

    14 – THE SYNAGOGUE AND THE TEMPLE

    Step 1: Jesus drives the unclean spirit out of the synagogue, which means that he drives out the opponents and
    puts a new spirit in the hearts of the sons of Israel.

    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
    Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”

    Step 2: Jesus asks the rulers of the synagogue to teach the Good News.

    Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man,
    “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.

    Step 3: Jesus drives out those who pervert the house of God, which means that Jesus drives the unclean spirit
    out of the temple

    Mark 11:15 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out (1544)
    those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those
    selling doves.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1544.htm ekballo: I throw, cast, put out, banish, bring forth, produce

    Step 4: The temple is destroyed to make way for the new house/community of God, which Peter and Andrew will
    build.

    Mark 15:38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

    SYNTHESIS

    The synagogue will teach only one Word, the Good News and there will be only one house of God, the community gathering
    together the true sons of Israel and the converted pagans.

    15 – THE ROCK AND THE HOUSE OF GOD

    OT SOURCES

    Isaiah 51:1 “Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock
    (6697) from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn.

    Isaiah 44:8 Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is
    there any God but Me? There is no other Rock (6697); I know not one.”

    Deuteronomy 32:18 You (Israel) ignored the Rock (6697) who brought you forth; you forgot the
    God who gave you birth.

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE HOUSE OF GOD AS A BUILDING

    Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and
    placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock (4073).

    The tomb cut out of the rock represents the house where the Word of God dwells.
    Joseph takes down the body of Jesus (the ark containing the Good News) and places it in the house.

    MARK’S GOSPEL: THE HOUSE OF GOD AS A NEW COMMUNITY TO BE BUILD

    Mark 1:29 And immediately having gone forth out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon
    and Andrew, with James and John.
    Mark 3:16 These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter)

    Simon/Peter, as a rock, evokes the God’s house to be built. This house will be the new community living
    according to the Good News.
    Andrew represents the greek/pagan community who will join the sons of Israel so as to build the new house of God.

    STRONG’S CODE

    Mark 3:25 If a house (3614) is divided against itself, it cannot stand.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3614.htm oikia: a house, dwelling
    Word Origin from oikos
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3624.htm oikos: a house, a dwelling
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3625.htm oikoumenÉ: the inhabited earth

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4074.htm Petros: Peter
    Word Origin: a noun akin to petra, used as a proper name
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4073.htm petra: a (large mass of) rock
    (a single occurrence in Mark’s Gospel)

    To sum up
    Simon/Peter (4074) will build the new house (3624) of God by spreading the Good News across the inhabited earth (3625)

    16 – BEELZEBUL, THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT AND THE DEMONS

    TO HAVE BEELZEBUL = TO HAVE AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT

    Mark 3:22 … “He is possessed (2192) by Beelzebul,” BSB
    Mark 3:22 … “He has (2192) Beelzebul,” BLB

    Mark 3:30 … because they were saying, “He has (2192) an unclean spirit.” BSB
    Mark 3:30 … For they were saying, “He has (2192) an unclean spirit.” BLB

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2192.htm echÓ: to have, hold

    UNCLEAN SPIRIT => THE INNER FORCE THAT OPPOSES THE GOOD NEWS

    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
    Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”

    Mark 5:2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was
    coming from the tombs.
    Mark 5:8 For Jesus had already declared, “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!”

    Mark 9:17 Someone in the crowd replied, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a spirit that makes him
    mute.
    Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute
    spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”

    DEMON => THE EXTERNAL FORCE THAT OPPOSES THE GOOD NEWS

    Mark 1:34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons
    Mark 1:39 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

    Mark 3:15 … and to have authority to drive out demons.

    Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and,
    “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

    17 – WHAT DOES EXPELLING THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT MEAN ?

    Unclean spirit: The singular form indicates his strength
    Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”
    Mark 1:26 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.

    Unclean spirits: The plural form indicates the division and the failure
    Mark 1:27 He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

    Thus, “To expel the unclean spirit” means “to divide it in order to destroy it”

    18 – PARALLEL WITH THE PARALYTIC’S HEALING

    Step 1:The crowd as an obstacle (Mark 2:1,2 => Mark 3:20)
    Step 2: The accusation of the scribes ( Mark 2:6,7 => Mark 3:22)
    Step 3: The speech of Jesus (Mark 2:8-11 => Mark 3:23-35)

    PARALYTIC’S HEALING

    Mark 2:1 … And when the people heard that He was home
    Mark 2:2 they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the
    door, as Jesus spoke the word to them

    Mark 2:6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts
    Mark 2:7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

    Mark 2:8-11 Speech about the forgiveness of sins

    THE DIVIDED HOUSE

    Mark 3:20 Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples
    could not even eat.

    Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by
    Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

    Mark 3:23-35 Speech about the division and the sin

    19 – NARRATIVE VIEWS

    QUESTION => JUDGEMENT => ANSWER

    Jesus judges negatively those who oppose the Good News

    Mark 3:4 And He asked them, “Which is lawful
    Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at (4017) them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said
    to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.

    Jesus judges positively those who beleive the Good News

    Mark 3:33 But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”
    Mark 3:34 Looking at (4017) those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My
    brothers!

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4017.htm periblepÓ: to look around

    THE CHARGES AGAINST JESUS

    Mark 2:7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?

    Mark 3:2 In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.

    Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”
    and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

    INVERSION

    The Son of Man is a divine figure who forgives the sins
    Mark 3:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...”
    

    The sons of men are sinners
    Mark 3:28 Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they
    utter.

    REPETITION

    Mark 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
    Mark 3:25 If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
    Mark 3:26 And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.

    TWO CLASSES OF PEOPLE

    Those who are outside
    Mark 3:32 “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You.”

    Those who are within
    Mark 3:34 Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My
    brothers!

    FIRST SUMMARY ABOUT (MARK 3:21-35)

    The sequence (Mark 3:21-35) evokes the confusions and divisions that the new Word can generate among the sons of Israel

    The first verse in the sequence (Mark 3:21) is about the family who does not understand the Good News because it
    remains faithful to the law of Moses
    The last verse in the sequence (Mark 3:35) defines the true family, the one that does the will of God by serving the
    Good News

    The sons of Israel are those who have already received the law of Moses and the prophecies. Mark identifies them by
    using the terms ‘family’, ‘house’ and ‘kingdom’

    The divided kingdom refers to the kingdom of Israel and evokes another division, which is the complete separation of
    Israel from his God by serving and worshiping Baal

    The divided house refers to the house of Israel. It expresses the same as the divided kingdom
    and adds the complete separation of the God/Rock from which Israel was hewn

    The double accusation (Mark 3:22) of the scribes serves as an introduction to Jesus’ speech about the
    division/separation

    At the same time, Jesus evokes the separation within the same community (Mark 3:23-26) and the eternal separation from
    the God of Israel (Mark 3:24,25)

    Then Jesus evokes another separation from God which is disobedience to God.
    If the sons of Israel do not obey their God, they separate themselves from him (Mark 3:27). They will suffer his wrath
    (the chains of exile, the delivery to plunderers) instead of being protected from their enemies

    Jesus continues his speech about the disobedience to God i.e. the sin
    He specifies that all sins will be forgiven (Mark 3:28) except the opposition to the Good News (Mark 3:29)

    Thus, the sin is a temporary separation from God while the opposition to his Word is an eternal separation

    Jesus concludes his speech by making the link between unclean spirit and division (Mark 3:30). “To have an unclean
    spirit” means the division against oneself and the separation from God

    Then Jesus makes a distinction among the sons of Israel. There are two classes of people
    1 – those who are outside (Mark 3:31,32), which means the sons of Israel who remain faithful to the old Word
    2 – those who are within (Mark 3:34), which means the true sons of Israel who beleive the Good News

    Jesus makes it clear that the sons of Israel must leave the Moses’ law and serve the Good News in order to do his will
    (Mark 3:35)
    However, the sons of Israel can remain faithful to the law of Moses as long as they do not oppose the Good News (Mark
    3:28,29)

    In his speech, Jesus also addresses all men i.e. the sons of Israel and the pagans
    1 – the sins of men will be forgiven (Mark 3:28) except the opposition to Good News (Mark 3:29)
    2 – Whoever does the will of God is his brother (Mark 3:35)

    SECOND SUMMARY ABOUT MARK’S GOSPEL

    THE FIRST TWO SYNTHESIS ABOUT THE GOOD NEWS

    (Mark 2:18-28)
    The Good News are a gift of God and there are 3 classes of people
    1 – The disciples of John who remain faithful to the old Word
    2 – The disciples of Jesus who seek the Word of God
    3 – The pharisees who oppose the Good News

    (Mark 3:21-35)
    The Good News must be served and there are 3 classes of people
    1 – The sons of Israel who remain faithful to the old Word
    2 – The sons of Israel and the pagans who believe the Good News and do the will of God
    3 – The eternal sinners who oppose the Good News

    STRUCTURE OF THE GOSPEL

    (Mark 1-2)
    God gives a new Word that erases the barriers between hebrew and pagan people since there will be no circumcision of
    flesh (Mark 2:13-17) and no Sabbath (Mark 2:27,28)

    (Mark 3:1-6)
    The new Word should be taught in the synagogues

    (Mark 3:7-12)
    Mark lists the hebrew and pagan lands where the new Word will be spread.

    (Mark 3:13-20)
    Jesus chooses 12 apostles whom he will teaches in order to spread the new Word across the hebrew and pagan lands.
    The inhabitants of these lands will be judged according to the new Word and will suffer the wrath/thunder of God if
    they do not walk in his new ways.

    (Mark 3:21-35)
    Jesus asks the sons of Israel to remain faithful to their God and not to be divided over the Word
    Jesus says that the sons of Israel and the pagans will have to serve the Good News in order to be strong and obtain
    salvation.
    Jesus equates unclean spirit, division and separation from God
    Jesus makes it clear that his true brothers are those who follow him
    For the first time, Jesus speaks in parables

    (Mark 4:1-34)
    Parables about the kingdom of God

    (Mark 4:34-40)
    The first crossing to the other shore in order to spread the Good News among the pagans

    (Mark 5:1-20)
    The unclean spirit divides against itself by entering into 2000 unclean animals. As a result, it cannot stand and its
    end immediately comes

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 4) Parables, the first crossing
    (Mark 5-7) The demon, the Jairus’ daughter, John’s death, …, food laws, …, miracles.
    (Mark 8:1-26) miracles, third synthesis

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 13: The apostles
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-132290
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-132291

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

18. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 15: Parables
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 4:1-34) First knowledges about the kingdom of God

    1 – OVERVIEW
    2 – TEACHING ON THE SEASHORE
    3 – THE PURPOSE OF THE PARABLE: THE DISCOVERY OF GOD’S MYSTERY
    4 – THE PURPOSE OF THE PARABLE: THOSE INSIDE AND THOSE OUTSIDE
    5 – THE SEED/WORD PUT IN HIS HEART SO THAT IT GROWS TO MATURITY
    6 – THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE THE WORD AND THE WAY
    7 – THE MEASURE TO JUDGE THE GAIN THAT MAN DRAWS FROM THE WORD
    8 – THE BASKET, THE MEASURE AND THE LIGHT
    9 – THE SEED GROWING DAY AND NIGHT: THE ASSIMILATION OF THE WORD THANKS TO THE DIVINE ACTION
    10 – THE DIVINE SALIVA AS THE AGENT TO ASSIMILATE THE WORD
    11 – THE MUSTAR SEED: THE POWER OF THE NEW WORD
    12 – THE PARABLE AS RIDDLE
    13 – THE PARABLE AS COMPARISON
    14 – MARK 4:4 COMPARED TO MARK 4:32, INVERSION AND TEXTUAL UNITY
    15 – PSALM 1 AS A TEMPLATE
    16 – PARABLES AND MIRACLES
    17 – THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND ITS SPIRITUAL DIMENSION
    SUMMARY

    1 – OVERVIEW

    Mark 4:1 Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around Him
    that
    He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore.
    Jesus gets into the boat to address the people located on both shores, that of the hebrews and that of the pagans

    Mark 4:2 And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said
    Jesus teaches the Good News in parables and all men hear the parables whether they are Hebrews or pagans

    Mark 4:3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
    The parable begins with an image from everyday life. The seed evokes the vocation to grow
    Jesus sows the seed and there are four kinds of grounds

    Mark 4:4 And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
    Mark 4:5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was
    shallow.
    Mark 4:6 But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
    Mark 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.
    Mark 4:8 And other fell into the good soil and began yielding fruit, growing up and increasing, and one
    bearing thirtyfold, and one sixty, and one a hundred.”

    Mark 4:9 Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
    Jesus asks his listeners to discover the meaning of the parable

    Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the
    parable.
    The Twelve and those around Him want to know the meaning

    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the
    outside everything is expressed in parables,
    Mark 4:12 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding;
    otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’ ”

    The mystery of the kingdom of God is what belongs to God. Let us remember that the forgiveness of sins belongs to
    God (Mark 2:7 “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”).
    So the purpose of parables is to teach people that God changes the way sins are forgiven

    Jesus will explain the first parable to those inside. Those inside are those who want to know the true meaning because
    they are interested in the things of God.
    Those outside are those who are only interested in the things of men. What is the point of explaining to them ?

    Mark 4:13 Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of
    the parables?
    Jesus will explain the parable of the sower so that those inside can understand for themselves the the following ones.

    Mark 4:14 The farmer sows the word.
    The Word of God is like the seed because both are intented to grow.
    The Word falls into the mind/heart/soul of man.

    Jesus sows the Word of God and there are four kinds of people who hear the Word

    Mark 4:15 Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan
    comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
    Some hear the Word in a hostile outer environment, as a result the Word immediately disappears.

    Mark 4:16 Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
    Mark 4:17 But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution
    (1375) comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
    Some are not strong enough to keep the Word in their hearts when external events raise against them

    Mark 4:18 And these are those sown among the thorns. These are those having heard the word,
    Mark 4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in
    and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
    Others make the Word grow but they also have also other desires in their hearts. As a result, the Word is choked and
    becomes unfruitful.

    Mark 4:20 Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and produce
    a crop – thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.”
    Still others are ready to accept the Word. The Word multiplies a hundredfold in their hearts as soon as they hear it

    Mark 4:21 Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket (3426) or under a
    bed ? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
    Jesus asks a logical question about the light in order to say that God also gives light to discover the meaning of the
    Word. What is the point of giving people the Word if they do not understand it?

    Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be
    brought to light.
    As a result, the whole content of the new Word will be brought to light so that man understand it.
    However, the receivers must pay careful attention to the Word and make the effort to discover its meaning.

    Mark 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
    Jesus will not explain this second parable because he has already illuminated the parable of the sower. He now invites
    his listeners to discover for themselves the meaning of his sayings

    Mark 4:24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured
    to you, and even more will be added to you.
    Pay attention to the new Word God is giving you, You will be judged according the gain that you draw from it.

    Mark 4:25 For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away
    from him.”
    He who has made the Word fruitful in his heart will receive his reward i.e. the entry into the kingdom. As for the one
    who has not made the Word fruitful, God will take away the Word from his heart

    Mark 4:26 Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
    In this parable, it is the man who puts himself the Word (the Good News) in his heart

    Mark 4:27 Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
    The word grows thanks to divine action without man being aware of it

    Mark 4:28 All by itself the earth produces a crop – first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens
    within.
    The Word grows to maturity

    Mark 4:29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
    As soon as the man notices that the Word has filled his heart, he swings the sickle to signal that he is ready for
    divine judgment

    Mark 4:30 Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we
    present it?
    Mark 4:31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.
    At first, the Word only falls into the hearts of a small group

    Mark 4:32 But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great
    branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”
    Then, the Word spreads across the world, the conversions multiply, the most powerful community is built and
    shelters his members

    Mark 4:33 With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could
    understand.
    Jesus teaches his hebrew and pagan listeners in a progressive way. The Hebrews need time to change their minds and
    accept the new remission of sins which means the end of Moses’ laws. As for the pagans, they are discovering the Word
    of God

    Mark 4:34 He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His
    own disciples.
    Mark reminds the purpose of parables: the teaching of a new forgiveness to those wanting to discover the things of God

    2 – TEACHING ON THE SEASHORE

    THOSE WHO HEAR THE PARABLES

    Mark 4:1 Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around
    Him that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore.

    The sea is the border between the Hebrews who received the Moses’ law and the pagans who don’t know it (Deuteronomy
    30:11-14).
    The sea is also the symbolic place to address both the hebrews and the pagans.
    Jesus gets into the boat to address the people located on both shores, that of the hebrews and that of the pagans
    The boat and the crowd also recall the wine press (Mark 3:9 … a boat ready for Him so that the crowd
    would not crush Him)

    Mark 4:2 And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said
    Mark 4:33 With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could
    understand.
    Mark 4:34 He did not tell them anything without using a parable …

    Jesus teaches the Good News in parables and all men hear the parables whether they are Hebrews or pagans

    THOSE WHO WANT TO DISCOVER THE MEANING OF PARABLES

    Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about
    the parable.
    Mark 4:34 … But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.

    The twelve and those around Jesus represent the same group of people as the disciples. They are those who ask Jesus
    about the parable to know more

    3 – THE PURPOSE OF THE PARABLE: THE DISCOVERY OF GOD’S MYSTERY

    THE MYSTERY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

    Mark 4:2 And He taught them many things in parables, and in His teaching He said,

    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the
    outside everything is expressed in parables,
    The mystery of the kingdom of God is what belongs to God.

    Mark 4:12 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding;
    otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’ ”
    The forgiveness of sins belongs to God (Mark 2:7 “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”).

    God has the power to change what is His. Therefore, God has the power to change the way sins are forgiven. The time has
    come for change (Mark 1:4, 15) and the new way is the redemption (Mark 1:7).
    Jesus teaches this new forgiveness which frees men from sin since Jesus takes upon himself their sins in order to
    redeem them. As a result, the man whose sins are forgiven will return to God. The entry into the kingdom represents
    this return to God.
    In a practical way, the new teaching frees man from the laws handed down to Moses: laws about the forgiveness of sins
    (Mark 2:1-12), the circumcision of the flesh (Mark 2:13-17), the Sabbath (Mark 2:27,28), the food laws (Mark 7:15).
    To read more, see my Chapter 10: Second synthesis

    THE THINGS OF GOD AND THE THINGS OF MEN

    Mark 8:33 And having turned and having looked upon His disciples, He rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind Me,
    Satan, for your thoughts are not of the things of God, but the things of men.”

    Mark 12:17 Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And
    they marveled at Him.

    THE STRONG PARALLEL BETWEEN Mark 4:12 and Isaiah 6:10

    Mark 4:12 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never
    understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’ 

    Isaiah 6:10 Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise
    they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be
    healed.”

    I remind that forgiveness of sins equates healing (Mark 2:9)

    OT SOURCES about the sinful people who do not hear/see/understand the Word of God

    Isaiah 44:9 All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their
    witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.
    Isaiah 44:17 From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he
    prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”
    Isaiah 44:18 They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed
    their minds so they cannot understand.

    Jeremiah 5:19 And when the people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to
    us?’ You are to tell them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve
    foreigners in a land that is not your own.’ ”
    Jeremiah 5:20 Declare this in the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah:
    Jeremiah 5:21 “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do
    not hear.

    OT SOURCES about the revealed Word

    Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed (1540)
    belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.

    Daniel 2:19 During the night, the mystery was revealed (1541) to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the
    God of heaven
    Daniel 2:22 He (God) reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells
    with Him.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1540.htm galah: to uncover, remove
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1541.htm gelah or gela: to reveal

    Ezechiel 28:1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
    Ezechiel 28:2 “Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says:
    Ezechiel 28:3 Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you!

    SYNTHESIS

    The mystery of the kingdom of God is what belongs to God. In Mark’ Gospel, the mystery is a new forgiveness of sins
    allowing the return to God. The entry into the kingdom represents this return to God.
    Jesus teaches the new forgiveness (the Good News) so that people known the new will of God and walk in the new way

    4 -THE PURPOSE OF THE PARABLE: THOSE INSIDE AND THOSE OUTSIDE

    Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the
    parable.
    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on
    the outside everything is expressed in parables,

    Those who ask Jesus about the parable (Mark 4:10) are inside while the others who do not ask about the parable are
    outside.

    The 2 verses point out that the positioning inside or outside depends on the will of the listener

    Jesus teaches the Good News in parables and all men hear the parables
    Those inside are interested in the things of God. So they hear the Word of God and consequently they are on the right
    way to enter into the kingdom of God
    Those outside are only interested in earthly things. So, they only hear a discourse describing scenes from everyday
    life and consequently they will remain outside the kingdom of God

    THE PARALLEL WITH THE TRUE FAMILY

    Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him,
    “mother and brothers stood outside” => The hebrews who do not beleive the Good News

    Mark 3:34 Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My
    brothers!
    ”those seated in a circle” => The hebrews and the pagans who will beleive the Good News

    5 – THE SEED/WORD PUT IN HIS HEART SO THAT IT GROWS TO MATURITY

    The parable of the seed (Mark 4:3-8) and its explanation (Mark 4:14-20)
    Mark considers 4 kinds of ground where the seed falls and associates them with 4 classes of heart where the Word falls

    A – THE SEED AND THE WORD (Mark 4:3 => Mark 4:14)

    Mark 4:3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
    Mark 4:14 The farmer sows the word.

    The Word of God is like the seed because both are intented to grow.

    OT SOURCE about the Word to hear

    Isaiah 28:33 Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I say.

    OT SOURCES about the new Word/Spirit to put in his heart

    Ezekiel 11:9 And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will
    remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh,

    OT SOURCES about the seedlings and the vocation to grow

    Deuteronomy 11:10 For the land that you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt, from
    which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated on foot, like a vegetable garden.

    Jeremiah 31:27 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will sow the house of Israel
    and the house of Judah with the seed of man and of beast.

    Isaiah 55:10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth,
    making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat,
    Isaiah 55:11 so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish
    what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

    Isaiah 61:11 For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden enables seed to spring up,
    so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

    B – THE SEED/WORD ALONG THE PATH (Mark 4:4 => Mark 4:15)

    First scenario: The hearts where the Word immediately disappears because of external forces

    Mark 4:4 And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and
    devoured it.
    Mark 4:15 Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it,
    Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

    ‘Some seed fell along the path’ => Some are like the seeds along the path
    ‘The birds came and devoured it’ => Satan comes and takes away the Word

    OT SOURCES

    Genesis 40:16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I too had
    a dream: There were three baskets of white bread on my head.
    Genesis 40:17 In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating
    them out of the basket on my head.”

    THE SEED/WORD ON ROCKY GROUND (Mark 4:5,6 => Mark 4:16,17)

    Second scenario: The hearts where the Word does not grow enough to resist external attacks

    Mark 4:5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil
    was shallow.
    Mark 4:6 But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because
    they had no root.
    Mark 4:16 Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it
    with joy.
    Mark 4:17 But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or
    persecution (1375) comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1375.htm diÓgmos: persecution (Mark 4:17 and Mark 10:30)

    Some fell on rocky ground => Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground
    they (the seedlings) had no root => they (the men) have no root.
    the sun rose => trouble or persecution comes
    the seedlings were scorched => they remain for only a season
    they withered => they quickly fall away.

    OT SOURCES about the rocky ground

    Ezekiel 11:9 And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will
    remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh,

    Zechariah 7:12 They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that
    the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the
    LORD of Hosts.

    OT SOURCES about the drought and the roots

    Isaiah 40:23 He brings the princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless.
    Isaiah 40:24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken
    root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like
    stubble.

    Jonah 4:8 As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on
    Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

    THE SEED/WORD AMONG THORNS (Mark 4:7 => Mark 4:18,19)

    Third scenario: The hearts where the Word grows along with desires for other things. As a result, the Word is
    choked and becomes unfruitful.

    Mark 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they
    yielded no crop.
    Mark 4:18 And these are those sown among the thorns. These are those having heard the word,
    Mark 4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in
    and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

    Other seed fell among thorns => these are those sown among the thorns
    Thorns => the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things
    choked the seedlings => choke the word
    They yielded no crop => it becomes unfruitful

    OT SOURCES about the thorns and the other desires/thoughts in the human heart

    Jeremiah 4:3 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed
    ground, and do not sow among the thorns.
    Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah
    and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because
    of your evil deeds.”
    remove the foreskins of your hearts => remove from your heart all that prevents the Word from growing

    Jeremiah 12:13 They have sown wheat but harvested thorns. They have exhausted themselves to no avail.
    Bear the shame of your harvest because of the fierce anger of the LORD.”

    Deuteronomy 22:9 Do not plant your vineyard with two types of seed; if you do, the entire harvest
    will be defiled – both the crop you plant and the fruit of your vineyard.

    Esaiah 57:17 I was enraged by his sinful greed, so I struck him and hid My face in anger; yet he kept
    turning back to the desires of his heart.

    Esaiah 65:2 All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong
    path, who follow their own imaginations,

    Proverbs 22:5 Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse; he who guards his soul stays far
    from them.

    THE SEED/WORD ON GOOD SOIL (Mark 4:8 => Mark 4:20)

    Fourth scenario: The hearts ready to receive the Word. In these hearts, the Word multiplies a hundredfold as
    soon as it is received.

    Mark 4:8 And other fell into the good soil and began yielding fruit, growing up and increasing, and
    one bearing thirtyfold, and one sixty, and one a hundred.”
    Mark 4:20 Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil. They hear the word, receive it, and
    produce a crop – thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.”

    other fell into the good soil => others are like the seeds sown on good soil.
    began yielding fruit, growing up and increasing => receive it
    one bearing thirtyfold, and one sixty, and one a hundred => produce a crop – thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.

    OT SOURCE

    Genesis 26:12 Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and that very year he reaped a hundredfold.
    And the LORD blessed him,

    SYNTHESIS

    Jesus sows the Word of God and there are four kinds of people who hear the Word
    1 – Those in a hostile outer environment, as a result the Word immediately disappears.
    2 – Those who are not strong enough to keep the Word in their hearts when external events raise against them
    3 – Those who make the Word grow but also have also other desires in their hearts. As a result, the Word is choked and
    becomes unfruitful.
    4 – Those who are ready to accept the Word. The Word multiplies a hundredfold in their hearts as soon as it is
    received.

    The parable tells us that man will receive the new Word of God and will have to make it grow in his heart. Man must
    therefore prepare himself to resist external events and fight against its own internal desires so that the received
    Word multiplies a hundredfold

    6 – THE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE THE WORD AND THE WAY

    THE ILLUMINATING OF THE WORD TO GIVE US UNDERSTANDING

    Mark 4:21 Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket (3426) or under a
    bed ? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
    Jesus asks a logical question about the light in order to say that God also gives light to discover the meaning of his
    Word. What is the point of giving people a Word if they do not understand it?

    Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not
    be brought to light.
    As a result, the whole content of the new Word will be brought to light so that man understand it.
    However, the receivers must pay careful attention to the Word and make the effort to discover its meaning.

    Mark 4:23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
    Jesus will not explain the second parable because he has already illuminated the parable of the sower. He now invites
    his listeners to discover for themselves the meaning of his sayings and deeds

    OT SOURCES about the Word and the light

    Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

    Proverbs 6:23 For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline
    are the way to life,

    Daniel 2:22 He (God) reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light
    dwells with Him.

    THE ILLUMINATING OF THE WAY LEADING TO THE KINGDOM

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in
    the gospel!”

    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the
    outside everything is expressed in parables,

    Mark 4:14 The farmer sows the word.

    Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be
    brought to light.

    Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.
    The sun rises for the first time. The three women enter the kingdom where the Word of God dwells

    OT SOURCES about light and salvation

    Isaiah 58:8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come
    quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

    Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

    Psalm 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the
    stronghold of my life – whom shall I dread?

    OT SOURCES about light and eternal life

    Isaiah 60:19 No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night;
    for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.
    Isaiah 60:20 Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting
    light, and the days of your sorrow will cease.

    OT SOURCE about eternal life, light and understanding

    Psalm 36:9 For with You is the fountain of life<; in Your light we see light.

    SYNTHESIS

    God also gives the light so that man can discover the meaning of his Word. What is the point of giving people a Word if
    they do not understand it?
    The light illuminates the Word so that man can discover its meaning and understand it
    So, if man uses this light to understand the Word then he will know the path leading to the kingdom. The entry into the
    kingdom of God (Mark 16:2) symbolizes the return to God, which also means salvation and eternal life

    7 – THE MEASURE TO JUDGE THE GAIN THAT MAN DRAWS FROM THE WORD

    Mark 4:24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured
    to you, and even more will be added to you.

    Pay attention to what you hear => Pay attention to the new Word God is giving you
    With the measure you use, it will be measured to you => You will be judged according the gain that you draw from it
    even more will be added to you => the judgment will be amplified, see the next verse

    Mark 4:25 For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away
    from him.”

    whoever has will be given more => he who has made the Word fruitful in his heart will receive his reward i.e. the entry
    into the kingdom
    whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him => As for the one who has not made the Word
    fruitful, God will take away the Word from his heart

    OT SOURCES about the need to not go back to God empty-handed

    Ruth 3:17 And she (Ruth) said, “He (Boaz the redeemer) gave me these six measures of barley, for he
    said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ”

    Isaiah 55:11 so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish
    what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

    OT SOURCES about the reward

    Psalms 28:4 Repay them according to their deeds and for their works of evil. Repay them for what their hands
    have done; bring back on them what they deserve.

    Esaiah 62:11 Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the ends of the earth, “Say to Daughter Zion: See, your
    Savior comes! Look, His reward (7939) is with Him, and His recompense goes before Him.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7939.htm sakar: hire, wages

    OT SOURCE about the benefit and the way to follow

    Esaiah 48:17 Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who
    teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go.

    OT SOURCES about the judgment

    Psalm 96:13 before the LORD, for He is coming – He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the
    world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.

    Psalm 97:11 Light shines on the righteous, gladness on the upright in heart.

    PARALLEL BETWEEN MARK’S GOSPEL AND THE BOOK OF RUTH

    1 – Jesus performs various healings. The healing represents the forgiveness of sins (Mark 2:9) and the promise that
    the sins will be redeemed.
    2 – Jesus says that people will be measured/judged (Mark 4:24,25) according to the new Word that advocates the
    forgiveness of sins through the redemption
    3 – Jesus redeems the sins (Mark 15:37)

    1 – Boaz tells Ruth that he will redeem her (Ruth 3:13). The scene takes place in the threshing floor
    2 – Boaz gives Ruth six measures of barley (Ruth 3:17)
    3 – Boaz redeems Ruth (Ruth 4:10)

    To read more about the book of Ruth, the healings, the forgiveness and the redemption see my Chapter 10: Second
    synthesis

    SYNTHESIS
    Jesus makes it clear that man will be judged/measured according to the profit he makes from this Word. If man succeed
    in making the Word fruitful in himself, God will judge him favourably and reward his work by opening the doors of
    kingdom

    8 – THE BASKET, THE MEASURE AND THE LIGHT

    Mark 4:21 Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket (3426) or
    under a bed ? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3426.htm modios: modius, a dry measure of one peck
    a container for dry goods holding up to eight liters (roughly two gallons); a dry measure (the chief grain unit)
    equivalent to one peck (8.81L).
    https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/modius
    From Latin modius, from modus (“a measure”) + -ius (“forming adjectives”).

    The basket hiding the light is also the tool used to measure/judge

    OT SOURCES about the light and the judgement

    Micah 7:9 Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the rage of the LORD, until He argues my case and
    executes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see His righteousness.

    Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings,
    and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.

    Hosea 6:4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a
    morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes.
    Hosea 6:5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My
    judgments go forth like lightning (216).
    Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

    Psalm 32:7 He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn (216), your justice like the noonday
    sun

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/216.htm or: a light

    SYNTHESIS

    The basket hiding the light is also the tool used to measure/judge
    The light also evokes the judgment and the time when God judges/measures

    9 – THE SEED GROWING DAY AND NIGHT: THE ASSIMILATION OF THE WORD THANKS TO THE DIVINE ACTION

    Mark 4:26 Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
    a man who scatters seed on the ground => a man who puts himself the Word in his heart

    Mark 4:27 Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
    Night and day, the seed sprouts and grows => the Word continuously grows there
    though he knows not how => the word grows through divine action without man being aware of it

    Mark 4:28 All by itself the earth produces a crop – first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens
    within.
    The Word grows to maturity

    Mark 4:29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

    as soon as the grain is ripe => as soon as the man notices that the Word has filled his heart
    The sickle => The two sides of the judgment: reward or punishment
    he swings the sickle => he signals that he is ready for divine judgment
    because the harvest has come => because there is no point in waiting any longer

    OT SOURCES about the Word and the work day and night

    Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that
    you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.

    Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.

    OT SOURCES about the Word and the sickle/judgment

    Joel 3:12 Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down
    to judge all the nations on every side.
    Joel 3:13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is
    full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great.
    Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision (2742)! For the Day of the LORD is near in the
    valley of decision.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3092.htm Yehoshaphat: “the LORD has judged”
    Word Origin: from Yhvh and shaphat
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2742.htm charuwts: decision

    SYNTHESIS

    This seed represents the Word growing continuously in the hearts thanks to divine action.
    In this parable, it is the man who puts himself the Word in his heart and it is God who acts without the man being
    aware of the divine action. When the word becomes fruitful, the man asks for judgment in order to enter the kingdom.

    The divine action which continuously works in the heart can be represented by saliva since the
    divine action and saliva share the same features: both work day and night and both work without man being aware of it.

    So there is another way to read the parable.
    The man who puts himself the Word in his heart represents those who are willing to know the Good News.
    Through his saliva, God helps this man to assimilate the Word so that he is fit to enter the kingdom.
    In other words, the kingdom of God helps those who want to enter it

    In short, this parabole means two things
    1 – God helps those who are willing to know the Good News
    2 – God will give them their reward at the time of the judgment

    10 – THE DIVINE SALIVA AS THE AGENT TO ASSIMILATE THE WORD

    In Mark’s gospel, the bread represents the Word and the saliva represents the divine agent allowing its assimilation.

    Divine action and saliva share the same features, both work day and night and both work without man being aware of it.

    Jesus will use his saliva in an accelerated mode so that the deaf man and the blind man quickly assimilate the Good
    News (Mark 7:33 and Mark 8:23).

    OT SOURCES about the assimilation/digestion of the Word (Ezekiel 3:1-10, The scroll as the written Word)

    Ezekiel 3:1 “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak
    to the house of Israel.”
    Ezekiel 3:2 So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll.
    Ezekiel 3:3 “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat and fill your stomach (4578) with this scroll I am
    giving you.” So I ate, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.
    Ezekiel 3:4 Then He said to me, “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak My words to them
    
    Ezekiel 3:5 For you are not being sent to a people of unfamiliar speech or difficult language, but to
    the house of Israel
    Ezekiel 3:10 “Son of man,” He added, “listen carefully to all the words I speak to you, and
    take them to heart.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4039.htm megillah: a scroll
    Word Origin: from galal
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4039.htm galal: to roll, roll away

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4429.htm ptuÓ: to spit (Mark 7:33, Mark 8:23)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4427.htm ptusma: spittle

    11 – THE MUSTAR SEED: THE POWER OF THE NEW WORD

    Mark 4:30 Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we
    present it?
    Mark 4:31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth.

    At first, the Word only falls into the hearts of a small group

    Mark 4:32 But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great
    branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”

    Then, the Word spreads across the world, the conversions multiply, the most powerful community is built and
    shelters his members

    OT SOURCES about the expansion

    Genesis 9:7 But as for you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out across the earth and multiply upon it.”

    Jeremiah 29:6 Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in
    marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease.

    Isaiah 51:16 I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to
    establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’ ”

    OT SOURCES about the shelter giving shade

    Isaiah 4:6 a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and a refuge and hiding place from the
    storm and the rain.

    Isaiah 30:2 They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s
    protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade.

    OT SOURCES about expansion, tree, great branches and nested birds

    Daniel 4:20-22 => Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

    Daniel 4:20 The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky
    and was visible to all the earth,
    Daniel 4:21 whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the
    beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested
    Daniel 4:22 you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown
    to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.

    Ezekiel 17:22,23 => The Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine

    Ezekiel 17:22 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the
    cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a
    high and lofty mountain.
    Ezekiel 17:23 I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it
    will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking
    shelter in the shade of its branches.

    Ezekiel 31:2-6 Egypt will Fall Like Assyria

    Ezekiel 31:2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: ‘Who can be
    compared to your greatness?

    Ezekiel 31:3 Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the
    forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds.
    Ezekiel 31:5 Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and
    its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters.

    Ezekiel 31:6 All the birds of the air nested in its branches, and all the beasts of the field gave birth
    beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade.

    SYNTHESIS

    The parable of the mustard seed describes how the kingdom of God starts and grows slowly but then builds up with many
    members and turns into the most powerful community.
    This parable symbolizes the power of the Good News and their expansion across the world. This parable also invites
    people to believe in success of the new Word.

    12 – THE PARABLE AS RIDDLE

    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery (3466) of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on
    the outside everything is expressed in parables,

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3466.htm mustÉrion: a mystery or secret doctrine
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3453.htm mueÓ: to initiate into the mysteries, hence to instruct

    OT SOURCES Ezekiel 17: The Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/17.htm

    Ezekiel 17:1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
    Ezekiel 17:2 “Son of man, pose a riddle (2420) ; speak a parable to the house of Israel
    Ezekiel 17:3 … A great eagle … came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2420.htm chidah: a riddle, an enigmatic, perplexing saying or question

    A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT EZEKIEL 17

    http://www.bibleenligne.com/commentaire-intermediaire/commentaire/ez/2476-chapitre-17.html
    https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/ezekiel-17/

    http://the-strait-gate.faithweb.com/eagle1.html (explanation about Lebanon)
    1 Kings7:2 He (Solomon) built the House of the Forest of Lebanon a hundred cubits long, fifty cubits
    wide, and thirty cubits high, with four rows of cedar pillars supporting the cedar beams.

    13 – THE PARABOLE AS COMPARISON

    Mark 4:26 Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.

    Mark 4:30 Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we
    present it?

    OT SOURCE

    Isaiah 40:18 To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him?

    14 – MARK 4:4 COMPARED TO MARK 4:32, INVERSION AND TEXTUAL UNITY

    INVERSION

    1 – The birds devour the seed
    Mark 4:4 And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured
    it.

    2 – The seed grows into a majestic tree and shelters the birds
    Mark 4:32 But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth
    great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”

    OT SOURCES

    1 – The birds eat Pharaoh’s food
    Genesis 40:16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I too had
    a dream: There were three baskets of white bread on my head.
    Genesis 40:17 In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were
    eating them out of the basket on my head.”

    2 – Pharaoh offers protection and refuge.
    Isaiah 30:2 They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s
    protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade.

    TEXTUAL UNITY

    In a narrative view, the two verses (Mark 4:2) and (Mark 4:34) strengthen the unity of the sequence (Mark 4:2-36)

    Mark 4:2 Teaching through parables
    Mark 4:4 The first parable starts with a negative scene

    Mark 4:34 The last parable ends with a positive scene which reverses the opening scene.
    Mark 4:35,36 Conclusion about the teaching and parables

    15 – PSALM 1 AS A TEMPLATE FOR MARK 4:1-34

    The two paths: that of the wicked/sinner and that of the righteous

    Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of
    sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.

    Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.
    Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose
    leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.

    Psalm 1:4 Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.
    Psalm 1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the
    righteous.

    Psalm 1:6 For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

    16 – PARABLES AND MIRACLES

    In Mark’s gospel, words and deeds go hand in hand. All parables will be illustrated by miracles.

    1 – The seed/Word along the path
    Jesus will go to the pagan lands to cast out demons and unclean spirits so that the pagans can keep the Good News in
    their hearts.
    Miracles: The demon of Gadara (Mark 5:1-20) and the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter (Mark 7:24-30)

    2 – The rocky ground and thorns
    Jesus will bring the Good News in order to replace the fruitless teaching that the temple and the synagogue provide
    Miracles: The bleeding woman and the Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-43)

    3 – The good soil
    Jesus will give tiny pieces of bread/Word to those ready to receive the Word
    Miracles: The first and second breaking of loaves (Mark 6:32-44) and (Mark 8:1-9)

    4 – The seed growing day and night
    Jesus will make the Word grow by using his saliva
    Miracles: The deaf man (Mark 7:31-37) and the blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26)

    5 – The light
    Jesus will heal the blind man so that his mind can see/grasp the coming spiritual message
    Miracle: The blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26)

    6 – The smallest seed
    Jesus will show the power of Good News
    Miracle: The son of the faithless man (Mark 9:14-29)

    7 – The light
    Jesus will heal the blind man so that the divine light can reach his soul
    Miracle: The blind man named Bartimeus (Mark 10:46-52)

    17 – THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND ITS SPIRITUAL DIMENSION

    THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in
    the gospel!”

    Marc 9:1 Then Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste
    death before they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.”

    THE FIRST KNOWLEDGES ABOUT THE KINGDOM

    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the
    outside everything is expressed in parables,

    Mark 4:26 Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.

    Mark 4:30 Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we
    present it

    THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO THE KINGDOM

    Mark 9:47 And if your eye should cause you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter into the
    kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into Gehenna,

    Mark 10:15 Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will
    never enter it.”

    Mark 10:23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the
    kingdom of God!”

    THE ENTRY INTO THE KINGDOM

    Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.

    The sun rises for the first time. The three women enter the kingdom where the Word of God dwells
    Now the sun stops moving and the divine light replaces it (Isaiah 60:19,20).

    Isaiah 60:19 No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night;
    for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.
    Isaiah 60:20 Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your
    everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease.

    THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION

    In the second part of the gospel, Jesus will speak about Christ, soul and eternal life

    Mark 8:29 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”
    Mark 9:41 Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I
    tell you, he will never lose his reward.

    Mark 8:36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

    Mark 10:17 As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what
    must I do to inherit eternal life?”

    Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and
    with all your strength.’

    SUMMARY

    Jesus gets into the boat to address the people located on both shores, that of the hebrews and that of the pagans.

    Jesus teaches the Mystery of the kingdom of God by using parables. All all men hear the parables whether they are
    hebrews or pagans. Among people who hear, there are 2 classes
    1 – Those inside who are interested in the things of God. They hear the Word of God and want to know more about the
    meaning of parables
    2 – Those outside who are only interested in the things of men. They only hear a discourse describing scenes from
    everyday life.
    The positioning inside or outside depends on the will of the listener

    The mystery of God is what belongs to God. In Mark’ Gospel, the mystery is a new forgiveness of sins allowing the
    return to God. The entry into the kingdom represents this return to God.
    Jesus teaches the new forgiveness (the Good News, the new Word) so that those inside know the new will of God and
    walk in the new way.

    At first, Jesus compares the Word with the seed because both are intended to grow
    Jesus sows the Word of God and there are four kinds of people who hear the Word
    The parable tells us that man will receive the new Word of God and will have to make it grow in his heart. So, man must
    prepare himself to resist external events and fight against its own internal desires so that the received Word
    multiplies a hundredfold

    Then Jesus speaks of the light that is intended to illuminate. In our context, the light is intented to illuminate the
    Word so that man understand it and walk on the path that leads to the kingdom of God.
    God gives his Word and also the light so that man can discover the meaning of his Word. What is the point of giving
    people a Word if they do not understand it?
    So, if man uses this light to understand the Word then he will enter the kingdom. The entry into the kingdom of God
    (Mark 16:2) symbolizes the return to God and the salvation

    The light also evokes the judgment and the time when God judges/measures
    The basket hiding the light is also the tool used to measure/judge
    Jesus makes it clear that man will be judged/measured according to the profit he makes from this Word. If man succeed
    in making the Word fruitful in himself, God will judge him favourably and reward his work by opening the doors of
    kingdom

    What about the seed growing day and night ?
    In this parable, it is the man who puts himself the Word in his own heart and it is God who acts without the man being
    aware of the divine action. When the Word becomes fruitful, the man asks for judgment in order to enter the kingdom.
    The divine action which continuously works in the heart can be represented by saliva since the
    divine action and saliva share the same features: both work day and night and both work without man being aware of it.
    The man who puts himself the Word in his heart represents those who are willing to know the Good News.
    Through his saliva, God helps this man to assimilate the Word so that he is fit to enter the kingdom.
    In short, this parabole means two things
    1 – God helps those who are willing to know the Good News
    2 – God will give them their reward at the time of the judgment

    What about the smallest mustard seed growing into a majestic tree?
    The parable of the mustard seed describes how the kingdom of God starts and grows slowly but then builds up with many
    members and turns into the most powerful community.
    This parable symbolizes the power of the Good News and their expansion across the world. This parable also invites
    people to believe in success of the new Word.

    At this level, the full meaning of the gospel begins to emerge.
    God gives a new Word that frees man from sin and human laws such as circumcision, Sabbath, dietary laws. In return, man
    must develop a spiritual life to save his soul.
    Man will be judged/measured according to the profit he has made from this Word.
    The notion of judgment appears through the terms ‘measure’ (Mark 4:24) and ‘sickle’ (Mark 4:29).
    The light also evokes the judgment and the time when God judges/measures

    At the narrative level
    1 – The parable appears as a riddle. It invites the reader to join the disciples so as to find out with them what the
    meaning is.
    2 – The parable explained to a small group heralds the beginning of a new expanding movement

    The 4 parables structure the Mark’s gospel because they announce
    1 – the various miracles to come
    2 – the second part of the gospel where Jesus will further develop the themes of kingdom and salvation of soul

    Jesus will now perform various miracles to make the Word/seed grow. Then the light will begin to appear at Bethsaida.

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 4) First crossing
    (Mark 5-7) The demon of Gadara, The Jairus’ daughter, John’s death, First breaking of loaves, …
    (Mark 8:1-26) The blind man at Bethsaida, Third synthesis

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 14: The divided house
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-135060

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

19. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 16: First crossing
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 4:35-41) First awareness of the God’s presence through his Word

    1 – OVERVIEW
    2 – THE DISCIPLES RESPOND TO JESUS’ REQUEST
    3 – OTHER BOATS, OTHER WORDS
    4 – THE WINDSTORM, THE WIND/SPIRIT
    5 – THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT (MARK 1:23-27) AND THE WIND (MARK 4:37- 41)
    6 – THE POWER OF THE WORD
    7 – THE HEAD ON THE STONE/PILLOW: THE PRESENCE OF GOD ON EARTH
    8 – THE RED SEA CROSSING AS A TEMPLATE AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD ON EARTH
    9 – THE FLIGHT OF JONAH AS A TEMPLATE AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD ON EARTH
    10 – FEAR (DEILOS, 1169) AND FEAR (PHOBEÓ, 5399)
    11 – OT SOURCES ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD ON EARTH
    12 – THE FEAR DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN MARK’S GOSPEL
    13 – FROM AMAZEMENT TO FEAR
    14 – THE FAITH IN GOD
    15 – WHO IS SLEEPING AT THE TIME OF DISTRESS?
    16 – WHO IS JESUS ?
    17 – MARK’S GOSPEL AND THE BOOK OF JONAH
    18 – THE DOVE AND JONAH
    SUMMARY

    1 – OVERVIEW

    Mark 4:35 When that evening came, He said to His disciples,
    “Let us cross to the other side.”

    Jesus asks his disciples to cross the sea in order to teach/sow the new Word among the pagans.
    The night and the sea remind us of the read sea crossing.

    Mark 4:36 After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them,
    since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him.

    The disciples take the lead by dismissing the crowd and taking Jesus (the teacher) with them.
    The boat of Jesus represents the Good News. The other boats represent the previous Words that had tried to convert the
    pagans to the God of Israel

    Mark 4:37 Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was
    being swamped.

    The violent windstorm reminds us of the flight of Jonah.
    The wind represents the pagan spirit who rejects the Word of God.

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher,
    don’t You care that we are perishing?”

    Jesus sleeping on the cushion refers to Jacob sleeping on a stone pillow.
    Since Jesus is sleeping in the stern, it is the disciples who steer the boat
    Note that the disciples address Jesus as teacher

    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be
    still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

    Through his word, Jesus casts out the pagan spirit

    Mark 4:40 “Why are you so afraid (1169)?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1169.htm deilos: cowardly, fearful

    Jesus blames his disciples for their lack of courage during the storm.
    Their fear (deilos) is due to this lack of faith.

    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea
    obey Him?”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeó: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten

    The pagan spirit obeys the Word of Jesus, so the disciples deduce that this powerful Word comes from God.
    The fear (phobeÓ) of the disciples is due to the presence of God through his Word.
    Note that the fear appears when the calm returns.
    Note that the disciples are not afraid of Jesus, they only wonder who he is.

    2 – THE DISCIPLES RESPOND TO JESUS’ REQUEST

    JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES BY USING PARABLES

    Mark 4:1 Once again Jesus began to teach beside the sea, and such a large crowd gathered around
    Him that He got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people crowded along the shore.
    …
    Mark 4:34 He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His
    own disciples.
    Jesus teaches his disciples by using the image of the seed to tell them that the new Word is meant to grow in hearts
    and spread over the earth.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3101.htm mathÉtÉs: a disciple (Mark 2:18,23) (Mark 3:7,9) (Mark 4:34)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3129.htm manthanÓ: to learn (Mark 13:28)

    LET US CROSS => THE DISCIPLES TAKE THE LEAD

    Mark 4:35 When that evening came, He said to His disciples,
    “Let us cross to the other side.”
    Jesus asks his disciples to accompany him in order to teach/sow the new Word among the pagans

    Mark 4:36 After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since
    He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him.
    The disciples take the lead by dismissing the crowd and tooking Jesus with them.

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion
    Since Jesus is in the stern => the disciples are in the front of the boat.
    Since Jesus is sleeping => it is the disciples who steer the boat
    Through these 2 additional informations, Mark emphasises that the disciples take the lead

    3 – OTHER BOATS, OTHER WORDS

    THE BOAT OF JESUS AND THE OTHER BOATS

    Mark 4:36 After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in
    the boat. And there were other boats with Him.

    The boat of Jesus represents the Good News. The other boats represent the previous Words that had tried to convert the
    pagans to the God of Israel, which means the Moses’ law and the prophecies

    THE BOAT OF ZEBEDEE

    Mark 1:19 Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat,
    mending their nets.
    Mark 1:20 Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired
    men and followed Him.

    Zebedee, his boat and the nets represent the old Word (the Moses’ law and the prophecies).
    James and John have left their father Zebedee to follow Jesus, which means that they will provide the Good News to
    catch/convert the sinners

    4 – THE WINDSTORM AND THE WIND/SPIRIT

    MARK’ S GOSPEL: WIND/SPIRIT

    Mark 4:37 Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that
    it was being swamped.
    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind (417) and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!”
    And the wind (417) died down, and it was perfectly calm.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/417.htm anemos: wind

    OT SOURCES ABOUT THE WIND/SPIRIT/BREATH

    Jonah 1:4 Then the LORD hurled a great wind (7307) upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose
    that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.

    Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the
    Spirit (7307) of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

    Isaiah 40:7 The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath (7307) of the LORD blows on them;
    indeed, the people are grass.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7307.htm ruach: wind, spirit, breath

    5 – THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT (MARK 1:23-27) AND THE WIND (MARK 4:37- 41)

    THE SPIRIT SUDDENLY APPEARS

    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
    Mark 4:37 Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being
    swamped.

    JESUS COMMANDS

    Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent (5392)!” He said. “Come out of him!”
    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be
    still (5392)!”…

    THE SPIRIT OBEYS

    Mark 1:26 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud
    shriek.
    Mark 4:39 … And the wind (417) died down, and it was perfectly calm.

    THE OBSERVERS REACT

    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed (2284) and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with
    authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”
    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear (5399), they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea
    obey Him?”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5392.htm phimoÓ: to muzzle, to put to silence

    SYNTHESIS

    First scene (Mark 1:23-27): Jesus casts the old spirit (the old Word of God) and puts the new spirit (the Good
    News) in the heart of the hebrews
    The man with the unclean spirit represents the Hebrews who want to keep the old Word of God.

    Second scene (4:37-41): The wind is the pagan spirit who fights against the spirit that Jesus brings through the Good
    News.
    In other words, the wind represents the pagans who reject the Word of God.

    6 – THE POWER OF THE WORD

    Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked (2008) the spirit. “Be silent (5392)!” He said. “Come out of him!”

    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked (2008) the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be
    still (5392)!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2008.htm epitimaÓ: to honor, to mete out due measure, hence to censure
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5392.htm phimoÓ: to muzzle, to put to silence

    7 – THE HEAD ON THE STONE/PILLOW: THE PRESENCE OF GOD ON EARTH

    JESUS SLEEPS ON THE CUSHION AND THEN THE DISCIPLES ARE AFRAID

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion (4344). So they woke Him and said,
    “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear, they (the disciples) asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and
    the sea obey Him?”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4344.htm proskephalaion: a pillow
    from a comp. of pros and a derivation of kephalé
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2776.htm kephalÉ: the head

    OT SOURCES: JACOB SLEEPS ON THE STONE PILLOW AND THEN HE IS AFRAID

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/28.htm Jacob’s ladder and the stone of bethel

    Genesis 28:10 Meanwhile Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.
    Genesis 28:11On reaching a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. And taking
    one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.
    Genesis 28:12 And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven,
    and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder.

    Genesis 28:16 When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware
    of it.”

    Genesis 28:17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than
    the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”

    ANOTHER PARALLEL: THE ANOINTED HEAD AND THE ANOINTED STONE

    Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with
    an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’
    head.

    Genesis 28:18 Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set
    it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it,
    Genesis 28:19 and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city had been named Luz.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1008.htm Definition: “house of God”
    from bayith and el
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1004.htm bayith: a house

    8 – THE RED SEA CROSSING AS A TEMPLATE AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD ON EARTH

    THE DANGER

    Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them

    Mark 4:37 Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was
    being swamped.

    THE FEAR AND THE LACK OF FAITH

    Exodus 14:10 … and they were terrified (3372) and cried out to the LORD.
    Exodus 14:11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the
    wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?
    Exodus 14:12 Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it
    would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
    Exodus 14:13 But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid (3372). Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s
    salvation , which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3372.htm yare’: affright

    Mark 4:40 “Why are you so afraid (1169)?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1169.htm deilos: cowardly, fearful

    THE REQUEST FOR HELP

    Exodus 14:10 … and they were terrified (3372) and cried out to the LORD.

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion (4344). So they woke Him and said, “Teacher,
    don’t You care that we are perishing?”

    THE GOD’S INTERVENTION AT NIGHT

    Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back
    the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided,

    Mark 4:35 When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”
    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!”
    And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

    THE FEAR AFTER SEEING THE POWER OF GOD

    Exodus 14:29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right
    and on their left.
    Exodus 14:30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on
    the shore.
    Exodus 14:31 When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people
    feared (3372) the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3372.htm yare’: affright

    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear (5399), they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and
    the sea obey Him?”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten

    Note that the fear appears when the calm returns.
    Note that the disciples are not afraid of Jesus, they only wonder who he is.

    The disciples have understood that the spirit of the pagans obey the Word of Jesus. This is a new situation, the Word
    of Jesus succeeds where the law of Moses and the prophets had failed. They deduce that God himself acts through his
    Word. So the disciples are frightened because they have seen the power of God

    SYNTHESIS

    Exodus: God drives back the sea at night to free the Hebrews from slavery
    Mark’s gospel: Jesus and his disciples cross the sea at night to free the pagans from sin

    After salvation, people see the power of God and are afraid

    9 – THE FLIGHT OF JONAH AS A TEMPLATE AND THE PRESNCE OF GOD ON EARTH

    THE CONVERSION OF THE PAGANS
    Jonah refuses his mission while the disciples accept it

    </>Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah (3124) son of Amittai, saying,
    Jonah 1:2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness
    has come up before Me.”

    Mark 4:35 When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”

    THE VIOLENT STORM

    Jonah 1:4 Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the
    ship was in danger of breaking apart.

    Mark 4:37 Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so
    that it was being swamped.

    THE SLEEP

    Jonah 1:5 The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into the
    sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and fell
    into a deep sleep.

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion …

    THE REQUEST FOR HELP

    Jonah 1:6 The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God.
    Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

    Mark 4:38 … So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

    THE RETURN TO CALMNESS

    Jonah 1:15 At this, they picked up Jonah and cast him into the sea, and the raging sea grew calm.

    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the
    wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

    THE FEAR AFTER THE CALMNESS

    Jonah 1:16 Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows
    to Him.

    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear (5399), they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea
    obey Him?”

    10 – FEAR (DEILOS, 1169) AND FEAR (PHOBEÓ, 5399)

    Mark 4:40 “Why are you so afraid (1169)?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1169.htm deilos: cowardly, fearful

    Jesus blames his disciples for their lack of faith during the storm. Their fear (deilos) is due to this lack of faith.

    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear (5399), they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea
    obey Him?”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten

    The Word of Jesus has overcome the spirit of the pagans, so the disciples deduce that this powerful Word comes from God.
    Their fear (phobeÓ) is due to the presence of God through his Word

    11 – OT SOURCES ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD ON EARTH

    THE HOUSE OF GOD ON EARTH

    A – The ark and the tabernacle/tent/temple symbolise his dwelling.

    Exodus 25:8 And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell (7931) among them
    Exodus 29:45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.

    Numbers 25:34 Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the
    Israelites.”

    Zacharie 2:10 “Shout for joy and be glad, O Daughter of Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you,”
    declares the LORD.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7931.htm shakan or shaken: to settle down, abide, dwell
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4633.htm skÉnÉ: a tent
    Usage: a tent, booth, tabernacle, abode, dwelling, mansion, habitation
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7935.htm Shekanyah or Shekanyahu: “Yah has taken up His abode,
    Word Origin from shakan and Yah

    B – Jacob wakes up and he is afraid due to the presence of God

    Genesis 28:16 When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was
    unaware of it.”
    Genesis 28:17 And he was afraid (3372) and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other
    than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”

    THE PRESENCE OF GOD THROUGH HIS WORD

    A – Jonah hears the Word of God => he flees away from the presence of God

    Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah (3124) son of Amittai, saying,
    Jonah 1:2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come
    up before Me.”
    Jonah 1:3 Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence (6440) of the LORD. He went
    down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away
    from the presence (6440) of the LORD.

    B – Moses hears the Word of God => he is afraid due to the presence of God

    Moses at the Burning Bush

    Exodus 3:6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the
    God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face (6640), for he was afraid (3372) to look at God.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6440.htm panim or paneh: face, faces
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3372.htm yare’: affright

    THE PRESENCE OF GOD THROUGH HIS DEEDS

    Exodus 14:29 But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right
    and on their left.
    Exodus 14:30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on
    the shore.
    Exodus 14:31 When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people
    feared (3372) the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses.

    12 – THE FEAR DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN MARK’S GOSPEL

    A – THE FIRST CROSSING

    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And
    the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.
    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear (5399), they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea
    obey Him?”

    Note that the fear appears when the calm returns.
    Note that the disciples are not afraid of Jesus, they only wonder who he is.
    The disciples are frightened because they have seen the power of God

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten

    B – THE TRANSFIGURATION

    Mark 9:4 And Elijah and Moses appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

    The 3 characters symbolise the various Words that God has given to mankind
    Elijah => The voice of the prophets
    Moses => The Law of Moses
    Jesus => The Good News

    Mark 9:5 And Peter answering, says to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. And let us make three
    tabernacles (4633): one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4633.htm skÉnÉ: a tent
    Usage: a tent, booth, tabernacle, abode, dwelling, mansion, habitation
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7935.htm Shekanyah or Shekanyahu: “Yah has taken up His abode,
    Word Origin from shakan and Yah

    Peter has understood, he suggests to build a tabernacle to shelter each of the 3 Words

    Mark 9:6 For they were all so terrified (1630) that Peter did not know what else to say.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1630.htm ekphobos: terrified

    Peter, James and John feel the presence of God. As a result they are terrified

    C – THE ENTRY INTO THE TOMB

    Mark 16:5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and
    they were alarmed.
    Mark 16:6 And he says to them, “Do not be amazed (1568) . You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, the One
    having been crucified. He is risen! He is not here! Behold the place where they laid Him.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1568.htm ekthambeÓ: to amaze, to be amazed

    The 3 women are amazed to see a young man. They listen to what he says

    Mark 16:7 But go, say to His disciples and to Peter that He goes before you into Galilee; there you
    will see Him, as He said to you.”
    Mark 16:8 And having gone out, they fled from the tomb, for trembling and amazement (1611) had seized
    them. And they spoke nothing to anyone; for they were afraid (5339).
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1611.htm ekstasis: a displacement (of the mind)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten

    The three women have understood the message. They now know that it is pointless to seek Jesus of Nazareth. The body of
    Jesus has become the invisible ark containing the Good News.
    The empty tomb shelter the Good News and God dwells there through his Word. The three women are afraid because of the
    presence of God.

    13 – FROM AMAZEMENT TO FEAR

    A – THE MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT

    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed (2284) and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new
    teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2284.htm thambeÓ: to astonish

    Jesus prevails against the Hebrews who want to keep the old Word of God

    B – PARALYTIC’S HEALING

    Mark 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a
    result, they were all astounded (1839) and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like
    this!”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/strongs_1839.htm existÉmi: to displace, to stand aside from

    Jesus forgives the sins of the pagans who have come to take their share of the Good News

    C – WINDSTORM

    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear (5399), they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the
    sea obey Him?”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten

    Jesus prevails against the pagans who reject the Word of God. This situation is more difficult than the previous two.
    As a result, the disciples see the power of God and they are terrified.

    14 – THE FAITH IN GOD

    Mark 4:40 “Why are you so afraid (1169)?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1169.htm deilos: cowardly, fearful

    OT SOURCES ABOUT THE FEAR AND THE LACK OF FAITH

    Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them,
    and they were terrified (3372) and cried out to the LORD.
    Exodus 14:11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the
    wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?
    Exodus 14:12 Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it
    would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
    Exodus 14:13 But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid (3372). Stand firm and you will see the
    LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see
    again.

    OT SOURCES ABOUT FAITH AND SALVATION

    Isaiah 43:1 Now this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O
    Israel: “Do not fear (3372), for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
    Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

    Psalms 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear (3372)? The LORD
    is the stronghold of my life – whom shall I dread?

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3372.htm yare’: affright

    SYNTHESIS

    Jesus blames his disciples for their lack of faith during the storm. Their fear (deilos) is due to this lack of faith.
    Since God redeems sins and brings salvation, why be afraid if you believe in him?

    15 – WHO IS SLEEPING AT THE TIME OF DISTRESS?

    THE DISCIPLES NEED HELP BUT JESUS IS SLEEPING

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they (the disciples) woke Him
    and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

    JESUS NEEDS THE SUPPORT FROM HIS DISCIPLES BUT THEY ARE SLEEPING

    Mark 14:34 Then He said to them (the disciples), “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death
    . Stay here and keep watch.”
    Mark 14:37 Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Were
    you not able to keep watch for one hour?

    16 – WHO IS JESUS ?

    WHAT IS THIS ?
    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with
    authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

    WHY DOES THIS MAN SPEAK LIKE THIS?
    Mark 2 :7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming!
    Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

    WHO IS THIS ?
    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind
    and the sea obey Him?”

    WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
    Mark 8:29 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the
    Christ.”

    ARE YOU THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE BLESSED?
    Mark 14:61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him,
    “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”

    ARE YOU THE KING OF THE JEWS?
    Mark 15:2 So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,”
    Jesus replied.

    SYNTHESIS
    For the first time, the disciples ask themselves who Jesus is. Mark will gradually give us the answers so that we
    can understand the last scenes of the gospel

    17 – MARK’S GOSPEL AND THE BOOK OF JONAH

    THE CONVERSION OF THE PAGANS
    Jonah refuses his mission while the disciples accept it

    Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah (3124) son of Amittai, saying,
    Jonah 1:2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness
    has come up before Me.”

    Mark 4:35 When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”

    THE VIOLENT STORM

    Jonah 1:4 Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship
    was in danger of breaking apart.

    Mark 4:37 Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that
    it was being swamped.

    THE SLEEP

    Jonah 1:5 The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into
    the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and
    fell into a deep sleep.

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion …

    THE REQUEST FOR HELP

    Jonah 1:6 The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God.
    Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

    Mark 4:38 … So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

    THE RETURN TO CALMNESS

    Jonah 1:15 At this, they picked up Jonah and cast him into the sea, and the raging sea grew calm.

    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the
    wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

    THE FEAR AFTER THE CALMNESS

    Jonah 1:16 Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made
    vows to Him.

    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear (5399), they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea
    obey Him?”

    ROWING AGAINST THE WIND

    Jonah 1:13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the
    sea was raging against them more and more.

    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them
    . About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

    THARSIS/THARSEÓ

    Book of Jonah (Septuagint)
    https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/chapter.asp?book=36&page=1
    https://theotex.org/septuaginta/jonas/jonas_1.html
    Jonah 1:3 But Jonas rose up to flee to Tharsis from the presence of the Lord.

    Mark 6:50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage (2293)!
    It is I. Do not be afraid (5015).”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2293.htm tharseÓ: to be of good courage
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5015.htm tarassÓ: to stir up, to trouble

    THE RANDOM DRAW

    Jonah 1:7 “Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible
    for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

    Mark 15:9 “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.
    Mark 15:15 And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged,
    and handed Him over to be crucified.

    THE BLOOD POURED OUT FOR OTHERS

    Jonah 1:12 “Pick me up,” he answered, “and cast me into the sea, so it may quiet down for you.
    For I know that I am to blame for this violent storm that has come upon you.”
    Jonah 1:14 So they cried out to the LORD: “Please, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life!
    Do not charge us with innocent blood! For You, O LORD, have done as You pleased.”
    Jonah 1:15 At this, they picked up Jonah and cast him into the sea, and the raging sea grew calm.

    Mark 14:24 He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

    THE THREE DAYS

    Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days
    and three nights in the belly of the fish.

    Mark’s gospel: Jesus spends three 3 days in the tomb

    18 – DOVE /JONAH

    Genesis 8:6 After forty days Noah opened the window he had made in the ark
    Genesis 8:8 Then Noah sent out a dove (3123) to see if the waters had receded from the surface of
    the ground.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3123.htm yonah: dove

    Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah (3124) son of Amittai, saying,
    Jonah 1:2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up
    before Me.”
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3124.htm Yonah: an Israelite prophet

    Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the
    Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
    Mark 1:11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

    SUMMARY

    The wind is the pagan spirit who fights against the spirit that Jesus brings through the Good News. In other words, the
    wind represents the pagans who reject the Word of God.

    The boat of Jesus represents the Good News. The other boats represent the previous Words that had tried to convert the
    pagans to the God of Israel.

    The pagan spirit obeys the Jesus’ Word, so the disciples deduce that this Word is more powerful than the previous ones.
    The fear (phobeÓ) of the disciples is due to the presence of God through his Word.

    This scene reminds us of several OT cases where people are afraid because they feel the presence of God (The
    Jacob’s head on the stone, the red sea crossing, the flight of Jonah)

    Mark introduces the fear after the calm is restored in order to highlight that it is the power/presence of God that
    causes the fear

    Mark identifies 2 kinds of fear
    1 – The lack of courage due to the lack of faith (Mark 4:40)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1169.htm deilos: cowardly, fearful
    2 – The fear due to the presence of God through his Word and deed (Mark 4:41)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten

    For the first time, the disciples ask themselves who Jesus is (Mark 4:41). Mark will gradually give us the answers so
    that we can understand the last scenes of the gospel

    By writing a scene where the disciples are terrified because they have seen the power of God through the Word of Jesus,
    Mark shows that the Word of Jesus is indeed the Word of God.

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 5) The demon of Gazara, The Jairus’ daughter
    (Mark 6-7) Jesus in his own country, John’s death, First breaking of loaves, …
    (Mark 8:1-26) Second breaking of loaves, The blind man at Bethsaida, Third synthesis

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 15: Parables
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-141036

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

20. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 17: The demon of Gerasa
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 5:1-20) First attempt of conversion in the land of the uncircumcised

    1 – OVERVIEW
    2 – THE PAGAN LAND AND THE GOD OF ISRAEL
    3 – THE MAN PORTRAYED AS AZAZEL IN THE BOOK OF ENOCH
    4 – THE MAN LIVING IN THE TOMBS: THE REBEL PEOPLE AGAINST GOD
    5 – THE TIED AND UNTIED MAN: THE EVIL (SATAN/AZAZEL) FIGHTING AGAINST THE GOD OF ISRAEL
    6 – THE DWELLING IN THE MOUNTAIN
    7 – FROM THE HEIGHTS OF THE MOUNTAINS TO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA
    8 – THE DESTRUCTION BY WATER: THE BOOK OF ENOCH AND THE NOAH’S FLOOD
    9 – THE ETERNAL SINNER AND THE SINS THROWN INTO THE SEA/PIT
    10 – THE SELF-CUTTING: THE DIVISION AND THE SELF-DESTRUCTION
    11 – THE CUTTING WITH STONES: THE CIRCUMCISION
    12 – “MOST HIGH GOD”: THE REFERENCE TO ABRAM THE UNCIRCUMCISED
    13 – THE UNCIRCUMCISED WHO WALKED WITH GOD: ENOCH, NOE
    14 – “BEGGING ON HIS KNEES”: THE ALLUSION TO THE LEPER’S CLEANSING AND RITUAL LAWS
    15 – “WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH ME?”: OPPOSITION AND DESTRUCTION
    16 – “TO SEE FROM A DISTANCE” AND “TO BE BOUND TO THE WOOD”: THE SACRIFICE
    17 – THE SEATED MAN AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE: THOSE INSIDE AND THOSE OUTSIDE
    18 – THE CLOTHED MAN: THE GARMENTS OF SALVATION
    19 – THE MAN IN HIS RIGHT MIND
    20 – THE FEAR OF LOCAL PEOPLE
    21 – “LEAVE THE REGION”: THOSE OUTSIDE
    22 – “GO HOME TO YOUR OWN PEOPLE”: THE SPREADING OF THE GOOD NEWS
    23 – JESUS AS A DECISION MAKER
    24 – JESUS AS AN INTERMEDIARY WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD
    25 – WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR THE PAGAN
    26 – LEGION/AZAZEL : THE DEMON SATAN IN THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
    27 – LEGION: THE DEMON BEELZEBUL IN THE PARABLE OF THE DIVIDED HOUSE
    28 – THE SYMBOLIC LEGION OF 2000: THE 2 WOODS OF THE CROSS AND THE MULTITUDE
    29 – “TO BE BOUND” IN MARK’S GOSPEL
    30 – THE MESSAGE: THE THINGS OF GOD AND THE THINGS OF MEN
    31 – THE TRANSFER OF SINS: THE SUFFERING SERVANT AND THE SCAPEGOAT/AZAZEL
    32 – THE RELEASE OF THE SCAPEGOAT BY CASTING LOTS IN LEVITICUS AND JESUS BEFORE PILATE
    33 – THE CUTTING: THE HEBREW ROOT “G-Z-R” AND THE HEBREW WORDS (GAZAR, GEZER, GEZERAH)
    34 – ANOTHER SOURCE: THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES
    35 – THE CHANGE OF NAME
    36 – THE PARALLEL WITH THE MAN IN THE SYNAGOGUE
    37 – THE CLEANSING BY WATER
    38 – MORE ABOUT THE RITUAL LAWS
    39 – THE CIRCUMCISION AND THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD
    40 – DECAPOLIS AND GERASA
    SUMMARY

    1 – OVERVIEW

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/5.htm

    Mark 5:1 On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes.

    The other side of the sea => The pagan land that does not know the Word of the God of Israel
    The region of the Gerasenes => a land located in Decapolis (a group of ten greek cities)

    Jesus comes to sow the new Word of the God of Israel

    Mark 5:2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from
    the tombs.

    Jesus once again meets a man with an unclean spirit. The new scene now takes place in a pagan land, which means a land
    where people eat pigs
    The man with an unclean spirit also lives in the tombs.
    Isaiah characterises the rebels against God as living in tombs and eating pigs (Isaiah 65:4)

    Mark 5:3 This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains.
    Mark 5:4 Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the
    shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him.

    The man bound with chains and able to brake them evokes a fight with alternating failures and successes.
    The man bound with chains and sackles reminds us the book of Enoch and the Lord saying to Raphael “Bind Azazel
    by his hands and his feet”

    “Now there was no one with the strength to subdue this man” => The man (portrayed as Azazel) is currently strong
    enough to fight successfully and dominate the pagan land. As a result, he prevents the Word of God from
    penetrating the heart of pagans and acts as Satan in the parable of the sower

    Mark 5:5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones.
    
    “Night and day ” => the unclean spirit (the evil) constantly acts on the man
    “the mountains” => The unclean spirit dwells in the symbolic space reserved for the God of Israel

    “cutting himself” => The self cutting recalls the self destruction in the the parable of the divided house

    “cutting with stones” => a reference to the rite of circumcision originally performed with sharpened flints
    (Josh 5:2)

    Mark 5:6 When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him.

    The term “from a distance” associated with the other term “man bound with chains” allude to the binding of Isaac
    and the binding of Jesus to the wood of the cross

    “fell on his knees before Him” => In a narrative perspective, it is not logical that the man comes and knees
    before Jesus since he is powerful enough to dominate the land. However, Mark does it because he needs to evoke the
    ritual laws about purity, so he makes the man behave like the leper wanting to be clean

    Mark 5:7 And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You
    before God not to torture me!”

    The unclean spirit knows Jesus and identifies him as the Son of the Most High
    “Most High God” => this term recalls the blessing of Abram the uncircumcised

    “he begged” => the leper begged Jesus for cleansing

    Mark 5:8 For Jesus had already declared, “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!”

    “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!” => Mark repeats the scene where the unclean spirit is cast out from a man
    in the synagogue

    Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

    “legion” is a latin word and refers to the roman army.
    So the man with an unclean spirit acts as Satan/Azazel (two biblical names) and he is called Legion (a latin word).
    Mark has changed the name because the scene takes place in a pagan land.
    This change of name hides another one: Abram the uncircumcised will become Abraham the circumcised

    legion” also alludes to the host of azazel (the fallen angels) in the book of Enoch

    Mark 5:10 And he begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of that region.

    “out of that region” => The unclean spirit want that the pagans go on living without the God of Israel

    Mark 5:11 There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding.

    Mark outlines that the pigs are fed in order to mean that the scene takes place in a country where people eat pigs

    Mark 5:12 So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”

    By asking to enter the pigs, the unclean spirit will divide himself

    Mark 5:13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of
    about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.

    As soon as the unclean spirit is divided, it losts his strength and therefore it is destroyed.
    This destruction by self division illustrates the parable of the house devided

    What about the number 2000
    1 – The number 2 symbolises the division
    2 – The number 1000 produces the effect of multitude

    The God of Israel has destroyed the forces of evil that dominated the land so that his new Word/seed can grow in the
    hearts of the pagans

    Mark 5:14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out
    to see what had happened.

    What about those tending the pigs? Mark says nothing about what they feel. Their only role is to report to local people

    Mark 5:15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting
    there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

    The local people were not frightened by the man living in the graves, cutting himself and shouting.
    It is the new man who generates their fear.
    The local people understood that the man’s transformation is due to the God of Israel. They are afraid because they
    feel his presence,

    Mark 5:16 Those who had seen it described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and also to the pigs.
    
    Once again, the breeders report to local people.

    Mark 5:17 And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region.

    “beg Jesus to leave their region” => The local people (the pagans) want to go on living without the God
    of Israel

    Mark 5:18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him.
    
    “the man begged to go with Him” => Man asks to follow Jesus because he believes in the God of Israel and his
    new Word.

    Mark 5:19 But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord
    has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”

    “Go home to your own people” => Jesus asks him to stay with the pagans so that he spread the new Word (the Good News)

    “how much the Lord has done for you” => what has happened is the will of God

    Mark 5:20 So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him.
    And everyone was amazed.

    The healed man will have to sow the seed/Word he has received. This seed/Word will now be able to grow since the forces
    fighting the God of Israel have been destroyed.

    In a narrative perspective, it is a first and small success since Jesus has only converted one person.
    Jesus will now let the time do its work so that the new Word grow night and day. He will come back to accelerate the
    process.

    The message

    The water that destroyed the unclean spirit is also the water that purifies. So the destruction of the unclean
    spirit by water is also the cleansing of the man.
    Consequently, the pagans can be clean without having to observe the ritual laws described in Leviticus. In other words,
    the pagans can enter the kingdom of God without having to observe the laws of the Hebrews. At this context, it is about
    the food laws : the pagans are allowed to go on eating the pigs
    Since a new Word goes hand in hand with a new covenant, the pagans can also enter the kingdom of God without having to
    be circumcised (the circumcision is the sign of the old covenant)

    2 – THE PAGAN LAND AND THE GOD OF ISRAEL

    THE SEA

    Mark 5:1 On the other side of the sea,

    The sea is the symbolic border that separates the Hebrews (those who received the law of Moses) and the pagans
    (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

    THE REGION OF THE GERASENES

    Mark 5:1 On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region (5561) of the Gerasenes.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1086.htm GerasÉnos: Gerasene, of Gerasa, a city East of the Jordan
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decapolis#/media/File:The-Decapolis-map.svg

    Gerasa (Jerash) is not located near the sea. Therefore Mark uses the term “region of” to refer to a larger geographical
    area in order to avoid a geographical mistake in his symbolic narrative

    Note that Mark has already used the term
    Mark 1:5 People went out to him (John) from all of Jerusalem and the countryside (5561) of Judea.
    Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5561.htm chÓra: a space, place, land

    THE GOD OF ISRAEL

    Jesus comes so that the pagans know the God of Israel and his Word
    The pagans do not ask for the God of Israel, do not seek him and do not call his Name.

    Mark 5:1 On the other side of the sea, they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes.
    Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

    Isaiah 65:1 “I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek
    Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’

    3 – THE MAN PORTRAYED AS AZAZEL IN THE BOOK OF ENOCH

    THE MAN BOUND WITH CHAINS

    Enoch 10.4 And further the Lord said to Raphael: “Bind Azazel by his hands and his feet and throw him
    into the darkness. And split open the desert, which is in Dudael, and throw him there.

    Mark 5:4 Though he (the man with an unclean spirit) was often bound with chains and shackles, he
    had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/254.htm halusis: a chain
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3976.htm pedÉ: a fetter, shackle

    THE TORTURE

    Enoch (53) 54.4 And I asked the angel of peace, who went with me, saying: “These chain instruments,
    for whom have they been prepared?”
    5 And he said to me: “These have been prepared for the hosts of Azazel, to imprison them and put them
    into the lowest hell …

    Mark 5:7 And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You
    before God not to torture me!”

    THE SHARP STONES

    Enoch 10.5 And throw on him jagged and sharp stones and cover him with darkness. And let him stay there
    forever. And cover his face so that he may not see the light.

    Mark 5:5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with
    stones.

    THE DESTRUCTION

    Enoch 10.4 And further the Lord said to Raphael: “Bind Azazel by his hands and his feet and throw him into
    the darkness. And split open the desert, which is in Dudael, and throw him there.

    Mark 5:13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of
    about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.

    THE HOST/LEGION

    Enoch (53) 54.5 And he said to me: “These have been prepared for the hosts of Azazel, to
    imprison them and put them into the lowest hell .

    Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

    Mark 5:13 … and the herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned
    in the water.

    4 – THE MAN LIVING IN THE TOMBS: THE REBELLIOUS PEOPLE AGAINST GOD

    Mark 5:2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was
    coming from the tombs.
    Mark 5:3 This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains.
    Mark 5:5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones.

    Mark 5:11 There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding.
    Mark 5:14 Those tending the pigs ran off
    The pigs are bred, which means that the scene takes place in a country where people eat pigs

    OT SOURCES

    Isaiah characterises the rebels against God as living in tombs and eating pigs.

    Isaiah 65:1 “I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me.
    To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’
    Isaiah 65:2 All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate (5637) people who walk in the wrong
    path, who follow their own imaginations,
    Isaiah 65:3 to a people who continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on
    altars of brick,
    Isaiah 65:4 sitting among the graves, spending nights in secret places, eating the meat of pigs
    and polluted broth from their bowls.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5637.htm sarar: stubborn or rebellious

    5 – THE TIED AND UNTIED MAN: THE EVIL FIGHTING AGAINST THE GOD OF ISRAEL

    Mark 5:4 Though he was often bound (1210) with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and
    shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1210.htm deÓ: to tie, bind

    The bound man represents the evil temporarily defeated by the God of Israel.
    The unbound man represents the evil again fighting against the God of Israel.

    SOURCE : THE BOOK OF ENOCH

    Enoch 10.4 And further the Lord said to Raphael: “Bind Azazel by his hands and his feet and throw him
    into the darkness. And split open the desert, which is in Dudael, and throw him there.

    Raphael and the good angels against Azazel and the fallen angels

    6 – THE DWELLING IN THE MOUNTAIN

    Mark 5:5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones.
    The mountain is the symbolic space reserved for the God of Israel and his Word

    In the pagan land of the gerasenes, the evil (Azazel) occupies this symbolic space.

    OT SOURCES

    Isaiah 22:16 What are you doing here, and who authorized you to carve out (2672) a tomb for yourself here
    – to chisel (2672) your tomb in the height and cut (2710) your resting place in the rock?

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2672.htm to hew, hew out, cleave
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2710.htm chaqaq: to cut in, inscribe, decree

    Isaiah 56:7 I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer.
    Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer
    for all the nations.”

    Exodus 15:17 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of Your inheritance – the place,
    O LORD, You have prepared for Your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, Your hands have established.

    Exode 24:12 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may
    give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”

    SYNTHESIS

    By writing that the man with an unclean spirit dwells in the mountain, Mark makes the man of equal rank with the God of
    Israel.
    In the region of the gerasenes, the evil (Azazel) occupies this symbolic space and it prevents the Word of God from
    penetrating the pagan land

    7 – FROM THE HEIGHTS OF THE MOUNTAINS TO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA

    The unclean spirit described as the equal of God is thrown into the sea

    Mark 5:5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with
    stones.
    Mark 5:13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of
    about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.

    OT SOURCES:

    The Fall of the King of Babylon

    Isaiah 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground,
    O destroyer of nations.
    Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of
    God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north.
    Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
    Isaiah 14:15 But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

    The Destruction of Edom

    Obadiah 1:1 This is the vision of Obadiah: This is what the Lord GOD says about Edom …
    Obadiah 1:3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks whose habitation
    is the heights, who say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’
    Obadiah 1:4 Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring
    you down,” declares the LORD.
    Obadiah 1:21 The deliverers will ascend Mount Zion to rule over the mountains of Esau. And the
    kingdom will belong to the LORD.

    Psalms

    Psalms 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into
    the depths of the seas,

    8 – THE ETERNAL SINNER AND THE SINS THROWN INTO THE SEA/PIT

    The unclean spirit who fights against the God of Israel is an eternal sinner. His destruction is also the destruction
    of sin.

    Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our
    sins into the depths of the sea.

    Isaiah 14:15 But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

    Ezekiel 32:18 “Son of man, wail for the multitudes of Egypt, and consign her and the daughters of the
    mighty nations to the depths of the earth with those who descend to the Pit:

    Ezekiel 32:24 Elam is there with all her multitudes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by
    the sword – those who went down uncircumcised to the earth below, who once spread their terror in the land of
    the living. They bear their disgrace with those who descend to the Pit.

    9 – THE DESTRUCTION BY WATER: THE BOOK OF ENOCH AND THE NOAH’S FLOOD

    The Book of Enoch

    Enoch 10.22 And the earth will be cleansed of all corruption and all sin and all punishment and all
    torment, and I will never again send a flood upon it, from generation to generation, to eternity.”

    Genesis 6: Noah’s flood

    Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every
    inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.
    Genesis 6:6 And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
    Genesis 6:7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth –
    every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air – for I am grieved that I have made them.”

    Genesis 6:17 And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the
    heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish.

    Genesis 6:18 But I will establish My covenant with you (Noah), and you will enter the ark – you and your sons
    and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.

    10 – THE SELF-CUTTING: THE DIVISION AND THE SELF-DESTRUCTION

    THE CUTTING/DIVISION AGAINST ONESELF

    Mark 5:2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from
    the tombs.

    Mark 5:5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself
    with stones.
    cutting himself => the unclean spirit divides against himself

    THE SELF-DESTRUCTION BY ENTERING THE HERD OF 2000 PIGS

    Mark 5:2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit,

    Mark 5:12 So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”
    Mark 5:13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd
    of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.

    The unclean spirit loses its strength by dividing itself. As a result, its end comes

    AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT AND THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS

    To highlight the division, Mark uses the singular form (Mark 5:2 an unclean spirit) and then the plural form (Mark 5:13
    the unclean spirits )

    THE PARABLE OF THE DIVIDED HOUSE

    Mark 3:23 So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?
    Mark 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
    Mark 3:25 If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand.
    Mark 3:26 And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.

    The unclean spirit divides against himself by cutting himself and entering into 2000 unclean animals. As a result, he
    cannot stand and his end immediately comes

    2000 PIGS

    The number 2 symbolises the division
    The number 1000 produces the effect of multitude

    11 – THE CUTTING WITH STONES: THE CIRCUMCISION

    Mark 5:5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with
    stones.

    Exodus 4:25 But Zipporah took a flint knife (6864), cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched it to Moses’
    feet. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.

    Joshua 5:2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint (6697) knives (2719) and circumcise
    the sons of Israel once again.”
    Joshua 5:3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6864.htm a hard pebble, flint
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6697.htm tsur: rock, cliff
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2719.htm chereb: a sword

    12 – “MOST HIGH GOD”: THE REFERENCE TO ABRAM THE UNCIRCUMCISED

    OT SOURCES

    1 – Melchizedek blesses Abram

    Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine – since he was priest of God Most High
    Genesis 14:19 and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High (5945), Creator of heaven
    and earth,

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5945.htm elyown: Most High

    2 – The change of name and the covenant of circumcision

    Genesis 17:4 Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,
    Genesis 17:5 “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.
    Genesis 17:6 No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a
    father of many nations.

    Genesis 17:10 This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male
    among you must be circumcised.

    MARK’S GOSPEL

    Mark 5:7 And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?
    I beg You before God not to torture me!”

    Mark 14:61 But Jesus remained silent and made no reply. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the
    Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

    The 2 verses (Mark 5:7 and Mark 14:61) recall the blessing of God given to Abram the uncircumcised
    The purpose is to underline that the key point is the blessing and not the blood of the circumcision

    In Mark’s gospel, the Most High God make a new covenant based on a new Word (the Good News) and a new blood (The fruit
    of the vine replaces the blood of the circumcision)

    Mark 14:23 Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
    Mark 14:24 He said to them,“This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
    Mark 14:25 Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I
    drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”

    ANOTHER PARALLEL: THE OFFERING OF BREAD AND WINE

    Mark 14:22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and
    gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
    Mark 14:24 He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
    Mark 14:25 Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink
    it anew in the kingdom of God.”

    Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine – since he was
    priest of God Most High –
    Genesis 14:19 and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,

    The 2 verses (Genesis 14:18,19) learn us that the offering of bread and wine is prior to the circumcision

    SYNTHESIS

    By using ther term “Most High God”, Mark reminds us that thelife with God existed before circumcision. He thus means
    that the relationship with God is not linked to circumcision

    The other reference to circumcision will appear in the change of name (Mark 5:9) see my paragraph “The change of name”

    13 – THE UNCIRCUMCISED WHO WALKED WITH GOD: ENOCH, NOE

    Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away

    Noah’s Favor with God

    Genesis 6:8 Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
    Genesis 6:9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah
    walked with God.

    MARK’S GOSPEL

    The man with an unclean spirit is portrayed as Azazel in the book of Enoch
    The destruction by water evokes the Noah’s flood

    These references to the Enoch’s words and the Noah’s flood remind us that Enoch and Noah walked with God without being
    circumcised

    Note also that God established a covenant with Noah

    Genesis 6:18 But I will establish My covenant with you (Noah), and you will enter the ark -you and your sons
    and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.

    SYNTHESIS

    Through the two implicit references to Enoch and Noah, Mark again writes that the relationship with God is not linked
    to circumcision

    14 – “BEGGING ON HIS KNEES”: THE ALLUSION TO THE LEPER’S CLEANSING AND RITUAL LAWS

    BEFORE THE CLEANSING

    Mark 1:40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make
    me clean.”

    Mark 5:2 … He was met by a man with an unclean spirit …
    Mark 5:6 When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before
    Him.
    Mark 5:7 And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg
    You before God not to torture me!”

    AFTER THE CLEANSING

    Mark 1:44 “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the
    offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

    Mark 5:19 But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them
    how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”

    SYNTHESIS

    The leper and the man with an unclean spirit are both unclean. They become clean thanks to the Word of Jesus.

    The parallel with the leper’s cleansing helps us to understand the current scene

    The leper’s scene has learned us two things
    1 – Thanks to the Good News, the hebrews are cleansed without following the ritual described in Leviticus 13 and 14
    2 – The observance of the ritual laws is not an obstacle to the entry of the hebrews into the new community

    By analogy, the current sequence tells us
    1 – Thanks to the Good News, the pagans (those who eat pork) are cleansed without following the various rituals
    described in Leviticus
    2 – The consumption of pork meat is not an obstacle to the entry of the pagans into the new community

    The Good News teach the things of God i.e. the new forgiveness of sins. The things of men (the ritual laws about purity,
    food and circumcision) are not included in the scope of the Good News

    15 – “WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH ME?”: OPPOSITION AND DESTRUCTION

    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who
    You are the Holy One of God!”

    Mark 5:7 And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I
    beg You before God not to torture me!”

    OT SOURCES: THE BOOK OF ENOCH

    Enoch 53 (54).4 And I asked the angel of peace, who went with me, saying: “These chain instruments, for whom
    have they been prepared?”
    5 And he said to me: “These have been prepared for the hosts of AzÂzÊl, to imprison them and put them
    into the lowest hell:
    6 … because they became subject to Satan, and have led astray those who dwell on the earth
    7 And in those days the punishment from the Lord of the spirits will come, and all the
    repositories of water, which are above in the heavens, and also the fountains of water, which are under the
    heavens, and which are under the earth, will be opened.

    16 – “TO SEE FROM A DISTANCE” AND “TO BE BOUND TO THE WOOD”: THE SACRIFICE

    OT SOURCES

    Genesis 22:4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4725.htm maqom: a standing place, place
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7350.htm rachoq: distant, far, a distance

    Genesis 22:9 When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and
    arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood.

    MARK’S GOSPEL

    1 – The man often bound with chains sees Jesus from a distance

    Mark 5:4 Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and
    shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him.

    Mark 5:6 When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him.

    2 – Jesus will be bound to the wood/cross

    Mark 15:24 And they crucified (4717) Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of
    them would take.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4717.htm stauroÓ: to crucify
    Word Origin: from stauros
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4716.htm stauros: an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion)

    3 – The women will watch the place/altar from a distance

    Mark 15:40 And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the
    mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

    17 – THE SEATED MAN AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE: THOSE INSIDE AND THOSE OUTSIDE

    THOSE OUTSIDE

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1854.htm exÓ: outside, without

    1 – The Hebrews who want to keep the law of their fathers (the Moses’ Law)
    Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside (1854). They sent someone in to summon
    Him,
    Mark 3:32 and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are
    outside (1854), asking for You.”

    2 – Those who are not interested in the things of God (his Word and the forgiveness of sins)
    Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside
    (1854) everything is expressed in parables

    3 – Those who oppose the Word of the God of Israel
    Mark 5:10 And he begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of (1854) that region.
    Mark 5:12 So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”

    4 – The pagans who want to go on living like their fathers (without the God of Israel)
    Mark 5:17 And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region.

    THOSE INSIDE

    1 – The hebrews who beleive the Good News
    Mark 3:34 Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
    
    2 – The pagans who beleive the Good News
    Mark 5:15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons
    sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

    3 – Those who want to know what the Good News teach (the new remission of sins)
    Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the
    parable.
    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the
    outside everything is expressed in parables

    18 – THE CLOTHED MAN: THE GARMENTS OF SALVATION

    Mark 5:15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons
    sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

    Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with
    garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress,
    as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

    19 – THE MAN IN HIS RIGHT MIND

    Before
    Mark 5:5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself
    with stones.

    After
    Mark 5:15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons
    sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

    20 – THE FEAR OF LOCAL PEOPLE

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten

    Mark 5:14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people
    went out to see what had happened.
    Mark 5:15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting
    there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid (5933).

    The local people were not frightened by the man living in the graves, cutting himself and shouting.
    It is the new man who generates their fear.

    The behaviour of the pagans is the same as that of the disciples who are frightened when the calm returns after the
    storm.

    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the
    wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.
    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear (5933), they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea
    obey Him?”

    SYNTHESIS

    The local people understood that the man’s transformation is due to the God of Israel.
    Like the disciples in the boat, they feel his presence, which causes their fear

    Note that those tending the pigs only report what they have seen

    21 – “LEAVE THE REGION” : THOSE OUTSIDE

    Mark 5:16 Those who had seen it described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and also to the pigs.
    Mark 5:17 And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region.

    The local people do not ask for the God of Israel and do not seek him (Isaiah 65:1).

    Isaiah 65:1 “I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not
    seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’

    The local people want to go on living like their fathers (without the God of Israel)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1854.htm exÓ: outside, without

    See also my paragrah about “Those inside and those outside”

    22 – “GO HOME TO YOUR OWN PEOPLE”: THE SPREADING OF THE GOOD NEWS

    1 – In the hebrew land
    Jesus asks the pagans who came for the Good News to return home so as to spread them

    Mark 2:11 “I tell you (paralytic/pagan), get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

    2 – In the pagan land
    Jesus asks the pagans to stay home and spread the Good News

    Mark 5:18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him.
    Mark 5:19 But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell
    them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”
    Mark 5:20 So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done
    for him. And everyone was amazed.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3624.htm oikos: a house, a dwelling

    23 – JESUS AS A DECISION MAKER

    Mark 5:13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of
    about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.
    Mark 5:19 But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and
    tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”

    24 – JESUS AS AN INTERMEDIARY WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD

    Mark 5:19 But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the
    Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”

    Mark 14:36 “Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet
    not what I will, but what You will.”

    25 – WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR THE PAGAN

    By casting out the unclean spirit, Jesus made the man clean

    By analogy with the leper who returns to the camp after being cleansed (Leviticus 13-14), the cleansed pagan will be
    able to join the camp of those who live according to the Good News

    Leviticus 13:46 As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place
    outside the camp.
    Leviticus 14:8 The one being cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe with water; then
    he will be ceremonially clean. Afterward, he may enter the camp, but he must remain outside his tent for seven
    days.

    Mark reiterates that the Good News (the new Word of God) are not only for the Hebrews but also for the pagans. In other
    words, the pagans are also called to enter the kingdom of God

    Reply

21. Continuing

    26 – LEGION/AZAZEL : THE DEMON SATAN IN THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

    LEGION AND SATAN

    Mark 5:2 … a man with an unclean spirit

    Mark 5:4 Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the
    shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him.

    Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

    The scene takes place at a time when Legion dominates the land and therefore he prevents the Word of God from
    penetrating this land.
    Legion acts as the birds (Mark 4:4) and Satan (Mark 4:15) in the parabole of the sower

    Mark 4:4 And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
    Mark 4:14 The farmer sows the word.
    Mark 4:15 Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan
    comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

    AZAZEL

    Legion is portrayed as Azazel in the book of Enoch
    See my paragraph “The man portrayed as azazel in the book of enoch”

    In the Apocalypse of Abraham, AZAZEL is a bird

    Abr. 13:5-6 And it came to pass when I saw the bird speaking I said this to the angel: “What is
    this, my lord?” And he said, “This is disgrace – this is Azazel!”

    https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azazel
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azazel

    27 – LEGION: THE DEMON BEELZEBUL IN THE PARABLE OF THE DIVIDED HOUSE

    THE SELF-DESTRUCTION

    Legion divides against itself by cutting itself off and wanting to enter the herd of 2000 pigs

    Mark 5:2 … a man with an unclean spirit
    Mark 5:5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with
    stones.
    Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are
    many.”

    Mark 5:12 So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”
    Mark 5:13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd
    of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.

    BEELZEBUL AND THE DIVISION

    According to the scribes, “to have Beelzebul” equates “to have an unclean spirit” and means the division against oneself

    Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by
    Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

    Mark 3:23 So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive
    out Satan?

    Mark 3:26 And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.

    Mark 3:30 Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

    BEELZEBUL AND THE DWELLING IN THE HEIGHTS

    “Beelzebul” = Baal (a pagan god) + Zebul (house)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1168.htm Ba’al: Baal , a heathen god
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2073.htm zebul: elevation, height, lofty abode
    Word Origin: from zabal
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2082.htm zabal: probably to dwell

    SYNTHESIS

    Mark describes the misdeeds of division in order to call for unity.
    The parable of the divided house/kigndom is a call for unity between the hebrews themselves
    The current sequence is a call for unity between the hebrews and the pagans

    28 – THE SYMBOLIC LEGION OF 2000: THE 2 WOODS OF THE CROSS AND THE MULTITUDE

    Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”
    Mark 5:12 So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.”
    Mark 5:13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of
    about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.

    At this point, the number 2 symbolises the division and the number 1000 produces the effect of multitude

    THE ROMAN LEGION

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_legion
    The legion evolved from 3,000 men in the Roman Republic to over 5,200 men in the Roman Empire, consisting of
    centuries as the basic units.

    In the late republic and much of the imperial period (from about 100 BC), a legion was divided into ten cohorts,
    each of six (or five) centuries

    https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion centurion primipile
    https://romanmilitary.net/strategy/structure/ primus pilus
    The centurion of the first cohort’s first century was the primus pilus , or “first spear,” and was the highest
    ranking centurion in the legion.

    https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilum
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilum
    The pilum (Latin: plural pila) was a javelin commonly used by the Roman army

    THE ROMAN LEGION IN MARK’S GOPEL

    Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion (3003),” he replied, “for we are many.”

    Mark 15:2 So Pilate (4091) questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus
    replied.

    Mark 15:16 Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called the
    whole company/cohort (4686) together.

    Mark 15:39 When the centurion (2760) standing there in front of Jesus saw how He had breathed His last,
    he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3003.htm legiÓn: a legion
    Word Origin: of Latin origin

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4091.htm Pilatos: Pilate
    a Latin name, equivalent to ‘armed with a pilum or javelin,’

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4686.htm speira: a body (of soldiers), i.e. a cohort
    Word Origin: of Latin origin

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2760.htm kenturiÓn: a centurion (a Roman army officer)
    Word Origin: of Latin origin

    In Mark’s gospel, the term pilate alludes to the primus pilus (the highest ranking centurion in the legion)
    and identifies the roman power

    THE TWO WOODS (THAT OF THE HEBREWS AND THAT OF THE PAGANS) BECOME A SINGLE WOOD (THAT OF THE CROSS)

    Mark 15:21 Now Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from
    the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross (4716) of Jesus.

    Mark 15:24 And they crucified (4717) Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what
    each of them would take.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4716.htm stauros: an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4717.htm stauroÓ: to crucify
    Word Origin: from stauros

    The Mark’s gospel a move from division to unity. At the end of the gospel, Jesus will be tied to the wood (of
    the cross) to fufill the new Word removing the barriers between the 2 woods (that of the hebrews and that of the
    pagans).

    THE MULTITUDE

    Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a
    ransom for many.”
    Mark 15:37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.

    Jesus will give his life for many (the hebrews and the pagans) by redeeming their sins that he has taken upon himself.
    The forgiveness of sins through the redemption is what the Good News teach us.

    OT SOURCES ABOUT THE TWO BECOMING ONE

    Ezekiel 37:16 “And you, son of man, take a single stick (6086) and write on it: ‘Belonging to
    Judah and to the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick and write on it: ‘Belonging to
    Joseph – the stick of Ephraim – and to all the house of Israel associated with him.’
    Ezekiel 37:17 Then join them together into one stick, so that they become one in your hand.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6086.htm ets: tree, trees, wood

    OT SOURCES ABOUT THE REDEMPTION OF SINS

    see my paragraph “The transfer of sins: The suffering servant and the scapegoat”

    29 – “TO BE BOUND” IN MARK’S GOSPEL

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1210.htm deÓ: to tie, bind

    1 – The strong man (Israel) is bound (suffers the divine punishment) if he sins against his God

    Mark 3:27 Indeed, no one can enter a strong man’s house to steal his possessions unless he first ties
    up (1210) the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

    2 – The forces of evil (Azazel and the fallen angels) fighting the God of Israel

    Mark 5:3 This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained (1210), even with chains.

    Mark 5:4 Though he was often bound (1210) with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and
    shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him

    3 – Herod binds John

    Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound (1210) and imprisoned,
    on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.

    4 – The chief priests, elders and scribes bind Jesus

    Mark 15:1 Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan.
    They bound (1210) Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

    5 – Barabbas is imprisoned

    Mark 15:7 And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned (1210) with the rebels who had committed murder during
    the insurrection.

    6 – Jesus is bound to the wood like Isaac

    Mark 15:24 And they (the roman soldiers) crucified (4717) Him. They also divided His garments by casting
    lots to decide what each of them would take.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4717.htm stauroÓ: to crucify
    Word Origin: from stauros
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4716.htm stauros: an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion)

    Genesis 22:9 When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the
    wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood.

    30 – THE MESSAGE: THE THINGS OF GOD AND THE THINGS OF MEN

    Mark 8:33 And having turned and having looked upon His disciples, He rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind Me,
    Satan, for your thoughts are not of the things of God, but the things of men.”

    Mark 12:17 Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And
    they marveled at Him.

    THE THINGS OF GOD

    The things of God or the mystery of the kingdom of God is what belongs to God (i.e. the forgiveness of sins)

    Mark 2:7 “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the
    outside everything is expressed in parables,
    Mark 4:12 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding;
    otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’

    In Mark’s gospel
    1 – Jesus forgives the sins of others by taking them upon himself (it is the healings)
    2 – Then Jesus will redeem these sins by shedding the blood of the new covenant (the fruit of the vine)
    To read more, see my Chapter 10 (a synthesis about Mark 1-2)

    THE THINGS OF MEN

    The things of men are the rituals laws (about purity, food and circumcision) described in Leviticus
    The Good News do not care about them.
    As result, the Hebrews can go on observing the ritual laws and the pagans can go on eating pork.
    The blood of circumcision is not required since the blood of the new covenant (the fruit of the vine) replaces it.

    31 – THE TRANSFER OF SINS: THE SUFFERING SERVANT AND THE SCAPEGOAT/AZAZEL

    Both take upon themselves the sins of others, The suffering servant gives his life to redeem them while the scapegoat
    bring them into the wilderness.

    THE SUFFERING SERVANT

    Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the
    punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

    Isaiah 53:6 We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has
    laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
    …
    Isaiah 53:8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut
    off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people.

    THE SCAPEGOAT/AZAZEL

    Leviticus 16:8 After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat
    (5799),

    Leviticus 16:10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the
    LORD to make atonement by sending it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.

    Leviticus 16:22 The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary (1509) place, and the man
    will release it into the wilderness

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5799.htm azazel: entire removal

    STRONG CODES

    Isaiah 53:8 he (suffering servant) was cut off (1504) from the land of the living; He was stricken for
    the transgression of My people.

    Leviticus 16:22 The goat (scapegoat) will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary (1509)
    place

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1504.htm gazar: to cut, divide
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1509.htm gezerah: separation
    Word Origin from gazar

    32 – THE RELEASE OF THE SCAPEGOAT BY CASTING LOTS IN LEVITICUS AND JESUS BEFORE PILATE

    Aaron was instructed to choose between the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat by casting lots

    Leviticus 16:3 This is how Aaron is to enter the Holy Place: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a
    burnt offering.
    Leviticus 16:7 Then he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent
    of Meeting.
    Leviticus 16:8 After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the
    scapegoat (5799)
    Leviticus 16:9 he shall present the goat chosen by lot for the LORD and sacrifice it as a sin
    offering.
    Leviticus 16:10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the
    LORD to make atonement by sending it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.
    Leviticus 16:34 This is to be a permanent statute for you, to make atonement once a year for the
    Israelites because of all their sins.” And all this was done as the LORD had commanded Moses.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5799.htm azazel: entire removal

    Pilate chooses between Jesus and Barabbas by casting lots since he lets the crowd take the decision

    Mark 15:9 “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked.
    Mark 15:15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released (630) for them Barabbas, and having
    scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/630.htm apoluÓ: to set free, release

    ABOUT THE NAME PILATE

    Mark built the name Pilate from
    1 – from the Hebrew root “P-L-T”, which means liberation/deliverance
    2 – from the Latin word “Pilum/Pila”, which alludes to the primus pilus and means the roman power see my paragrah about
    the roman legion

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6403.htm palat: to escape
    NASB Translation
    calves (1), carries it off (1), deliver (5), delivered (4), deliverer (5), delivers (3), escape (1), preserve (2),
    rescue (3).

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6405.htm pallet: deliverance

    33 – THE CUTTING: THE HEBREW ROOT “G-Z-R” AND THE HEBREW WORDS ( GAZAR, GEZER, GEZERAH)

    THE HEBREW WORDS: GAZAR, GEZER

    Psalm 136:13 He divided (1504) the Red Sea in two (1506) His loving devotion endures
    forever.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1504.htm gazar: to cut, divide
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1506.htm gezer: part

    THE CUTTINGS IN MARK’S GOSPEL WITH THEIR OT SOURCES

    1 – John will be cut in two by King Herod

    Mark 6:27 So without delay, the king (Herod) commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an
    executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.

    1 Kings 3:25 and the king (Solomon) declared, “Cut (1504) the living (2416) child in two
    (8147) and give half to one and half to the other.”

    2 – Jesus will be cut off from the land of the living for the sins of the others

    Mark 15:37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.

    Isaiah 53:8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He (the
    suffering servant) was cut off (1504) from the land of the living (2416); He was stricken for the
    transgression of My people.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1504.htm gazar: to cut, divide
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2416.htm chay: age Definition: alive, living

    3 – Jesus separates himself from the others by going into a solitary place

    Mark 1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary
    (2408) place to pray.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2048.htm erÉmos: solitary, desolate

    Leviticus 16:8 After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat
    (5799),
    Leviticus 16:22 The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary (1509) place, and the
    man will release it into the wilderness (4507)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1509.htm gezerah: separation
    Word Origin from gazar

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4057.htm midbar: desert
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5799.htm azazel: entire removal

    THE CITY OF GEZER/GAZARA IN THE HILL COUNTRY OF EPHRAIM

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1507.htm Gezer: “portion,” a Levitical city on the border of Ephraim

    Joshua 21:20 The remaining Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted these cities: From the tribe of Ephraim
    Joshua 21:21 they were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the manslayer),
    Gezer (1507)
    Joshua 21:22 Kibzaim, and Beth-horon – four cities, together with their pasturelands.

    In septuagint, Gezer is translated as Gazara

    https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/chapter.asp?book=6&page=21
    Joshua 21:21 out of the tribe of Ephraim; and they gave them the slayer’s city of refuge, Sychem, and its
    suburbs, and Gazara and its appendages, and its suburbs;

    THE DECREE OF THE MOST HIGH

    Daniel 4:24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree (1510) that the Most High has
    issued against my lord the king:

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1510.htm gezerah: a decree
    Word Origin (Aramaic) from gezar
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1505.htm gezar: to cut, determine

    A REMAINING QUESTION

    “G-Z-R” => gazar, gezer/gazara, gezar, gezerah => Gerasa ?

    34 – ANOTHER SOURCE: THE FIRST BOOK OF MACCABEES

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Maccabees+13&version=GNT

    I M 13,53 Simon’s son John was now a grown man, so Simon made him commander of the whole army, and John set up
    headquarters at Gezer.

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Maccabees+16&version=GNT

    1 M 16,1 Simon’s son John left Gezer and went to report to his father what Cendebeus had done.
    …
    1 M 16,10 The escaping soldiers fled to the towers in the fields at Azotus, and John set fire to the city. On
    that day, 2,000 enemy soldiers were killed, and John returned safely to Judea.

    John (Simon’s son) lives in Gezer/Gazara => John the baptizer will be cut in two

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1504.htm gazar: to cut, divide
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1506.htm gezer: part
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1507.htm Gezer: “portion,” a Levitical city on the border of Ephraim

    2,000 enemy soldiers => the legion of 2000

    35 – THE CHANGE OF NAME

    Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

    1 – Beelzebul/Satan/Azazel => Legion
    2 – Gezer/Gazara (a city in the hill country of Ephraim) => Gerasa (a city in decapolis) ?

    The change of name also alludes to (Genesis 17:4-6) and evokes the circumcision (Genesis 17:10)

    Genesis 17:4 Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,
    Genesis 17:5 “As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.
    Genesis 17:6 No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a
    father of many nations.

    Genesis 17:10 This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male
    among you must be circumcised.

    Mark has already used the change of name and the reference to (Genesis 17:4-10) when he wrote that Levi the circumciser
    mutates and becomes Matthew the disciple.
    See my chapter 8 about Levi son of Alphaeus

    36 – THE PARALLEL WITH THE MAN IN THE SYNAGOGUE

    THE MEETING WITH THE MAN

    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue

    Mark 5:2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit,

    THE CRIES

    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue

    Mark 5:7 And he shouted in a loud voice

    DUALITY AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF DESTRUCTION

    Mark 1.24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who
    You are the Holy One of God!”

    Mark 5:7 And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I
    beg You before God not to torture me!”

    THE WORD OF JESUS

    Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”

    Mark 5:8 For Jesus had already declared, “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!”

    THE IDENTIFICATION OF JESUS

    Mark 1.24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You
    are the Holy One of God!”

    Mark 5:7 And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I
    beg You before God not to torture me!”

    THE EXPULSION/DESTRUCTION

    Mark 1:26 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud
    shriek.

    Mark 5:13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs,

    THE SPREADING OF THE GOOD NEWS

    Mark 1:28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.

    Mark 5:20 So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for
    him.

    THE AMAZEMENT

    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed (2284) and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching
    with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

    Mark 5:20 … And everyone was amazed (2284).

    SYNTHESIS

    The explusion of unclean spirit means a new spirit in the hearts so that it grow like a seed
    The new spirit is the new Word of the God of Israel i.e. the Good News

    37 – THE CLEANSING BY WATER

    OT SOURCE

    Ezekiel 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness,
    and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
    Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of
    stone and give you a heart of flesh.
    Ezekiel 36:28 Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and
    I will be your God.

    MARK’S GOSPEL

    Since the unclean spirit has been cast out from the man, we can consider that the man has been cleansed
    Since the unclean spirit has been destroyed by water, we can consider that the man has been cleansed by water (Ezekiel
    36:25)

    As a result
    1 – The man has a new heart and a new spirit within him (Ezekiel 36:26)
    2 – The man belongs to the people of God (Ezekiel 36:28)

    38 – MORE ABOUT THE RITUAL LAWS

    THE RITUAL LAWS SERVES TO DISTINGUISH ONESELF FROM OTHER NATIONS

    Leviticus18:3 You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you
    must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their
    customs.

    THE IDEA OF PURITY IN ANCIENT JUDAISM

    https://www.jstor.org/stable/1460731
    The Idea of Purity in Ancient Judaism (Jacob Neusner)
    Excerpt: Purity serves to differentiate one sect from another

    https://journals.openedition.org/rsr/4221
    Purity and Impurity
    Many readers of the Bible are in the habit of thinking that purity and impurity are moral realities. Therefore they do
    not pay much attention to the passages in Leviticus that bind these notions to specific rituals. But such rituals
    are essential. The ritual peculiar to a wound due to leprosy …

    https://bereenne-attitude.com/sexualite53/
    Notion De PuretÉ Et D’impuretÉ Dans La Bible

    Il s’agit de se prÉserver de la souillure, et celle-ci n’a rien de morale. Elle relÈve de ce qui touche au
    corps : animaux purs et impurs, contacts qui rendent impurs, maladies de peau, moisissures sur les vÊtements ou dans
    les maisons, maladies sexuelles masculines et des perturbations des menstruations fÉminines (LÉvitique 11 À 15).

    Ces codes du LÉvitique que les thÉologiens appellent code de puretÉ et code de saintetÉ, font partie intÉgrante de la
    Torah, la loi juive. Mais il ne faut pas oublier ce qui motiva les prÊtres de YahvÉ À Écrire le LÉvitique : il
    fallait que les pratiques du peuple se diffÉrencient de celles des nations alentours (Egypte, Canaan :
    LÉvitique 18,3.24-25).

    39 – THE CIRCUMCISION AND THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD

    Antiochus IV Epiphanes

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochus_IV_Epiphanes
    The date of Antiochus’s persecution of the Jews in Jerusalem is variously given as 168 or 167 BC

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Maccabees+1&version=GNT

    I M 1,60 Mothers who had allowed their babies to be circumcised were put to death in accordance
    with the king’s decree.
    I M 1,61Their babies were hung around their necks, and their families and those who had circumcised them
    were put to death.
    The king is Antiochus IV Epiphanes

    Hadrian and Antoninus Pius

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrian#cite_note-147
    Hadrian’s ban on circumcision, allegedly imposed sometime between 128 and 132 CE […]. The only proof for Hadrian’s
    ban on circumcision is the short note in the Historia Augusta: ‘At this time also the Jews began war, because they were
    forbidden to mutilate their genitals (quot vetabantur mutilare genitalia). […] The historical credibility of this
    remark is controversial […]
    The earliest evidence for circumcision in Roman legislation is an edict by Antoninus Pius (138–161 CE),

    40 – DECAPOLIS AND GERASA

    DECAPOLIS

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decapolis#/media/File:The-Decapolis-map.svg
    https://www.livius.org/articles/place/decapolis/

    Next to Judaea is the Decapolis, which is so named after the number of its cities, but not all authorities agree about
    their names. Most writers, however, agree that Damascus is one of the ten. This town is on the banks of the river
    ChrysorroÖs, which is eagerly used to irrigate its meadows; the cities of Philadelphia and Rhaphana are in the
    direction of Arabia; Scythopolis – which Father Liber (Dionysus) used to call Nysa, after he had buried his nurse on
    this place – owes, its present name from a Scythian colony that was once established there; Gadara, on the banks of the
    river Hieromix; Hippo; Dion; Pella, rich with its waters; and finally Galasa and Canatha.
    [Pliny the Elder, Natural History 5.74.]

    Galasa” is better known as Gerasa. Other cities that have been reckoned among the Decapolis are Abila and Capitolias.
    Writing a century later, Ptolemy names no less than eighteen cities
    [Ptolemy, Geography 5.14-22.]

    B>My comment:
    Pliny does not quotes Gerasa while Ptolemy does it. Many commentators equates Galasa with Gerasa but I did not find
    out the explanation

    JERASH/GERASA

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerash
    Jerash today is home to one of the best preserved Greco-Roman cities,
    After the Roman conquest in 63 BC, Jerash and the land surrounding it were annexed to the Roman province of Syria
    The Emperor Hadrian visited Jerash in AD 129–130. The triumphal arch (or Arch of Hadrian) was built to celebrate his
    visit

    SUMMARY

    This scene illustrates two parables, that of the sower and that of the divided house.
    The scene also talks about the things of God (the forgiveness of sins) and the things of men (the ritual laws about
    purity, circumcision and food).

    Parable of the sower (the seeds along the path)
    The scene takes place in a pagan land where people do not ask for the God of Israel, do not seek him and do not call
    his Name.
    The demon Legion reigns here and fights against the God of Israel. The demon Legion is depicted as Azazel and plays the
    role of Satan in the parable of the sower.
    The demon is finally destroyed by water and will no longer be able to take away the Word of God (the Good News).
    The seed that Jesus sowed in the heart of the healed man will now grow in the pagan land. Jesus will return to speed
    the conversion process.

    Parable of the divided house/kingdom
    The unclean spirit was destroyed because he divided against himself by cutting himself and asking to enter a herd
    of 2,000 pigs
    Mark evokes the misdeeds of division to call for unity between Hebrews and pagans

    The circumcision
    This theme appears through the terms “cutting with stones” and “son of the most high”. The second term refers to the
    blessing of Abram the uncircumcised and reminds us that the relationship with God is not linked to circumcision. Enoch
    and Noah were also uncircumcised and walked with God
    Mark has already talked about the circumcision in the secene where Levi the circumciser mutates and becomes Matthew the
    disciple.
    In Mark’s gospel, the Most High God make a new covenant based on a new Word (the Good News) and a new blood (the fruit
    of the vine replaces the blood of the circumcision)

    The ritual laws about purity and food
    The scene takes place in a land where people eat pork since pigs are raised there.
    The pig is an unclean animal (Leviticus 11:7) whose flesh must not be eaten (Leviticus 11:8).
    Mark tells us that the consumption of pork meat is not an obstacle to the entry of the pagans into the new community.
    He says it indirectly by making the man with an unclean spirit behave like the leper begging Jesus for cleansing. In
    this way, he reminds us that the observance of the ritual laws was not an obstacle to the entry of the hebrews into the
    new community and so, by analogy, the pagans can keep their food habits

    The binding and the sacrifice for the forginess of sins
    The terms “bound man” and “to see from a distance” refer to the binding of Isaac and the binding of Jesus on the cross
    Jesus will be bound to the wood of the cross to redeem the sins of others. He will fulfill what the prophet Isaiah
    wrote about the suffering servant
    I recall again that the forgiveness of sins is the theme of Mark’s gospel, John announces it from the beginning and the
    terms “untie the sandals” means that the new forgivenesss is fulfilled by Jesus who takes upon himself the sins of
    others to redeem them. This new forgiveness of sins through redemption is the new Word/Mystery of God.

    The message
    The water that destroyed the unclean spirit is also the water that purifies. So the destruction of the unclean spirit
    by water is also the cleansing of the man.
    Consequently, the pagans can be cleansed without having to observe the ritual laws described in Leviticus. In other
    words, the pagans can enter the kingdom of God without having to observe the laws of the Hebrews (at this context, the
    food laws)
    Since a new Word goes hand in hand with a new covenant, the pagans can also enter the kingdom of God without having to
    be circumcised (the circumcision is the sign of the old covenant)

    Mark’s gospel

    The current sequence includes many themes, terms and scenarios already seen in the previous 4 chapters.

    By portraying the man with an unclean spirit as azazel and naming him legion, Mark also introduces 2 new elements (the
    scapegoat and the roman legion) that he will reuse at the end of the gospel.
    In the scene “Jesus before Pilate”, Mark will take up and reinterpret the scenario of Leviticus 16 in which the priest
    chooses by lot the scapegoat.
    Then the roman soldiers will bind Jesus to the wood of the cross. The cross as an assembly of two woods symbolizes “the
    two becoming one” (the unity between the hebrews and the pagans)

    At this point, there are always missing elements to fully understand the last scenes of the gospel.

    The Mark’s gospel is a web of connections. Its understanding is a long and iterative process.

    SOME READINGS

    https://bibleask.org/please-explain-how-were-animals-sacrificed-in-the-sanctuary-service/
    The transfer of sin from the sinner to the animal

    https://www.andrews.edu/library/car/cardigital/Periodicals/AUSS/1994-3/1994-3-06.pdf
    Azazel in early jewish tradition (Robert Helm, 1994)

    https://jewishlink.news/features/25729-insights-into-the-root-g-z-r

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 5:21-43) The Jairus’ daughter and the bleeding woman
    (Mark 6-7) Jesus in his own country, John’s death, First breaking of loaves,
    (Mark 8:1-26) Second breaking of loaves, The blind man at Bethsaida, Third synthesis

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 16: First crossing
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-143646

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

    1. More about Gerasa

       https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00925469/document
       Les édifices balnéaires publics de Gérasa de la Décapole (Jerash, Jordanie)

       RÉSUMÉ EN ANGLAIS

       For a decade, several studies have renewed significantly our knowledge about public baths and their practice in the Middle East. Unfortunately, no synthesis considering the bathing phenomenon in a diachronic perspective of history of mentalities in a single city appears to have been carried out. Based on an archaeological and architectural approach, this work at first intended to propose a diachronic synthesis of the evolution of eight public bath buildings currently known in Gerasa and their practice in history. The situation in the City of the Decapolis is then confronted to the practice of public bath in Antiquity in the Middle East, as it is known today, allowing to identify matches, differences and characteristics of the corpus of Gerasa. Based on an original methodology, this study highlights the deeply hybrid role of these institutions with natural facilities for the cleaning of the body but also specific and independent spaces for which civic, political and religious functions may be assumed.

       Keys words : baths, Jarash, Gerasa, urbanism, Near-East, Roman and byzantine periods

       A. Aux origines de Gérasa (Page 43-44)
       Les recherches actuelles s’accordent pour octroyer la fondation de la cité sous le nom d’Antioche du Chrysorrhoas (soit Antioche à la rivière d’or du nom du cours d’eau qui coule en contrebas) à Antiochos IV Épiphane, souverain séleucide entre 175 et 166 av. J.-C. Pourtant, c’est le nom de Gérasa, interprétation hellénistique du nom du village sémite antérieur, peut être Garshu, qui sera désormais employé pour dénommer la cité

       B. La « provincia pompéienne » et la pax romana (Page 45)
       Tour à tour convoitée par les royaumes juifs des Hasmonéens de Jérusalem et arabes des Nabatéens de Petra, Gérasa fut intégrée, en 64 avant J.-C., au sein d’un territoire appelé « provincia pompéienne » par M. Sartre, plus connu sous le nom, anachronique, de Décapole

       Reply

22. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 18: The Jairus’ daughter and the bleeding woman
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 5:21-43) A hebrew girl and a pagan woman save their lifes thanks to the Good News.

    1 – HEALING AND SALVATION: THE RIGHT TRANSLATIONS
    2 – OVERVIEW
    3 – THE THEME: THE SALVATION OF HIS/HER LIFE
    4 – THE SEASIDE: THE HEBREWS AND THE PAGANS
    5 – THE WOMAN WHO WANTS THE WORD LIKE THE PAGANS
    6 – THE WOMAN PORTRAYED AS RUTH THE PAGAN
    7 – THE BLOOD LOSS: THE AFFLICTION THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE CHILDREN
    8 – ANOTHER AFFLICTION: THE HUNGER
    9 – THE LINK BETWEEN BARRENESS AND HUNGER
    10 – THE BLOOD LOSS: THE THEME OF IMPURITY/EXCLUSION IN LEVITICUS
    11 – THE DEFILEMENT THROUGH THE TOUCH IN LEVITICUS
    12 – TWELVE YEARS: THE AGE OF SEXUAL MATURITY
    13 – THE NUMBER TWELVE: THE DOUBLE PORTION AND THE 6 MEASURES
    14 – THE FOOD: THE WORD OF GOD
    15 – THE GARMENTS OF SALVATION AND JESUS THE SAVIOR
    16 – THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WORD AND THE GARMENTS
    17 – JAIRUS: THE SYNAGOGUE LEADER WHO DOES NOT TEACH THE GOOD NEWS
    18 – THE PHYSICIANS: THE TEMPLE PRIESTS WHO DO NOT WEAR THE GARMENTS OF SALVATION
    19 – THE FRUITLESS WORD AND THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
    20 – THE POWER GOING OUT OF JESUS: THE WORD COMING FROM THE GOD OF ISRAEL
    21 – SIGHT AND (MUTUAL) RECOGNITION
    22 – THE SALVATION OF THE PAGAN WIFE AND HER ACT OF FAITH
    23 – THE SALVATION OF THE HEBREW GIRL AND THE JAIRUS’ ACT OF FAITH
    24 – SECRECY AND DELAY BEFORE ACTUAL SALVATION, THE TOMB TO REPRESENT ACTUAL SALVATION
    25 – BELIEF, FAITH AND KINGDOM OF GOD
    26 – HEALING (LIBERATION FROM AFFLICTION/SIN) AND SALVATION
    27 – THE PHYSICIANS TO EVOKE EMBALMING AND TOMB
    28 – SLEEP/DEATH: THE REBIRTH THROUGH THE NEW WORD
    29 – THE DEFILEMENT AND THE NAZIRITE
    30 – THOSE WHO WEEP: THOSE WHO WILL NOT ENTER THE TOMB
    31 – THE PEACE, THE GARMENTS AND SALOME
    32 – PETER, JAMES AND JOHN
    33 – THE GIRL’S MOTHER: SALVATION OF OFFSPRINGS THANKS TO THE MAN OF GOD
    34 – THE GIRL’S MOTHER: THE WOMEN WHO SAVED ISRAEL (ESTHER, JUDITH, RAHAB, TAMAR, RUTH)
    35 – JAIRUS AND THE LINK WITH ESTHER AND JUDITH
    36 – JESUS’ FEET: THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
    37 – THE ARAMAIC LANGUAGE
    38 – THE CROWD AS OBSTACLE
    39 – THE CROWD AS WINE PRESS TO EXPRESS THE BLOOD OF REDEMPTION
    40 – THE MOKERS: THOSE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND
    41 – THE FEAR: THE PRESENCE OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL
    42 – A DISPLACEMENT OF THE MIND (EKSTASIS)
    43 – TWO LINKED FATES: THAT OF THE HEBREW GIRL AND THAT OF THE PAGAN WOMAN
    44 – THREE MARKAN INTERCALATIONS TO EXPLAIN HEALING, FORGIVENESS AND SALVATION
    45 – PARALLELS WITH OTHER HEALINGS
    46 – MAIN OT SOURCES (LEVITICUS)
    47 – MAIN OT SOURCES (BOOK OF RUTH)
    48 – MORE ABOUT HANNAH, THE SAMUEL’S MOTHER
    49 – MORE ABOUT 2 OTHER SALVATIONS: THE WIDOW’S SON AND THE SHUNAMMITE’S SON
    50 – MORE ABOUT NAAMAN THE ARAMEAN
    SUMMARY

    1 – HEALING AND SALVATION: THE RIGHT TRANSLATIONS

    Mark 1:34 And He healed (2323) many who were ill with various diseases (3554) and drove out many demons. (BSB)

    Mark 3:10 For He had healed (2323) so many that all who had diseases (3148) were pressing forward to touch Him.

    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved (4982) and live (2198).”

    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved (4982).”

    Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed (2390) of her affliction (3148).

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction (3148).”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3554.htm nosos: disease, sickness
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3148.htm mastix: a whip, scourge, disease, affliction
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2323.htm therapeuÓ: to serve, cure
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2390.htm iaomai: to heal
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4982.htm sÓzÓ: to save
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2198.htm zaÓ: to live

    SYNTHESIS

    Disease and affliction are translations of the same greek word (mastix, 3148)
    In Mark 5:23, 5:28 and 5:34, the right translation is saved (4982) and not healed (2390)

    I recall the representations already studied in the first chapters
    disease => sin against the God of Israel
    apparent healing => forgiveness of sins (promise of redemption)
    death of Jesus => actual redemption of sins

    2 – OVERVIEW
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/5.htm (with the right translations)

    Mark 5:21 When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea.
    Jesus is near the sea in order to indicate that the hebrews and pagans will be involved

    Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet
    The hebrews enter the scene

    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved (4982) and live.”
    Mark presents the theme: the salvation of his/her life

    Mark 5:24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him.
    Jesus has recognised Jairus’ act of faith as he leaves with him

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
    Mark uses the intercalation technique: he suspends the story of the hebrew girl and starts another story in order to explain what ‘salvation of his/her life’ means and how to be saved
    The loss of blood refers to menstrual period and the duration ’12 years’ indicates the age of sexual maturity.
    These two points inform the reader that the woman has not been able to have children for 12 years. Sterility, like all other diseases, represents sin and separation from the God of Israel.

    Mark 5:26 She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.
    Mark has already used the term physician when Jesus was eating in Levi’s house.
    At this context, the physicians are the temple priests who go on teaching the Moses’ Law, the old word no longer bearing fruit
    I recall that the temple priests are descendants of Aaron, himself a descendant of Levi.
    It is because of them that the woman does not receive/hear the new Word of God. Consequently, she is barren, she cannot give birth to children of God.

    Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.
    In contrast to all previous healings the woman does not show her faith, she touches the garment of salvation without Jesus being able to recognise her.
    Mark thus starts a little scenario whose purpose is to show that one must be spiritually recognised to be saved

    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved (4982).”
    Mark equates touch of Jesus’ garments and salvation

    Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed(2390) of her affliction.
    The woman wanted salvation but she only get the apparent physical healing (forgiveness of sins)

    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”
    The power going out from Jesus is the power coming from the God of Israel. At this context, it is the new Word advocating a new forgiveness of sins
    Jesus is aware that someone has stolen the forgiveness of sins (the apparent healing).
    Addressing the crowd, Jesus rebukes those who have stolen the forgiveness of sins. But above all, he tells them that only God can actually forgive sins and save.

    Mark 5:31 His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
    The disciples only perceive the literal meaning

    Mark 5:32 But He kept looking around to see who had done this.
    Jesus waits for the thief to submit to divine judgment

    Mark 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.
    The woman manifests herself in order to be recognised as worthy of being actually healed and saved. It is the act of going to Jesus that makes her act of faith.
    She is afraid because she fears the divine judgement.

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”
    Jesus explicitly states that faith saves
    The woman is freed from her affliction/sin because Jesus has taken her sin upon himself to redeem it
    Conclusion:
    To save his/her life means to have offspring.
    To be saved, one must show his faith (confidence in the good news) and submit to divine judgment (God alone has the power to save)

    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”
    Mark resumes the first story about the hebrew girl
    Everything seems to be over as the girl has just died.
    What will Jesus, the teacher, do?

    Mark 5:36 But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”
    Fear refers to divine presence. Thus Jesus tells Jairus that the God of Israel is going to act and he asks Jairus to believe so that salvation will come.
    Despite his daughter’s death, Jairus goes on following Jesus since they will be together to see the child (Mark 5:40).
    This behavior makes his true act of faith.

    Mark 5:37 And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James
    Jesus chooses those who accompany him.

    Mark 5:38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping and wailing loudly.
    The hebrews who weep only perceive physical death.

    Mark 5:39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”
    Death represents the definitive separation from the God of Israel. The hebrew girl cannot die because she is a daughter of Israel (the new generation of Israel). Her death would mean Israel’s definitive separation from his God.
    So Mark writes that death is a sleep to mean that Israel is in a temporary state of separation from his God. Jairus’ repentance and his new faith in the good news will allow a return to God.
    The sleep of the girl is like the fever of the mother-in-law. Both sleep and fever are temporary states. I recall that the mother-in-law represents Israel as a woman.

    Mark 5:40 And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child.
    The scoffers are those who only see the literal meaning. Jesus only takes with him those able to grasp the true meaning of the new Word

    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”
    This verse recalls the mother-in-law’s healing in which Jesus took her by the hand and lifted her up (Mark 1:31)

    Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded.
    The girl is saved, she spiritually rebirths and walks in God’s statutes (Ezekiel 36:27) like the paralytic/pagan.
    The 12 years refer to the sexual maturity of the girl and mean that she will be able to give birth to children of God.
    The Jesus’ companions begin to grasp the true meaning

    Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.
    The request for secrecy reminds us of the one that followed the mother-in-law’s healing. It indicates that salvation (like healing) is a promise to be fulfilled.
    In the last sentence of the last verse, Mark tells us why the girl was near death. Jairus had not followed the request Jesus had made in the synagogue “Stand up among us (Mark 3:3)”
    Jairus, the leader of the synagogue, had continued to teach the old word (the old food bearing no fruit). Now, thanks to his repentance and his faith in the good news, he allows Israel to have descendants

    3 – THE THEME: THE SALVATION OF HIS/HER LIFE

    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live.”

    4 – THE SEASIDE: THE HEBREWS AND THE PAGANS

    Mark 5:21 When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea.

    Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet
    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death …

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

    The sea is the symbolic border between the Hebrews, those who received the law of Moses, and the pagans (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).
    Jesus is beside the sea in order to indicate that the hebrews and pagans will be involved.
    Mark tells us that the girl is Hebrew since her father is the synagogue leader, therefore we can deduce that the woman is pagan
    As for the crowd, they are Hebrews because the action takes place on the west bank

    5 – THE WOMAN WHO WANTS THE WORD LIKE THE PAGANS

    A – The hebrew crowd prevents the pagans from getting the new word of God

    Mark 2:2 they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them.
    Mark 2:3 Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.

    Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.

    These 2 scenes take place on the west bank

    B – The pagans get the word by touching the Jesus’ garment

    Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.
    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved (4982).”

    Mark 6:56 And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were saved (4982)

    These 2 scenes take place beside the sea.

    6 – THE WOMAN PORTRAYED AS RUTH THE PAGAN

    THE GARMENT AS A SYMBOL OF THE WORD (THE SPIRITUAL FOOD)

    Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.” “Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied.
    Ruth 3:15 And he (Boaz the redeemer) told her (Ruth), “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl (4304). Then he went into the city.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4304.htm mitpachath: a cloak

    Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.
    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved.”

    THE REVIVAL OF THE FORSAKEN DAUGHTER

    Ruth 3:11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I (Boaz) will do for you (Ruth) whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    MUTUAL RECOGNITION AND RECOGNISED ACT OF FAITH

    Ruth 3:9 “Who are you?” he (Boaz) asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment (3671) over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer (1350).”
    Ruth 3:11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I (Boaz) will do for you (Ruth) whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.

    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”
    Mark 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.
    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1350.htm gaal: to redeem
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3671.htm kanaph: wing, extremity

    THE FEAR BEFORE THE REDEEMER

    Ruth 3:11 And now do not be afraid, my daughter. I (Boaz the redeemer) …

    Mark 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.

    7 – THE BLOOD LOSS: THE AFFLICTION THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE CHILDREN

    Due to blood loss, the woman cannot have sexual relations with a man

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
    Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body (4983) that she was healed (2390) of her affliction.

    OT SOURCES

    A – Leviticus

    Leviticus 20:18 If a man lies with a menstruating woman and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has uncovered the source of her blood. Both of them must be cut off from among their people.

    B – Hannah’s affliction

    1 Samuel 1:11 And she (Hannah) made a vow, pleading, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction (6040) of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.”
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6040.htm oniy: misery
    Definition: affliction, poverty

    C – Naomi’s affliction (the Ruth’s mother-in-law)
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/ruth/1.htm

    Ruth 1:3 Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,
    Ruth 1:5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband.

    Ruth 1:12 Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I (Naomi) am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,
    Ruth 1:13 would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”

    Ruth 1:20 “Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me.
    Ruth 1:21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted (7489) me.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7489.htm ra’a’: afflict

    8 – ANOTHER AFFLICTION: THE HUNGER

    Jairus doesn’t give his daughter the right food

    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live.”

    Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her (the daughter) something to eat.

    OT SOURCES

    Deuteronomy 16:3 You must not eat leavened bread with it; for seven days you are to eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction (6040), because you left the land of Egypt in haste so that you may remember for the rest of your life the day you left the land of Egypt.

    Genesis 41:50 Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
    Genesis 41:52 And the second son he (Joseph) named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction (6040).”
    Genesis 41:55 When extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6040.htm oniy: misery
    Definition:affliction, poverty

    9 – THE LINK BETWEEN BARRENESS AND HUNGER

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

    Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her (the girl) something to eat.

    OT SOURCES: HANNAH
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_samuel/1.htm

    1 Samuel 1:11 And she (Hannah) made a vow, pleading, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction (6040) of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son,

    1 Samuel 1:18 “May your maidservant find favor with you,” said Hannah. Then she went on her way, and she began eating again, and her face was no longer downcast.

    OT SOURCES: NAOMI AND RUTH

    Naomi came back without offspring (Ruth 1:21) while Ruth will go back with food (Ruth 3:17)

    Ruth 1:21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty (7387).
    Ruth 3:17 for he (Boaz the redeemer) said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed (7387).’ ”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7387.htm reqam: emptily, vainly

    More details

    Ruth 1:2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.
    Ruth 1:3 Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,
    Ruth 1:5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband.
    Ruth 1:6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab.
    Ruth 1:12 Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I (Naomi) am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,
    Ruth 1:21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty (7387).

    Ruth 3:17 And she (Ruth) said, “He (Boaz the redeemer) gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed (7387).’ ”
    Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

    10 – THE BLOOD LOSS: THE THEME OF IMPURITY/EXCLUSION IN LEVITICUS

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

    Because of her blood loss, the woman is unclean (Leviticus 15:25). Her impurity also refers to the impurity of the leper who must live outside the camp (Leviticus 13:46)

    Leviticus 15:25 When a woman has a discharge of her blood for many days at a time other than her menstrual period, or if it continues beyond her period, she will be unclean all the days of her unclean discharge, just as she is during the days of her menstruation.

    Leviticus 13:46 As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.

    11 – THE DEFILEMENT THROUGH THE TOUCH IN LEVITICUS

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved.”

    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”
    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

    OT SOURCES

    Leviticus 15:25 When a woman has a discharge of her blood for many days at a time other than her menstrual period, …
    Leviticus 15:26 Any bed on which she lies or any furniture on which she sits during the days of her discharge will be unclean (2930), like her bed during her menstrual period.
    Leviticus 15:27 Anyone who touches these things will be unclean (2930); he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

    Numbers 6:6 Throughout the days of his separation to the LORD, he (the nazirite) must not go near a dead body.
    Numbers 6:7 Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he is not to defile (2930) himself, because the crown of consecration to his God is upon his head.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2930.htm tame: to be or become unclean

    12 – TWELVE YEARS: THE AGE OF SEXUAL MATURITY

    The woman has not been able to have children for 12 years because of permanent menstruation
    The young person dies at the age of sexual maturity (12 years)

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”
    Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded.

    13 – THE NUMBER TWELVE: THE WORD OF GOD (THE DOUBLE PORTION AND THE 6 MEASURES)

    THE NUMBER TWELVE: THE WORD OF GOD AND THE CONVENANT WITH ISRAEL https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/24.htm

    Exodus 24:4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

    Exodus 24:8 So Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

    THE NUMBER SIX: THE WORD AND THE MEASUREMENT/JUDGMENT

    Ruth 3:15 And he told her, “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures (4058) of barley into her shawl (4304). Then he went into the city.
    Ezekiel 40:20 So he measured (4058) the area on all four sides. It had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4058.htm madad: to measure

    Mark 4:24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.

    THE NUMBER TWO: THE DOUBLE PORTION FOR THE BARREN WOMAN

    1 Samuel 1:1 Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim.
    1 Samuel 1:2 He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

    1 Samuel 1:5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.
    1 Samuel 1:20 So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

    14 – THE FOOD: THE WORD OF GOD

    Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go into the fields and glean heads of grain after someone in whose sight I may find favor.” “Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied.

    Mark 2:23 And it came to pass, He is passing through the grainfields on the Sabbaths, and His disciples began to make their way, plucking the heads of grain.

    Mark 4:14 The farmer sows the word.

    Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat (5315).

    Mark 14:14 and whichever house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat (5315) the Passover with My disciples?’

    Mark 14:22 While they were eating (2068), Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5315.htm phago: I eat
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2068.htm esthiÓ: to eat

    15 – THE GARMENTS OF SALVATION AND JESUS THE SAVIOR

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2424.htm IÉsous: Jesus or Joshua,

    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin Yehoshua
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3091.htm Yehoshua: “the LORD is salvation,

    Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

    A – Jesus the savior wears the garments of salvation.

    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved (4982).”

    Mark 6:56 And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were saved (4982) .
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4982.htm sÓzÓ: to save

    B – Salvation coming from God

    Mark 2:7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

    He who touches the garments wants to get salvation. But God alone has the power to save.

    C – The garments of Jesus are also the new garments that symbolise the new word

    Mark 2:21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result.

    16 – THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WORD AND THE GARMENTS

    Numbers 15:37 Later, the LORD said to Moses Numbers 15:38 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make
    for themselves tassels for the corners (3671) of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.
    Numbers 15:39 These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the commandments of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by following your own heart and your own eyes.

    Ruth 3:9 “Who are you?” he (Boaz) asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment (3671) over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer (1350).”

    17 – JAIRUS: THE SYNAGOGUE LEADER WHO DOES NOT TEACH THE GOOD NEWS

    A – Jesus asked the synagogue rulers to give up the old Word in favor of the Good News.

    Mark 3:1 Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered (3583) hand was there.
    Mark 3:3 Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.”

    B – Jairus had continued to teach the old word. As a result, his little daughter is near death

    Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet
    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death …

    18 – THE PHYSICIANS: THE TEMPLE PRIESTS WHO DO NOT WEAR THE GARMENTS OF SALVATION

    Mark 5:26 She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2395.htm iatros: a physician
    Word Origin from iaomai
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2390.htm iaomai: to heal

    At this context, the physicians are the temple priests who go on teaching the Moses’ Law. I recall that the temple priests are descendants of Aaron, himself a descendant of Levi.
    It is because of them that the woman does not receive/hear the new Word of God. Consequently, she is barren, she cannot give birth to children of God.

    OT SOURCES

    Leviticus 10:8 Then the LORD said to Aaron,
    Leviticus 10:9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of
    Meeting, or else you will die; this is a permanent statute for the generations to come.
    Leviticus 10:10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean,
    Leviticus 10:11 so that you may teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses.”

    Exodus 28:3 You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make garments for Aaron’s consecration, so that he may serve Me as priest.
    Exodus 28:4 These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests.

    Ezekiel 42:14 Once the priests have entered the holy area, they must not go out into the outer court until they have left behind the garments in which they minister, for these are holy. They are to put on other clothes before they approach the places that are for the people.”

    19 – THE FRUITLESS WORD AND THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

    THE THEME OF DRYING UP

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3583.htm xÉrainÓ: to dry up, waste away
    Mark 3:1 Mark 4:6 Mark 5:29 Mark 11:20,21

    A – Withered (3583) seedlings and choked seedlings: The Word becoming unfruitful

    Mark 4:6 But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered (3583) because they had no root.
    Mark 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.

    Mark 4:18 And these are those sown among the thorns. These are those having heard the word,
    Mark 4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

    B – The fig tree withered (3583) from its roots: the temple

    Mark 11:12 And on the next day, they having gone out from Bethany, He (Jesus) was hungry.
    Mark 11:13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs.
    Mark 11:20 As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered (3583) from its roots.

    C – The man with a withered (3583) hand: The synagogue leaders who dry up the Word

    Mark 3:1 Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered (3583) hand was there.
    Mark 3:3 Then Jesus said to the man with the withered (3584) hand, “Stand up among us.”

    Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet
    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death …

    D – The physicians: the temple priests who cannot dry up (3583) blood loss

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
    Mark 5:26 She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.
    Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped (3583), and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

    THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

    A – Rocky ground and ground with thorns

    Mark 4:5 Some fell on rocky (4075) ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.

    Mark 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked (4846) the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.

    The seeds falling on rocky ground string up quickly. So, the rocky ground rather evokes the adult woman receiving the seed/word.
    The seeds falling among thorns do not grow up in contrast to thorns. So, the ground with the thorns rather evokes the young girl receiving the seed/word

    B – The temple teaching: the rocky ground

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4491.htm rhiza: a root

    Mark 4:5 Some fell on rocky (4075) ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.
    Mark 4:6 But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

    Mark 4:16 Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
    Mark 4:17 But they themselves have no root , and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4075.htm petrÓdÉs: rock-like
    Word Origin: from petra and –ÓdÉs (suff. denoting similarity)

    Mark 13:1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones (3037) and buildings!”
    Mark 13:2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone (3037) here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

    The rocky ground (Mark 4:5,16) alludes to the temple as a pile of stones (Mark 13:1,2)
    The temple priests (those wearing the holy garments) continued to teaching the Moses’ Law. Those who hear this old word quickly fall away (sin) because they do not obey the new Word.
    The pagan woman leaves this old teaching by touching the new garment of salvation.

    C – The synagogue teaching: the ground with thorns

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4846.htm sumpnigÓ: to choke

    Mark 4:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked (4846) the seedlings, and they yielded no crop.
    Mark 4:18 And these are those sown among the thorns. These are those having heard the word,
    Mark 4:19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke (4846) the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

    The synagogue leader continued to teach the old word. Those who hear this old word cannot grow up because they do not obey the new Word.

    D – Synthesis

    rocky ground => the woman who reaches adulthood but has no roots
    rocky ground => the temple (pile of stones) and the temple priests (holy garments) teaching the old word

    ground with thorns => the young girl who chokes
    ground with thorns => the synagogue leaders teaching the old word

    20 – THE POWER COMING OUT OF JESUS: THE NEW SCRIPTURE/WORD THAT JESUS TEACHES

    A – THE POWER OF GOD: HIS WORD/SCRIPTURE

    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power (1411) had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

    Mark 12:24 Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power (1411) of God?

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1411.htm dunamis: (miraculous) power, might, strength

    B – JESUS, THE ONE WHO TEACHES THE NEW WORD OF GOD

    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher (1320) anymore?”

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach (1321) in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles (1411)?

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1320.htm didaskalos: an instructor
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1321.htm didaskÓ: to teach

    C – WHAT BELONGS TO GOD

    Mark 1:14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

    Mark 2:26 During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”

    Mark 3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,

    Mark 7:8 You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men

    Mark 7:13 Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”

    Mark 8:33 But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

    Mark 12:14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”

    D – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

    Mark 2:7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles ?

    Mark 16:3 They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?”

    Mark 2:7 => Explicit answer : God alone
    Mark 6:2 => Implicit answer
    Mark 16:3 => Implicit answer

    21 – SIGHT AND SPIRITUAL RECOGNITION

    A – Jesus will not be able to recognise the woman as he does not see her
    Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.

    B – Jesus wants to know/recognise the person
    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

    C – The disciples point out to him that it is impossible to distinguish/recognise a person in a crowd
    Mark 5:31 His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

    D – Jesus waits for the person to come forward so that he can see/recognise her
    Mark 5:32 But He kept looking around to see who had done this.

    E – The woman goes to Jesus in order to be seen/recognised
    Mark 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.

    Synthesis

    At this context, sight also means spiritual recognition.
    The disciples only perceive visual recognition while Jesus speaks of spiritual recognition.
    The woman understands what Jesus is waiting for, she goes to him so that he recognises her spiritually.

    22 – THE SALVATION OF THE PAGAN WIFE AND HER ACT OF FAITH

    A – THE IMPOSSIBLE RECOGNITION

    Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.
    In contrast to all previous healings the woman does not show her faith, she touches the garment of salvation without Jesus being able to recognise her.
    Jesus will not be able to recognise the woman as he does not see her.

    B – THE APPARENT HEALING

    The woman wants salvation but she only gets the apparent healing (forgiveness of sins)

    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved (4982).”

    Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body (4983) that she was healed (2390) of her affliction.

    C – THE ACT OF FAITH

    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked,
    “Who touched My garments?”
    The power going out from Jesus is the power coming from the God of Israel, which means the new Word advocating a new forgiveness of sins
    Jesus realises that someone has stolen the forgiveness of sins (the apparent healing).
    Addressing the crowd, Jesus rebukes those who have stolen the forgiveness of sins. But above all, he tells them that only God can actually forgive sins and save.

    Mark 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.
    The woman gets the message. She manifests herself in order to be recognised as worthy of the word she has just taken/stolen.
    It is the act of going to Jesus that makes her act of faith.
    She is afraid because she fears the divine judgement.

    D – THE RECOGNITION AND THE SALVATION

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    Jesus states that faith is the necessary condition to get salvation.
    Faith is trust in the Good News, which means the liberation from sin as Jesus takes upon himself the sins of others to redeem them.
    The woman is now freed from her affliction/sin because Jesus has taken her sin upon himself to redeem it.
    So, she will be able to give birth to children of God in order to perpetuate his name and his Word.

    23 – THE SALVATION OF THE HEBREW GIRL AND THE JAIRUS’ ACTS OF FAITH

    A – THE FIRST ACT OF FAITH AND ITS EXPLICIT RECOGNITION

    Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet
    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved (4982) and live.”

    Mark 5:24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him.

    B – THE SECOND ACT OF FAITH AND ITS IMPLICIT RECOGNITION

    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter
    is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”

    Mark 5:36 But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”

    Fear refers to divine presence. Thus Jesus tells Jairus that the God of Israel is going to act and he asks Jairus to believe so that salvation will come.
    Despite his daughter’s death, Jaire goes on following Jesus since they will be together to see the child (Mark 5:40). This behavior makes his act of faith.

    C – THE SALVATION

    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”
    Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded.
    Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.

    The 12 years refer to the sexual maturity of the girl and mean that she will be able to give birth to children of God.
    The girl spiritually rebirths thanks to the new food/Word

    So salvation means offspring and spiritual renewal thanks to the Good News. These two meanings go hand in hand because birth also equates new start.

    24 – SECRECY AND DELAY BEFORE ACTUAL SALVATION, THE TOMB TO REPRESENT ACTUAL SALVATION

    A – THE REQUEST FOR SECRECY

    Mark 1:34 And He healed (2323) many who were ill with various diseases (3554) and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2323.htm therapeuÓ: to serve, cure
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3554.htm nosos: disease, sickness

    Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this (the 2 salvations), and He told them to give her something to eat.

    The request for secrecy means that salvation (like healing) is a promise to be fulfilled.
    I recall that the promise of healing is fulfilled when Jesus sheds the blood of the new covenant (the fruit of the vine) by dying on the cross.

    B – THE ACTUAL SALVATION: THE ENTRY INTO THE TOMB

    Mark 16:5 When they (3 women) entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

    C – GOD WILL OPEN THE DOOR TO THE TOMB

    Mark 2:7 … Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

    Mark 16:3 … , “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?”

    Mark 16:4 But when they (3 wifes) looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, even though it was extremely large.

    God will open the door to those who have believed the Good News and made them fruitful.

    D – THE TOMB CUT OUT OF THE ROCK

    Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.

    The word ‘tomb’ should not be read in isolation but in conjunction with the expression ‘cut out of the rock’. The word ‘rock’ conveys the notion of strength and unity.

    The body of Jesus is the tabernacle containing where the Good News (the new word of God). This Word is more powerful than the law of Moses and the prophecies because it allows unity between the Hebrews and the pagans by erasing the barriers between them.

    E – THE TOMB CUT OUT OF THE ROCK AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD

    Mark 1:14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe (4100) in the gospel!”

    Mark 15:41 The women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee,
    Mark 16:5 When they (3 women) entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

    F – THE TOMB CUT OUT OF THE ROCK AND THE CHILDREN OF GOD

    Deuteronomy 32:18 You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth.

    The tomb (cut out of the rock) is the place where God dwells through his word.
    Women who enter the tomb will give birth to children of God.

    OTHER OT SOURCES

    Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

    1 Samuel 1:19 … And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.
    1 Samuel 1:20 So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

    Isaiah 66:9 “Will I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver (3205) it?” says the LORD; “or will I who deliver (3205), close the womb?” says your God.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3205.htm yalad: to bear, bring forth, beget

    G – SYNTHESIS

    The tomb cut out of the rock represents the actual salvation.
    The righteous women will enter the tomb and give birth to children of God in order to perpetuate his name.

    25 – BELIEF, FAITH AND KINGDOM OF GOD

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe (4100) in the gospel!”

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith (4102) has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”
    Mark 5:36 But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe (4100).”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4100.htm pisteuÓ: to believe, entrust
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4102.htm pistis: faith, faithfulness

    26 – HEALING (LIBERATION FROM SIN) AND SALVATION

    Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body (4983) that she was healed (2390) of her affliction.
    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    The first verse (Mark 5:29) refers to physical healing while the second (Mark 5:34) indicates spiritual salvation.

    A – A healing preceded by an act of faith

    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
    The paralytics/pagans have shown their faith and Jesus recognises their faith. As a result, Jesus claims that their sins are forgiven because he has taken upon himself their sins in order to redeem them.

    Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up,
    pick up your mat, and walk’?
    The healing represents the forgiveness of sins.

    B – A stolen healing without act of faith

    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved (4982).”
    The woman does not show her faith

    Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body (4983) that she was healed (2390) of her affliction.
    As a result, she only gets a physical healing

    C – Act of faith, healing and salvation

    Mark 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    Jesus claims that the woman is freed from her affliction/sin because he has taken upon himself her sin in order to redeem it.
    Moreover, Jesus delares that the woman is saved, which means that she will enter the kingdom of God

    D – Synthesis

    Salvation means entry into the kingdom of God. Sins must be forgiven and redeemed before entering the kingdom.
    Faith is necessary to get actual forgiveness of sins and therefore salvation.
    sickness/affliction => sin against the God of Israel
    apparent healing => forgiveness of sins (promise of redemption)
    death of Jesus => actual redemption
    entry into the tomb cut out of the rock => actual salvation and entry into the kingdom of God

    27 – THE PHYSICIANS TO EVOKE EMBALMING AND TOMB

    THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICIANS AND EMBALMING

    Genesis 50:2 And Joseph directed the physicians (7495) in his service to embalm (2590) his
    father Israel. So they embalmed him,
    Genesis 50:3 taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

    Jeremiah 8:20 “The harvest has passed, the summer has ended, but we have not been saved.”
    Jeremiah 8:21 For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am crushed. I mourn; horror has gripped me.
    Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm (6875) in Gilead; is there no physician (7495) there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7495.htm rapha: to heal

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2590.htm chanat: to spice, make spicy, embalm
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6875.htm tsori or tseri or tsori: (a kind of) balsam

    THE BLEEDING WOMAN UNDER THE CARE OF MANY PHYSICIANS

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
    Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.
    Mark 5:26 She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail.
    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    A WOMAN ANOINTS JESUS IN BETHANY

    Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came
    with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.
    Mark 14:8 She has done what she could to anoint (3462) My body in advance of My burial.

    3 WOMEN ENTER THE TOMB IN ORDER TO ANOINT THE BODY OF JESUS

    Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices
    so they could go and anoint (218) the body of Jesus.
    Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/218.htm aleipho: I anoint
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3462.htm murizÓ: to anoint
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4886.htm mashach: to smear, anoint

    Reply

23. Continuing

    28 – SLEEP/DEATH: THE REBIRTH THROUGH THE NEW WORD

    Mark 5:39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”

    Death represents the definitive separation from the God of Israel. The young girl who is a daughter of Israel (the new generation) cannot die because the purpose of Good News is to give Israel a new start. The old generation and the old Word will disappear while the new generation will be reborn thanks to the Good News.

    29 THE DEFILEMENT AND THE NAZIRITE WHO DELIVERS

    nazir/nazar => nazareth
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5144.htm nazar: consecrate

    THE NAZIRITE MUST BE HOLY

    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are the Holy One of God!”

    Numbers 6:2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite (5139), to separate himself to the LORD,
    Numbers 6:5 For the entire period of his vow of separation, no razor shall pass over his head. He (the Nazirite) must be holy until the time of his separation to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of his head grow long.

    THE PROHIBITION OF TOUCHING A DEAD BODY

    Mark 5:35 … “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”
    Mark 5:39 … The child is not dead, but asleep.”
    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

    Numbers 6:7 Even if his father or mother or brother or sister should die, he (the Nazirite) is not to defile himself, because the crown of consecration (5145) to his God is upon his head.

    By writing that the girl is sleeping, Mark prevents Jesus (of Nazareth) from defiling himself by touching a corpse. So, Jesus (of Nazareth) behaves like the Nazirite described in the book of numbers

    THE DELIVERANCE/SALVATION

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus (2424), “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    Judges 13:5 For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall come over his head, because the boy (Samson) will be a Nazirite (5139) to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance (3467) of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3467.htm yasha: to deliver
    NASB Translation …, deliver (27), delivered (8), deliverer (3), …, save (85), saved (33), saves (5), savior (13)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3444.htm yeshuah: salvation
    Word Origin: from yasha
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2424.htm IÉsous: Jesus or Joshua,
    Word Origin : of Hebrew origin Yehoshua

    Jesus (of Nazareth) delivers the sons/daughters of Israel from sin/affliction as Samson the Nazirite delivers Israel
    from the hand of the Philistines.

    30 – THOSE WHO WEEP: THOSE WHO WILL NOT ENTER THE TOMB

    THE CROWD

    Mark 5:35 … “Your daughter is dead (599); why bother the Teacher anymore?”
    Mark 5:38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw the commotion and the people weeping (2799) and wailing loudly.
    Mark 5:39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping (2799)? The child is not dead, but asleep.”
    Mark 5:40 And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside,

    People only perceive the literal meaning and miss the true meaning

    PETER

    Mark 14:31 But Peter kept insisting, “Even if I have to die (4880) with You, I will never deny You.” And
    all the others said the same thing.

    Mark 14:72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that
    Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

    Peter weeps because he has just grasped that he should have followed Jesus in order to enter the kingdom of God.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2799.htm klaiÓ: to weep

    https://biblehub.com/greek/599.htm apothnÉskÓ: to die
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4880.htm sunapothnÉskÓ: to die with

    31 – PEACE, GARMENTS AND SALOME

    A – PEACE => SALOME/SHALEM => BREAD AND WINE OFFERING

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace (1515) and be free of your affliction.”

    Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace (1514) with one another.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1515.htm eirÉnÉ: one, peace, quietness, rest.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1514.htm eirÉneuÓ: to bring to peace, to be at peace

    Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4539.htm SalÓmÉ: Salome,
    Word Origin of Hebrew origin

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8002.htm shelem: a sacrifice for alliance or friendship, peace offering
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8003.htm shalem: complete, safe, at peace
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8004.htm Shalem: “peaceful
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8010.htm Shelomoh: Solomon

    Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem (8004) brought out bread and wine since he was priest of God Most High

    Mark 14:22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
    Mark 14:23 Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

    B – SALOME/SALMAH => GARMENT AND BOAZ

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8008.htm salmah: a wrapper, mantle
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8071.htm simlah: a wrapper, mantle

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8007.htm Salma: father of Boaz, also the founder of Bethlehem
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8009.htm Salmah: Salmon, father of Boaz
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8012.htm Salmon: father of Boaz

    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved.”

    Ruth 3:3 Therefore wash yourself (Ruth), put on perfume, and wear your best clothes (8071). Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man (Boaz the redeemer) know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.

    Ruth 3:15 And he (Boaz the redeemer) told her (Ruth), “Bring the shawl (4304) you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl. Then he went into the city.

    Ruth 4:21 Salmon (8012) was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed,
    Ruth 4:22 Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.

    C – MORE ABOUT THE TRANSLITERATION

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_alphabet
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_(letter)
    Sin dot (left) => S
    Sin dot (right) => Sh

    D – SYNTHESIS

    The name “Salome” is a connection to the words “peace” and “garment”

    32 – PETER, JAMES AND JOHN

    THOSE WHOM JESUS CHOOSES

    Mark 3:13 Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.

    Mark 5:37 And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

    Mark 9:2 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them.

    Mark 14:33 He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed.

    WHAT THEY REPRESENT

    I recall that Jesus is the temporary link between God and man.

    After his time, this is what will remain on earth
    1 – The new Word of God. John represents this new word as John the baptizer represented the old word
    2 – The new Israel, the hebrews who believe in the Good News while keeping their customs (circumcision and dietary
    laws). James represents this group
    3 – The converted pagans and the sons of Israel who believe in the good news and live like pagans (without circumcision and eating pork). Peter (who was the hebrew Simon) represents this group

    So, it is quite natural that John and James attend the salvation of a daughter of Israel
    As for Peter (a pagan name), he recalls the pagan woman and strengthens the link with the previous salvation.

    33 – THE GIRL’S MOTHER: OFFSPRING’S SALVATION THANKS TO THE MAN OF GOD

    Mark 5:40 And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and
    His own companions, and went in to see the child.

    The mother’s presence reminds us of 2 cases where the man of God saved sons
    1 – Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son
    2 – Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son

    34 – THE GIRL’S MOTHER: THE WOMEN WHO SAVED ISRAEL (ESTHER, JUDITH, RAHAB, TAMAR, RUTH)

    The mother’s presence also reminds us of the women who saved Israel

    1 – Esther to whom the pagan king offers anything she wants “up to half of the kingdom”.
    2 – Judith beheading the pagan general
    3 – Rahab who shelters and saves the 2 Israelite spies sent by Joshua to explore the land of Canaan.
    4 – Tamar and Ruth the Moabite who give descendants to the house of Judah (Ruth 4:11-17).

    Ruth 4:11 “We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman (Ruth) entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

    Ruth 4:12 And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.”

    Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
    Ruth 4:16 And Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him.
    Ruth 4:17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

    35 – JAIRUS AND THE LINK WITH ESTHER AND JUDITH

    Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus (2383) arrived,

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2383.htm Iairos: Jairus
    Word Origin : of Hebrew origin Yair
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2971.htm Yair

    MORDECAI (SON OF JAIR) ADOPTS ESTHER AS HIS OWN DAUGHTER

    Esther 2:5 Now there was at the citadel of Susa a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish.
    Esther 2:7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah (that is, Esther), the daughter of his uncle, because she did not have a father or mother. The young woman was lovely in form and appearance, and when her father and mother had died, Mordecai had taken her in as his own daughter.

    JAIR A DESCENDANT OF MANASSEH (Deuteronomy 3:14 ) and (Numbers 32:41)

    Numbers 32:41 Jair (2971), a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured their villages and called them Havvoth-jair.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2971.htm Yair
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2334.htm Chavvoth Yair: “tent villages of Jair,” an area East of the Jordan

    MANASSEH, THE JUDITH’S HUSBAND

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judith+8&version=GNT

    Judith 8:2 Judith’s husband Manasseh, who belonged to the same tribe and clan, had died during the barley harvest.

    36 – JESUS’ FEET: THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

    A – The synagogue leader repents

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

    Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet

    B – Jesus’ feet stand on the Mount of Olives

    Mark 13:1 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!”
    Mark 13:3 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,

    Zachariah 14:4 On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem …

    C – The temple is destroyed

    Mark 13:2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
    Mark 15:38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

    Zachariah 14:4 … and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half the mountain moving to the north and half to the south.

    37 – THE ARAMAIC LANGUAGE

    A – Jesus speaks in Aramaic for the first time

    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved.”
    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up (1453) !”

    2 Kings 5:3 She (hebrew girl) said to her (Aramean) mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet (Elijah) who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”

    B – Jesus speaks in Aramaic for the last time when he cries out and calls his father twice

    Mark 14:36 “Abba, Father,” He (Jesus) said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”
    Mark 15:34 At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
    Mark 15:35 And some of those standing by, having heard, were saying, “Behold, He calls Elijah.”
    Mark 15:38 And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

    2 Kings 2:12 As Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more. So taking hold of his own clothes, he tore them in two.

    OTHER OT SOURCE

    2 Kings 18:26 Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, along with Shebnah and Joah, said to the Rabshakeh, “Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, since we understand it. Do not speak with us in Hebrew in the hearing of the people on the wall.”

    38 – THE CROWD AS OBSTACLE

    The hebrew crowd prevents the pagans from accessing to the Word of God. The paralytic (Mark 2:3 ) and the woman (Mark 5:27) symbolise the pagans wanting to take their share of the Word

    Mark 2:1 A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. And when the people heard that He was home,
    Mark 2:2 they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door, as Jesus spoke the word to them.
    Mark 2:3 Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.

    Mark 5:24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd (3793) followed and pressed around Him.
    Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.
    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3793.htm ochlos: a crowd, multitude, the common people

    39 – THE CROWD AS WINE PRESS TO EXPRESS THE BLOOD OF REDEMPTION

    Mark 3:9 Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush (2346) Him

    Mark 5:24 So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed (4918) around Him.

    Mark 5:31 His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing (4918) in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

    Mark 14:32 Then they came to a place called Gethsemane (1068), and Jesus told His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

    Mark 15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2346.htm thlibÓ: to press, afflict
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4918.htm sunthlibÓ: to press together

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1068.htm GethsÉmani: Gethsemane
    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin gath
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1660.htm gath: a wine press

    40 – THE MOKERS: THOSE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND

    Mark 5:39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”
    Mark 5:40 And they laughed (2606) at Him.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2606.htm katagelaÓ: to deride

    In Mark’s gospel the mockers behave like the fools (Proverbs 1:22) who do not know wisdom (Proverbs 14:6)

    Proverbs 1:22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers (3887) delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?

    Proverbs 14:6 A mocker (3887) seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3887.htm luts: ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker

    41 – THE FEAR: THE PRESENCE OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten
    Mark 4:41 5:15 5:33 5:36

    A – Fear of Divine Judgement

    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”
    Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed (2390) of her affliction.

    Mark 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear (5399), and she told Him the whole truth.

    The woman is not afraid of her healing. She is afraid because Jesus asks her to submit to divine judgment.

    B – Trust in the power of God

    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”
    Mark 5:36 But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid (5399); just believe.

    Jesus tells Jairus that the God of Israel is going to act and he asks Jairus to believe so that salvation will come

    42 – A DISPLACEMENT OF THE MIND (EKSTASIS)

    A – The disciples only perceive the literal meaning

    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”
    Mark 5:31 His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

    B – Jesus takes His own companions

    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”
    Mark 5:40 And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child.

    C – The Jesus’ own companions start to grasp the figurative meaning

    Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded (1611).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1611.htm ekstasis: a displacement (of the mind), i.e. bewilderment, ecstasy

    D – The 3 women looking for Jesus the Nazarene grasp what ‘risen’ means

    Mark 16:7 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.

    Mark 16:8 So the women left the tomb and ran away, trembling and bewildered (1611). And in their fear they did not say a word to anyone.

    43 – TWO LINKED FATES: THAT OF THE HEBREW GIRL AND THAT OF THE PAGAN WOMAN

    A – Twelve years

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
    Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded.

    B – The condition growing worse and worse

    Mark 5:26 She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live.”
    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”

    1 Kings 17:17 Later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill, and his sickness grew worse and worse, until no breath remained in him.

    C – Daughter

    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death …

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    D – Salvation through the new Word/food/garment

    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you,
    get up (1453) !”
    Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her (the girl) something to eat.

    Mark 5:28 For she (the woman) kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved (4982).”

    44 – THREE MARKAN INTERCALATIONS TO EXPLAIN HEALING, FORGIVENESS AND SALVATION

    An initiated narrative (A) is interrupted with another story (B), after completion of which the previously discontinued narrative is resumed (A’). This technique is described by an English word intercalation (insertion) or sandwiching

    FIRST INTERCALATION TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN APPARENT HEALING AND ACTUAL HEALING

    A (Mark 1:32) Meeting with Jesus (and apparent healing)
    B (Mark 1:33) Delay
    A’ (Mark 1:34) Actual healing

    A – Meeting with Jesus (and apparent healing)

    Mark 1:32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed,
    The time when people are before Jesus
    At this point, people show their faith and get the promise of healing, which equates apparent healing because we know that the promise will be fulfilled.

    B – Delay

    Mark 1:33 and the whole town (4172) gathered at the door (2374).
    The time needed for Jesus to pass through the various doors/obstacles and enter the town of Jerusalem

    A’ – Actual healing

    Mark 1:34 And He healed (2323) many who were ill with various diseases (3554) and drove out many demons.
    The time when Jesus will fulfill the promise by dying on the cross in Jerusalem

    SECOND INTERCALATION TO EXPLAIN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

    A (Mark 2:1-5) Jesus says to the paralytic “your sins are forgiven.”
    B (Mark 2:6-10) Jesus explains the forgiveness of sins through a dialogue with the scribes
    A’ (Mark 2:11,12) the paralytic is healed

    A – The theme: the forgiveness of sins
    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

    B – Explanations

    God alone can forgive the sins
    Mark 2:7 … Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

    Mark equates “forgiveness of sins” and “apparent healing”
    Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up,
    pick up your mat, and walk’?

    A’ – Apparent healing

    Mark 2:11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
    Mark 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all.

    The paralytic is healed because Jesus has taken upon himself the paralytic’s sins in order to redeem them.
    At this point, the healing is only apparent because the sins are not yet redeemed.
    Jesus will redeem the sins in Jerusalem by shedding his blood (the fruit of the vine)

    THIRD INTERCALATION TO EXPLAIN SALVATION

    A (Mark 5:21-24) Jairus, the synagogue ruler, pleads with Jesus to save his daughter
    B (Mark 5:24-34) Mark explains salvation through a scene involving a pagan woman
    A’ (Mark 5:35-43) Jesus saves the Jairus’s daughter

    A – The theme: the salvation of his/her life

    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved (4982) and live.”

    B – Explanations

    Mark makes clear that the affliction/sin is the barrenness and he equates “salvation” and “offspring”
    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    God alone has the power to save
    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

    A’ – Salvation of the little daughter

    Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded.
    At this point, the salvation is a promise.

    Synthesis
    The pagan woman and the hebrew girl will be able to give birth to children of God so that his name will not disappear.

    GLOBAL SYNTHESIS

    Faith is needed to get forgiveness and salvation.
    Forgiveness and salvation are promises to be fulfilled.
    The (apparent) healing represents the forgiveness of sins
    Forgiveness of sins will be actual when Jesus redeems the sins in Jerusalem by shedding his blood.
    Salvation will be actual when God opens the door to those who have believed the Good News and made them fruitful.

    OT SOURCES

    A – Mutual recognition (faith)

    Ruth 3:9 “Who are you?” he (Boaz) asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment (3671) over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer (1350).”
    Ruth 3:11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I (Boaz) will do for you (Ruth) whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.

    B – After the mutual recognition, Boaz promises Ruth that he will redeem her

    Ruth 3:13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem (1350) you, as surely as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie here until morning.”

    C – Boaz will redeem Ruth at the city gate

    Ruth 3:15 And he told her, “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl. Then he (Boaz) went into the city.

    Ruth 4:1 Meanwhile, Boaz went to the gate and sat down there…
    Ruth 4:10 Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”

    D – Boaz asks Ruth to keep the secret until the actual redemption

    Ruth 3:14 So she lay down at his feet until morning but got up while it was still dark. Then Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

    45 – PARALLEL WITH OTHER HEALINGS

    A – Mother-in-law and young girl

    The mother-in-law represents Israel (the hebrews) as a wife
    The young girl represents the daughters of Israel (the new hebrew generation)

    Mark 1:31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.

    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”
    Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded.

    B – Paralytic and bleeding woman

    The paralytic and the bleeding woman represents the pagan people

    1 – The hebrew crowd that prevents the pagans from getting the Word (the good news)

    Mark 2:4 Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
    ‘the paralytic on his mat’ => the empty pagan ark where Jesus will deposit the Word

    Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.
    ‘His cloak’ => the salvation through the Word

    2 – Faith and Reward

    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    Paralytic’s sins are forgiven because Jesus has taken them upon himself in order to redeem them.
    The woman is freed from her affliction/sin because Jesus has taken her sin upon himself to redeem it

    3 – Son/Daughter

    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    4 – Knowledge (ginÓskÓ/ epiginÓskÓ)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1097.htm ginÓskÓ: to come to know, recognize, perceive
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1921.htm epiginÓskÓ: to know exactly, to recognize

    Mark 2:8 At once Jesus knew (1921) in His spirit that they were thinking this way within themselves. “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?” He asked.

    Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed (1097) in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware (1921) that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

    C – Paralytic and young girl

    The paralytic represents the pagan people
    The young girl represents the daughters of Israel (the new hebrew generation)

    1 – Get up!

    Mark 2:11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

    2 – Walk!

    Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk (4043)’?
    Mark 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all …

    Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around (4043)…

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4043.htm peripateÓ: to walk

    3 – Amazement

    Mark 2:12 … As a result, they were all astounded (1839) and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

    Mark 5:42 … She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded (1611).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1839.htm existÉmi: to displace, to stand aside from
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1611.htm ekstasis: a displacement (of the mind), i.e. bewilderment, ecstasy

    D – Leper and young girl

    The leper represents the Hebrews
    The young girl represents the daughters of Israel (the new hebrew generation)

    1 – Begging

    Mark 1:40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging (3870) on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

    Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet Mark 5:23 and pleaded (3870) with Him urgently,

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3870.htm parakaleÓ: to call to or for, to exhort

    2 – The placement of the hands to symbolise divine action

    Mark 1:41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”

    Mark 5:23 … “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live.”

    E – Leper and bleeding woman (the theme of impurity/exclusion)

    Mark 1:40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
    Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.

    46 – MAIN OT SOURCES (LEVITICUS)

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

    Leviticus 20:18 If a man lies with a menstruating woman and has sexual relations with her, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has uncovered the source of her blood. Both of them must be cut off from among their people.

    Leviticus 15:25 When a woman has a discharge of her blood for many days at a time other than her menstrual period, or if it continues beyond her period, she will be unclean all the days of her unclean discharge, just as she is during the days of her menstruation.
    Leviticus 15:26 Any bed on which she lies or any furniture on which she sits during the days of her discharge will be unclean (2930), like her bed during her menstrual period.
    Leviticus 15:27 Anyone who touches these things will be unclean (2930); he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.

    Leviticus 13:46 As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.

    Blood loss => barrenness (Leviticus 20:18), impurity (Leviticus 15:25), exclusion (Leviticus 13:46), defilement (Leviticus 15:26,27)

    47 – MAIN OT SOURCES (BOOK OF RUTH)

    AFFLICTION/BARRENNESS

    Ruth 1:12 Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I (Naomi) am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,
    Ruth 1:21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted (7489) me.”

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

    THE REVIVAL OF THE FORSAKEN DAUGHTER

    Ruth 3:11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I (Boaz) will do for you (Ruth) whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    MUTUAL RECOGNITION AND RECOGNISED ACT OF FAITH

    Ruth 3:9 “Who are you?” he (Boaz) asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment (3671) over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer (1350).”

    Ruth 3:11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I (Boaz) will do for you (Ruth) whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character.

    Mark 5:30 At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

    Mark 5:33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and she told Him the whole truth.
    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1350.htm gaal: to redeem
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3671.htm kanaph: wing, extremity

    THE PROMISE OF REDEMPTION

    Ruth 3:13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem (1350) you, as surely as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie here until morning.”

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    The woman is freed from her affliction/sin because Jesus has taken her sin upon himself to redeem it

    THE SECRECY TO KEEP AFTER THE PROMISE OF REDEMPTION OR SALVATION

    Ruth 3:14 So she lay down at his feet until morning but got up while it was still dark. Then Boaz said, “Don’t let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor.”

    Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.

    THE GARMENTS AND THE FOOD

    Ruth 3:15 And he (Boaz the redeemer) told her (Ruth), “Bring the shawl (4304) you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl. Then he went into the city.

    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved (4982).”
    Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.

    THE FEAR BEFORE THE REDEEMER

    Ruth 3:11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I (Boaz the redeemer) …

    Mark 5:33 The woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.

    Mark 5:36 But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”

    DAUGHTER

    Ruth 3:11 Now don’t be afraid, my daughter. I (Boaz) …

    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death.
    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you.

    48 – MORE ABOUT HANNAH, THE SAMUEL’S MOTHER
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_samuel/1.htm

    AFFLICTION/BARRENNESS

    1 Samuel 1:1 Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim.
    1 Samuel 1:2 He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

    1 Samuel 1:11 And she (Hannah) made a vow, pleading, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction (6040) of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son,

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

    ‘IF ONLY’

    1 Samuel 1:11 And she (Hannah) made a vow, pleading, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.”

    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved.”

    PEACE

    1 Samuel 1:17 “Go in peace,” Eli replied, “and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.”

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    SOMETHING TO EAT

    1 Samuel 1:18 “May your maidservant find favor with you,” said Hannah. Then she went on her way, and she
    began eating again, and her face was no longer downcast.

    Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her (the girl) something to eat.

    BIRTH

    1 Samuel 1:19 The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the LORD, and then returned home to Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.

    1 Samuel 1:20 So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son.
    She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

    Mark 15:41 These women had followed Jesus and ministered to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.
    Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they (3 women) went to the tomb.
    God remembers the three handmaids and allows them to enter the place where he dwells through his Word so that they give birth to children of God.

    49 – MORE ABOUT 2 OTHER SALVATIONS: THE WIDOW’S SON AND THE SHUNAMMITE’S SON

    ELIJAH RAISES THE WIDOW’S SON
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_kings/17.htm

    A – The sickness growing worse and worse

    1 Kings 17:17 Later, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill, and his sickness grew worse and
    worse, until no breath remained in him.

    Mark 5:26 She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live.”
    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”

    B – The rebirth thanks to the Word of God

    1 Kings 17:23 Then Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. “Look, your son is alive,” Elijah declared.
    1 Kings 17:24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is truth.”

    Mark 5:39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”

    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    ELISHA RAISES THE SHUNAMMITE’S SON

    A – The death of the child

    2 Kings 4:14 So he ( Elisha) asked, “Then what should be done for her?” “Well, she has no son,” Gehazi replied, “and her husband is old.”
    2 Kings 4:17 But the woman did conceive, and at that time the next year she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
    2 Kings 4:20 After the servant had picked him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died.

    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher anymore?”

    B – The small number of people attending the scene

    2 Kings 4:32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed.
    2 Kings 4:33 So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.

    Mark 5:37 And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
    Mark 5:40 And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child.

    C – ‘To fall at his feet’

    2 Kings 4:35 Elisha turned away and paced back and forth across the room. Then he got on the bed and stretched himself out over the boy again, and the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.
    2 Kings 4:37 She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.
    After the rebirth of her son, the Shunammite falls at Elisha’s feet

    Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet
    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live.”
    So that his daughter lives, Jairus falls at Jesus’s feet

    50 – MORE ABOUT NAAMAN THE ARAMEAN
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_kings/5.htm Naaman Cured of Leprosy

    A – The impurity

    2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

    B – The young hebrew girl speaking in Aramaic

    2 Kings 5:2 At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife.
    2 Kings 5:3 She said to her (Aramean) mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet (Elisha) who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”

    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

    C – The call to the man of God in order to be healed/saved

    2 Kings 5:3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet (Elisha) who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”

    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved.”

    SUMMARY

    An hebrew girl and a pagan woman save their lifes thanks to the new Word of God (the Good News).
    At this context, to save his/her life means to have offspring in order to perpetuate the name of the God of Israel.
    Mark links the girl’s and woman’s fate through the term ’12 years’, which refers to sexual maturity.

    THE MARKAN INTERCALATION (A B A’)

    A – The synagogue leader pleads with Jesus so his little daughter will be healed and live
    This part lays out the theme of salvation (the salvation of his/her life).

    B – Irruption of a pagan woman who gets salvation
    This section explains what salvation means and how to get it.

    The loss of blood refers to menstrual period and the term ’12 years’ indicates the age of sexual maturity.
    These two points inform the reader that the woman has not been able to have children for 12 years.
    The woman touches Jesus’ garment to get salvation, but she does so without Jesus being able to recognise her. As as result, she only gets the apparent healing (the forgiveness of sins).
    Jesus’ question “Who touched My garments?” (Mark 5 :30) reminds us of another question “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:7)
    Jesus thus reminds us that God alone can grant forgiveness and salvation.
    The woman understands the message and submits to divine judgment in order to be recognised worthy to be saved. This deed represents her act of faith.
    Then Jesus explicitly states that faith saves and frees her from affliction/sin.

    Conclusion:
    To save his/her life means to have offspring.
    To be saved, one must show his faith (will to return to God) and submit to divine judgment (God alone has the power to save)

    A’ – Resumption of the first story about the hebrew girl

    The act of faith is not explicitly expressed but it appears through Jaire’s trust in Jesus. Despite his daughter’s death, Jaire does not cry, he goes on following Jesus. This behavoir is his true act of faith.
    Mark does not explicitly write that the girl is saved but he means it by writing that she walks.
    Then, Mark writes that the girl is 12 years old. Thanks to the sequence of the adult woman, we catch that the ’12 years’ refer to sexual maturity and ability to have children.

    At last, Jesus issues a command that the girl be given food, which makes it clear that Jairus did not teach the new Word (the Good News) and that the synagogue leaders were sinners who prevented Israel from having offspring.

    SALVATION AS END OF EXCLUSION AND RETURN TO GOD

    The blood loss refers to various forms of impurity: the first one is the defilement in Leviticus but there is also the leprosy impurity in which the leprous remains out of the camp as long as he is declared unclean.
    By saving the woman, Jesus allows her to enter a new camp, the kingdom of God. The entry of the three women into the tomb represents this salvation

    This representation is in addition to those already studied. Here is the new updated list
    sickness/affliction => sin against the God of Israel
    apparent healing => forgiveness of sins (promise of redemption)
    death of Jesus => actual redemption
    entry into the tomb cut out of the rock => actual salvation and entry into the kingdom of God

    PARABLE OF THE SOWER

    The Good News supplant the old Word bearing no fruit and save the woman and the girl. The garments and the food are the symbols of this word that Jesus teaches.

    So, the double salvation illustrates the parable of the sower. The ground with thorns represents the ground where the synagogue leaders teach while the rocky ground represents the ground where the temple priests (physicians) teach.
    The synagogue leaders choke the Word because they continue to teach the old one.
    The temple priests no longer wear the garments of salvation because they too continue to teach the old word. As a result, the temple is no longer the rock where God dwells. It has become a pile of stones evoking the rocky ground and those who hear the temple word do not have enough roots to withstand adversity.

    MARK’S GOSPEL

    To write this double salvation involving a hebrew girl and a pagan woman, Mark reuses elements already studied in the previous healings.
    The mother-in-law is ill (Israel is barren) => the young hebrew dies before her sexual maturity (12 years) and the pagan woman has not been able to have children for 12 years.
    The request for secrecy after the mother-in-law’s healing => the request for secrecy after the second salvation.
    Leper’s healing and paralytic’s healing => the double salvation of the hebrew girl and the pagan woman.
    The leper/hebrew wants to be pure => the pagan woman who is impure because of blood loss wants salvation
    The healing of the paralytic/pagan is interrupted by the scribes => the salvation of the hebrew girl is interrupted by the irruption of the pagan woman
    Jesus enters the synagogue so that the leaders join him (Mark 3:3) => Jairus, the synagogue leader, comes to Jesus and repents

    Once again, Mark shows that the Good News are more powerful than the old Word. Once again, Mark speaks about their content: the new forgiveness of sins.
    Once again, Mark does it in different ways so that each variation brings new information and prepares the next steps.
    At his context, salvation of his life means offspring in order to perpetuate the name of the God of Israel. In the second part of the gospel, Mark will tell us about the eternal life.

    SOME READINGS

    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343044996_The_Hemorrhaging_Woman_and_Jairus'_Daughter_as_Representatives_of_Israel_An_Attempt_at_the_Symbolic_Reading_of_Mark_521-43

    page 361
    Twelve-year-old Jairus’ daughter, brought back to life, is now again fertile, ready to give life. In this way, she reaches her maturity. In the case of the hemorrhaging woman, the number twelve refers to her restored fecundity, thus her biological capacity of giving life.

    https://ihmcc.org/homilies/2018-07-01-Yr_B_13th_Sunday_OT-Dcn_John.pdf

    Pages 1-2
    Today, when we read the Scriptures, we naturally interpret them through our twenty-first century eyes. But to dig deeper into their meaning we need to look at them as a first century Jew would see them and ask, what guided their interpretation of these two stories?
    A first century Jewish reader would be very familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament, and interpret the Gospels with that familiarity. We, unfortunately are not as familiar with the Old Testament, and that can lead to missing significant messages contained in the Gospels.

    Looking through the lens of Leviticus we can form a more complete understanding of the plight of the afflicted woman. According to Leviticus, a woman afflicted with a flow of blood was considered unclean (Lv 15:25 ff). Every article of furniture on which she sat became unclean, every bed she lay upon became unclean. Anything she touched became unclean. Anyone who touched her became unclean.
    For twelve years this woman was considered to be unclean and untouchable, not unlike a leper. She would have been ostracized from Jewish society, worship, family and friends.

    Page 5
    Some intercalation examples

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 6-7) Jesus in his own country, The sending of the Twelve, John’s death, First breaking of loaves, …
    (Mark 8:1-26) Second breaking of loaves, The blind man at Bethsaida, Third synthesis

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter: Chapter 17 The demon of Gerasa
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-155445
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-155446

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

    1. GRAECO-ROMAN SOURCES ABOUT HEALINGS

       1 – ASCLEPIOS (GOD OF MEDICINE) AND HIPPOCRATES
       2 – ASCLEPIEION, INCUBATION, ABATON, IAMATA
       3 – IAMATA DEPICTING MIRACULOUS CURES AT EPIDAUROS (VARIOUS HEALINGS, INCUBATION BY PROXY, SNAKE, SURGERY, MONEY, MOCKERY, DRUG, PILGRIMS)
       4 – THE DIDACTIC NATURE OF THE EPIDAURIAN IAMATA
       5 – VOTIVE RELIEFS DEPICTING CURES
       6 – A NIGHT AT THE ASKLEPIEION (PLUTUS, A PLAY BY THE GREEK WRITER ARISTOPHANES)
       7 – THE SACRED TALES BY AELIUS ARISTIDES
       8 – THE IMMORTAL GODS VISITING THE MORTALS ON THEIR PALLETS
       9 – THE USES OF SNAKE VENOM IN ANTIQUITY (MITHRIDATES’ SCYTHIAN DOCTORS)
       10 – MEDICINE IN ANCIENT ROME AND THE GREAT NAMES OF ANCIENT ROMAN MEDICINE
       11 – MEDICINE AND SURGERY (HIPPOCRATES)
       12 – MEDICINE AND SURGERY (CELSUS)
       13 – MEDICINE AND SURGERY (GALEN)
       14 – EPILEPSY (LUCRETIUS, CELSUS, HIPPOCRATIC CORPUS, GALEN, …)

       15 – THERAPEUO: TO HEAL WITHOUT SPECIFYING THE DISEASE (MARK’ S GOSPEL)
       16 – IAOMAI: TO HEAL WOMAN’S WOMB BY USING MEDICATION (MARK 5:25-29)
       17 – INCUBATION RITUAL AS A NARRATIVE FRAMEWORK: THE BLEEDING WOMAN AND THE SLEEPING YOUNG GIRL (MARK 5:25-41)
       18 – MONEY AND PILGRIMAGE (MARK 5:25-27)
       19 – MOCKERY (MARK 5:39-40)
       20 – INCUBATION BY PROXY: THE GREEK WOMAN AND THE YOUNG GIRL LYING ON A BED (MARK 7:24-30)
       21 – THE FINGERS OF THE SURGEON AND THE IRON OF THE SCALPEL (MARK 7:31-37) (MARK 14:47)
       22 – THE HAND OF THE SURGEON AND THE IRON OF THE SCALPEL (MARK 8:22-26)
       23 – THE HEALING SERPENT TO ALLUDE TO THE DIVINE INTERVENTION (MARK 7:31-37) (MARK 8:22-26)
       24 – A WAY OF TELLING THE SURGERY SIMILAR TO EPIDAURIAN IAMATA (MARK 8:22-26)
       25 – VOTIVE RELIEF MIXING “SURGERY” AND “DIVINE INTERVENTION” (MARK 7:31-37) (MARK 8:22-26)
       26 – THE EPILEPTIC BOY (MARK 9:18-26)
       27 – THE SICK CARRIED ON THEIR PALLET (MARK 2:3-5) (MARK 6:54-55)
       28 – THE LAMP UNDER THE BED (MARK 4:21)
       29 – THE SERPENT, THE ASCLEPIOS’ STAFF AND THE MOSES’ STAFF
       30 – THE HEALING SERPENT AND ITS VENOM (MARK 7:33) (MARK 8:23) (MARK 16:18)
       31 – THE STAFF OF THE TWELVE (MARK 6:7-8)
       32 – STRETCHING THE HAND AND PLACING THE HANDS (MARK 1:41 …)
       33 – ABATON, DREAM, VISION AND APPEARANCE IN THE BIBLE
       SUMMARY

       1 – ASCLEPIOS (GOD OF MEDICINE) AND HIPPOCRATES

       A – ASCLEPIOS, HYGIEIA, IASO

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepius
       Asclepius (Greek: Asklepios; Latin: Aesculapius) is a hero and god of medicine in ancient Greek religion and mythology.
       Asclepius represents the healing aspect of the medical arts; his daughters, the “Asclepiades”, are: Hygieia (“Health, Healthiness”), Iaso (from “healing, recovering, recuperation”, the goddess of recuperation from illness),

       https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascl%C3%A9pios#/media/Fichier:NAMA-Asklepios_Epidaure.jpg
       A statue of Asclepios with a snake wrapped around a stick

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygieia
       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iaso

       B – HIPPOCRATES OF KOS
       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocrates (460 BC – 370 BC)
       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Corpus
       Of the texts in the corpus, none is proven to be by Hippocrates himself. The works of the corpus range from Hippocrates’ time and school to many centuries later and rival points of view.

       C – ASCLEPIOS AND HIPPOCRATES
       https://books.openedition.org/pulg/258?lang=fr French text translated by DeepL
       ENTRE ASCLEPIOS ET HIPPOCRATE
       A study of healing cults and physicians in Caria
       Cecile Nissen

       Asclepius and Hippocrates were both associated with the medical art in ancient Greece. However, one belongs to the world of the gods and the other is mortal. The distinction is an important one, and aptly reflects the two conceptions of medicine that these names carry with them, one generally described as ‘religious’ and the other as ‘rational’. These two facets of ancient medicine are at the heart of the present study, which sets out to redefine their scope and
       complementarity. Focusing on Caria, a region of Asia Minor that has provided abundant documentation, the analysis looks at the healing cults patronised by Asclepius, but also by Pluto and CorÉ at Acharaca, Men at Attouda and Hemithea at Castabos. As for the physicians, they formed a famous ‘school’ at Cnidus in the classical period and at Laodicea in Lycos in the imperial era, but some of them practised independently of any established ‘sect’. By bringing together practices whose study
       is often fragmented in modern research, this book offers a nuanced vision of the interactions that existed between healing cults and medical practice, restoring the unity of ancient medicine.

       2 – ASKLEPIEION, INCUBATION, ABATON, IAMATA

       A – ASKLEPIEION (HEALING TEMPLES)

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepieion

       Asclepieia (Ancient Greek:Asklepieion; Latin aesculapium) were healing temples in ancient Greece (and in the wider Hellenistic and Roman world), dedicated to Asclepius, the first doctor-demigod in Greek mythology.

       Over 300 asclepieia have been discovered throughout ancient Greece. Among the most famous of the temples were Trikka, Epidaurus, island of Kos, Athens, Corinth and Pergamon. These temples were often located in secluded locations surrounded modern spas or mountain sanatoriums. These sanctuaries could attract diverse audiences for various needs other than healing, which makes these spaces more complex than merely healing spaces

       A1 – Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus
       https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/491/
       https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/491/gallery/

       A2 – The asclepieion of the island of Kos.
       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepieion#/media/File:Asklepieion_panoramic_view.jpg
       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepieion#/media/File:Kos_Asklepeion.jpg

       https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ASCLEPEION_COS_Franck_Devedjian.jpg?uselang=fr
       An attempt to reconstruct the asclepieion of the island of Kos.

       A21 – The island of Kos by Strabo (Strab. 14.2.19)

       https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0198%3Abook%3D14%3Achapter%3D2%3Asection%3D19

       In the suburb is the Asclepieium, a temple exceedingly famous and full of numerous votive offerings, ….
       And it is said that the dietetics practised by Hippocrates were derived mostly from the cures recorded on the votive tablets there. He, then, is one of the famous men from Cos; and so is Simus the physician;

       https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0197%3Abook%3D14%3Achapter%3D2%3Asection%3D19
       (greek text)
       https://vocab.perseus.org/lemma/?q=%E1%BC%B0%CE%B1%CF%84%CF%81%E1%BD%B9%CF%82
       one who heals, a mediciner, physician

       B – INCUBATION (RELIGIOUS PRACTICE OF SLEEPING IN A SACRED AREA)

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incubation_(ritual)

       Incubation is the religious practice of sleeping in a sacred area with the intention of experiencing a divinely inspired dream or cure.
       Among the members of the cult of Asclepius, votive offerings found at ritual centres at Epidaurus, Pergamum, and Rome detail the perceived effectiveness of the method.
       …
       A form of incubation was also used by the iatromantes of the ancient Greeks.

       https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incubation_(rite)

       It consisted of sleeping (Latin incubare) in or near a sanctuary in order to obtain, in a dream or through a vision, the response of a healing god.
       …
       The term comes from the Latin incubare “to lie down”. The Greek uses the word (enkoimesis) “action of lying down in or on, especially lying down in a temple”; the same dictionary specifies the meaning of the verb enkoimÁomai, linked to the previous word: “to lie down in a temple to wait there for the oracle of the god while sleeping”.

       C – ABATON (SACRED PLACE)

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abaton_(disambiguation)
       An abaton is a sacred place, which is not accessible to most people;

       https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abaton_d%27%C3%89pidaure
       Abaton (Ancient Greek: to abaton) means a “place where one must not walk, holy, sacred, inviolable”.
       A rite called “incubation” (enkoimÉtÈrion) was practised here, consisting of obtaining healing through divine intervention during a dream
       The building welcomed pilgrims who came to the Sanctuary to be healed. After the purification rites, the pilgrims would spend the night in the abaton and the god Asclepius would appear to them in a dream and heal them by touching them, or dictate the prescriptions necessary for their healing.

       https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Epidauros_Abaton_2008-09-11.jpg?uselang=fr
       The ruins of the Abaton in ancient Epidauros

       D – IAMATA (HEALING INSCRIPTIONS)

       https://journals.openedition.org/kernos/3125
       Causal explanation of disease in the iamata of Epidauros
       …
       The iamata (literally “remedies”) are 70 narratives collected, edited, and inscribed around 350 BC on four large stones slabs and set up in the sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidauros for all to read, possibly to convince the worshippers of the healing power of the god, and inspire new healings.

       https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01826293/document
       Pilgrims at epidaure. women, healing and publicity in a panhellenic sanctuary in the 4th century b.c.

       As Pierre Sineux has shown, the stories of the iamata are highly standardised and are part of “a process of rewriting that is subordinated to specific purposes where we can sense the beginnings of an attempt to praise of the power of divinity”.

       3 – IAMATA DEPICTING MIRACULOUS CURES AT EPIDAUROS (VARIOUS HEALINGS, INCUBATION BY PROXY, SNAKE, SURGERY, MONEY, MOCKERY, DRUG, PILGRIMS)

       NARRATIVES DEPICTING THE MIRACULOUS CURES

       https://www.attalus.org/docs/sig2/s1168.html
       Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum: 1168

       MIRACULOUS CURES AT EPIDAUROS
       Greek text: IG_4.1.121 , IG_4.1.122
       Date: late 4th century B.C.
       Tags: epiphanies , medical_care
       Format: see key to translations

       The ‘miracle cures’ {iamata} of Epidauros have survived on four stones; the text of the two best-preserved stones is translated here. Most of the translation (all except a few sections at the end) is taken from L.R. Lidonnici, “The Epidaurian Miracle Inscriptions: Text, Translation, and Commentary”, as reproduced by P. Martzavou, “Dream, Narrative and the construction of Hope in the ‘healing miracles’ of Epidauros” ( academia.edu ).

       Greek texts
       https://epigraphy.packhum.org/text/28551
       https://epigraphy.packhum.org/text/28552

       A – VARIOUS HEALINGS

       A1 – Paralysis
       (3) (15) (37 (38)

       A2 – Infertility
       (1) (2) (31) (34) (39) (42)

       A3 – Surgery
       (11) (23) (30) (32)

       A4 – Miscellaneous
       (10) (23) (24)

       B – INCUBATION BY PROXY
       (21) (24)

       C – SNAKE/SERPENT
       (12) (33) (39) (42)

       D – SURGERY
       (11) (23) (30) (32)

       E – MONEY
       (4) (7) (22) (25)

       F – MOCKERY
       (4) (9)

       G – DRUG AND HERB
       (9) (17) (19) (41)
       (40)

       https://www.cairn.info/revue-societes-et-representations-2007-1-page-45.htm?ref=doi
       Dream narratives in Greek healing sanctuaries: texts under control
       Pierre Sineux

       On other occasions, the god administers a medicine. In the Epidaurus narratives, Asklepios administers a medicine, referred to each time as pharmakon (narratives 4, 9, 17, 41), except in the case where the god is said to grind an herb (poian) and pour it into the injured eye (narration 40). The remedy here is not the fruit of any learned pharmacopoeia, and it is immediately effective in curing a one-eyed woman, a blind man, a man with an ulcer, another wounded by a spear under the eye and a woman suffering from worms.

       H – PILGRIMS

       https://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/ifa/zpe/downloads/1994/101pdf/101239.pdf
       It can be noted in this context that of the forty-eight extant iamata at Epidauros, thirty-one of the suppliants were men, thirteen were women, and four were children; of the four children, one was female

       4 – THE DIDACTIC NATURE OF THE EPIDAURIAN IAMATA
       https://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/ifa/zpe/downloads/1994/101pdf/101239.pdf

       THE DIDACTIC NATURE OF THE EPIDAURIAN IAMATA
       In the classical period many cities and towns had sanctuaries dedicated to Asklepios, the main Greek god of healing
       …
       The temples of healing, the Asklepieia, at the sites of Epidauros, Kos, and Pergamon, achieved status as Panhellenic sanctuaries,
       …
       These Asklepieia attracted the sick and dying from all over the Hellenic world, and the ill individuals, who travelled considerable distances in many cases, constituted a special type of pilgrim. At Epidauros, there are inscriptions which purport to be the record of the cures which pilgrims experienced at this healing sanctuary of the god Asklepios. The records of these cures, iamata, are often dismissed for their fantastic nature. The iamata, however, deserve
       attention because of the light which the inscribed cures can throw on the nature of the healing cult at Epidauros. The iamata served a specific didactic purpose, encouraging the ill that they too, like others before them, could be cured. In addition, although the iamata do not constitute a set of specific cult regulations, they made clear what the temple authorities expected of the pilgrims who came to this site.
       …
       At the healing sanctuaries, the sick, after performing set rituals, bedded down for the night in the abaton, the sleeping place, and going to sleep hoped that the god Asklepios would appear to them and cure them; the god was believed to appear in the night and cure the sick individual. Reliefs depict Asklepios appearing to sick individuals while they slept, and curing them, while anxious relatives or friends looked on.

       The god, according to the iamata, cured a wide range of other ailments: not only lengthy pregnancies, but also paralysed limbs, blindness, gall stones, baldness, dropsy, worms, lice, headache, pus, sterility, tumours, abcesses, and those who were dumb.
       …
       These inscriptions, as preserved, record forty-eight extant cures (records of other cures are fragmentary), and if the sample were larger, pilgrims from other areas would probably also be indicated, for Epidauros was popular for well over eight hundred years, and famous throughout the Hellenic world. The willingness of sick individuals to travel long distances to Epidauros indicates the excellent reputation which this healing sanctuary enjoyed throughout this period.
       In general, consultation of Asklepios involved preliminary sacrifice and the payment of a consultation fee. At Epidauros, one of the iamata (no. 5) mentions “preliminary sacrifice and customary rites,” but gives no details of what these comprised. Sacrifice marks the prelude to incubation, and preliminary sacrifice presupposes sacrificial items.
       …
       An inscription of the fourth century from this site instructs the priest of Asklepios to provide to those sacrificing all of the things that are needed for the sacrifice. Grain, wreaths and wood are mentioned, as well as the prices which the priest is to charge the consultants

       …
       The sacrifices of cakes and the deities involved were the same, and three obols were to be placed into the thesauros,
       …
       Accordingly, sick individuals, after performing pre-incubatory rites, would lie down to sleep in the abaton
       …
       The main feature of the night in the abaton, and of the cure, was the dream. The testimonies of the patients at Epidauros make this quite clear. Obtaining a dream in itself could become a matter for anxiety, for the god might fail to appear.
       …
       Even incubation by proxy was possible. One of the inscribed iamata (no. 21) states that a mother went to Epidauros on behalf of her sick daughter. In this case, the god sent the same dream to the proxy in the abaton, and to the sick individual who had stayed at home; the mother, on her return, found her daughter cured
       …
       Some of the dreams recorded in the iamata involved conversations with the god, while others were more passive, in which the god simply effected the cure while the patient was asleep. Some of the dreams which involved conversation with the god involved the deity giving direction for action to be taken upon waking.
       …
       The iamata record that some of the pilgrims who came to Epidauros were sceptical of the power of the god. Ambrosia of Athens (no. 4) walked around the temple
       One of the cure inscriptions (no. 22) at Epidauros records that Hermon of Thasos had had his blindness cured by the god. But he did not make a thanks-offering to the god, so Asklepios made him blind again. Coming back to the shrine, Hermon incubated for a second time, and was made well
       …
       These iamata were clearly powerful arguments used by the temple authorities to assert Asklepios’ right to thanksgiving offerings.

       In the cult of Asklepios, cocks were the most favoured form of thanksgiving and their use as thanksgiving sacrifices in the cult of Asklepios is easy to explain. Asklepios was a popular deity, and often resorted to, sickness being a problem that often confronts the individual. Many of the suppliants were presumably too poor to afford oxen or pigs, so cocks, numerous and cheap, were vowed in return for cures.

       Nevertheless, if the supplication of the god were unsuccessful, and the “patient” beyond help, she or he would be removed from the site, for there was a ritual law that no-one was allowed to die (or a woman give birth) within the sanctuary, which was marked off by an enclosure; this was a typical Greek practice.

       He was also a forgiving god; in several instances as we have seen, he forgave the sceptical, even Kaphisias (no. 36), who had mocked the dynamis of the god.

       5 – VOTIVE RELIEFS DEPICTING CURES

       A – RELIEF PORTRAYING ASCLEPIUS HEALING A YOUTH

       http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/4/gh431.jsp?obj_id=4553&mm_id=533
       Relief portraying Asclepius healing a youth, Piraeus Archaeological Museum, Greece
       http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/4/gh430.jsp?obj_id=4553

       A1 – COMMENT FROM CECILE NISSEN

       http://books.openedition.org/pulg/docannexe/image/269/img-3.jpg
       https://books.openedition.org/pulg/269 French text translated by DeepL

       A final relief from the same period, from the Asclepieion in Piraeus, also depicts an incubation scene (Fig. 3). The faithful woman is lying on a bed, asleep, being cared for by Asclepius, who is standing at the head of the bed, holding out both hands over the patient’s right shoulder. This intervention can be interpreted either in a human way – the god would be acting as a doctor, manipulating the patient’s arm – or in a magical-religious way – Asclepius would be stretching out his hands over the patient in a gesture interpreted as a kind of magic pass. The scenes depicted on these offerings thus illustrate the dual conception of divine intervention that existed among the population at the time: the god could resort to miraculous procedures associated with divine or even magical medicine, but he could also borrow certain treatments from doctors. These reliefs therefore bear witness to a certain influence exerted by professional medicine on so-called religious medicine in the Classical period, particularly in terms of the imaginary of therapeutics.

       A2 – COMMENT FROM PIERRE SINEUX

       https://journals.openedition.org/kentron/docannexe/image/1745/img-1-small580.jpg
       https://journals.openedition.org/kentron/1745 French text translated by DeepL

       A fragmentary relief from the Asklepieion in Piraeus (fig. 1), dating from the end of the 5th century BC or the beginning of the 4th century, may provide a form of paradigm for the series of votive reliefs relating to incubation. Made from pentelic marble, the relief features an image in which three parts can be distinguished. In the centre, a woman is shown reclining on a klinÈ; facing the viewer, she lies on her left side, her left arm folded over a cushion resting on the headboard of the bed, her right hand holding the edge of the klinÈ. She is wearing a khitÔn and a cloak, the lower edge of which falls along the cushion. The klinÈ is covered with an animal skin, its two legs touching the ground. On the right, a bearded figure, whose tall stature indicates that he is a god, is holding both hands close to the woman’s neck or right shoulder; at the back, a goddess is standing, her right arm raised and holding a flap of her peplos. Given the context, everything suggests that these are Asklepios and Hygie. To the left, four individuals, smaller than the deities, stand with their right arm raised (a prayer gesture); an old man (with a beard) and a woman can be identified, followed by another woman draped in her cloak, next to whom is a child.
       …
       It should be emphasised that the image highlights a single gesture, considered to be effective. All that remains of the dream in the image is the god’s gesture, the “decisive event“, as it were, which is enough to signal his supposed intervention on the sick body and the healing that is brought about.

       B – VOTIVE RELIEF DEPICTING AMPHIARAUS AND A PATIENT (ARCHINOS)

       https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Votive_relief_depicting_Amphiaraus_and_a_patient_%284th_cent._B.C.%29_at_the_National_Archaeological_Museum_of_Athens_on_22_July_2018.jpg
       Votive relief depicting Amphiaraus and a patient (4th cent. B.C.)

       B1 – COMMENT FROM CECILE NISSEN

       https://books.openedition.org/pulg/docannexe/image/269/img-2.jpg
       https://books.openedition.org/pulg/269 French text translated by DeepL

       But the god can also act like a doctor. On a remarkable votive stele discovered in the Amphiaraion of Oropos, in Boeotia, the dedicator of the name Archinos is depicted, in the left foreground, standing opposite Amphiaraos (Fig. 2): the latter, very concentrated, is operating on the patient’s shoulder with an instrument that he is holding in his right hand, while his left hand supports the patient’s arm. Dated to the beginning of the 4th century BC, this document is quite exceptional in that it is divided into four tableaus, each illustrating a different stage in the divine consultation. While Archinos’ arrival at the sanctuary, depicted on the far right, and the consecration of the votive plaque, depicted in low relief in the background on the right, are fairly anecdotal, the double depiction of the healing is much more significant. In addition to the surgical treatment of the patient in the human mode, divine intervention is again illustrated on the right, in an intermediate plane, but this time in the form of a snake, which bites the right shoulder of the sleeping patient during incubation.

       B2 – COMMENT FROM PIERRE SINEUX

       https://journals.openedition.org/kentron/docannexe/image/1745/img-2-small580.jpg
       https://journals.openedition.org/kentron/1745 French text translated by DeepL

       A structuring of the image based on three distinct moments can be found in the famous relief by Archinos (first half of the 4th century BC) from the Amphiaraion of Oropos (fig. 2). Without going into a full analysis of this image, which I have already done elsewhere, I will simply highlight the fact that the composition of the image appears to be fairly similar to that seen in the previous example. However, unlike the previous document, it is clear that the same character, with his abundant curly hair, is reproduced three times.The image, in a frame strictly delimited by two pilasters and a geison, immediately appears to represent three different moments.
       …
       The god is in action, using his right hand to treat a shoulder wound with an instrument. Whether he is spreading medicine with a spatula or making an incision with a knife (or equivalent) remains unclear.
       …
       The presence of snakes in sanctuaries is well known, and there is a close analogy between the relief of Archinos and the story of Epidaurus: the part of the patient’s body that is touched during sleep corresponds to the part that is treated by the god during sleep.
       …
       We could add the “votive stele” in the background, mounted on a column.

       B3 – AMPHIARAOS AT OROPOS AND ASCLEPIOS AT EPIDAUROS

       https://cdn.elebase.io/173fe953-8a63-4a8a-8ca3-1bacb56d78a5/fa3ab858-ef55-4a4e-971d-86e367070a33-asklepieionofepidauros-steleofcures2_ministryofcultureandsports.jpg.jpg?q=75
       (Votive relief, Texts establishing a link with a man’s toe healed by a snake at Epidauros)

       Oropos => Epidauros
       Amphiaraos => Asclepios
       The Archinos’ shoulder => a man’s toe

       http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/artifact?name=Athens%2C+NM+3369&object=Sculpture
       Inscription: An inscription identifies this relief as a dedication by Archinos to Amphiaraos: *A*R*X*I*N*O*S *A*M*F*I*A*R*A*W*I *A*N*E*Q*H*K*E*N.

       C – HEALING OR TALKING TO THE GOD ?

       C1 – COMMENT FROM PIERRE SINEUX

       https://journals.openedition.org/kentron/docannexe/image/1745/img-3-small580.jpg
       https://journals.openedition.org/kentron/1745 French text translated by DeepL

       A tripartite organisation of the image is found in other votive reliefs consecrated in an incubation context. A fragmentary relief from the Asklepieion in Athens (fig. 3) forms part of the series and depicts a dream-like scene in the centre.
       …
       In the central scene, a patient is seated on a klinÈ in a semi-seated position; he is not asleep, but awake. A cushion has been slid behind his back to straighten his upper body. There is nothing here to suggest that he was asleep in the incubation dormitory. Next to him, a seated Asklepios, identifiable by the proportions of the figure, is reaching out with his right hand towards the patient’s left hand and, with his left hand, is holding a staff (which has all but disappeared). Above all, the patient’s right hand is raised, his fingers outstretched. The image represents the moment in the dream when the patient sees himself, awake, talking to the god.

       This focus on a form of dialogue between the patient and the god can be found in some of the dream narratives on the stelae of Epidaurus. The god is credited with the power to heal through simple words, formulated in direct or indirect style in the texts, and produced either by a dialogue between the supplicant and the god, or by an injunction given by the latter.

       D – THE SICK CARRIED ON A STRETCHER

       D1 – COMMENT FROM CECILE NISSEN

       https://books.openedition.org/pulg/docannexe/image/269/img-1-small700.jpg
       https://books.openedition.org/pulg/269 French text translated by DeepL

       These reliefs, which date from the Classical period, tell us a great deal about how the Ancients, and in particular the sick faithful, saw the divinity’s healing powers. Sometimes, the god’s intervention is depicted as occurring in a completely miraculous way; for example, on a marble support of unknown provenance, preserved in Copenhagen, Asclepius appears, in the 5th century BC, in the form of a snake descending from a tree as a sick person passes by on a stretcher (Fig. 1).

       6 – A NIGHT AT THE ASKLEPIEION (PLUTUS, A PLAY BY THE GREEK WRITER ARISTOPHANES)

       A – PLUTUS, A PLAY BY THE GREEK WRITER ARISTOPHANES (born around 450/445 BC – died around 385 BC)

       https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristophanes
       …
       Plutus (Wealth, second version, 388 BC) The play features an elderly Athenian citizen, Chremylos, and his slave. Chremylos presents himself and his family as virtuous but poor, and has gone to seek advice from an oracle. The advice he gets is to follow the first man he meets and take him home with him. That man turns out to be the god Plutus – who is, contrary to expectations, a blind beggar. After much argument, Plutus is convinced to enter Chremylus’ house, where his sight is restored. The plot can be read as: wealth will now go only to those who deserve it in some way.

       B – A NIGHT AT THE ASKLEPIEION (FULL TEXT)

       https://classics.mit.edu/Aristophanes/plutus.html

       C – A NIGHT AT THE ASKLEPIEION (Lines 651-695) (Lines 696-747)

       C1 – https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0040%3Acard%3D651
       Lines 651-695

       Cario
       in the manner of the tragic messenger
       Then we repaired to the temple of the god. [660] Once the wafers and the various offerings had been consecrated upon the altar, and the cake of wheaten-meal had been handed over to the devouring Hephaestus, we made Plutus lie on a couch according to the rite, and each of us prepared himself a bed of leaves.

       Wife
       Had any other folk come to beseech the deity?

       Cario
       [665] Yes. Firstly, Neoclides, who is blind, but steals much better than those who see clearly; then many others attacked by complaints of all kinds. The lights were put out and [670] the priest enjoined us to sleep, especially recommending us to keep silent should we hear any noise.

       C2 – https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0040%3Acard%3D696
       Lines 696-747

       Cario
       Thereupon he came and seated himself at the head of Plutus’ bed, took a perfectly clean rag [730] and wiped his eyelids; Panacea covered his head and face with a purple cloth, while the god whistled, and two enormous snakes came rushing from the sanctuary.

       Wife
       Great gods!

       Cario
       [735] They slipped gently beneath the purple cloth and, as far as I could judge, licked the patient’s eyelids; for, in less time than even you need, mistress, to drain down ten beakers of wine, Plutus rose up; he could see. I clapped my hands with joy [740] and awoke my master, and the god immediately disappeared with the serpents into the sanctuary. As for those who were lying near Plutus, you can imagine that they embraced him tenderly. Dawn broke and not one of them had closed an eye. [745] As for myself, I did not cease thanking the god who had so quickly restored to Plutus his sight and had made Neoclides blinder than ever.

       D – COMMENTS FROM PIERRE SINEUX

       https://books.openedition.org/editionsehess/3423?lang=fr French text translated by DeepL
       A night at the Asklepieion in Aristophanes’ Ploutos/Plutus: a narrative in the theatre for the study of the incubation rite
       Pierre Sineux
       …
       A gluttonous and unscrupulous slave, Carion sees what he shouldn’t, namely the god’s intervention with the sick: having completed no ritual path, he occupies a transgressive position, but like a theatre spectator, he remains outside the action as it unfolds.
       …
       So what is this spectacle as seen by Carion? In Carion’s account, the presence of Asklepios is treated as an epiphany, the presence of the god among men. This appearance of the god Asklepios, triggered by the dormitory falling asleep, is interrupted precisely by Ploutos waking up:

       The patient’s sleep and awakening constitute the temporal boundaries of the epiphany. While Carion’s expressions of joy confirm his status as a spectator of a theatrical scene, the disappearance of the god and the snakes, because it coincides with Ploutos’ awakening, evokes the interruption of a dream. Yet – and this is remarkable in a text that recounts an incubation – at no point is there any mention of a dream. This absence is not, in my opinion, due solely to theatrical artifice but expresses, just as much, a conception of the dream according to which its content – a vision – has the same force of reality as what we see awake. The same conception is conveyed by the term (opsis), which cancels out the opposition between sleep and wakefulness.

       E – OTHER STUDIES

       https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristophanes
       Plutus

       https://www.persee.fr/doc/metis_1105-2201_1987_num_2_2_895
       Le rite de passage du Ploutos d’Aristophane

       https://www.persee.fr/doc/ktema_0221-5896_1997_num_22_1_2194
       Richesse et pauvrete dans le Ploutos

       7 – SACRED TALES (AELIUS ARISTIDES)

       A – https://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/ifa/zpe/downloads/1994/101pdf/101239.pdf
       THE DIDACTIC NATURE OF THE EPIDAURIAN IAMATA
       …
       The iamata provide only brief summaries of cures worked on pilgrims, but in the case of Aelios Aristeides, in his Sacred Tales, there is a detailed account written by a literate sufferer of his relationship with this god. It is clearly a close and personal relationship as Aristeides believed that the god had a keen interest in his case. Aristeides, who was often ill, dreamed regularly of Asklepios:

       B – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aelius_Aristides (117 – 181 AD)

       More than fifty of his orations and other works survive, dating from the reigns of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius.
       His early success was interrupted by a decades-long series of illnesses for which he sought relief by divine communion with the god Asclepius, effected by interpreting and obeying the dreams that came to him while sleeping in the god’s sacred precinct; he later recorded this experience in a series of discourses titled Sacred Tales (Hieroi Logoi).

       C – https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/508180520d724b57bc6f03a0651636ea
       Aelius Aristides and the Asklepieion of Pergamon

       The Hieroi Logoi
       Aristides and Asklepios
       Ill-fated Trip to Rome
       Rituals of the Asklepieion
       Travel to Chios
       Dream travels

       D – https://classics-at.chs.harvard.edu/alexander-and-demosthenes-side-by-side-and-angry-plato-integrative-dream-art-of-aelius-aristides/

       This study [1] traces several threads of the fabric of the Sacred Tales by Aelius Aristides, an orator and intellectual, a passionate worshipper of Asclepius and a lover of the ancient Greek past, who lived in the second century CE. The article considers three pairs of opposing figures that achieve unity in the dreams of the Sacred Tales. The first pair consists of a Roman emperor and an enemy king, who conclude a peace treaty; the second pair is Demosthenes and Alexander of Macedon, envisaged in a common tomb; the third pair is Plato and Demosthenes, or the art of philosophy and the art of oratory. Aristides himself participates in every union; his persona blends with the persona of Demosthenes, and that hybrid figure heals the rifts between the key figures of the Hellenic history.

       8 – THE IMMORTAL GODS VISITING THE MORTALS ON THEIR PALLETS

       A – CICERO’S TEXT (Cicero, De Divinatione Liber Alter) (Cicero, 106 BC – 43 BC)

       A1 – LATIN TEXT

       http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2007.01.0042%3Abook%3D2%3Asection%3D129
       63. Venit enim iam in contentionem, utrum sit probabilius, deosne immortalis, rerum omnium praestantia excellentis, cursare omnium mortalium qui ubique sunt, non modo lectos, verum etiam grabatos ...

       http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=deosne&la=la&can=deosne0&prior=probabilius
       a god, deity
       http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=cursare&la=la&can=cursare0&prior=excellentis
       to run hither and thither, run constantly
       http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=grabatos&la=la&can=grabatos0&prior=etiam
       a low couch, camp-bed, pallet

       https://www.latin-is-simple.com/en/vocabulary/search/?q=deosne God
       https://www.latin-is-simple.com/en/vocabulary/verb/2781/?h=cursare to run/rush/hurry to-and-fro/hither-and-thither
       https://www.latin-is-simple.com/en/vocabulary/noun/10095/?h=grabatos camp bed, pallet

       A2 – ENGLISH TRANSLATION

       http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2007.01.0043%3Abook%3D2%3Asection%3D129 <=
       63. “The question now arises as to which is the more probable: do the immortal gods, who are [p. 517] of surpassing excellence in all things, constantly flit about, not only the beds, but even the lowly pallets of mortals, wherever they may be …

       A3 – FRENCH TRANSLATION

       https://remacle.org/bloodwolf/philosophes/Ciceron/divinatione2a.htm
       LXIII. Tout se reduit a savoir lequel est le plus probable, ou que les Dieux immortels, souverains arbitres du monde, ne fassent que courir aux lits et meme aux grabats de tous les hommes,

       B – GRABATUS (DESCRIPTION)

       http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0062:entry=grabatus-harpers
       The French grabat. A small low couch or bed of the commonest
       Description: A mere network of cords stretched over the frame as represented by the annexed
       illustration from a terra-cotta lamp.

       C – BETWEEN GODS AND MORTALS – VISUAL CONTACT IN GREEK CLASSICAL VOTIVE RELIEFS

       https://journals.openedition.org/pallas/95?lang=en
       Between gods and mortals – visual contact in Greek classical votive reliefs
       Abstracts
       The Greek votive reliefs of the 5th and 4th centuries B.C. depict encounters between gods and mortals. As Anja KlÖkner has already observed, it would not be appropriate to consider such images as representing actual events. The analysis of the looks exchanged between gods and humans reveals a differentiated system adapted to the deities and the cultural context. It becomes evident that the sculptors carried out their works by representing a highly differentiated set of iconographic rules.

       9 – THE USES OF SNAKE VENOM IN ANTIQUITY (MITHRIDATES’ SCYTHIAN DOCTORS)

       A – https://www.wondersandmarvels.com/2011/11/the-uses-of-snake-venom-in-antiquity.html
       The Uses of Snake Venom in Antiquity
       By Adrienne Mayor
       …
       Mysterious Agari doctors were recruited by Mithradates of Pontus, whose Black Sea empire challenged Roman power in the first century BC
       …
       An astonishing medical milestone, carried out by Mithradates’ Scythian doctors, was reported by Appian, a Greek historian of the Mithradatic Wars. Their secret knowledge of venom’s beneficial powers saved Mithradates’ life on the battlefield and anticipated modern scientific discoveries by more than 2,000 years.

       In 67 BC, Mithradates suffered a grievous sword slash to the thigh. Bleeding profusely, he hovered near death, but the Agari staunched his wound with serpent venom. Mithradates recovered and led his army to victory. This is the first documented account of using the coagulating effects of miniscule amounts of steppe viper venom to stop severe hemorrhage, an exciting discovery made only recently by scientists in the new field of “venomics.” The ancient Scythian healers would not be surprised to learn that crystallized venom of steppe vipers (Vipera ursinii) from their homeland is now a major export to emergency rooms around the world.

       B – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3320207/
       Comparative study of anticoagulant and procoagulant properties of 28 snake venoms

       C – APPIAN’S WRITINGS
       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appian (95 AD – 165 AD)

       C1 – https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0551.tlg014.perseus-eng2:13.88?q=snak&qk=form&right=perseus-grc2
       Appianus of Alexandria, Mithridatic Wars (13.88)
       …
       Mithridates was struck by a stone on the knee and wounded by a dart under the eye, and was hastily carried out of the fight. For many days thereafter his forces were alarmed for his safety, and the Romans were quiet on account of the great number of wounds they had received. Mithridates was cured by the Agari, a Scythian tribe, who make use of the poison of serpents as remedies. Some of this tribe always accompanied the king as physicians.

       C2 – https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0551.tlg014.perseus-eng2:13.89?q=snak&qk=form&right=perseus-grc2
       Appianus of Alexandria, Mithridatic Wars 13.89
       …
       a certain Roman centurion, who was riding with him in the guise of an attendant, gave him a severe wound with a sword in the thigh,
       Mithridates was carried to the rear
       until Timotheus, his physician, had stanched the blood

       D – APPIAN’S WRITINGS (GREEK AND FRENCH TEXTS)
       https://remacle.org/bloodwolf/historiens/appien/mithridatique.htm
       Chapitre 13
       [88]
       [89]

       10 – MEDICINE IN ANCIENT ROME AND THE GREAT NAMES OF ANCIENT ROMAN MEDICINE

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_in_ancient_Rome
       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_in_ancient_Rome#/media/File:Capsarius_(Trajans%C3%A4ule).jpg
       Capsarii tending to injured soldiers depicted on Trajan’s Column
       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_in_ancient_Rome#/media/File:Depiction_of_eye_examination.jpg
       Relief from a sarcophagus depicting an oculist examining a patient (latter 3rd century AD)

       https://odysseum.eduscol.education.fr/galien-et-les-grands-noms-de-la-medecine-de-la-rome-antique

       https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/38157/627416.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
       Greek Medicine from Hippocrates to Galen

       11 – MEDICINE AND SURGERY (HIPPOCRATES)

       https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0248%3Atext%3DAph.%3Achapter%3D7%3Asection%3D87
       Hippocrates, Aphorismi 7.87

       quod medicamenta non sanant ferrum sanat, quod ferrum non sanat Ignis sanat, et quod Ignis non sanat, incurabile est
       “What medicines do not cure; iron does. What iron (scalpel) does not cure, fire does; what fire does not cure must be regarded as incurable.”

       12 – MEDICINE AND SURGERY (CELSUS)

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aulus_Cornelius_Celsus (25 BC – 50 AD)

       Aulus Cornelius Celsus (25 BC – 50 AD) was a Roman encyclopaedist, known for his extant medical work, De Medicina,
       The De Medicina is a primary source on diet, pharmacy, surgery and related fields, and it is one of the best sources concerning medical knowledge in the Roman world.

       Of the numerous volumes of his encyclopedia published before 47 CE, only one remains intact, his celebrated treatise On Medicine (De Medicina). “The work’s encyclopedic arrangement follows the tripartite division of medicine at the time as established by Hippocrates and Asclepiades — diet, pharmacology, and surgery.“[7] It is divided into eight books.

       Book 1 – The History of Medicine (includes references to eighty medical authors, some of whom are known only through this book[8])
       Book 2 – General Pathology
       Book 3 – Specific Diseases
       Book 4 – Parts of the Body
       Book 5 and 6 – Pharmacology
       Book 7 – Surgery
       Book 8 – Orthopedics

       A – MEDICAMENTS, SURGERY (IRON), CAUTERISATION (FIRE)

       A1 – https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2:5.26
       De Medicina Book 5, Chapter 26

       26 Now that I have set out the properties of the medicaments, I will explain the classes of lesions harmful to the body: there are five; when something from without causes the lesion, as in the case of wounds; when some internal part has become corrupted, as in the case of canker; when some new formation has occurred, such as a stone in the bladder; when something has grown bigger, as when a vein swells up and is converted into a varix; when there is some defect, as when some part has been mutilated.

       In some of these medicaments are more effectual, in others surgery. Postponing those conditions which demand in particular the scalpel and surgical treatment, I will speak now of those which chiefly require medicaments. As I have done before, I shall divide this part of treatment, and speak first of those lesions which may occur in any part of the body, then of those which attack particular parts. I shall begin with wounds.

       In this connexion, however, a practitioner should know above all which wounds are incurable, which may be cured with difficulty, and which more readily. For it is the part of a prudent man first not to touch a case he cannot save, and to the risk the appearance of having killed one whose lot is but to die; next, when there is grave fear without, however, absolute

       A2 – https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2:7.2
       De Medicina Book 7 Chapter 2

       2 There is prompt relief in such cases; but there is more trouble where a lesion has arisen internally of itself which causes swellings and tends to suppuration. I have described elsewhere the various classes of abscession, and I have pointed out the suitable medicaments; it now remains to speak of those which should be treated by surgery.
       …
       For if it is free from sinews, it should be laid open with a red-hot cautery-knife which has this advantage, that a small wound continues open longer for the withdrawal of the pus, and the resulting scar is small. But if there are sinews near by, the cautery is unsuitable, lest spasm of the sinews ensues or paralysis of the limb; then the scalpel becomes necessary. But although abscesses elsewhere can be opened even whilst immature, where there are sinews, we must wait for them to be fully matured, since the skin then becomes thin

       B – EYE SURGERY

       https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2:7.7
       De Medicina Book 7, Chapter 7

       7 But whilst the preceding kinds of lesion do not differ much among themselves or in the mode of treatment, those in the eyes which demand surgical measures are different from each other and differently treated. For instance in the upper eyelid cysts are apt to be formed, fatty and weighty, which hardly allow the eyes to be raised, and they set up a slight but persistent discharge of rheum from the eyes; and these generally occur in children. When the eyeball has been pressed with two fingers so as to render the skin of the upper eyelid tense, a transverse linear incision is to be made with a scalpel, with so light a touch that the cyst itself is not cut into; when the way is opened it protrudes of itself. It should then be seized with the fingers and taken out, for it comes away easily. One of the ointments, with which running eyes are anointed, is then smeared on, and in a very few days a fine scar is induced. There is more trouble when the cyst has been cut into, for it lets out a humour, and afterwards, because it is very thin, it cannot be laid hold of. Should this chance to happen, something to promote suppuration should be applied.

       C – EAR SURGERY

       https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2:7.8
       De Medicina Book 7, Chapter 8

       8 Whilst the eyes demand many kinds of surgical treatment, there are but few affections of the ears which are dealt with by this branch of medicine. It does happen, however, whether from birth,or later when there has been ulceration and the ear becomes filled up by scarring, that there is no passage in the ear and so it cannot hear. When this is the case, we must try with a probe whether the part is filled up deeply, or whether there is merely a superficial agglutination. For if deeply, there is no yielding to pressure made on the probe; if superficial, the probe enters freely. The former should not be touched, lest, where there is no hope of success, a spasm may be set up, and from that may follow danger of death. The latter is easily treated. For where the passage should be, either one of the caustic medicaments is to be applied, or an opening made with the cautery, or the place may even be cut through with a scalpel. After it has been laid open, and the ulceration has been cleaned, a quill is to be inserted, smeared with a medicament to induce a scar, and the same medicament applied around, until the skin has healed round the quill; by this means when the quill has been re moved, the faculty of hearing follows. But where the ears, in a man for instance, have been pierced and have become offensive, it is enough to pass a red hot needle quickly though the hole in order to blister its margins superficially or even to produce the same effect by a caustic; then afterwards to put on applications to clean the place and later what will make the flesh grow there and induce a scar. But if the hole is enlarged, as is usually the case with those who have worn heavy ear-rings, the rest of the lobule should be cut through; then the edges above made raw with a scalpel, and the wound sutured, and agglutinating medicaments put on.

       D – CAUTERISATION

       https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2:7.22
       De Medicina Book 7, Chapter 22

       22 Now a varix, when in the scrotal skin, must be burnt with finely pointed cauteries, which penetrate into the veins themselves, but so that nothing deeper than the veins is burnt; the cautery is to be applied especially where the veins form a twisted mass. Then flour which has been steeped in cold water is put on and over this the bandage I have described as suitable after anal operations. On the third day lentil meal with honey is applied: after the crusts have separated the ulcers are to be cleaned with honey, filled with rose oil, and cicatrized with dry lint.

       E – SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

       E1 – https://www.medarus.org/Medecins/MedecinsTextes/celse.htm
       Lastly, he (Celsus) inventoried some fifty surgical instruments, some of which have been found perfectly preserved at Pompeii.
       https://www.medarus.org/Medecins/MedecinsImages/Medecinsmateriels/instrument_chir_romain.jpg

       E2 – https://www.facs.org/for-medical-professionals/news-publications/news-and-articles/bulletin/2018/02/the-history-of-the-scalpel-from-flint-to-zirconium-coated-steel/
       In Rome, Galen and Celsus used an instrument with this shape—a small, sharp blade for specialized used for incision and drainage, tendon repairs, and vivisections (see Figure 2).

       https://www.facs.org/media/0rgp0qu2/scalpel_img2.png?quality=85&format=webp&rnd=133463668961100000
       Figure 2. Example of a Roman scallpellus and similar instruments

       Conclusion
       The Greeks and Romans advanced both knowledge and skill while creating dedicated surgical knives

       F – PARALYSIS
       https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2:3.27?right=perseus-lat4
       De Medicina Book 3, Chapter 27

       27 Relaxing of the sinews, on the other hand, is a frequent disease everywhere. It attacks at times the whole body, at times part of it. Ancient writers named the former apoplexy, the latter paralysis: I see that now both are called paralysis. Those who are gravely paralyzed in all their limbs are as a rule quickly carried off, but if not so carried off, some may live a long while, yet rarely however regain health.

       G – MEDICAMENTS FOR WOMEN’S WOMBS

       https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2:5.21?right=perseus-lat4
       De Medicina Book 5, Chapter 21

       21 These three classes of compositions —emollients, pastils and plasters — have very wide and varied uses. But there are other useful compositions, such as those which are introduced into women from below: the Greeks call them pessoi. Their characteristic is that the component medicaments are taken up in soft wool, and this wool is inserted into the genitals.
       A pessary for inducing menstruation contains soda 2·65 grams,
       …
       But against inflammations of the womb, the composition of Numenius is the best; it consists of saffron 1 gram, …

       If the foetus is dead, to render its expulsion more easy, pomegranate rind should be rubbed up in water and so used.
       …
       If a woman does not conceive, lion’s fat is to be softened by rose-oil.

       H – UROLOGY
       https://www.urofrance.org/fileadmin/documents2/data/PU/2005/PU-2005-00150344/TEXF-PU-2005-00150344.PDF
       Urology in the work ‘De re medica’ by Aulus-Cornelius Celsus
       …
       CELSE (Figure 1) enjoyed lasting fame, since until the 19th century he was constantly cited alongside HIPPOCRATE and GALIEN. Thanks to him, we have the substance of the progress made in medicine and surgery from HIPPOCRATE to the century of AUGUSTUS.

       I – FRENCH TEXTS WITH A DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS
       https://remacle.org/bloodwolf/erudits/celse/table.htm

       13 – MEDICINE AND SURGERY (GALEN)

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galen (129 – 216 AD)

       Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus (September 129 – 216 AD), often anglicized as Galen or Galen of Pergamon, was a Roman Greek physician, surgeon and philosopher.
       Considered to be one of the most accomplished of all medical researchers of antiquity, Galen influenced the development of various scientific disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and neurology, as well as philosophy and logic.

       https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DG%3Aentry+group%3D1%3Aentry%3Dgalenus-claudius-bio-1

       14 – EPILEPSY (LUCRETIUS, HIPPOCRATIC CORPUS, GALEN, …)

       A – LUCRETIUS

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucretius (99 BC – 55 BC)

       Titus Lucretius Carus (99 BC – 55 BC) was a Roman poet and philosopher. His only known work is the philosophical poem De rerum natura,

       A1 – A DESCRIPTION OF EPILESPY BY LUCRETIUS (DE RERUM NATURA)

       https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0131%3Abook%3D3%3Acard%3D487
       Lucretius, De Rerum Natura (Lucr. 3.487)

       And, moreover,
       Often will some one in a sudden fit,
       As if by stroke of lightning, tumble down
       Before our eyes, and sputter foam, and grunt,
       Blither, and twist about with sinews taut,
       Gasp up in starts, and weary out his limbs
       With tossing round. No marvel, since distract
       Through frame by violence of disease.

       https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0130%3Abook%3D3%3Acard%3D487
       (Latin text)

       https://remacle.org/bloodwolf/philosophes/Lucrece/livre3.htm
       (French text)

       B – A DESCRIPTION OF EPILESPY BY CELSUS (DE MEDICINA BOOK)

       https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2:3.23
       De Medicina Book 3, Chapter 23

       That malady which is called comitialis, or the greater, is one of the best known. The man
       suddenly falls down and foam issues out of his mouth; after an interval he returns to himself, and actually gets up by himself. This kind affects men oftener than women. And usually it persists even until the day of death without danger to life; nevertheless occasionally, whilst still recent, it is fatal to the man. And often if remedies have been ineffectual, in boys the commencement of puberty, in girls of menstruation, has removed it. Now sometimes there is a spasm of the sinews when the man falls down, sometimes there is none. Some try to rouse the patients as is done in the case of those affected by lethargy; which is quite useless, both because not even the lethargic patient is cured by this method, and because, though it may be impossible to waken him and he may thus die of starvation, the epileptic, on the other hand, returns to himself. If a man falls in a fit without the addition of spasms, certainly he should not be bled; if there are spasms, at any rate he should not be bled unless there are other indications for the bleeding.

       C – A DESCRIPTION OF EPILESPY IN THE HIPPOCRATIC CORPUS

       https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/38157/627416.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
       Greek Medicine from Hippocrates to Galen

       There is a clear description of this crisis given by the Hippocratic doctor mentioned above, the author of The Sacred Disease. Here are, according to him, the symptoms of epilepsy (ch. 7, 6.372,5ff. L.):
       “The patient loses his speech and chokes, foam issues from the mouth, he grinds his teeth fixed, the hands are contracted, the eyes roll, he loses consciousness, sometimes the bowels are evacuated”; later he adds that “the patient kicks his feet.”
       We can complete this picture with the description of the same disease offered by the treatise Breaths (ch. 14):
       The whole body is shaken from side to side; parts of the body tremble; all types of distortions occur; during the crisis, patients are insensible to everything, deaf to what is said, blind to what happens, insensible to their suffering; and they froth at the mouth.

       D – GALEN, PRO PUERO EPILEPTICO CONSILIUM ( ADVICE FOR AN EPILEPTIC BOY)

       https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0057.tlg074.1st1K-grc1:1-5/
       Pro Puero Epileptico Consilium

       https://atc.io/files/am/Advice%20to%20an%20Epileptic%20Boy.pdf?ref=longnow.org
       TEMKIN, OWSEI, Galen’s “Advice for an Epileptic Boy.” Translated from the Greek. (Book Review) , Institute of the History of Medicine, Bulletin, 2 (1934) p.179

       E – CHILD EPILEPSY DURING THE ANTIQUITY

       E1 – https://journals.openedition.org/abpo/3705

       Child epilepsy during the Antiquity (1st-5th century): prevention and treatment
       Patricia Gaillard-Seux
       …
       However, taking care of children prevailed over rejection; specific medical cures – detailed by Aretaeus of Cappadocia, Galen and Caelius Aurelianus – were applied to epileptic children.

       E2 – https://www.editions-harmattan.fr/minisites/index.asp?no=28&rubId=663
       LE SUJET DE L’EPILEPSIE

       Hippocrates
       Lucretius
       Celsus (Aurelius Cornelius Celsus)
       Aretaeus of Cappadocia
       Galen of Pergam

       Reply

    2. Continuing

       15 – THERAPEUO: TO HEAL WITHOUT SPECIFYING THE DISEASE (MARK’ S GOSPEL)

       Mark 1:34 And he healed (2323) many who were sick (2560) with various diseases (3554), and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

       Mark 3:10 For He had healed (2323) so many that all who had diseases (3148) were pressing forward to touch Him.

       Mark 6:5 So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick (732) and heal (2323) them.

       Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed (2323) many of the sick (732), anointing them with oil.

       https://biblehub.com/greek/2323.htm therapeuo: to serve, cure <= (Mark 1:34) (Mark 3:16) (Mark 6:5) (Mark 6:13)
       https://biblehub.com/greek/2560.htm kakos: badly <= (Mark 1:34)
       https://biblehub.com/greek/732.htm arrostos: not strong, i.e. feeble, sickly <= (Mark 6:5) (Mark 6:13)
       https://biblehub.com/greek/3554.htm nosos: disease, sickness <= (Mark 1:34)
       https://biblehub.com/greek/3148.htm mastix: a whip, scourge <= (Mark 3:10)

       16 – IAOMAI: TO HEAL WOMAN’S WOMB BY USING MEDICATION (MARK 5:25-29)

       A – HEALING (IAOMAI) AND PHYSICIAN (IATROS)

       Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
       Mark 5:26 and who had suffered much under many physicians (2395), and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.
       …
       Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed (2390) of her affliction (3148).

       https://biblehub.com/greek/2395.htm iatros: a physician <= (Mark 2:17) (Mark 5:26)
       2 occurrences in Mark's gospel
       https://biblehub.com/greek/2390.htm iaomai: to heal <= (Mark 5:29)
       1 occurrence in Mark's gospel
       https://biblehub.com/greek/129.htm haima: blood

       B – MEDICAMENTS FOR WOMEN'S WOMBS

       https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2:5.21?right=perseus-lat4
       De Medicina Book 5, Chapter 21

       21 These three classes of compositions —emollients, pastils and plasters — have very wide and varied uses. But there are other useful compositions, such as those which are introduced into women from below: the Greeks call them pessoi. Their characteristic is that the component medicaments are taken up in soft wool, and this wool is inserted into the genitals.
       A pessary for inducing menstruation contains soda 2·65 grams,
       …
       But against inflammations of the womb, the composition of Numenius is the best; it consists of saffron 1 gram, …
       …
       If the foetus is dead, to render its expulsion more easy, pomegranate rind should be rubbed up in water and so used.
       …
       If a woman does not conceive, lion’s fat is to be softened by rose-oil.

       C – SYNTHESIS

       The woman leaves her former doctors who failed to give her the right medicaments to help her conceive and comes to meet Jesus.
       Mark forces the line by writing this “was no better but rather grew worse.”. In this way, he suggests that the doctors made a mistake and gaves her the medicament inducing menstruation

       17 – INCUBATION RITUAL AS A NARRATIVE FRAMEWORK: THE BLEEDING WOMAN AND THE SLEEPING YOUNG GIRL (MARK 5:25-41)

       A1 – NARRATIVES

       https://www.attalus.org/docs/sig2/s1168.html
       …
       (31) Andromache from Epirus, concerning children. When she was sleeping in the shrine she saw a dream. It seemed to her that a handsome young boy uncovered her, and after that the god touched her with his hand. From this a son was born to Andromache by Arhybbas

       (1) Kleo was pregnant for five years. After the fifth year of pregnancy, she came as a suppliant to the god and slept in the abaton. As soon as she had left it and was outside the shrine, she gave birth to a son who, as soon as he was born, washed himself at the fountain and walked about with his mother. After this success, she inscribed upon her offering: ‘The wonder is not the size of the plaque, but the divine: Kleo was pregnant with a burden in her stomach for five
       years, until she slept here and he made her well’.

       A2 – HEALING THE BLEEDING WOMAN

       Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

       Mark 5:26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.

       Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed (2390) of her affliction (3148).

       Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free (5199) of your affliction (3148).”

       https://biblehub.com/greek/2390.htm iaomai: to heal <= (Mark 5:29)
       1 occurrence in Mark's gospel
       https://biblehub.com/greek/2395.htm iatros: a physician <= (Mark 2:17) (Mark 5:26)
       2 occurrences in Mark's gospel
       https://biblehub.com/greek/5199.htm hugies: sound, whole, healthy
       1 occurrence in Mark’s gospel
       https://biblehub.com/greek/3148.htm mastix: a whip, scourge (Mark 3:10) (Mark 5:29)

       Hygeia (goddess of health)
       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygieia
       Hygieia is a goddess of health (Greek: hugieia), cleanliness and hygiene. Her name is the source for the word “hygiene”.

       A3 – SYNTHESIS

       Kleo was pregnant for five years => a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
       Andromache from Epirus, concerning children => a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

       Medicaments for women’s wombs => she was healed (iaomai) of her affliction
       Hygieia is a goddess of health => be free (hugies) of your affliction

       In Mark’s gospel, the woman has been bleeding for 12 years. She represents the exhausted women who can no longer give birth to children.

       B – VOTIVE RELIEF
       https://journals.openedition.org/kentron/docannexe/image/1745/img-1-small580.jpg

       B1 – COMMENT FROM PIERRE SINEUX
       https://journals.openedition.org/kentron/1745 French text translated by DeepL

       A fragmentary relief from the Asklepieion in Piraeus (fig. 1), dating from the end of the 5th century BC or the beginning of the 4th century, may provide a form of paradigm for the series of votive reliefs relating to incubation8. Made from pentelic marble, the relief features an image in which three parts can be distinguished. In the centre, a woman is shown reclining on a klinÈ; facing the viewer, she lies on her left side, her left arm folded over a cushion resting on the headboard of the bed, her right hand holding the edge of the klinÈ. She is wearing a khitÔn and a cloak, the lower edge of which falls along the cushion. The klinÈ is covered with an animal skin, its two legs touching the ground. On the right, a bearded figure, whose tall stature indicates that he is a god, is holding both hands close to the woman’s neck or right shoulder; at the back, a goddess is standing, her right arm raised and holding a flap of her peplos. Given the context, everything suggests that these are Asklepios and Hygie. To the left, four individuals, smaller than the deities, stand with their right arm raised (a prayer gesture); an old man (with a beard) and a woman can be identified, followed by another woman draped in her cloak, next to whom is a child.
       …

       B2 – THE SLEEPING YOUNG GIRL

       Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved (4982) and live.”

       Mark 5:39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead (599), but asleep (2518).”

       Mark 5:40 And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child.

       Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

       https://biblehub.com/greek/599.htm apothnesko: to die
       https://biblehub.com/greek/2518.htm katheudo: to sleep

       B3 – SYNTHESIS

       Mark depicts an incubation ritual

       (Votive relief) with their right arm raised (a prayer gesture) => pleaded with Him (Mark 5:23)
       (Votive relief) these are Asklepios and Hygie => be free (hugies) of your affliction (Mark 5:34)
       (Votive relief) four individuals, smaller than the deities, stand => He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions (Mark 5:40)
       (Votive relief) A woman is shown reclining on a klinÈ => The child is not dead, but asleep (Mark 5:39)
       (Votive relief) holding both hands close to the woman’s neck => place Your hands on her (Mark 5:23)

       C – SYNTHESIS

       C1 – THINGS TO NOTE

       1 – The author of the Gospel gives us information about the physical illness of the adult woman (she has been losing blood for 12 years).
       2 – Mark gives no indication about the physical illness of the 12 year old girl who sleeps
       3 – He establishes a link between the adult woman and the young girl by sandwiching the two stories together and referring to the 12 years.

       C2 – WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE TWO CHARACTERS

       The adult woman is exhausted and is no longer able to have children.
       The young girl has just reached age of sexual maturity

       By merging the two characters, we can see an healing through an incubation ritual in a temple of Asclepios
       In a dream, the bleeding woman becomes once again the twelve-year-old girl who will be able to procreate.

       Andromache from Epirus,concerning children. When she was sleeping in the shrine she saw a dream the healing God touching her with this hand. From this a son was born to Andromache by Arhybbas
       The bleeding woman,concerning children. In a dream, she became once again the twelve-year-old girl who will be able to procreate. From this a son was born to the bleeding woman

       Mark then makes the basic idea more complex by adding elements to identify the adult woman as a pagan woman and the young girl as an Israelite girl. See my paragraph ” MONEY AND PILGRIMAGE”

       I have already written a post about the bleeding woman and the sleeping girl. I will improve it in a next step.
       https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-187764
       https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-187766

       18 – MONEY AND PILGRIMAGE (MARK 5:25-27)

       A – NARRATIVES

       https://www.attalus.org/docs/sig2/s1168.html

       (4) Ambrosia from Athens, blind in one eye. She came as a suppliant to the god. Walking about the sanctuary, she ridiculed some of the cures as being unlikely and impossible, the lame and the blind becoming well from only seeing a dream. Sleeping in the shrine, she saw a vision. It seemed to her the god came to her and said he would make her well, but she would have to pay a fee by dedicating a silver pig in the sanctuary as a memorial of her ignorance. When day came she left well.

       (22) Hermon of Thasos. He came as a blind man, and he was healed. But afterwards when he didn’t bring the offering, the god made him blind again. Then he came back and slept in the abaton, and he restored him to health.

       (25) Sostrata of Pherai … When he had sewn up her stomach and made the woman well, Asklepios revealed his presence to her and ordered her to send offerings to Epidauros.

       B – MARK’S GOSPEL

       Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

       Mark 5:26 She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

       Mark 5:27 When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.

       The adult woman is a pagan because she has to fight her way through the Israelite crowd to reach Jesus (just like the paralytic). The young girl is an Israelite because she is the daughter of a synagogue ruler
       The woman has already spent a lot of money in pagan temples, hoping to have a child. She now comes to the Israelite land so that the God of Israel gives her this child.

       19- MOCKERY

       A – NARRATIVES
       https://www.attalus.org/docs/sig2/s1168.html

       (9) Once a man came as a suppliant to the god who was so blind in one eye that, while he still had the eyelids of that eye, there was nothing within them and they were completely empty. Some of the people in the sanctuary were laughing at this simple-mindedness in thinking that he could be made to see, having absolutely nothing, not even the beginnings of an eye, but only the socket. Then in his sleep, a vision appeared to him. It seemed that the god boiled some drug, and then drew apart his eyelids and poured it in. When day came he departed with both eyes.

       B – MARK’S GOSPEL

       Mark 5:39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead (599), but asleep (2518).”

       https://biblehub.com/greek/599.htm apothnesko: to die
       https://biblehub.com/greek/2518.htm katheudo: to sleep

       Mark 5:40 And they laughed at Him. After He had put them all outside, He took the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and went in to see the child.

       20 – INCUBATION BY PROXY (MARK 7:24-30)

       A – NARRATIVES

       https://www.attalus.org/docs/sig2/s1168.html

       (21) Arata of Lakedaimon, dropsy.
       For her sake, her mother slept in the abaton, while she (the daughter) remained in Lacedaimon, and she (the mother) sees a dream.
       It seemed to her the god cut off the head of her daughter and hung the body neck downwards. After much fluid had run out, he untied the body and put the head back on the neck.
       Having seen this dream she (the mother) returned to Lakedaimon and found on her arrival that her daughter was well and that she (the daughter) had seen the same dream.

       B – MARK’S GOSPEL

       Mark 7:25 Instead, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit soon heard about Jesus, and she came and fell at His feet.

       Mark 7:30 And she went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

       21 – THE FINGERS OF THE SURGEON AND THE IRON OF THE SCALPEL (MARK 7:31-37) (MARK 14:47)

       A – EAR SURGERY

       https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2:7.8

       8 Whilst the eyes demand many kinds of surgical treatment, there are but few affections of the ears which are dealt with by this branch of medicine. It does happen, however, whether from birth, or later when there has been ulceration and the ear becomes filled up by scarring, that there is no passage in the ear and so it cannot hear. When this is the case, we must try with a probe whether the part is filled up deeply, or whether there is merely a superficial agglutination. For if deeply, there is no yielding to pressure made on the probe; if superficial, the probe enters freely. The former should not be touched, lest, where there is no hope of success, a spasm may be set up, and from that may follow danger of death. The latter is easily treated. For where the passage should be, either one of the caustic medicaments is to be applied, or an opening made with the cautery, or the place may even be cut through with a scalpel. After it has been laid open, and the ulceration has been cleaned, a quill is to be inserted, smeared with a medicament to induce a scar, and the same medicament applied around, until the skin has healed round the quill; by this means when the quill has been removed, the faculty of hearing follows.

       https://www.facs.org/for-medical-professionals/news-publications/news-and-articles/bulletin/2018/02/the-history-of-the-scalpel-from-flint-to-zirconium-coated-steel/
       Conclusion
       The scalpel, since its first use as a medical knife by the Romans, has been a symbol of the surgeon.

       https://www.facs.org/media/0rgp0qu2/scalpel_img2.png?quality=85&format=webp&rnd=133463668961100000
       Figure 2. Example of a Roman scallpellus and similar instruments

       B1 – THE FINGERS OF THE SURGEON

       Mark 7:32 Some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and hardly able to speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.

       Mark 7:33 So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.

       B2 – THE IRON OF THE KNIFE (G3162)

       Mark 14:47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword (G3162) and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
       https://biblehub.com/greek/3162.htm machaira: a short sword or dagger

       https://www.blueletterbible.org/lxx/gen/22/10/t_conc_22010
       https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/physis/septuagint-genesis/22.asp?pg=2
       Genesis 22:10 And Abraam stretched forth his hand to take the knife (G3162) to slay his son.
       https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3162/lxx/lxx/0-1/ a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh

       https://vocab.perseus.org/lemma/51742/ a large knife

       C – SYNTHESIS

       The hand on the patient (Mark 7:32) and the fingers into the man’s ears (Mark 7:33) refer to the surgeon who makes an incision with his scalpel and then inserts a quill
       The iron of the scalpel is suggested (Mark 7:32,33) while the iron of the sword/knife is explicit (Mark 14:47). In both cases, iron gives new ears capable of hearing the new Word of the God of Israel.
       Note that Mark wrote “ears” and not “ear”

       22 – THE HAND OF THE SURGEON AND THE IRON OF THE SCALPEL (MARK 8:22-26)

       A – EYE SURGERY
       https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2:7.7

       (7) But whilst the preceding kinds of lesion do not differ much among themselves or in the mode of treatment, those in the eyes which demand surgical measures are different from each other and differently treated. For instance in the upper eyelid cysts are apt to be formed, fatty and weighty, which hardly allow the eyes to be raised, and they set up a slight but persistent discharge of rheum from the eyes; and these generally occur in children. When the eyeball has been pressed with two fingers so as to render the skin of the upper eyelid tense, a transverse linear incision is to be made with a scalpel, with so light a touch that the cyst itself is not cut into; when the way is opened it protrudes of itself. It should then be seized with the fingers and taken out, for it comes away easily. One of the ointments, with which running eyes are anointed, is then smeared on, and in a very few days a fine scar is induced. There is more trouble when the cyst has been cut into, for it lets out a humour, and afterwards, because it is very thin, it cannot be laid hold of. Should this chance to happen, something to promote suppuration should be applied.

       B – MARK’S GOSPEL

       Mark 8:22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

       Mark 8:23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked

       Mark 8:24 The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”

       Mark 8:25 Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly.

       C – SYNTHESIS

       The hands on the patient (Mark 8:23) and the hand on the man’s eyes (Mark 8:25) refer to the surgeon who makes an incision with his scalpel in order to remove a cyst from the eyelid
       and then applies an ointment
       There is no immediate cure. The patient has to wait for the scarring before sight is fully restored (Mark 8:24)

       The surgeon’s scalpel gives the new eyes capable of understanding the new Word of the God of Israel.
       Note that Mark wrote “eyes” and not “eye”

       23 – THE SPIT TO ALLUDE TO THE HEALING SERPENT AND ASCLEPIOS (MARK 7:31-37) (MARK 8:22-26)

       A – ASCLEPIOS (THE HEALING GOD)

       https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascl%C3%A9pios#/media/Fichier:NAMA-Asklepios_Epidaure.jpg
       A statue of Asclepius with a snake wrapped around a stick

       B – NARRATIVES

       https://www.attalus.org/docs/sig2/s1168.html

       (33) … When they arrived in Halieis and Thersandros was lying in bed in his house, the snake came down from the wagon and cured Thersandros …

       (17) A man’s toe was healed by a snake. He was in a terrible condition from a malignant ulceration on his toe. During the day he was carried out of the abaton by the servants and was sitting on a seat. He fell asleep there, and then a snake came out of the abaton and healed the toe with its tongue; and when it had done this it went back into the abaton again. When the man woke up, he was well and he said he had seen a vision: it seemed to him that a good-looking young man had sprinkled a drug over his toe.

       C – PLUTUS

       https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0040%3Acard%3D696
       Lines 696-747

       Cario
       Thereupon he came and seated himself at the head of Plutus’ bed, took a perfectly clean rag [730] and wiped his eyelids; Panacea covered his head and face with a purple cloth, while the god whistled, and two enormous snakes came rushing from the sanctuary.

       Wife
       Great gods!

       Cario
       [735] They slipped gently beneath the purple cloth and, as far as I could judge, licked the patient’s eyelids; for, in less time than even you need, mistress, to drain down ten beakers of wine, Plutus rose up; he could see. I clapped my hands with joy [740] and awoke my master, and the god immediately disappeared with the serpents into the sanctuary. As for those who were lying near Plutus, you can imagine that they embraced him tenderly. Dawn broke and not one of them had closed an eye. [745] As for myself, I did not cease thanking the god who had so quickly restored to Plutus his sight and had made Neoclides blinder than ever.

       C – MARK’S GOSPEL

       Mark 7:32 Some people brought to Him a man who was deaf and hardly able to speak, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him.
       Mark 7:33 So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.

       Mark 8:22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
       Mark 8:23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.

       Mark 8:25 Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly.

       https://biblehub.com/greek/4429.htm ptuo to spit

       https://vocab.perseus.org/lemma/73085/ to spit out

       D – SYNTHESIS

       (17) the snake spit => He spit on the man’s ears/eyes (Mark 7:33) (Mark 8:23)
       (17) the snake healed the toe with its tongue => He touched the man’s tongue (Mark 7:33)
       The spit (Mark 7:33) (Mark 8:23) => the snake spit => the snake wrapped around Asclepios’ stick => Asclepios (the healing God)

       (PLUTUS)
       he (the god) came and seated himself at the head of Plutus’ bed => Jesus took him aside privately, (Mark 8:22)
       the god whistled, and two enormous snakes came rushing from the sanctuary.
       the god immediately disappeared with the serpents into the sanctuary
       The spit (Mark 7:33) (Mark 8:23) => the snake spit => the god whistled, and two enormous snakes came => Asclepios (the healing God)

       The god who had so quickly restored to Plutus his sight => his sight was restored (Mark 8:25)

       24 – A WAY OF TELLING THE SURGERY SIMILAR TO THAT OF EPIDAURUS (MARK 8:22-26)

       A – CURES AT EPIDAUROS
       https://www.attalus.org/docs/sig2/s1168.html

       (32) Antikrates of Knidos, eyes. This man had been stuck with a spear through both his eyes in some battle, and he became blind and carried around the spearhead with him, inside his face. Sleeping in the shrine, he saw a vision. It seemed to him the god pulled out the dart and fitted the pupil back into his eyelids. When day came he left well.

       (17) A man’s toe was healed by a snake. He was in a terrible condition from a malignant ulceration on his toe. During the day he was carried out of the abaton by the servants and was sitting on a seat. He fell asleep there, and then a snake came out of the abaton and healed the toe with its tongue; and when it had done this it went back into the abaton again. When the man woke up, he was well and he said he had seen a vision: it seemed to him that a good-looking young man had sprinkled a drug over his toe.

       (9) Once a man came as a suppliant to the god who was so blind in one eye that, while he still had the eyelids of that eye,
       …
       Then in his sleep, a vision appeared to him. It seemed that the god boiled some drug, and then drew apart his eyelids and poured it in.

       (18) Alketas of Halieis. This man being blind, saw a dream. It seemed to him that the god came towards him and drew open his eyes with his fingers, and he first saw the trees in the sanctuary. When day came he left well.

       B – MARK’S GOSPEL

       I>Mark 8:22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.

       Mark 8:23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked

       Mark 8:24 The man looked up and said, “I can see the people, but they look like trees walking around.”

       Mark 8:25 Once again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and when he opened them his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly.

       C – SYNTHESIS

       C1 – SURGERY

       (32) and he became blind => people brought a blind man
       (32) the god pulled out the dart and fitted the pupil back into his eyelids => Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes

       C2 – THE SNAKE TO EVOKE THE GOD WHO REMOVES A CYST IN THE EYELID

       (17) A man’s toe was healed by a snake. He was in a terrible condition from a malignant ulceration on his toe
       (18) This man being blind => people brought a blind man
       (18) the god drew open his eyes with his fingers => Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes
       (18) he first saw the trees => I can see the people, but they look like trees
       (18) When day came he left well => his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly.

       The presence of the snakes highlights the divine intervention and masks the surgeon’s gestures removing the cyst in the eyelid (as depicted by Celsus)
       The imperfect vision (that of men walking like trees) expresses the time required for scarring and full restoration of sight.

       25 – VOTIVE RELIEF MIXING “SURGERY” AND “DIVINE INTERVENTION” (MARK 7:31-37) (MARK 8:22-26)

       http://books.openedition.org/pulg/docannexe/image/269/img-3.jpg
       Votive relief depicting Amphiaraos and a patient

       A1 – COMMENT FROM CECILE NISSEN
       (Fig. 2) French text translated by DeepL

       But the god can also act like a doctor. On a remarkable votive stele discovered in the Amphiaraion of Oropos, in Boeotia, the dedicator of the name Archinos is depicted, in the left foreground, standing opposite Amphiaraos (Fig. 2): the latter, very concentrated, is operating on the patient’s shoulder with an instrument that he is holding in his right hand, while his left hand supports the patient’s arm. Dated to the beginning of the 4th century BC, this document is quite exceptional in that it is divided into four tableaus, each illustrating a different stage in the divine consultation. While Archinos’ arrival at the sanctuary, depicted on the far right, and the consecration of the votive plaque, depicted in low relief in the background on the right, are fairly anecdotal, the double depiction of the healing is much more significant. In addition to the surgical treatment of the patient in the human mode, divine intervention is again illustrated on the right, in an intermediate plane, but this time in the form of a snake, which bites the right shoulder of the sleeping patient during incubation.

       B – MARK’S GOSPEL

       Surgical treatment => His fingers into the man’s ears (Mark 7:33) + His hands on the man’s eyes (Mark 8:23)
       Divine intervention => He spit (Mark 7:33) + He spit (Mark 8:23)

       26 – THE EPILEPTIC BOY (MARK 9:18-26)

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epilepsy
       https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/epilepsy
       Since 16th century; borrowed from French epilepsie, from Latin epilepsia, from Ancient Greek epilepsÍa), from (epilambano, “I seize”), from (epi-, “upon”) + (lambano, “I take”).

       A – GENERALIZED TONIC-CLONIC SEIZURES

       https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/fr/Article?contentid=2060&language=English
       Generalized tonic-clonic seizures

       What are possible signs of a tonic-clonic seizure?
       Crying out or groaning loudly
       Loss of consciousness and falling down
       Increased heart rate and blood pressure
       Sweating
       Tremor
       In the tonic phase, the child is rigid, their teeth clench, their lips may turn blue because blood is being sent to protect their internal organs, and saliva or foam may drip from their mouth; they may appear to stop breathing because their muscles, including their breathing muscles, are stiff.

       B – A DESCRIPTION BY LUCRETIUS ( 99 BC – 55 BC)

       https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0131%3Abook%3D3%3Acard%3D487
       Lucretius, De Rerum Natura

       And, moreover,
       Often will some one in a sudden fit,
       As if by stroke of lightning, tumble down
       Before our eyes, and sputter foam, and grunt,
       Blither, and twist about with sinews taut,
       Gasp up in starts, and weary out his limbs
       With tossing round. No marvel, since distract
       Through frame by violence of disease.

       C – MARK’S GOSPEL
       https://biblehub.com/mark/9.htm

       Mark 9:18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams (875) at the mouth, gnashes (5149) his teeth, and becomes rigid (3583). I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.”
       …
       Mark 9:20 So they brought him, and seeing Jesus, the spirit immediately threw the boy into a convulsion (4952). He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming (875) at the mouth.
       …
       Mark 9:26 After shrieking and convulsing (4682) him violently, the spirit came out. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He is dead.”

       https://biblehub.com/greek/2638.htm katalambano: to lay hold of, seize

       D – SYNTHESIS

       Mark gives a fairly precise symptomatology which in fact evokes epilepsy in its tonic-clonic form.
       The doctors do not know how to cure this kind of disease. So, the only answer is to pray for divine intervention

       Mark 9:29 And He said to them, “This kind is able to go out by nothing except by prayer.“

       E – OTHER COMMENT

       Mark 9:20 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been with him?” “From childhood,” he said.

       https://atc.io/files/am/Advice%20to%20an%20Epileptic%20Boy.pdf?ref=longnow.org
       TEMKIN, OWSEI, Galen’s “Advice for an Epileptic Boy.” Translated from the Greek. (Book Review) , Institute of the History of Medicine, Bulletin, 2 (1934) p.179

       F – OTHER SOURCES

       https://vocab.perseus.org/lemma/32346/?filter=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0551.tlg017.perseus-grc2

       https://scaife.perseus.org/reader/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0551.tlg017.perseus-grc2:2.16.110?right=perseus-eng2
       Appianus of Alexandria, Civil Wars (2.16.110)

       And now CÆsar, either renouncing his hope, or tired out, and wishing to avoid the plot and accusation, or giving up the city to certain of his enemies, or to cure his bodily ailment of epilepsy and convulsions, which came upon him suddenly and especially when he was inactive, conceived the idea of a long campaign against the GetÆ and the Parthians.

       27 – THE SICK CARRIED ON THEIR PALLET (MARK 2:3-5) (MARK 6:54-55)

       A – NARRATIVES

       https://www.attalus.org/docs/sig2/s1168.html

       (15) Hermodikos of Lampsakos, paralysed of body. When he was sleeping in the shrine, he was healed and ordered, when he went out, to carry into the sanctuary the biggest stone that he could. He brought the one which lies in front of the abaton.

       B – THE IMMORTAL GODS VISITING THE MORTALS ON THEIR PALLETS
       (Cicero, De Divinatione Liber Alter)

       http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2007.01.0043%3Abook%3D2%3Asection%3D129
       63. “The question now arises as to which is the more probable: do the immortal gods, who are [p. 517] of surpassing excellence in all things, constantly flit about, not only the beds, but even the lowly pallets of mortals, wherever they may be …

       C – VOTIVE RELIEF
       https://books.openedition.org/pulg/docannexe/image/269/img-1-small700.jpg

       C1 – COMMENT FROM CECILE NISSEN
       https://books.openedition.org/pulg/269 French text translated by DeepL

       Sometimes, the god’s intervention is depicted as occurring in a completely miraculous way; for example, on a marble support of unknown provenance, preserved in Copenhagen, Asclepius appears, in the 4th century BC, in the form of a snake descending from a tree as a patient passes on a stretcher (Fig. 1).

       D – MARK’S GOSPEL

       Mark 2:3 Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.
       Mark 2:5 Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.

       Mark 6:54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus
       Mark 6:55 and ran through that whole region, carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was.

       (Votive Relief) A sick carried by four men => a paralytic carried by four men.
       (Votive Relief) The snake descending from a tree => lowered the paralytic on his mat

       28 – THE LAMP UNDER THE BED (MARK 4:21)

       A – PLUTUS (A PLAY)

       https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0040%3Acard%3D651
       …

       Cario
       [665] Yes. Firstly, Neoclides, who is blind, but steals much better than those who see clearly; then many others attacked by complaints of all kinds. The lights were put out and [670] the priest enjoined us to sleep, especially recommending us to keep silent should we hear any noise.

       https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0040%3Acard%3D696
       Lines 696-747

       Cario
       Thereupon he came and seated himself at the head of Plutus’ bed, took a perfectly clean rag [730] and wiped his eyelids; Panacea covered his head and face with a purple cloth,

       B – MARK’S GOSPEL
       https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/4.htm

       Mark 4:21 Jesus also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed (2825)? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?
       Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light.

       https://biblehub.com/greek/2825.htm kline: a couch, bed

       C- SYNTHESIS

       PLUTUS
       The healing god only appears when the patient is asleep (the patient is lying in bed and the lamp is off).

       MARK’S GOSPEL
       Healings are performed in the full daylight because they represent forgiveness of sins and salvation.
       By extension, the meaning of the gospel is not hidden. Jesus teaches it to his disciples (learners) so that they become apostles. The apostles are the messengers sent to preach the Gospel throughout the world.

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3101.htm mathetes: a disciple
       https://biblehub.com/greek/3129.htm manthano: to learn

       https://biblehub.com/greek/652.htm apostolos: a messenger, one sent on a mission, an apostle

       29 – THE SERPENT, THE STAFF OF ASCLEPIOS AND THE STAFF OF MOSES

       A – ASCLEPIOS’ STAFF

       https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascl%C3%A9pios#/media/Fichier:NAMA-Asklepios_Epidaure.jpg
       A statue of Asclepios with a serpent wrapped around a rod/staff

       B – MOSES’ STAFF

       https://biblehub.com/exodus/4-1.htm
       Exodus 4:1 Then Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ”
       Exodus 4:2 And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.
       Exodus 4:3 “Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran from it.
       Exodus 4:4 “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail,” the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

       https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/chapter.asp?book=2&page=4 (LXX)
       Exodus 4:3 And he said, Cast it on the ground: and he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent (G3789), and Moses fled from it.
       Exodus 4:4 And the Lord said to Moses, Stretch forth (G1614) thine hand, and take hold of its tail: so he stretched forth (G1614) his hand and took hold of the tail,
       Exodus 4:5 and it became a rod (G4464) in his hand,

       30 – THE STAFF OF THE TWELVE (MARK 6:7,8)

       Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
       Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff (4464) for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—

       Mark 16:18 they will pick up snakes (3789) with their hands, and if they drink any deadly [thing] (2286), it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3789.htm ophis: a snake
       https://biblehub.com/greek/4464.htm rhabdos: a staff, rod
       1 occurrence in Mark’s Gospel

       SYNTHESIS

       The snake, that they can pick up with their hands, is the snake turned back into a staff (Exodus 4:4)

       31 – THE HEALING SERPENT AND ITS VENOM (MARK 7:33) (MARK 8:23) (MARK 16:18)

       Mark 7:33 So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit and touched the man’s tongue.

       Mark 8:23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.

       Mark 16:18 they will pick up snakes (3789) with their hands, and if they drink any deadly [thing] (2286), it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3789.htm ophis: a snake
       https://biblehub.com/greek/2286.htm thanasimos: deadly

       SYNTHESIS

       The spit alludes to the snake spit (Mark 7:33 ) (Mark 8:23)
       The tongue alludes to the snake tongue (Mark 7:33 )
       The deadly things you can drink are the medicines made from snake venom (Mark 16:18)

       Using snake venom requires a great deal of knowledge and experience

       https://www.3ssante.com/caducee-des-pharmaciens/
       …
       However, the snake is closely linked to the notion of caution. On the one hand, to extract its venom without endangering oneself. On the other hand, to use this venom, which can be both a deadly poison and a remedy when used wisely by the initiated.

       https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3320207/
       Comparative study of anticoagulant and procoagulant properties of 28 snake venoms

       32 – STRETCHING THE HAND AND PLACING THE HANDS (MARK 1:41 …)

       Mark 1:41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out (1614) His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”

       Mark 3:5 Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out (1614) your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.

       Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place (2007) Your hands on her, so that she will be saved and live.”
       …
       Mark 16:18 they will pick up snakes (3789) with their hands, and if they drink any deadly [thing] (2286), it will not harm them; they will lay (2007) their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

       https://biblehub.com/greek/1614.htm ekteino: to extend
       https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1614/lxx/lxx/0-1/

       https://biblehub.com/greek/2007.htm epitithe mi: to lay upon, to place upon
       https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2007/lxx/lxx/0-1/

       B – SYNTHESIS

       At this point, the difference is the physical contact

       33 – ABATON, DREAM, VISION AND APPEARANCE IN THE BIBLE

       A – ABATON

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abaton_(disambiguation)
       An abaton is a sacred place, which is not accessible to most people;

       https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=%E1%BC%84%CE%B2%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD&t=LXX#s=s_primary_0_1

       https://www.blueletterbible.org/lxx/lev/16/22/t_conc_106022
       https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/chapter.asp?book=3&page=16

       Leviticus 16:22 And the goat shall bear their unrighteousnesses upon him into a desert (abaton) land; and Aaron shall send away the goat into the wilderness (G2048).

       https://biblehub.com/greek/2048.htm erÉmos: solitary, desolate

       https://biblehub.com/bsb/leviticus/16.htm The Scapegoat
       Leviticus 16:22 The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary (1509) place, and the man will release it into the wilderness.

       https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1509.htm gezerah: separation
       1 Occurrence in hebrew bible

       A1 – COMMENT ABOUT GEZERAH

       gezerah (Leviticus 16:22) => G-Z-R => G-R-Z => gerasa (Mark 5:1)

       https://search.inscriptionsisraelpalestine.org/inscriptions/jera0007

       Transcription
       Pro salute Imperatoris Caesaris nostri Traiani Hadriani Augusti patri patriae Deaniae Augustae. equites singulares eius qui hibernati sunt Antiochiae ad Chrysorhoan quae et Gerasa hiera et asylos et autonomos, quorum curam agit Marcus Calventius Viator, centurio legionis V Macedonicae, turmae VIII

       Translation
       To Augustan Diana for the health of our Emperor Caesar Trajan Hadrian Augustus father of his country, erected by the special detachments of his cavalry who wintered at the city of Antioch by Chrysorhoas, known as Gerasa Sacred, Inviolate and Autonomous, whose care is entrusted to Marcus Calventius Viator, centurion of legio V Macedonica.

       A2 – SYNTHESIS

       In the bible, abaton is an adjective. The correct translation may be “not accessible to most people”.
       In Mark’s gospel, the name ‘Gerasa’ may allude to abaton as sacred and inviolate place

       B – DREAM

       https://biblehub.com/greek/1798.htm enupnion: a dream https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1798/lxx/lxx/0-1/
       it occurs 76 times in 65 verses in the LXX Greek.

       C – VISION

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3705.htm horama: that which is seen
       https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3705/lxx/lxx/0-1/

       D – APPEARANCE

       https://biblehub.com/greek/3799.htm opsis: the act of seeing, the sense of sight
       from opopa (perf. of horao)

       https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3799/lxx/lxx/0-1/
       properly, sight (the act), i.e. (by implication) the visage, an external show: – appearance, countenance, face.

       D1 – STUDY

       https://books.openedition.org/editionsehess/3423?lang=fr
       A night at the Asklepieion in Aristophanes’ Ploutos: a narrative in the theatre for the study of the incubation rite
       Pierre Sineux

       The patient’s sleep and awakening constitute the temporal boundaries of the epiphany. While Carion’s expressions of joy confirm his status as a spectator of a theatrical scene, the disappearance of the god and the snakes, because it coincides with Ploutos’ awakening, evokes the interruption of a dream. Yet – and this is remarkable in a text that recounts an incubation – at no point is there any mention of a dream. This absence is not, in my opinion, due solely to theatrical artifice but expresses, just as much, a conception of the dream according to which its content – a vision – has the same force of reality as what we see awake. The same conception is conveyed by the term (opsis), which cancels out the opposition between sleep and wakefulness.

       SUMMARY

       A – SOURCES

       A1 – RATIONAL MEDICINE

       The author is familiar with medicine and surgery as we find out in Celsus’ books (25 BC – 50 AD)
       If we date Mark’s Gospel to the 3rd or 4th century, we can add Galen

       Celsus’ books deal with medication, surgery and cauterisation. (Celsus, De Medecina)
       We find out the same things in the Hippocratic corpus (Hippocrates, Aphorismi 7.87)
       “What medicines do not cure; iron does. What iron (scalpel) does not cure, fire does; what fire does not cure must be regarded as incurable.”

       The author also knows the use of snake venom, which requires a great deal of knowledge and experience bacause it can be both a deadly poison and a remedy when used wisely by the initiated. (Mithridates’ Scythian doctors, reported by Appian)

       The author also knows epilepsy as depicted by Lucretius and Celsus

       A2 – INCUBATION RITUALS

       The author is also familiar with the incubation rituals in healing temples.
       They are known through

       1 – Narratives and votive reliefs
       2 – The Aristophane’s play (Plutus)
       3 – The sacred tales (Aristides)

       These sources mixed rational medicine and divine intervention.

       Incubation is the religious practice of sleeping in a sacred area with the intention of experiencing a divinely inspired dream or cure.
       The patients spend the night in the sacred area and the god Asclepios appears to them in a dream and heals them by touching them,
       The god Asclepios is sometimes accompanied by snakes. In such a case, the snake licks the wound with its tongue. The snakes appear and disappear with the God

       B – MARK’S GOSPEL

       B1 – The author uses his medical and surgical knowledges to write different scenes. Here are a few examples

       A woman has been losing blood for 12 years => Incompetent physicians have given her medicine inducing menstruation (Celsus)

       Jesus heals a deaf man by placing his fingers in his ears => The surgeon who first makes an incision with the iron of the scalpel and then introduces a quill into the ear (Celsus)

       Jesus heals a blind man by placing His hands on the man’s eyes => The surgeon who removes a cyst from the eyelid using the iron of the scalpel (Celsus)

       In the 2 narratives with surgical treatments, he adds spitting. By this way, he is referring to the snake’s venom and its properties (Mithridates’ Scythian doctors, reported by Appian)

       In another scene, The author explicitly states that the only cure for epilepsy is prayer (Like Lucretius and Celsus, he knows that doctors can’t do anything)

       B2 – The author also draws on his knowledge of incubation ritual. Below are a few examples

       Incubation ritual is easily detected in 2 narratives, the one in which the girl is asleep (Mark 5:25-41 and the one in which the girl is lying on a bed (Mark 7:24-30).
       In the first narrative (Mark 5:25-41), the incubation ritual is the framework. Mark then makes the basic idea more complex by adding elements to identify the adult woman as a pagan woman and the young girl as an Israelite girl

       In the 2 accounts with surgical treatments, he adds spitting to evoke the snake and Asclepios, the healing god symbolized by a snake. By this way, he suggests the divine intervention

       C – MEANINGS

       In Mark’s gospel, healing represents the forgiveness of sins and the salvation. The author integrates biblical sources, knowledge of medical practices, knowledge of incubation ritual and writes various scenes, each with a specific meaning.

       C1- Healing the paralytic
       People must walk in the way of the God of Israel

       C2 – The lamp under the bed
       Healings are performed in the full daylight because they represent forgiveness of sins and salvation.
       By extension, the meaning of the gospel is not hidden.

       C3 – The bleeding woman and the sleeping young girl
       The God of Israel will save the pagan and israelite people

       C4 – Healing the deaf
       People need new ears to hear the Word of the God of Israel

       C5 – Healing the blind
       People need new eyes to understand the Word of the God of Israel

       C6 – Healing the epileptic
       The author explicitely states that people must pray to be saved

       D – IMAGES TO KEEP IN MIND

       https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascl%C3%A9pios#/media/Fichier:NAMA-Asklepios_Epidaure.jpg
       A statue of Asclepios with a snake wrapped around a stick

       https://books.openedition.org/pulg/docannexe/image/269/img-1-small700.jpg
       Asclepios in the form of a snake descending from a tree <= (Mark 2:3-5) (Mark 6:54-55)

       https://books.openedition.org/pulg/docannexe/image/269/img-2.jpg
       Votive relief depicting Amphiaraos and a patient (Relief mixing "surgery" and "divine intervention") <= (Mark 7:31-37) (Mark 8:22-26)

       http://books.openedition.org/pulg/docannexe/image/269/img-3.jpg
       Votive relief portraying Asclepios healing a youth (Incubation ritual) <= (Mark 5:25-41)

       https://journals.openedition.org/kentron/docannexe/image/1745/img-3-small580.jpg
       Healing or talking to the god ? <= (Mark 5:25-41) (Mark 7:24-30)

       https://www.facs.org/media/0rgp0qu2/scalpel_img2.png?quality=85&format=webp&rnd=133463668961100000
       Example of a Roman scallpellus and similar instruments <= (Mark 7:33) (Mark 8:23) (Mark 14:47)

       NEXT STEP
       Improvement of my first post about the bleeding woman and the sleeping young girl

       Reply

24. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 19: Jesus in his fatherland
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 6:1-6) The stone of stumbling between Jesus (the new Word of God) and the sons of Israel (the law of their fathers)

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/6.htm
    Mark 6:1 Jesus went on from there and came to His hometown, accompanied by His disciples.
    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished (1605). “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?
    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense (4624) at Him.
    Mark 6:4 Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
    Mark 6:5 So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.
    Mark 6:6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He went around from village to village, teaching the people.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1605.htm ekplÉssÓ: to strike out, hence to strike with panic, to amaze
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4624.htm skandalizÓ: to put a snare (in the way), hence to cause to stumble, to give offense

    1 – MAIN LINES ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW
    2 – THE WORD OF GOD THAT STRIKES MEN AND MAKES THEM STUMBLE
    3 – THE NEW FORGIVENESS THAT STRIKES THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND MAKES THEM STUMBLE (SKANDALIZÓ) IN THEIR WAYS
    4 – THE FIRST TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE AND THE CURRENT SEQUENCE
    5 – THE FATHERLAND: JACOB’S RETURN TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE IN THE LAND OF CANAAN
    6 – THE CHILDREN OF JACOB/ISRAEL THROUGH TIME
    7 – THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS
    8 – THE LAW OF OUR FATHERS
    9 – THE OLD AND THE NEW WORD: THE SABBATH AS A MARKER
    10 – THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WHO STUMBLE BECAUSE OF THE NEW FORGIVENESS
    11 – THE OTHER STONE OF STUMBLING: SHARING THE WORD WITH PAGANS
    12 – JESUS THE WISE MAN WHO RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF GOD, UNDERSTANDS THE THINGS OF GOD AND TEACHES THEM
    13 – JESUS THE CARPENTER/CRAFTSMAN WHO SHAPES WITH CHISELS
    14 – THE PROPHET AND THE DREAMER
    15 – JOSEPH THE DREAMER REJECTED BY HIS BROTHERS BUT HONOURED BY PHARAOH
    16 – MOTHER, BROTHERS, SISTERS: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
    17 – WHAT ABOUT THE FATHER?
    18 – JAMES
    19 – JOSES/JOSEPH
    20 – SIMON
    21 – JUDAS
    22 – MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES
    23 – MARY MAGDALENE: THE PAGAN WOMAN
    24 – SALOME: THE GARMENTS THAT THE 2 MARYS WEAR
    25 – MARY MAGDALENE AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES CHANGE THEIR GARMENTS
    26 – FIRST SYNTHETIC VIEW ABOUT SOME CHARACTERS (JAMES, MARY, …)
    27 – THE DISCIPLES
    28 – THE PAGAN WOMAN AND HER ACCEPTANCE BY THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
    29 – LAST READING
    30 – MORE ABOUT THE HARDSHIP BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD
    31 – MORE ABOUT THOSE WHO STUMBLE BECAUSE OF THE WORD
    32 – MORE ABOUT NUMBERS 12:1-15 AND MARK’S GOSPEL
    33 – MORE ABOUT GENESIS AND MARK’S GOSPEL
    SUMMARY

    1 – MAIN LINES ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW

    A – Presentation of the book

    Mark 1:1 This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

    B – The theme of the gospel: The forgiveness of sins

    Mark 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.

    C – A new forgiveness of sins fulfilled through the redemption described by Isaiah

    Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet
    Mark 1:7 And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

    The suffering servant (Isaiah 53)
    Who does not take the right to redeem takes off his sandals (Ruth 4:7,8)

    D – Jesus, the more powerful than John, proclaims the gospel of God (the new Word of God) to hebrew people

    Mark 1:14 … Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

    E – Openness to pagan people

    Mark 1:16 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew.

    F – First teaching in the synagogue so that the Israelites discover the new Word of God

    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed (2284) and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! …

    F – God makes a new covenant with Israel

    Mark 1:30 Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her.
    Mark 1:31 So He (Jesus) went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.

    Note: We have to know the book of Ruth to see the equivalence between healing and forgiveness of sins
    In this scene, Jesus takes upon himself the sins of Israel in order to redeem them.

    G – More about the hebrew people, the new forgiveness and the keeping of traditions inherited from their fathers

    Mark 1:40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
    Mark 1:42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.

    A leper/hebrew is healed because he has believed in the new forgiveness of sins
    What’s more, the leper/hebrew is also cleansed.

    Mark 1:43 Jesus promptly sent him (the leper) away with a stern warning:
    Mark 1:44 “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

    Although he is cleansed, Jesus asks the Hebrew to do what Moses prescribed in Leviticus 14
    Through this example, Mark tells the Hebrews that the new forgiveness does not imply the renunciation of their traditions such as circumcision or dietary laws

    Note that Mark chose the right example because the Moses’ laws about leprosy only consider the cleansing but say nothing about the healing (see Leviticus 13).

    H – More about the pagan people, the new forgiveness and the keeping of their traditions

    Mark 2 :5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

    A paralytic/pagan is healed only by his faith. He has not observed any prescription described in Leviticus.

    I – Mark explicitly equates forgiveness and healing

    Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?

    J – Circumcision is not the sign of the new covenant

    Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi (3018) son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth . “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.

    K – Jesus asks a synagogue leader to join him

    Mark 3:3 Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.”
    Mark 3:4 And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.

    L – Jesus crosses the sea so that the pagan people discover the new Word

    Mark 5:19 But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”

    M – Healing, forgiveness and salvation

    Mark 5:29 Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed (2390) of her affliction.
    The woman gets healing (forgiveness of sins)

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”
    The woman gets salvation

    Mark adds a new concept, salvation. Salvation means entering the kingdom of God, which will be represented by entering the rock-cut tomb.

    N – Mark links the fate of pagan people and sons of Israel through an intercalation and the term “12 years”

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.
    Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded.

    O – SYNTHESIS

    sickness/affliction => sin against the God of Israel
    apparent healing => forgiveness of sins (promise of redemption)
    death of Jesus => actual redemption
    entry into the tomb cut out of the rock => actual salvation and entry into the kingdom of God

    Faith is needed to be forgiven and saved.
    The Good News only deal with the forgiveness of sins. As a result, the pagan people and the sons of Israel can keep their own traditions.

    2 – THE WORD OF GOD THAT STRIKES MEN AND MAKES THEM STUMBLE

    A – MALACHI
    https://biblehub.com/malachi/2-8.htm

    Malachi 2:8 But you have departed from the way, and your instruction (8451) has caused many to stumble (4383). You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8451.htm torah: direction, instruction, law
    Word Origin from yarah
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4383.htm mikshol: a stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, a stumbling block

    B – JEREMIAH
    https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/18-15.htm

    Jeremiah 18:15 Yet My people have forgotten Me. They burn incense to worthless idols that make them stumble (3782) in their ways, leaving the ancient roads to walk on rutted bypaths (5410) instead of on the highway.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3782.htm kashal: to stumble, stagger, totter
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5410.htm nathiyb: path

    C – ISAIAH: STONE OF STUMBLING (5063), ROCK OF OFFENSE (4383)
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/8.htm

    Isaiah 8:13 The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.
    Isaiah 8:14 And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling (5063) and a rock of offense (4383) , to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
    Isaiah 8:15 Many will stumble (3782) over these; they will fall (5037) and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”
    Isaiah 8:16 Bind up the testimony and seal the law among my disciples.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5063.htm negeph: a blow, a striking
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5062.htm nagaph: to strike, smite

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4383.htm mikshol: a stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, a stumbling block
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3782.htm kashal: to stumble, stagger, totter
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5307.htm naphal: to fall, lie

    God must be feared (obeyed) otherwise he will become
    1 – a stone that strikes men and makes them stumble
    2 – a rock that men offend

    3 – THE NEW FORGIVENESS THAT STRIKES THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND MAKES THEM STUMBLE (SKANDALIZÓ) IN THEIR WAYS

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/6.htm
    Mark 6:1 Jesus went on from there and came to His hometown, accompanied by His disciples.
    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?
    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him.
    Mark 6:4 Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
    Mark 6:5 So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.
    Mark 6:6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He went around from village to village, teaching the people.

    A – SOME TROUBLES WITH THE TRANSLATIONS

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished (1605).
    Mark 6:3 … And they took offense (1605) at Him.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1605.htm ekplÉssÓ: to strike out, hence to strike with panic, to amaze
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4141.htm plÉssÓ: to strike

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4624.htm skandalizÓ: to put a snare (in the way), hence to cause to stumble, to give offense

    We have to care with the translations. Offense is the offense done to God by disobeying his law/Word

    B – A BETTER TRANSLATION CONSIDERING THE CONTEXT

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were struck (1605).
    Mark 6:3 … And they stumbled (1605) because of Him

    At this point, people in the synagogue know that Jesus teaches a new forgiveness of sins. They know also the leper’s healing and therefore they know that the new forgiveness does not imply the renunciation of their traditions such as circumcision or dietary laws

    However, many are struck by what they hear and it will make them stumble. This means that Jesus is asking them something they cannot do i.e. the renunciation of the forgiveness that their fathers have taught them

    C – VERY FEW OF FORGIVENESS OF SINS

    Mark 6:5 So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.

    Mark makes it clear that many have kept the old forgiveness since Jesus can only perform a few healing/forgiveness.

    D – SYNTHESIS

    This sequence shows that Jesus has taken a new step. After teaching the new forgiveness and showing its power, he tells the children of Israel that from now on they must accept the new forgiveness or they will be considered as sinners.
    Sin is the offense done to God by disobeying his Word

    4 – THE FIRST TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE AND THE CURRENT SEQUENCE

    A – FIRST TEACHING, FIRST BLOW/STRIKE: PEOPLE DISCOVER THE NEW WORD

    Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
    Mark 1:22 The people were struck (1605) at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

    A1 – A man is struck (with stupor) because he has immediately understood the meaning and cannot accept it

    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

    A2 – The others are struck (with surprise) because they have only seen the authority of Jesus

    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed (2284) and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2284.htm thambeÓ: to astonish

    B – SECOND TEACHING, SECOND BLOW/STRIKE: JESUS ASKS PEOPLE TO ACCEPT THE NEW FORGIVENESS OF SINS

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were struck (1605).
    Mark 6:3 … And they stumbled (4624) because of Him.

    At this point, people in the synagogue know that the new forgiveness does not imply the renunciation of their traditions such as circumcision or dietary laws.
    Many are struck and stumble because they cannot do what Jesus asks of them i.e. the renunciation of the forgiveness that their fathers taught them

    C – FIRST TEACHING: A MAN RECOGNISES JESUS AS THE CONSECRATED MAN

    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

    nazir/nazar => nazirite => nazareth
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5144.htm nazar: consecrate

    The nazirite must be holy (Numbers 6:2,5)

    D – SECOND TEACHING: PEOPLE RECOGNISE JESUS AS THE ONE TO WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN KNOWLEDGE AND POWER

    Mark 6:2 … and many who heard Him were struck.
    “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked.
    “What is this wisdom He has been given?
    And how can He perform such miracles?

    Many who heard Him have understood that
    1 – God has given him these ideas
    2 – God has given him the wisdom/knowledge about the things of God
    3 – God has given him the power to perform miracles

    E – TRANSITIONAL SENTENCES

    Mark 1:28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.
    Mark 6:6 … And He went around from village to village,

    The transitional sentences help readers move between paragraphs or sections

    5 – THE FATHERLAND: JACOB’S RETURN TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE IN THE LAND OF CANAAN

    A1 – Jacob’s departure for the Aramean land
    Genesis 28:5 So Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

    A2 – Jacob’s return to his father’s house in the land of canaan
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/31.htm

    Genesis 31:3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
    Genesis 31:17 Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels,
    Genesis 31:18 and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.

    B – Mark’s gospel

    Mark 6:1 Jesus went on from there and came to His hometown (3968), accompanied by His disciples.
    Mark 6:4 Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown (3968), among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3968.htm patris: of one’s fathers, fatherland

    6 – THE SONS OF ISRAEL THROUGH TIME

    A – JACOB IS RENAMED ISRAEL

    Genesis 32:28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.”

    B – JACOB AND ALL HIS OFFSPRING GO TO EGYPT
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/46.htm

    Genesis 46:8 Jacob took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.
    Genesis 46:9 Now these are the names of the sons (1121) of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
    …
    Genesis 50:13 They carried him (Jacob) to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
    Genesis 50:14 After Joseph had buried his father, he returned to Egypt with his brothers

    C – THE TIME OF THE EXODUS: THE DISTANT DESCENDANTS

    C1 – Moses: one of the Hebrew children
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/2.htm

    Exodus 2:6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the little boy was crying. So she had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrew children.”
    Exodus 2:10 When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and explained, “I drew him out of the water.”

    C2 – The Israelites’ God: The God of Jacob, the God of the Hebrews
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/3.htm

    Exodus 3:10 Therefore, go! I am sending you (Moses) to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites (1121) out of Egypt.”

    Exodus 3:15 God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites (1121), ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ …
    Exodus 3:18 The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1121.htm ben: son

    C3 – The Israelites discover the first food/Word that God gives them and they are amazed.
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/16.htm

    Exodus 16:15 When the Israelites (1121) saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

    At the same time, God institutes the Sabbath

    Exodus 16:22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much food—two omers per person—and all the leaders of the congregation came and reported this to Moses.
    Exodus 16:23 He told them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Then set aside whatever remains and keep it until morning.’ ”

    D – THE TIME OF JESUS: THE VERY DISTANT DESCENDANTS

    On the Sabbath day, the children of Israel discover the Good News that God gives them and they are amazed

    Mark 1:21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

    note: I use the terms ‘Hebrew’, ‘Israelite’, ‘Son of Israel’ to identify the very distant descendants living at the time of Jesus

    7 – THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS

    Exodus 3:15 God also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites (1121), ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’…
    Exodus 3:18 The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us.

    Mark 12:26 But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

    8 – THE LAW OF OUR FATHERS
    https://biblehub.com/drb/1_maccabees/2.htm

    1 M 2:19 Then Mathathias answered, and said with a loud voice: Although all nations obey king Antiochus, so as to depart every man from the service of the law of his fathers, and consent to his commandments:
    1 M 2:20 I and my sons, and my brethren will obey the law of our fathers.
    1 M 2:21 God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for us to forsake the law, and the justices of God:
    1 M 2:12 We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus, neither will we sacrifice and transgress the commandments of our law, to go another way.

    MARK’S GOSPEL: JAMES LEAVES THE LAW OF HIS FATHER

    Mark 1:20 Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.
    Mark 1:21 Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.

    9 – OLD AND NEW WORD OF GOD: THE SABBATH AS A MARKER TO MEAN OLD WORD

    A – THE OLD WORD OF GOD

    A1 – Manna: the first food/Word that God gives

    Exodus 16:15 When the Israelites (1121) saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

    Exodus 16:31 Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.

    A2 – The written form: Moses’ Law

    Exodus 24:12 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law (8451) and commandments (4687) I have written for their instruction (3384).”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8451.htm torah: direction, instruction, law
    Word Origin: from yarah
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3384.htm yarah or yara
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4687.htm mitsvah: commandment

    A3 – The books of the prophets

    Isaiah 1:2 Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.

    Jeremiah 1:2 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,

    Ezekiel 1:3 the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.

    B – GOD GIVES THE FIRST FOOD/WORD AND THE SABBATH AT THE SAME TIME
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/16.htm

    Exodus 16:15 When the Israelites (1121) saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

    Exodus 16:22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much food—two omers per person—and all the leaders of the congregation came and reported this to Moses.
    Exodus 16:23 He told them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Then set aside whatever remains and keep it until morning.’ ”

    Exodus 16:29 Understand that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day He will give you bread for two days. On the seventh day, everyone must stay where he is; no one may leave his place.”

    C – THE NEW WORD OF GOD

    Mark 1:14 … Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

    D – THE DISCOVERY OF THE WORD OF GOD ON THE SABBATH

    Mark 1:21 and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! …
    Astonishment and Sabbath refer to the giving of the Manna and Sabbath in the book of Exodus

    Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
    Note also the word ‘scribes’, which refers to the old written Word i.e. the written law of Moses and the books of the prophets.

    E – THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS NEED THE NEW WORD OF GOD EVEN ON THE SABBATH

    Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along.

    F – GOD ALONE CAN CHANGE THE SABBATH

    Mark 2:27 Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
    Mark 2:28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
    The Sabbath was made for men who received the old Word.

    G – ON THE SABBATH, JESUS ASKS THE SYNAGOGUE LEADERS TO JOIN HIM

    Mark 3:3 Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.”
    Mark 3:4 And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.

    H – THE END OF THE SABBATH TO MEAN THE END OF THE OLD WORD

    Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.
    Mark 16:4 And having entered into the tomb …

    10 – THE SONS OF ISRAEL WHO STUMBLE BECAUSE OF THE NEW FORGIVENESS

    A – The new Word taught to the sons of Israel on the day representing the old word

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue …

    Sabbath => Old Word of God
    Jesus’ teaching => New Word of God
    Synagogue => The house where the sons of Israel are taught

    B – The stone of stumbling

    Mark 6:2 … and many who heard Him were struck (1605).

    At this point, people in the synagogue know that Jesus teaches a new forgiveness of sins and they also know that the new forgiveness does not imply the renunciation of their traditions such as circumcision or dietary laws

    So, many are struck by what they hear because they have understood that Jesus requires them to accept the new forgiveness of sins

    C – People recognise Jesus as the one to whom the God of Israel has given knowledge and power

    Mark 6:2 ..
    “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked.
    “What is this wisdom He has been given?
    And how can He perform such miracles?

    Many who hear Him have understood that
    1 – The God of Israel has given him these ideas
    2 – The God of Israel has given him the wisdom/knowledge about the things of God
    3 – The God of Israel has given him the power to perform miracles

    D – People wonder why the God of Israel is testing them so hard by requiring them to accept a forgiveness other than that of their fathers.

    Mark 6:3 … Isn’t this the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?”

    D1 – Mary/Miriam

    Isn’t this the son of Mary? => At this context, Mary refers to Miriam (the Moses’ sister) saying “Does the LORD speak only through Moses? …. Does He not also speak through us?” (Numbers 12:2)

    Mark reminds us of Miriam in order to make parallel between the two Words (Numbers 12:1-15) and the two forgiveness (Mark’s gospel).

    Miriam => two Words of God: That of Moses and that of his sister Miriam
    Mary => two forgivenesses of sins

    D2 – James/Jacob

    Isn’t this the brother of James? => James refers to Jacob/Israel and his God
    Isn’t this the brother of James? => Isn’t this a son of Israel (like us)?
    Isn’t this the brother of James? => Are we not the heirs of the God of Israel ?
    Isn’t this the brother of James? => Are we not those to whom the God of Israel has given his Word

    So, people in the synagogue find themselves in the same situation as their distant ancestors. They face two Words of God and they have to make the right choice to avoid offending God.

    E – Many offend God by remaining faithful to the forgiveness that their fathers taught them

    Mark 6:3 … And they stumbled (1605) because of Him

    F – Very few of forgiveness of sins

    Mark 6:5 So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal (2323) them.

    Mark makes it clear that many have kept the old forgiveness since Jesus can only perform a few forgiveness.

    G – No forgiveness and salvation for the sons of Israel who refuse the new forgiveness

    Mark 6:6 And He was amazed (2284) at their unbelief (570)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4100.htm pisteuÓ: to believe, entrust
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4102.htm pistis: faith, faithfulness
    https://biblehub.com/greek/570.htm apistia: unbelief

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe (4100) in the gospel!”

    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith (4102) has saved you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2284.htm thambeÓ: to astonish

    11 – THE OTHER STONE OF STUMBLING: SHARING THE WORD WITH PAGANS

    In the second part of the gospel, Jesus will ask the sons of Israel to share the Good News with the pagans, otherwise they will no longer be the heirs of the Word and the Word of God will be given exclusively to the pagan people.
    Jesus will say this several times and he will make a final reminder through the parable of the vinedressers (Mark 12:1-11).

    Mark 12:7 But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance (2817) will be ours.’
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2817.htm klÉronomia: an inheritance
    The tenants are the children of Israel who refuse to share the inheritance i.e. the Word of God

    Mark 12:9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others.
    The owner (God) threatens to give the vineyard (the Word intended to bear fruit) to others (the pagan people)

    Mark 12:10 Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected (593) has become the cornerstone.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/593.htm apodokimazÓ: to reject
    The rejected stone represents the pagan people and the builders are the children of Israel (those whose fathers have built the temple)
    The cornerstone identifies the pagan people who will become the cornerstone of the new house/community to be built if the children of Israel go on refusing to share

    Mark 12:11 This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
    Jesus makes it clear that the integration of the pagan people is the will of God

    12 – JESUS THE WISE MAN WHO RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF GOD, UNDERSTANDS THE THINGS OF GOD AND TEACHES THEM

    A – WISDOM MEANS UNDERSTANDING
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/deuteronomy/4.htm

    Deuteronomy 4:5 See, I have taught you statutes and ordinances just as the LORD my God has commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land that you are about to enter and possess.
    Deuteronomy 4:6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom (2451) and understanding (998) in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise (2450) and understanding (998) people.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2450.htm chakam: wise
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2451.htm chokmah: wisdom
    https://biblehub.com/greek/998.htm binah: an understanding

    B – SPIRIT OF GOD, WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE/UNDERSTANDING, TEACHING
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/35.htm

    Exodus 35:30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
    Exodus 35:31 And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill/wisdom (2451), ability (1847), and knowledge (8394) in all kinds of craftsmanship,
    Exodus 35:34 And the LORD has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2451.htm chokmah: wisdom
    NASB Translation: skill (5), skill* (1), wisdom (143), wisely (3), wits’ (1).
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1847.htm daath: knowledge
    NASB Translation concern (1), know (3), knowledge (81), premeditation (2), skill (1), truth (1), unintentionally* (2), what (1).
    https://biblehub.com/greek/8394.htm tebunah: an understanding
    NASB Translation discernment (1), reasonings (1), skill (1), skillful (1), skillfully (1), understanding (37).

    C – SPIRIT OF GOD, TEACHING , KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM

    Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished.
    “Where did this man get these [ideas]?” they asked.
    “What is this wisdom (4678) He has been given?
    And how can He perform such miracles?

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4678.htm sophia: skill, wisdom

    13 – JESUS THE CARPENTER/CRAFTSMAN

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter (5045) … ?
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5045.htm tektÓn: a craftsman, spec. a carpenter

    A – OT SOURCES

    The carpenter is the skill man who has knowledge and uses it to build with his hands.

    Isaiah 44:13 The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.

    Exodus 35:31 And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill/wisdom, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,
    Exodus 35:32 to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,
    Exodus 35:33 to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every artistic craft.

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/proverbs/8.htm (The Excellence of Wisdom)
    Proverbs 8:30 Then I was a skilled craftsman (525) at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/525.htm amon: an artificer, architect, master workman

    B – MARK’S GOSPEL

    The carpenter is the skill man who knows the things of God and uses them to perform miracles with his hands.

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished.
    “Where did this man get these [ideas]?” they asked.
    “What is this wisdom He has been given?
    And how can He perform such miracles (1411)?

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter (5045),

    Mark 6:5 So He could not perform any miracles (1411) there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1411.htm dunamis: (miraculous) power, might, strength

    14 – THE PROPHET AND THE DREAM TO BE INTERPRETED

    Numbers 12:6 He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet (5030) among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream (2472).

    Genesis 41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream (2472), and no one can interpret (6622) it.
    Genesis 41:16 “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5030.htm nabi: a spokesman, speaker, prophet
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2472.htm chalom: a dream
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6622.htm pathar: to interpret

    15 – JOSEPH THE DREAMER REJECTED BY HIS BROTHERS BUT HONOURED BY PHARAOH

    A – JOSEPH THE DREAMER REJECTED BY HIS BROTHERS
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/37.htm

    Genesis 37:5 Then Joseph had a dream (2472), and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
    Genesis 37:9 Then Joseph had another dream and told it to his brothers.

    B – JOSEPH INTERPRETS THE PHARAOH’S DREAM BY TRANSMITTING THE GOD’S ANSWER
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/41.htm

    Genesis 41:14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh.
    Genesis 41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream (2472), and no one can interpret (6622) it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
    Genesis 41:16 “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

    C – JOSEPH, THE WISE MAN HONOURED BY PHARAOH

    Genesis 41:39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise (2450) as you.
    Genesis 41:40 You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2450.htm chakam: wise

    D – JESUS, THE WISE MAN WITHOUT HONOUR IN THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

    Mark 6:2 …
    “Where did this man get these [ideas]?” they asked.
    “What is this wisdom (4678) He has been given?
    And how can He perform such miracles?

    Mark 6:4 Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

    16 – MOTHER, BROTHERS, SISTERS : WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

    A – The mother, brothers and sisters stand outside because they do not do the will of God

    Mark 3:31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to summon Him,
    Mark 3:32 and a crowd was sitting around Him. “Look,” He was told, “Your mother and brothers are outside, asking for You.”
    Mark 3:33 But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?”
    Mark 3:35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”

    B – The Mother, brothers and sisters are among those who refuse the new forgiveness that God gives them

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were struck.
    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?”. And they stumbled (4624) because of Him.

    Thus, these mothers, brothers and sisters do not belong to the family of Jesus because they do not do the will of God

    17 – WHAT ABOUT THE FATHER?

    Mark 3:10 For He healed many, so as for as many as had diseases to press upon Him, that they might touch Him.
    Mark 3:11 And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

    Mark 6:2 … And how can He perform such miracles (1411)?
    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter … ?

    “Carpenter” is an allusion to God, the father who gives Jesus the skill to perform the things of God as a carpenter/woodworker shapes with chisels

    NARRATIVE VIEW

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished.
    “Where did this man get these [ideas]?” they asked.
    “What is this wisdom He has been given?
    And how can He perform such miracles?

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” …

    The question “Isn’t this the carpenter?” makes the transition between the 2 previous verses.

    18 – JAMES

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this .. the brother of James, Joses/Joseph, Judas, and Simon?

    James refers to Jacob/Israel

    James the brother (Mark 6:3) represents the sons of Israel who refuse the new forgiveness while an other James (Mark 16:1) will represent the sons of Israel who accept the new forgiveness.

    At the end of the gospel, James the brother is renamed James the least (Mark 15:40) in to order to distinguish him from the other James (Mark 16:1).

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this …, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? …
    Mark 15:40 And there were also women looking on from afar off, among whom also were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the least and of Joseph, and Salome

    Mark 16:1 And the Sabbath having passed, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that having come, they might anoint Him.
    Mark 16:4 And having entered into the tomb,

    19 – JOSEPH

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this .. the brother of James, Joses/Joseph, Judas, and Simon?

    Joseph refers to Joseph the son of Jacob and Rachel
    In the bible, Joseph is the son of Jacob who saves his brothers from starvation.

    At the end of his gospel, Mark will create a character, Joseph of Arimathea, who derives from Joseph son of Jacob.

    A – THE HIGH-RANKING CHARACTER AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

    Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.

    Genesis 41:39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
    Genesis 41:40 You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

    B – THE BURIAL

    Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock.

    Genesis 50:13 They carried him (Jacob) to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
    Genesis 50:14 After Joseph had buried his father, he returned to Egypt with his brothers

    C – WHY ARIMATHEA?

    https://biblehub.com/greek/707.htm Harimathaia: Arimathea,
    of Hebrew origin, cf. Ramah

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7436.htm Ramathayim Tsophim: “double height of watchers,” a city in Ephraim
    Word Origin: from ramah and tsaphah
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7413.htm ramah: height, high place

    At this point, I only quote the following verses already seen in relationship with the barren pagan woman (Mark 5:25-34).

    1 Samuel 1:1 Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim (7436) in the hill country of Ephraim.
    1 Samuel 1:2 He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
    …
    1 Samuel 1:20 So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son.
    She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

    20 – SIMON

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this .. the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?

    Simon refers to Simeon the second son of Jacob and Leah
    In Mark’s gospel, the name ‘Simon’ alludes to the house/community
    Mark 1:29 As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.

    At the end of his gospel, Mark will introduce 2 new characters named Simon the Leper (Mark 14:3) and Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15:21).

    Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper , a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.
    Simon the leper is named like this in order to mean that he will excluded from the kingdom of God

    Mark 15:21 Now Simon of Cyrene (2956), the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and the soldiers forced him to carry the cross of Jesus.
    At this point, I simply note that Simon of Cyrene plays a positive role.

    WHY CYRENE?

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2956.htm KurÉnaios: of Cyrene
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2962.htm kurios: lord, master

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysanias
    Huper tes ton kurion Se[baston] => For the salvation of the Au[gust] lords

    21 – JUDAS

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this .. the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?

    Judas refers to Judah the fourth son of Jacob and Leah

    In the second part of his gospel, Mark will tell us more about Judas
    At this point, I simply quote a few verses to keep them in mind.

    Genesis 37:26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother (Joseph) and cover up his blood?
    Genesis 37:27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed.

    Genesis 49:8 Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you.
    Genesis 49:10 The scepter (7626) will not depart from Judah, nor the staff (2710) from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7626.htm shebet: rod, staff, club, scepter, tribe
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2710.htm chaqaq: to cut in, inscribe, decree

    Reply

25. Continuing

    22 – MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary (3137) and the brother of James, Joses/Joseph, Judas, and Simon?

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3137.htm Maria or Mariam: Mary
    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin Miryam
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4813.htm Miryam: the sister of Moses and Aaron

    Mary refers to Miriam the Moses’ sister

    In the bible (Numbers 12:1-15), Miriam becomes leprous because of her sin against God and must live outside the camp for seven days
    Numbers 12:15 So Miriam (4813) was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought in again.

    “Mary the mother of James the brother” (Mark 6:3) represents the children of Israel who will be excluded from the kingdom of God because of their refusal to accept the new forgiveness of sins.

    “Mary the mother of James the least” (Mark 15:40) is the same as “Mary the mother of James the brother” (Mark 6:3) because Mark renames James the brother to James the least

    Mark 15:40 And there were also women looking on from afar off, among whom also were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the least and of Joseph, and Salome

    Another Mary, “Mary the mother of James” appears a bit later (Mark 16:1). This Mary represents the children of Israel who will enter the kingdom of God because they have beleived in the new forgiveness of sin

    Mark 16:1 And the Sabbath having passed, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that having come, they might anoint Him.
    Mark 16:4 And having entered into the tomb,

    MORE ABOUT MIRIAM THE LEPROUS WHO MUST LIVE OUTSIDE THE CAMP FOR SEVEN DAYS
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/12.htm

    Numbers 12:1 Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had taken a Cushite wife.
    Numbers 12:2 “Does the LORD speak only through Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard this.
    …
    Numbers 12:9 So the anger of the LORD burned against them, and He departed.
    Numbers 12:10 As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous,
    …
    Numbers 12:15 So Miriam (4813) was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought in again.

    Leviticus 13:46 As long as he (the leper) has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.

    23 – MARY MAGDALENE: THE PAGAN WOMAN

    A – EXCLUSION AND ENTRY INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD

    Mary Magdalene represents the pagan people

    Mary Magdalene derives from the pagan woman excluded (Mark 5:25) because of her impurity, like a leper, and then saved (Mark 5:34) thanks to her faith.
    I recall that salvation means entry into the kingdom of God
    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years
    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    Mary Magdalene (Mark 15:40) represents the pagan people who will be excluded from the kingdom of God because of their refusal to accept the new forgiveness of sins
    Mark 15:40 And there were also women looking on from afar off, among whom also were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the least and of Joseph, and Salome

    Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:1) represents the pagan people who will enter the kingdom of God because they have beleived in the new forgiveness of sin
    Mark 16:1 And the Sabbath having passed, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that having come, they might anoint Him.
    Mark 16:4 And having entered into the tomb,

    B – MIGDAL/MIGDALAH: THE TOWER

    Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

    Isaiah 5:1 I will sing for my beloved a song of his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.
    Isaiah 5:2 He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower (4026) in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour!

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4026.htm migdal or migdalah: a tower

    C – THE PAGAN WOMAN IN BETHANY

    Mary Magdalene also derives from the pagan woman in Bethany (Mark 14:3)
    At this point, I simply note her wealth and the scene taking place in the home of Simon the Leper,

    Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.

    D – MARY MAGDALENE AND THE TYCHE OF ANTIOCH

    https://en.vikidia.org/wiki/Tyche#/media/File:Tyche_Antioch_Vatican_Inv2672.jpg
    A statue of Tyche at the Vatican.
    The Tyche (Fortune) of Antioch. Marble, Roman copy after a Greek bronze original by Eutychides of the 3rd century BC.

    Notice
    1 – Her head surrounded by a crown of crenellated towers and walls (Mark 12:1)
    2 – Her hand holding the ears of wheat, symbol of wealth and fertility (Ruth 3:15, Mark 5:28).
    3 – The swimmer at her feet to represent the Orontes river (Mark 2:14, Mark 3:18).

    D1 – Towers and walls

    Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

    D2 – Wealth and fertility

    Ruth 3:15 And he (Boaz) told her (Ruth), “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl. Then he went into the city.

    Mark 5:28 For she (the barren pagan woman) kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved (4982).”

    D3 – Orontes and Alpheus rivers

    I recall that the Orontes and Alpheus rivers have the same feature: their waters disappear and then rise again.

    Mark 2:14 As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth . “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up and followed Him.
    Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite,

    24 – SALOME: THE GARMENTS THAT THE 2 MARYS WEAR

    The name “Salome” refers to peace (shalem), garments (salmah) and Salmah the father of Boaz

    Salome symbolises the garment that the various women named Mary wear

    In Mark’s gospel, there are 2 kinds of garments
    1 – the old garments to indicate the Moses’ law and prophecies
    2 – the new garments to indicate the Good News

    At the end of the gospel, the 2 Marys wearing the old clothes (Mark 15:40) will stand at the gate of the kingdom while the 2 Marys wearing the new clothes (Mark 16:1) will enter the kingdom

    A – Old garments => exclusion

    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years
    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved (4982).”

    Mark 15:40 And there were also women looking on from afar off, among whom also were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the least and of Joseph, and Salome

    B – New garments => Salvation and entry into kingdom of God

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    Mark 16:1 And the Sabbath having passed, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that having come, they might anoint Him.
    Mark 16:4 And having entered into the tomb,

    C – Incompatibily between the old and the new garments

    Mark 2:21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result.

    D – Mark’s gospel and Book of Ruth: garments of salvation and promise of redemption

    Mark 5:28 For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be saved (4982).”
    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

    Ruth 3:13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem you (Ruth), as surely as the LORD lives, I (Boaz) will. Now lie here until morning.”
    Ruth 3:15 And he (Boaz) told her (Ruth), “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl. Then he went into the city.

    E – Transliteration

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4539.htm SalÓmÉ: Salome,
    Word Origin: of Hebrew origin

    Peace
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8002.htm shelem: a sacrifice for alliance or friendship, peace offering
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8003.htm shalem: complete, safe, at peace
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8004.htm Shalem: “peaceful
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8010.htm Shelomoh: Solomon

    Garments
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8008.htm salmah: a wrapper, mantle
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8071.htm simlah: a wrapper, mantle

    Boaz the redeemeer in the book of Ruth
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8007.htm Salma: father of Boaz
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8009.htm Salmah: Salmon, father of Boaz
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8012.htm Salmon: father of Boaz

    To read more about the transliterations
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_alphabet
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_(letter)
    Sin dot (left) => S
    Sin dot (right) => Sh

    25 – MARY MAGDALENE AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES CHANGE THEIR GARMENTS

    Note: Verses are quoted with BLB translation instead of BSB translation

    A – Mary and James the brother: the children of Israel who refuses the new forgiveness of sins

    Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” And they stumbled (1605) because of Him.
    Old Israel => Mary and James

    B – Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James wearing the old garments

    Mark 15:40 And there were also women looking on from afar off (3113), among whom also were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the least (3398) and of Joseph, and Salome,
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3113.htm makrothen: from afar, afar
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3398.htm mikros: small, little

    James the brother is renamed James the least
    Salome appears to indicate that Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James wear the old clothes.
    Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James are looking on from afar off, which means that they are far from the kingdom of God

    C – Joseph of Arimathea changes the garments

    Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
    Mark 15:46 And having bought a linen cloth, having taken Him down, he wrapped Him in the linen cloth (4616) and laid Him in a tomb which was cut out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the tomb.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4616.htm sindÓn: fine linen cloth

    D – Mary the mother of James change her garments

    Mark 15:47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph were watching where He was laid.

    James and Salome disappear, which means that Mary the mother of James/Israel is changing her clothes.
    Consequently, Mary Magdalene is also changing her clothes since the fates of pagan and Israelites people are linked

    E – Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James wear the new garments

    Mark 16:1 And the Sabbath having passed, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that having come, they might anoint Him.

    F – Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James enter the kingdom of God

    Mark 16:4 And having entered into the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe, sitting on the right; and they were greatly amazed.

    G – Synthesis

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

    Mark 12:34 When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far (3112) from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any further.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3112.htm makran: a long way, far

    Mark 15:40 And there were also women looking on from afar off (3113), among whom also were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the least and of Joseph, and Salome,
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3113.htm makrothen: from afar, afar

    Mark 16:1 And the Sabbath having passed, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that having come, they might anoint Him.
    Mark 16:4 And having entered into the tomb,

    Mary Magdalene represents the pagan people, those who are not circumcised and eat pork .
    Mary the mother of James represents the children of Israel who keep their traditions such as circumcision or dietary laws.
    Salome symbolises the garment that the various women named Mary wear

    To enter the kingdom of God (Mark 16:4), the pagan people and the sons of israel must leave their old clothes (Mark 15:40, 47) and put on the clothes of salvation (Mark 16:1).
    In other words, the 2 women named Mary are transfigured by changing their clothes

    It is the women who enter the kingdom. The purpose is to signify that from now on future generations will have to accept the new forgiveness to be saved

    Note also that the Sabbath is over when the women wear the new clothes and enter the kingdom
    Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over (1230)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1230.htm diaginomai: to go through, to elapse
    I recall that the Sabbath is the marker linked to the old Word/forgiveness

    26 – FIRST SYNTHETIC VIEW ABOUT CHARACTERS (JAMES, MARY, …)

    Judah (Jacob’s son) => Judas the brother
    Judah (Jacob’s son) => Judas Iscariot (apostle) => => => => => for further study

    Simeon (Jacob’s son) => Simon the brother => => => => => => Simon the leper
    Simeon (Jacob’s son) => Simon the cananite (apostle)
    Simeon (Jacob’s son) => Simon as Andrew’s brother => Peter (apostle)
    Simeon (Jacob’s son) => Simon as Andrew’s brother => => => => Simon of Cyrene

    Joseph (Jacob’s son) => Joses/Joseph the brother
    Joseph (Jacob’s son) => Thaddeus (apostle)
    Joseph (Jacob’s son) => => => => => => => => => => => => => => Joseph of Arimathea

    Jacob/Israel => James the brother => => => => => => => => => James the least
    Jacob/Israel => James son of Alphaeus (apostle)
    Jacob/Israel => James son of Zebedee (apostle) => => => => => = > => => James

    Miriam (rejected outside the camp) => Mary (of James the brother) => Mary (of James the least, Mark 15:40)
    Miriam (re-entering inside the camp) => => = > => => => => => => => => Mary (Mother of James, Mark 16:1)

    Pagan woman (unclean, Mark 5:25) => => => => => => => => => => Mary Magdalene (Mark 15:40)
    Pagan woman (saved, Mark 5:34) => => => => => => => => => => => => Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:1)

    Old garments (Mark 2:21) => => => = > => => => => => => => => => Salome (Mark 15:40)
    New garments (Mark 2:21) => => => => => => => => = > => => => => => Salome (Mark 16:1)

    For further study

    Simon the leper (Mark 14:3)
    Rich woman(Mark 14:3) => => => => => => => => Mary Magdalene

    More about the apostles

    1 – James son of Alphaeus
    James the son of alphaeus represents Israel and his rebirth/renewal thanks to the Good News.
    The expression “son of Alphaeus” refers to the Alpheus river and alludes to disappearance in one form and reappearance in another form.

    2 – Thaddeus
    He refers to Joseph the son of Jacob and alludes to the salvation of Israel

    3 – Simon the cananite
    Simon the cananite refers to the land of Canaan and its conquest. In Mark’s gospel, the new land is the kingdom of God.

    27 – THE DISCIPLES

    Mark 6:1 Jesus went on from there and came to His hometown, accompanied by His disciples (3101).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3101.htm mathÉtÉs: a disciple
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3129.htm manthanÓ: to learn

    The disciples have just learned that the only way to be saved is the new forgiveness of sins.

    28 – LAST READING
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/6.htm

    Mark 6:1 Jesus went on from there and came to His hometown, accompanied by His disciples.

    Mark makes Jesus leave the seaside to indicate a change of scene and a change of audience.
    The expression “came to His hometown” recalls Jacob leaving the Aramean land to return
    to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
    Let’s keep in mind that Jesus has just spoken in Aramaic (Mark 5:41)
    Jesus is now in the land that God has given to the children of Israel (Exodus 13:11) and he is accompanied by his disciples, those who learn the new Word.

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were struck. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?

    Once again Jesus enters the synagogue on the Sabbath day to teach the children of Israel.
    At this point, people in the synagogue know that Jesus teaches a new forgiveness of sins. They also know that the new forgiveness does not imply the renunciation of their traditions such as circumcision or dietary laws.
    If people are struck by what they hear, it is because they have understood that Jesus is asking them something they cannot do, namely to accept the new forgiveness and to give up the forgiveness that their fathers have taught them.

    Mark adds a first set of questions. The purpose is to write that people in the synagogue recognise Jesus as the one to whom the God of Israel has given the wisdom/knowledge and the power to perform miracles

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they stumbled (1605) because of Him.

    “Carpenter” is an allusion to God, the father who gives Jesus the skill to perform the things of God as a carpenter/woodworker shapes with chisels
    The question about the carpenter makes the transition between the 2 verses.

    Then Mark adds a second set of questions about the family. The purpose is to write that people in the synagogue identify themselves as heirs of the Word of God
    These many questions also express another question, Why does their God put them through such an ordeal?

    Many people in the synagogue stumble in their ways, which mean that many remain faithful to the forgiveness that their fathers have taught them.

    The mother, brothers and sisters in the synagogue are among the many who stumble.
    So, they do not belong to the family of Jesus because they do not do the will of God (Mark 3:35)

    Mark names five characters in preparation for the final scenes of the gospel
    1 – James, Joses/Joseph, Judas and Simon refer to Jacob/Israel and his sons
    2 – Mary refers to Miriam the Moses’ sister
    In the bible (Numbers 12:1-15), Miriam becomes leprous because of her sin against God and must live outside the camp for seven days.
    So Mary the mother of James (Mark 6:3) represents the children of Israel who will be excluded from the kingdom of God because they have refused the new forgiveness of sins

    Mark 6:4 Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

    Jesus sees his failure, so he reminds the people of Joseph who had saved his family from starvation. Before that, Joseph had been rejected by his brothers and honoured by Pharaoh.

    Mark 6:5 So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.

    Mark makes it clear that many have kept the old forgiveness since Jesus can only perform a few healing/forgiveness.
    Mark makes it clear that stumbling is sin since Jesus can only perform a few healing/forgiveness

    Mark 6:6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He went around from village to village, teaching the people.

    The word “unbelief” reminds us that we must believe to be forgiven and saved
    The expression “amazed at their unbelief” points out that the Israelites (those of the exodus) were the first to receive the Word of God and that today their distant descendants do not believe in the new Word. This is another way of saying that the children of Israel (those who refuse the new forgiveness) are no longer walking on the right path.

    29 – MORE ABOUT THE HARDSHIP BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD

    The children of Israel are struck because their God tests them so hard by giving them another Word.

    A – In the Synagogue

    Mark 1:22 The people were struck (1605) at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were struck (1605).

    B – In the Temple

    https://biblehub.com/parallel/mark/11-18.htm (Worsley New Testament)
    Mark 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how to destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were struck (1605) with his doctrine.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1605.htm ekplÉssÓ: to strike out, hence to strike with panic, to amaze
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4141.htm plÉssÓ: to strike

    C – In the Synagogue

    Mark 13:9 So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten (1194) in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1194.htm derÓ: to skin, to thrash

    30 – MORE ABOUT THOSE WHO STUMBLE BECAUSE OF THE WORD

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4624.htm skandalizÓ: to put a snare (in the way), hence to cause to stumble, to give offense

    A – THOSE WHO HAVE NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES

    Mark 4:16 Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
    Mark 4:17 and they have no root in themselves, but are temporary. Then tribulation or persecution having arisen on account of the word, immediately they fall away (4624).

    B – THE SONS OF ISRAEL WHO KEEP THE OLD FORGIVENESS OF SINS

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were struck (1605).
    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they stumbled (4624) because of Him.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1605.htm ekplÉssÓ: to strike out, hence to strike with panic, to amaze

    C – THE SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD

    Mark 6:34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
    Mark 14:27 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away (4624), for it is written: ‘I will strike (3960) the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3960.htm patassÓ: to beat (of the heart), to strike

    D – PETER

    Mark 14:29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away (4624), I never will.”
    Mark 14:30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

    31 – MORE ABOUT THE PAGAN WOMAN AND HER ACCEPTANCE BY THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

    A – Jacob

    Genesis 28:1 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded.

    B – Samson the nazirite, Judges 13:5

    Judges 14:2 So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”
    Judges 14:3 But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”

    C – Moses

    Numbers 12:1 Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had taken a Cushite wife.

    D – Boaz the redeemer

    Ruth 3:13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to redeem you (Ruth the pagan), as surely as the LORD lives, I (Boaz) will. Now lie here until morning.”
    Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

    E – Jesus (of Nazareth) and the pagan woman

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter (the pagan woman),” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction (3148).

    32 – MORE ABOUT NUMBERS 12:1-15 AND MARK’S GOSPEL
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/12.htm

    A – ACCEPTANCE OF THE PAGAN WOMAN AS A STONE OF STUMBLING

    Numbers 12:1 Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had taken a Cushite wife.

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter (the pagan woman),” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.

    B – THE 2 WORDS OF GOD AND THE 2 FORGIVENESS

    Numbers 12:2 “Does the LORD speak only through Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard this.

    Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were struck. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?

    C – THE ANGER AND THE THUNDER

    Numbers 12:9 So the anger of the LORD burned against them, and He departed.

    Mark 3:19 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),

    D – IMPURITY, SIN AND EXCLUSION

    Numbers 12:9 So the anger of the LORD burned against them, and He departed.
    Numbers 12:10 As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous,
    Numbers 12:15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought in again.
    Leviticus 13:46 As long as he (the leper) has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they stumbled (1605) because of Him.

    Mark 1:40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
    Mark 5:25 And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years

    E – HEALING

    Numbers 12:13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, “O God, please heal her!”

    Mark 6:5 So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.

    F – FAITH AND UNBELIEF

    Numbers 12:7 But this is not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house.

    Mark 6:6 And He was amazed at their unbelief.

    G – THE PROPHET AMONG HIS RELATIVES

    Numbers 12:6 He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.

    Mark 6:4 Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”
    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses/Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they stumbled (1605) because of Him.

    H – THE CARPENTER

    Numbers 12:8 I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”
    Isaiah 44:13 The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.

    Mark 6:3 Isn’t this the carpenter,

    I – RIDDLE, PARABLE AND CLEAR LANGUAGE

    Numbers 12:6 He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.
    Numbers 12:8 I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

    Mark 4:33 With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand.
    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—
    Mark 6:9 and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic.

    J – THE VOICE OF GOD COMING FROM THE CLOUDS

    Numbers 12:5 and the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the Tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them had stepped forward,
    Numbers 12:6 He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.

    Mark 9:8 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”

    K – CHANGE OF FORM (TRANSFIGURATION)

    Numbers 12:10 As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous,

    Mark 9:2 And after six days, Jesus takes with Him Peter and James and John, and brings them up into a high mountain by themselves alone. And He was transfigured before them,
    Mark 9:3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.

    (Mark 15:40, 47) and (Mark 16:1): The 2 women named Mary are transfigured by changing their clothes

    L – THE 3 TENTS AND MOISE

    Numbers 12:4 And suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “You three, come out to the Tent of Meeting.” So the three went out,

    Mark 9:5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters/tents —one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

    M – THE PROPHET AND THE SPIT

    Numbers 12:2 “Does the LORD speak only through Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard this.
    Numbers 12:14 But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”
    Mark 7:33 So Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, and put His fingers into the man’s ears. Then He spit (4429) and touched the man’s tongue.

    Mark 8:23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on (4429) the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.

    Mark 10:33 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn Him to death and will deliver Him over to the Gentiles,
    Mark 10:34 who will mock Him and spit on Him and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days He will rise again.”

    Mark 14:65 Then some of them began to spit on (1716) Him. They blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in His face.

    Mark 15:19 They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on (1716) Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1716.htm emptuÓ: to spit upon
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4429.htm ptuÓ: to spit ush

    33 – MORE ABOUT GENESIS AND MARK’S GOSPEL

    Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

    Mark 1:1 This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
    The beginning of the gospel that God created

    A – THE PAGAN WOMAN
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/28.htm

    Genesis 28:1 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. “Do not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” he commanded.

    Mark 5:34 “Daughter (the pagan woman),” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.

    B – THE DEPARTURE TO THE ARAMEAN LAND

    Genesis 28:5 So Isaac sent Jacob to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau.

    Mark 5:21 When Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea.
    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

    C – SLEEP AND DREAM, HEAD ON THE STONE, FEAR DUE TO DIVINE PRESENCE

    Genesis 28:10 Meanwhile Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.
    Genesis 28:11On reaching a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. And taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.
    Genesis 28:12 And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder.
    …
    Genesis 28:16 When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.”
    Genesis 28:17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion (4344). So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”
    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear, they (the disciples) asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4344.htm proskephalaion: a pillow
    from a comp. of pros and a derivation of kephalé
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2776.htm kephalÉ: the head

    D – ANOINTED STONE/HEAD, HOUSE, EARLY IN THE MORNING

    Genesis 28:18 Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it,
    Genesis 28:19 and he called that place Bethel (1008), though previously the city had been named Luz.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1008.htm Definition: “house of God”
    from bayith and el
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1004.htm bayith: a house

    Mark 14:3 While Jesus was in Bethany reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured it on Jesus’ head.

    Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.
    Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.

    F – THE LARGE ROLLING STONE
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/29.htm (Jacob Meets Rachel)

    Genesis 29:2 He (Jacob) looked and saw a well in the field, and near it lay three flocks of sheep, because the sheep were watered from this well. And a large stone covered the mouth of the well.
    Genesis 29:3 When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well.
    Genesis 29:10 As soon as Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother’s brother Laban, with Laban’s sheep, he went up and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep.

    Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.
    …
    Mark 16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, even though it was extremely large.

    G – GALAL/GALIL/GALILEE

    Genesis 29:3 When all the flocks had been gathered there, the shepherds would roll away (1556) the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1556.htm galal: to roll, roll away

    Joshua 20:7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee (galil) in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1551.htm galil: a cylinder, rod, circuit, district, also a district in Palestine

    Mark 1:14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee (1056) and proclaimed the gospel of God.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1056.htm Galilaia: Galilee, the northern region of Palestine, also the name of a sea

    H – RETURN TO THE LAND OF THE FATHERS, THE DREAM AND THE PROPHET
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/31.htm

    Genesis 31:3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
    Genesis 31:17 Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels,
    Genesis 31:18 and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.
    …
    Genesis 31:24 But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

    Mark 6:1 Jesus went on from there and came to His hometown , accompanied by His disciples.
    Mark 6:4 Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.”

    I – JOSEPH AND THE CHANGE OF CLOTHES

    Genesis 41:14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the dungeon. After he had shaved and changed his clothes, he went in before Pharaoh.
    Genesis 41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream (2472), and no one can interpret (6622) it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

    Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock.

    (Mark 15:40, 47) and (Mark 16:1): The 2 women named Mary changes their clothes

    J – JOSEPH AND THE BURIAL IN A TOMB

    Genesis 50:13 They carried him (Jacob) to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
    Genesis 50:14 After Joseph had buried his father, he returned to Egypt with his brothers

    Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock.

    K – THE PHYSICIANS

    Genesis 50:2 And Joseph directed the physicians (7495) in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him,

    Mark 1:27 On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor (2395), but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

    Mark 5:26 She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians (2395) and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2395.htm iatros: a physician

    L – THE THEME OF SUPPLANTING

    Genesis 48:14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger; and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn.
    …
    Genesis 48:20 So that day Jacob blessed them ( Manasseh and Ephraim) and said: “By you shall Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’ ” So he (Jacob) put Ephraim before Manasseh.

    Mark 1:7 And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
    …
    Mark 1:14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.

    M – THE PROPHET/DREAMER WITHOUT HONOR
    see my paragraph “Joseph the dreamer rejected by his brothers but honoured by pharaoh”

    N – THE NAMES DERIVED FROM JACOB AND HIS FAMILY
    see my paragraphs about James, Joses/Joseph, Simon, Judas and my chapter about the apostles

    SUMMARY

    A – The message

    The current sequence makes it clear that only the new forgiveness of sins will save the children of Israel and that they must therefore accept it to enter the kingdom of God.

    B – The way to express it

    Mark begins the account by using the words “homeland” and “Sabbath” to recall the old Word that God gave to the distant ancestors at the time of the exodus.

    At this point, people in the synagogue know that Jesus teaches a new forgiveness of sins. They also know the leper’s healing and therefore they know that the new forgiveness does not imply the renunciation of their traditions such as circumcision or dietary laws.

    So when Mark writes that many are struck by the teaching of Jesus, we understand that Jesus
    is asking them something they cannot do, namely to accept the new forgiveness and to give up the forgiveness that their fathers have taught them

    Then Mark adds a set of questions. The purpose is to write that
    1 – people in the synagogue recognise Jesus as the one to whom the God of Israel has given knowledge and power
    2 – people in the synagogue identify themselves as heirs of the Word of God

    The many questions also express another question, Why does their god put them through such an ordeal?

    Many people in the synagogue stumble in their ways, keeping the ancient roads (old forgiveness) instead of the highway (new forgiveness).

    Mark makes it clear that stumbling is sin since Jesus can only perform a few healing/forgiveness

    Mark ends by using the word ‘unbelief’ to point out that the Israelites (those of the exodus) were the first to receive the Word of God and that today their distant descendants do not believe in the new Word.
    This is another way of saying that the children of Israel (those who refuse the new forgiveness) are no longer walking on the right path.

    C – Some verses reinterpreted by Mark

    Jeremiah 18:15 Yet My people have forgotten Me. They burn incense to worthless idols that make them stumble (3782) in their ways, leaving the ancient roads to walk on rutted bypaths instead of on the highway.

    Malachi 2:8 But you have departed from the way, and your instruction (8451) has caused many to stumble (4383). You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8451.htm torah: direction, instruction, law

    D – Mother, brothers and sisters

    The mother, brothers and sisters in the synagogue are among the many who stumble.
    So, they do not belong to the family of Jesus because they do not do the will of God (Mark 3:35)

    E – Mary the mother of James, Joses/Joseph, Judas and Simon

    James, Joses/Joseph, Judas and Simon refer to Jacob/Israel and his sons
    Mary refers to Miriam the Moses’ sister
    In the bible (Numbers 12:1-15), Miriam becomes leprous because of her sin against God and must live outside the camp for seven days.
    So Mary the mother of James (Mark 6:3) represents the children of Israel who will be excluded from the kingdom of God because they have refused the new forgiveness of sins

    F – The prophet without honor among his relatives

    When Jesus sees his failure, he reminds the people of Joseph (the son of Jacob) who had saved his family from starvation. Before that, Joseph had been rejected by his brothers and honoured by Pharaoh.

    G – Jesus the carpenter/craftsman

    The carpenter is the skill man who knows the things of God and uses them to perform miracles with his hands.
    “Carpenter” is also an allusion to God, the father who gives Jesus the knowledge and the power to perform the things of God as a carpenter/craftsman/woodworker shapes with chisels

    H – Mark’s gospel

    The current sequence makes appear the first stone of stumbling (the new forgiveness of sins) between Jesus and the children of Israel.
    The other stone of stumbling (sharing with the pagan people) will be addressed in the second part of the gospel.

    The current sequence named 5 characters in preparation for the final scenes and makes appear Mary the mother of James (Mark 6:3).
    At the end of the gospel, other women named Mary will appear to mean that the children of Israel and the pagan people will only enter the kingdom if they change their clothes (i.e. if they beleive in the new forgiveness).

    Knowledge of all previous chapters is required to understand this current teaching in the synagogue.
    Knowledge of the OT sources is very helpful to see
    1- the parallel between the two Words (Numbers 12:1-15) and the two forgiveness (Mark 6:2,3)
    2 – the same sequential logic: the stone of stumbling appears after the acceptance of the pagan woman (Numbers 12:1-2 and Mark 5:34)

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 6:7-56 ) The sending of the Twelve, John’s death, First breaking of loaves, Second crossing, Jesus at Gennesaret
    (Mark 7) The tradition of the Elders, The greek woman, The deaf and mute man
    (Mark 8:1-26) Second breaking of loaves, Jesus at Dalmanutha, The blind man at Bethsaida, Third synthesis

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter: Chapter 18 The Jairus’ daughter and the bleeding woman
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-187764
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-187766

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

26. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 20: Jesus sends the Twelve
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 6:7-13) Jesus transfers to the apostles the power God gave him so that they can teach the Good News and perform miracles/signs before the people so that they believe

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/6.htm

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority (1849) over unclean spirits.
    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff (4464) for the journey (3598)—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—
    Mark 6:9 and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic.
    Mark 6:10 And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.
    Mark 6:11 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.”
    Mark 6:12 So they set out and preached that the people should repent.
    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.
    …
    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1849.htm exousia: power to act, authority
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3598.htm hodos: a way, road
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4464.htm rhabdos: a staff, rod

    1 – OVERVIEW
    2 – AN INTERCALATION TO LINK THE PREACHING OF THE NEW WORD WITH THE END OF THE OLD ONE
    3 – JESUS TRANSFERS TO THE APOSTLES THE AUTHORITY/POWER THAT GOD GAVE HIM
    4 – THE SENDING OF THE TWELVE: THE EXPLORATION OF THE KINGDOM TO BE CONQUERED
    5 – THE SENDING TWO BY TWO: THE PROMISE OF SALVATION AND ITS SIGN/MARK
    6 – THE TEACHING OF THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND THE REMOVAL OF HIS SANDAL AS A SIGN
    7 – THE GUIDANCE STICK/ROD TO SYMBOLISE THE DIVINE AUTHORITY AND PERFORM THE SIGNS BEFORE THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY BELEIVE
    8 – THE MEASURING STICK/ROD TO SYMBOLISE THE JUDGMENT
    9 – THE NEW WAY THAT GOD LAYS OUT FOR MANKIND
    10 – ON THE WAY, THE POWER TO PUT THE NEW SPIRIT IN PEOPLE’S HEARTS AND EXPULSION OF DEMONS AS THE FIRST SIGN
    11 – ON THE WAY: THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS AND HEALING AS A SECOND SIGN
    12 – ON THE WAY, THE ANOINTING WITH OIL TO MARK THOSE WHO BE WILL SAVED
    13 – THE WAY LEADING TO SALVATION: THE DELAY AND THE MIXING OF TIMES
    14 – THE VARIOUS MESSENGERS (JOHN, THE TWELVE) AND THEIR FEATURES REFERRING TO THE WORD OF GOD
    15 – THE APOSTLES WILL TEACH IN A CLEAR LANGUAGE WITHOUT PARABOLE
    16 – THE APOSTLES WILL TEACH TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND
    17 – A TEACHING AS AN INEXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCE
    18 – MORE ABOUT JOSHUA 2 AND THE MARK’S GOSPEL
    19 – MORE ABOUT THE STICK: THE LITUUS USED AS A CULT INSTRUMENT BY AUGURS
    SUMMARY

    1 – OVERVIEW

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

    The sending of the 12 reminds us of the 12 representatives of the Israelite tribes sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan
    The sending “two by two” reminds us of the 2 spies sent by Joshua and their promise of salvation to Rahab
    At this point, Jesus transfers to the apostles the authority/power over unclean spirits that God gave him

    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—

    The staff recalls the staff of Moses and symbolises the authority that the God of Israel gives to the apostles.
    The word “belt” reminds us of Elijah’s outfit,
    The terms “no bread” and “no money” are allusions to the Word of John.
    The bag is the food bag but also the bag in which Judith and her maid put the head of the pagan ruler after his beheading.

    Mark 6:9 and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic.

    The word sandal is part of the expression “to untie his sandals”. This expression already studied (Mark 1:7) means “not to take the right of redemption”.
    At this context, “To wear sandals” means “to have power to forgive sins”
    The tunic is the new garment as a symbol of the new Word. The new garment is incompatible with the old garments worn by John.
    The second tunic is an allusion to the many garments that Samson the Nazirite promises to those who will solve his riddle
    At this context, not wearing 2 tunics means speaking in a clear language without using parables as Jesus (of Nazareth) does.

    Mark 6:10 And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.

    The entry into the house and its occupation by 2 apostles again alludes to the 2 spies hidden by Rahab
    At this context, the apostles enter the house to teach the Good News. They stay there to give people the spiritual food as long as they ask for it.

    Mark 6:11 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.”

    If the inhabitants of the house refuse the Good News then the apostles will remove their sandals to show them that their sins will not be forgiven.

    Mark 6:12 So they set out and preached that the people should repent.

    Apostles on mission. They teach the Good News so that people repent (return to God)

    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

    Like Moses with his rod, the apostles perform the signs/miracles that accompany their teaching
    Mark again quotes the explusion of demons and adds healing and anointing with oil
    The first miracle (the casting out of demons) represents the sowing of the new Word in the heart of man so that it casts out the old spirit, grows like a seed and leads man to believe the Good News.
    The second miracle (healing) represents the forgiveness of sins to the man who believes the Good News and repents
    The anointing with oil is the sign/mark made on the body of the healed sinner to signify that he will be saved.

    2 – AN INTERCALATION TO LINK THE PREACHING OF THE NEW WORD WITH THE END OF THE OLD ONE

    (A): THE TEACHING OF THE NEW WORD AND THE SIGNS THAT WILL ACCOMPANY IT

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—
    Mark 6:9 and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic.
    Mark 6:10 And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.
    Mark 6:11 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.”
    Mark 6:12 So they set out and preached that the people should repent.
    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.
    …

    (B): THE END OF THE OLD WORD

    (Mark 6:14-30) The Beheading of John
    Mark 6:29 The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.
    Mark 6:30 When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.
    …

    (A’ ): THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW WORD

    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

    3 – JESUS TRANSFERS TO THE APOSTLES THE AUTHORITY/POWER THAT GOD GAVE HIM

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1849.htm exousia: power to act, authority

    A – THE VARIOUS FORMS OF AUTHORITY/POWER

    A1 – Authority to teach

    Mark 1:22 The people were astonished/struck at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority (1849), and not as the scribes.
    A2 – Authority over the unclean spirits

    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority (1849)! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”

    A3 – Authority to forgive sins

    Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority (1849) on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic,

    B – THE AUTHORITY/POWER COMING FROM GOD

    Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
    Mark 2:11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
    Mark 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

    Mark 6:2 … and many who heard Him were struck.
    “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked.
    “What is this wisdom He has been given?
    And how can He perform such miracles (1411)?
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1411.htm dunamis: (miraculous) power, might, strength

    Many who heard Jesus have understood that
    1 – God has given him these ideas
    2 – God has given him the wisdom/knowledge about the things of God
    3 – God has given him the power to perform miracles

    C – THE AUTHORITY/POWER THAT JESUS TRANSFERS TO THE APOSTLES

    C1 – Preaching and authority to drive out demons.

    Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach,
    Mark 3:15 and to have authority (1849) to drive out demons.

    C2 – Authority over unclean spirits

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority (1849) over unclean spirits.

    D – THE FULL MISSION OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES

    Mark 6:12 So they set out and preached that the people should repent.
    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

    Strengthened by divine power, the apostles will teach and perform miracles.
    The first sign/miracle (the casting out of demons) represents the sowing of the new Word in the heart of man so that it casts out the old spirit, grows like a seed and leads man to believe the Good News.
    The second sign/miracle (healing) represents the forgiveness of sins to the man who believes the Good News and repents
    The anointing with oil is the sign/mark made on the body of the healed sinner to signify that he will be saved.

    SYNTHESIS

    The powers of the apostles (in connection with teaching) and their meaning
    expulsion of demons => => => => healing => => => => anointing with oil
    new spirit in the hearts => belief => forgiveness of sins => salvation

    Power over spirits is only the first step in a process that leads to salvation. So by receiving power over demons (Mark 3:15 and Mark 6:7), the apostles also receive power to heal and to anoint with oil.

    4 – THE SENDING OF THE TWELVE: THE EXPLORATION OF THE KINGDOM TO BE CONQUERED
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/13.htm

    A – SENDING

    Numbers 13:1 And the LORD said to Moses,
    Numbers 13:2 “Send out for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each of their fathers’ tribes send one man who is a leader among them.”

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

    B – INSTRUCTION

    Numbers 13:18 See what the land is like and whether its people are strong or weak, few or many.

    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—

    C – FEEDBACK AND REPORTING

    Numbers 13:25 After forty days the men returned from spying out the land.
    Numbers 13:26 and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land

    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

    4 – THE SENDING TWO BY TWO: THE PROMISE OF SALVATION AND ITS SIGN/MARK
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/joshua/2.htm

    A – SENDING

    Joshua 2:1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
    Mark 6:10 And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.

    B – PROMISE OF SALVATION

    Joshua 2:12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD that you will indeed show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
    Joshua 2:13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will deliver us from death.”

    Mark 6:10 And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.
    Mark 6:11 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.”

    Those who welcome the Word will be saved while the others will be excluded from the kingdom of God because their sins will not be forgiven

    C – THE SIGN/MARK OF SALVATION (SCARLET CORD AND ANOINTING)

    Joshua 2:16 Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city.
    Joshua 2:17 The men said to her, “We will not be bound by this oath you made us swear
    Joshua 2:18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all your family into your house.

    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

    6 – THE TEACHING OF THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND THE REMOVAL OF HIS SANDAL AS A SIGN

    A – REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS

    Mark 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

    Mark 1:14 … Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

    I recall that
    1 – repentance is the sinner’s willingness to return to God
    2 – the forgiveness of sins emanates from God

    B – THE TEACHING OF THE NEW FORGIVENESS THAT GOD GRANTS TO MEN

    Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach,

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
    Mark 6:12 So they set out and preached that the people should repent.

    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

    C – THE REMOVAL OF HIS SANDAL TO SIGNIFY THE LOSS OF THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION

    C1 – OT Source

    Ruth 4:6 The kinsman-redeemer replied, “I cannot redeem it myself, or I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I cannot redeem it.”
    Ruth 4:7 Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party, and this was a confirmation (8584) in Israel.
    Ruth 4:8 So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8584.htm teudah: testimony, attestation

    C2 – John proclaims that he will not prevent the “more powerful than he” from taking the right of redemption

    Mark 1:7 And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

    C3 – The apostles remove their sandals to warn those “who do not listen them” that their sins will not be forgiven (through the redemption)

    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—
    Mark 6:9 and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic.
    Mark 6:10 And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.
    Mark 6:11 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.”

    7 – THE GUIDANCE STICK/ROD TO SYMBOLISE THE DIVINE AUTHORITY AND PERFORM THE SIGNS BEFORE THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY BELEIVE

    OT SOURCES
    https://biblehub.com/exodus/4.htm

    Exodus 4:1 Then Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ”
    Exodus 4:2 And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.
    Exodus 4:3 “Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran from it.
    Exodus 4:4 “Stretch out your hand and grab it by the tail,” the LORD said to Moses, who reached out his hand and caught the snake, and it turned back into a staff in his hand.
    Exodus 4:5 “This is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”

    Exodus 4:14 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform signs with it.”

    Exodus 4:30 and Aaron relayed everything the LORD had said to Moses.And Moses performed the signs before the people,
    Exodus 4:31 and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.…

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4294.htm matteh or mattah: a staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe

    MARK’S GOSPEL

    The apostles take the stick and perform 2 kinds of signs/miracles: expulsions of demons and healings.

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff (4464) for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—

    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4464.htm rhabdos: a staff, rod

    8 – THE MEASURING STICK/ROD TO SYMBOLISE THE JUDGMENT

    https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/40.htm
    Ezekiel 40:3 So He (God) took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze. He was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring (4060) rod (7070) in his hand.
    Ezekiel 40:4 “Son of man,” he said to me, “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Report to the house of Israel everything you see.”

    MARK’S GOSPEL

    Mark 4:24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.
    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

    The apostles anoint those who are judged worthy of the Word they have received

    OTHER OT SOURCES

    Ezekiel 40:20 So he measured (4058) the area on all four sides. It had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common.

    Ruth 3:15 And he (Boaz) told her, “Bring the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he shoveled six measures (4058) of barley into her shawl (4304). Then he went into the city.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4058.htm madad: to measure
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4060.htm middah
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7070.htm qaneh: a stalk, reed

    9 – THE NEW WAY THAT GOD LAYS OUT FOR MANKIND

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3598.htm hodos: a way, road

    Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger (John) ahead of You, who will prepare Your way (3598).” (BSB)

    Mark 2:23 And it came to pass, He is passing through the grainfields on the Sabbaths, and His disciples began to make their way (3598), plucking the heads of grain. (BLB)

    Mark 6:8 and He commanded them that they may take nothing for the way (3598), except a staff only—no leather pouch, no bread, no brass in the girdle, (Literal Standard Version)

    Mark 12:14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way (3598) of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”

    10 – ON THE WAY, THE POWER TO PUT THE NEW SPIRIT IN PEOPLE’S HEARTS AND EXPULSION OF DEMONS AS THE FIRST SIGN

    A – Jesus puts a new spirit in the heart of the sons of Israel

    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
    Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”
    Mark 1:26 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.
    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed/struck and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”
    Mark 1:28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.

    B – The demon “Satan” takes the Word out of the heart of men

    Mark 4:4 And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path (3598), and the birds came and devoured it.
    Mark 4:15 Some are like the seeds along the path (3598), where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

    C – Jesus more powerful than the spirit/wind opposing the Word of God

    Mark 1:25 But Jesus rebuked (2008) the spirit. “Be silent (5392)!” He said. “Come out of him!”

    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked (2008) the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still (5392)!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2008.htm epitimaÓ Usage: (a) I rebuke, chide, admonish, (b) I warn.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5392.htm to muzzle, to put to silence

    D – Jesus cleanses the pagan country by destroying the demon called Legion.

    Mark 5:2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from the tombs.
    Mark 5:5 Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones.
    Mark 5:8 For He was saying to him, “You come forth out of the man, unclean spirit!”
    Mark 5:9 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”
    Mark 5:13 He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water.

    E – Jesus gives to the apostles the power to put the new spirit in people’s hearts

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
    Mark 6:8 and He commanded them that they may take nothing for the way (3598), except a staff only—no leather pouch, no bread, no brass in the girdle, (Literal Standard Version)
    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

    OT SOURCES

    Ezekiel 36.26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
    27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

    Jeremiah 31.33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

    11 – ON THE WAY: THE POWER TO FORGIVE SINS AND HEALING AS A SECOND SIGN

    A – Jesus forgives the sins and tells us that healing is the sign representing the forgiveness

    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
    Mark 2:7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
    Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?
    Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic,
    Mark 2:11 “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
    Mark 2:12 And immediately the man got up, picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

    B – Jesus gives to the apostles the authority (1849) to forgive sins.

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

    12 – ON THE WAY: AUTHORITY TO ANOINT/MARK THOSE WHO WILL BE SAVED

    A – Jesus promises salvation to the sons of Israel and the pagan people

    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved (4982) and live (2198).”
    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction (3148).”

    B – Jesus gives to the apostles the authority (1849) to anoint/mark those who will be saved

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

    C – Those bearing the mark of salvation will enter the kingdom of God

    Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.
    Mark 16:3 They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?”
    Mark 16:5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

    OT SOURCES

    Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

    The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me => Mark 6:8 Jesus instructs the apostles
    the LORD has anointed Me => Mark 6:13 The apostles anoint/mark those who will be saved
    to preach Good News => Mark 6:12 The apostles preach the Good News
    freedom to the prisoners => Mark 6:13 The apostles free men from sin by performing healings

    13 – THE WAY LEADING TO SALVATION: THE DELAY AND THE MIXING OF TIMES

    A – THE FIRST DELAY IN MARK’S GOSPEL

    Mark 1:32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick (2560) and demon-possessed,

    Mark 1:33 and the whole town (4172) gathered at the door (2374). <= DELAY

    Mark 1:34 And He healed (2323) many who were ill (2560) with various diseases (3554) and drove out many demons.

    B – THE DELAY IN THE CURRENT SEQUENCE

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

    Mark 6:8-12 <= DELAY

    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed (2323) many of the sick (732), anointing them with oil.

    The parallel (between Mark 1:32-34 and Mark 6:7,13) allows us to understand that the actual sending will only occur after Jesus’ death because Jesus must first fulfill the Word before the apostles can actually drive out the demons and healed the sick.

    C – THE LAST DELAY

    C1 – Actual sending of the eleven

    Mark 16:14 Later, as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
    Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
    Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
    Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
    Mark 16:18 they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”

    C2 – Delay
    Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

    C3 – Actual mission of the apostles with god working through them

    Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.

    14 – THE VARIOUS MESSENGERS (JOHN, THE TWELVE) AND THEIR FEATURES REFERRING TO THE WORD OF GOD

    A – JOHN

    Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send (649) My messenger (32) ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/32.htm aggelos: an angel, messenger
    https://biblehub.com/greek/649.htm apostellÓ: to send, send away

    B – THE 12 APOSTLES

    Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles (652), to accompany Him, to be sent out (649) to preach,
    Mark 3:15 and to have authority to drive out demons.

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send (649) them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/652.htm apostolos: a messenger, one sent on a mission, an apostle
    https://biblehub.com/greek/649.htm apostellÓ: to send, send away

    C – FEATURES REFERRING TO ELIJAH AND THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS

    Mark 1:6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. (BSB)

    2 Kings 1:8 “He was a hairy man,” they answered, “with a leather belt around his waist.” “It was Elijah the Tishbite,” said the king.

    D – FEATURES REFERRING TO MOSES AND THE LAW OF MOSES

    Mark 1:6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and a girdle of skin around his loins, and eating locusts and honey of the field, (Literal Standard Version)

    Numbers 13:25 After forty days the men returned from spying out the land.
    Numbers 13:26 and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land
    Numbers 13:27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.
    Numbers 13:33 We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers (2284) in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5303.htm Nephilim: “giants,”
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2284.htm chagab: locust, grasshopper

    E – FEATURES REFERRING TO THE GOOD NEWS AND ITS CONTENT (THE NEW FORGIVENESS OF SINS)

    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—
    Mark 6:9 and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic.

    Mark mentions neither food nor wealth to highlight that the new Word is not John’s
    The new Word is identified by the term “tunic”. The apostles wear a tunic to contrast the new garment with John’s old garment
    The content of the new Word is identified by the term “sandal’ which refers to the forgiveness of sins through redemption

    The word “bag” alludes to the bag in which Judith and her maid put the head of the pagan ruler after his beheading.
    https://biblehub.com/drb/judith/13.htm

    The words “belt” and “sack” are written to link to the next scene in which John is beheaded

    15 – THE APOSTLES WILL TEACH IN A CLEAR LANGUAGE WITHOUT PARABOLE

    A – God speaks with the prophet, clearly and not in riddles

    Numbers 12:6 He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.
    Numbers 12:8 I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

    B – Samson the Nazirite associates riddle with a lot of garments and clothes
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/judges/14.htm

    Judges 14:12 “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.

    C – Jesus (of Nazareth) teaches in parables

    Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,
    Mark 4:33 With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand.

    D – The apostles teach in a clear language because they wear only one tunic

    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—
    Mark 6:9 and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic.
    Mark 6:12 So they set out and preached that the people should repent.
    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

    OTHER PARALLELS: Two talents, two bags, two sets of clothing

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_kings/5.htm (Naaman the aramean)
    2 Kings 5:22 “Everything is all right,” Gehazi replied. “My master has sent me to say, ‘I have just now discovered that two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’ ”
    2 Kings 5:23 But Naaman insisted, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged Gehazi to accept them. Then he tied up two talents of silver in two bags along with two sets of clothing and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi.

    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—
    Mark 6:9 and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic.

    16 – THE APOSTLES WILL TEACH TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND

    Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
    Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,
    Mark 4:33 With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand.

    Mark 6:12 So they set out and preached that the people should repent.
    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

    At this point, the apostles only know the essential message which is “the new forgiveness of sins is the only way to be saved”
    But they do not know yet that Jesus will die to redeem sins

    17 – A TEACHING AS AN INEXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCE

    Mark 6:10 And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.
    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

    The apostles enter the house to teach. They stay there to give people the spiritual food as long as they ask for it.

    18 – MORE ABOUT JOSHUA 2 AND THE MARK’S GOSPEL
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/joshua/2.htm

    A – Sending

    Joshua 2:1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
    Mark 6:10 And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.

    B – Promise de salvation

    Joshua 2:12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD that you will indeed show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
    Joshua 2:13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will deliver us from death.”

    Mark 6:11 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.”

    C – The sign/mark of salvation

    Joshua 2:15 Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city.
    Joshua 2:17 The men said to her, “We will not be bound by this oath you made us swear
    Joshua 2:18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all your family into your house.

    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

    D – The roof and the descent through an opening to be saved

    Joshua 2:6 But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.
    Joshua 2:15 Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city.

    Mark 2:4 Since they were unable to get to Jesus through the crowd, they uncovered the roof above Him, made an opening, and lowered the paralytic on his mat.
    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

    E – The house, the wall of the city and the gathered crowd at the door

    Joshua 2:15 Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city.

    Mark 1:33 and the whole town gathered at the door (2374).
    Mark 1:34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons.

    Mark 2:2 they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door (2374), as Jesus spoke the word to them.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2374.htm thura: a door

    F – The resumption of the journey after 3 days and the opening of the door

    Joshua 2:16 “Go to the hill country,” she said, “so that your pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there for three days until they have returned; then go on your way.”

    Mark 10:34 who will mock Him and spit on Him and flog Him and kill Him. And after three days He will rise again.”
    …

    Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.
    Mark 16:3 They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance (2374) of the tomb?”

    G – The oath, the cord tied in the window, the cord tying the donkey at the door and the untied sandal

    Joshua 2:17 The men said to her, “We will not be bound by this oath you made us swear
    Joshua 2:18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all your family into your house.

    Mark 11:4 So they went and found the colt outside in the street, tied (1210) at a doorway (2374). They untied (3089) it,

    Mark 1:7 And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie (3089).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1210.htm deÓ: to tie, bind
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3089.htm luÓ: to loose, to release, to dissolve

    H – The rope as an assembly of wires twisted two by two

    Joshua 2:15 Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, since the house where she lived was built into the wall of the city.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2256.htm chebel Definition: cord, territory, band

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

    I – The scarlet cord, the purple robe and the braided crown

    Joshua 2:21 “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. And when they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord (8615) in the window.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8615.htm tiqvah: cord

    Mark 15:17 They dressed Him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and set it on His head.

    19 – MORE ABOUT THE STICK: THE LITUUS USED AS A CULT INSTRUMENT BY AUGURS

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lituus

    The lituus was a crooked wand (similar in shape to the top part of some Western European crosiers) used as a cult instrument in ancient Roman religion by augurs[1] to mark out a ritual space in the sky (a templum). The passage of birds through this templum indicated divine favor or disfavor for a given undertaking.
    The lituus was also used as a symbol of office for the college of the augurs to mark them out as a priestly group.
    Note: look at the coins and their dates ranging from 42 BC to 251

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augur

    In ancient Rome … The role of the augur was that of consulting and interpreting the will of gods about some course of action such as accession of kings to the throne

    Mark 3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
    …
    Genesis 41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it.
    Genesis 41:16 “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”

    SUMMARY

    In this sequence, Jesus transfers to the 12 apostles the power to perform the signs/miracles that will accompany the teaching of the Good News.

    Powers and signs

    The first miracle (the casting out of demons) represents the sowing of the new Word in the heart of man so that it casts out the old spirit, grows like a seed and leads man to believe the Good News.
    The second miracle (healing) represents the forgiveness of sins to the man who believes the Good News and repents
    The anointing with oil is the sign/mark made on the body of the healed sinner to signify that he will be saved.

    Synthetic view about the powers given to the apostles and their meanings
    expulsion of demons => => => => => => healing => => => => anointing with oil
    new spirit in the hearts => belief => forgiveness of sins => salvation

    Rod, sandals and tunic

    Before going on mission, Jesus asks the apostles to wear a stick, sandals and a single tunic.
    The stick symbolises the power coming from God. It is also a reference to Moses’ stick becoming a snake (Exodus 4) and an allusion to the stick of the augur
    The sandal that is removed is a reference to the power to forgive sins
    The tunic is the new garment symbolising the new Word and salvation

    OT Sources

    Numbers 13
    The 12 representatives of the Israelite tribes sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan => The sending of the 12 apostles

    Joshua 2
    The 2 spies sent by Joshua and their promise of salvation to Rahab => The sending “two by two”, the 2 apostles staying in the house and the anointing as a promise of salvation

    Exodus 4
    The Moses’ rod and its transformation into a snake so that people people beleive him => The apostles’ rod to perform signs/miracles before the people so that they beleive the new Word of God (the Good News).

    Ruth 4
    The removal of his sandal to signify the loss of the right of redemption => The removal of his sandal to signify that the sins will not be forgiven.

    Judges 14
    The many garments that Samson the Nazirite promises to those who will solve his riddle => The second tunic to signify a teaching in a clear language without parable

    The current sequence and the ending of Mark’s gospel

    In the current sequence, the apostles only know the essential message which is “the new forgiveness of sins is the only way to be saved”. But they do not know yet that Jesus will die to redeem sins.
    The parallel (between Mark 1:32-34 and Mark 6:7,13) allows us to understand that the actual sending will only occur after Jesus’ death because Jesus must first fulfill the Word before the apostles can teach it throughout the world.

    In the current sequence, the reference to Moses’ rod and its transformation into a snake learn us that the teaching is based on the signs performed so that people believe. However, the reference to Moses’ rod and its transformation into a snake only appear to the reader if he knows “Exodus 4”
    In the end of his gospel, Mark explicitly mentions the snake (Mark 16:18), the signs (Mark 16:17) and makes clear that the God of Israel will confirm his Word by the signs that will accompany it (Mark 16:20).

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 6:14-56 ) John’s death, First breaking of loaves, Second crossing, Jesus at Gennesaret
    (Mark 7) The tradition of the Elders, The greek woman, The deaf and mute man
    (Mark 8:1-26) Second breaking of loaves, Jesus at Dalmanutha, The blind man at Bethsaida, Third synthesis

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter: Chapter 19 Jesus in his fatherland

    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-201746
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-201747

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

27. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 21: John’s beheading
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 6:14-29) End of the old Word on earth and elevation of John the righteous servant

    1 – OVERVIEW
    2 – JOHN THE BAPTIST: THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OLD WORD AND THE ANNOUNCER OF THE NEW WORD
    3 – JOHN’S BEHEADING: DEATH FOR THE PHYSICAL BODY AND SEPARATION OF BODY AND SPIRIT
    4 – THE ELEVATION OF JOHN AND JESUS: THE LIFTING UP OF HEADS ON PHARAOH’S BIRTHDAY IN GENESIS
    5 – THE RIGHTEOUS SERVANTS: JOHN AND JESUS
    6 – THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT OF JOHN’S HEAD ON A TABLET
    7 – JOHN’S HEAD ON A TABLET: THE JOHN’S NAME WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE RIGHTEOUS
    8 – ISRAEL, JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JOHN BOANERGES
    9 – ELIJAH TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN AND THE PREDICTION OF HIS RETURN TO EARTH
    10 – THE MARRIAGE OF KING HEROD
    11 – PHILIP THE BROTHER, PHILIP THE APOSTLE AND CAESAREA PHILIPPI
    12 – HERODIAS/JEZEBEL (THE WOMEN WHO WANT TO KILL THE PROPHET)
    13 – HERODIANS, HEROD, HERODIAS
    14 – HEROD’S PERPLEXITY
    15 – THE IRRUPTION OF HERODIAS’ DAUGHTER
    16 – HALF THE KINGDOM: THE REFERENCE TO ESTHER REQUIRING THAT HAMAN BE HANGED
    17 – THE ADDITIONAL OATH: THE REFERENCE TO JEPHTHAH HAVING TO SACRIFICE HIS DAUGHTER
    18 – JOHN’S BEHEADING: THE REFERENCE TO JUDITH BEHEADING HOLOFERNES
    19 – HEROD, KING OF GALILEE IN MARK’ GOSPEL
    20 – THE SPECULATOR AS EXECUTIONER IN MARK’ GOSPEL
    21 – THE ‘COHORTES SPECULATORUM’ OF MARK ANTONY AS A SOURCE
    22 – ANTIGONUS, KING OF THE JEWS, WHOM MARK ANTONY BEHEADED
    23 – JESUS WHOM PILATE HANGS ON THE WOOD AS KING OF THE JEWS
    24 – HEROD THE GREAT, WHOM MARK ANTONY SET UP AS KING
    25 – JOHN AND JESUS: TWO LINKED FATES
    26 – COUNTING THE RIGHTEOUS SERVANTS AT GOLGOTHA
    27 – TWO GREEK WORDS FOR ELEVATION (EGEIRO AND ANISTEMI)
    28 – MORE ABOUT HANGING ON THE WOOD AND BEHEADING
    29 – WHO IS JESUS?
    30 – THE INTERCALATION LINKING THE PREACHING OF THE NEW WORD WITH THE END OF THE OLD ONE
    SUMMARY

    1 – OVERVIEW

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/6.htm

    Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

    Mark begins the current sequence by pointing out that it is the name of Jesus which becomes well known. Mark thus highlights the name identifying the person
    Some people identify Jesus as John the Baptist. Mark adds ‘risen from the dead’ because the death and the escape from death are the themes of the current sequence.
    Mark also introduces the term ‘at work’ because the original greek word (energeÓ) evokes another John, John Boanerges.

    Mark 6:15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

    Other people quote another name ‘Elijah’ because they know that Elijah was raised to heaven and that Malachi announced his return.
    Note also that Elijah raised a child from the dead (1 Kings 17:23,24)

    Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!”

    Mark associates the beheading with the expression ‘risen from the dead’.
    At this context, beheading means separation of the body from the spirit animating this body.

    To understand the verse and the whole sequence, two points are required
    1 – we have to see the lifting up of John’s head
    2 – we have to remember the lifting up of two other heads in Genesis: that of the baker who is hanged and that of the cupbearer who escapes from death and is restored to his position near Pharaoh

    This verse is also the transition sentence introducing the flashback in which Mark describes John’s death

    Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.

    The word ‘marriage’ conveys a double meaning. The marriage is also the covenant that God makes with his people

    Mark 6:18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”

    The reminder of the law: the prohibition on marrying the wife of a brother still living (Leviticus 20:21)

    Mark 6:19 And Herodias held it against him, and wished to kill him, and was not able.

    The conflict between Herodias (the wife of king Herod) and John recalls another one: the conflict between Jezebel (the wife of king Ahab) and Elijah.
    Like Jezebel, Herodias wants to kill the man of God

    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.

    Herod’s fear is due to the presence of God. Herod knows that the John’s words are the God’s words and he feels the presence of God through the Word.
    In OT (Psalms 112:1), the man fears the LORD and greatly delights in his commandments.

    The holy man refers to the Nazirite who must be holy (Numbers 6) and Jesus of Nazareth the holy one of God (Mark 1:24 )
    The righteous man is the one who walks with God and therefore will have his reward. So John will be elevated to God as the cupbearer was restored to his position near Pharaoh.

    Herod is greatly perplexed when he hears John’s words. This means that he does not understand everything. Mark has created a vulnerable Herod character in order to prepare the scene in which he will trap himself by adding an oath.

    At this point, Herode protects John against Herodias

    Mark 6:21 On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

    On the birthday, the banquet and the high-ranking figures recall the scene in which Pharaoh lifts up the heads of the cupbearer and the baker (the baker is hanged).
    The banquet and the presence of the king also recall the scene in which Esther asks the king to hang Haman

    Mark 6:22 When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”

    The girl bursts in and dances. This is the beginning of the sequence causing the reversal and allowing Herodias to carry out her plan to kill John.
    Herod tells the girl that he will give her whatever she wishes

    Mark 6:23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”

    Herod renews his offer and adds an oath.
    ‘Half my kingdom’ is the same offer that the king made to Esther

    Mark 6:24 Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.”

    The daughter does not decide by herself. She defers to her mother who asks for the head of John

    Mark 6:25 At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter/tablet immediately.”

    The daughter takes up her mother’s request and adds ‘on a tablet’

    Mark 6:26 The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.

    Herod cannot break his oath like Jephthah who had to sacrifice his daughter

    Mark 6:27 So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.

    The king asks for the head of John but he does not specify the head on a tablet

    Mark 6:28 The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

    The executioner brings the head on a tablet.

    Both the head and the name identify a person. We now understand why Mark wrote the name of Jesus was well known (Mark 6:14)

    The head symbolises the spirit animating John during his earthly life. In other words, John’ head represents John in a form freed from his carnal envelope

    The tablet is the medium on which one can write. It symbolises 2 things
    1 – the Word of God (the tablets of the law and the books of the prophets)
    2 – the book on which will be written the names of men judged worthy of the Word they have received

    The John’s head on a tablet means that
    1 – John is elevated to God and escapes from death.
    2 – The old Word fades away in favour of the Good News

    Mark 6:29 When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

    The headless body entering the tomb is the carnal envelope.
    Mark thus makes it clear that the elevation of the righteous man occurs at the moment of his physical death

    This verse is also the transition sentence because the term ‘disciples’ reminds us of the apostles teaching the Good News

    2 – JOHN THE BAPTIST: THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OLD WORD AND THE ANNOUNCER OF THE NEW WORD

    A – THE OLD WORD

    Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger (John the baptist) ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”
    Mark 1:3 “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’ ”

    The two verses introducing John the baptist are extracted from the book of exodus and the books of the prophets in order to signify that John represents
    1 – The Word that God gave to Moses during the exodus
    2 – The Word that God gave to the prophets

    A1 – The Word that God gave to Moses during the exodus
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/23.htm

    Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger (32) ahead (4253) of You, who will prepare Your way.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4253.htm pro: before
    https://biblehub.com/greek/32.htm aggelos: an angel, messenger

    Exodus 23:20 Behold, I am sending an angel before you to protect you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.

    Mark 1:3 “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’ ”

    Exodus 23:21 Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him.

    A2 – The Word that God gave to the prophets
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/malachi/3.htm
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/40.htm

    Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”

    Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4397.htm malak: a messenger
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4401.htm Malaki: “my messenger,” an Israelite prophet

    Mark 1:3 “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’ ”

    Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

    Note these differences
    Mark 1:2 … “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead/before (4253) of You,
    Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me.

    Some verses about the burden (4583) of the word of the LORD
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4853.htm massa’: burden

    Malachi 1:1 This is the burden (4583) of the word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi (4401):
    Isaiah 13:1 This is the burden (4583) against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz received:
    Zachariah 9:1 This is the burden (4583) of the word of the LORD against the land of Hadrach and Damascus its resting place—for the eyes of men and of all the tribes of Israel are upon the LORD—

    B – John’s food: the food referring to the land of Canaan

    Exodus => Moses’ Law => End of exodus => Land of Canaan (locusts and honey)

    Mark 1:6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild (66) honey.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/66.htm agrios
    Word Origin: from agros
    https://biblehub.com/greek/68.htm agros: a field, the country

    honey => the land of Canaan as a gift of God (Deuteronomy 27:3)
    locusts => the grasshoppers against the giants to conquer the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:27-33)

    Deuteronomy 27:3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you.

    Numbers 13:27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.
    Numbers 13:28 Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there.
    Numbers 13:33 We even saw the Nephilim (5303) there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”

    C – John’s garments: John is dressed as Elijah the prophet

    Mark 1:6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

    2 Kings 1:8 “He was a hairy man,” they answered, “with a leather belt around his waist.” “It was Elijah the Tishbite,” said the king.

    D – Announcement of the new Word (A new forgiveness of sins fulfilled through the redemption described in Isaiah 53)

    Mark 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”
    Mark 1:4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
    Mark 1:7 And he (John) began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

    D1 – Who does not take the right to redeem takes off his sandals (Ruth 4:7,8)

    D2 – The suffering servant (Isaiah 53)

    Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
    Isaiah 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.
    Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

    Note:
    Wording is not explicit in (Mark 1:7), one needs to know the book of Ruth and ‘Isaiah 53’ to grasp the meaning.
    John’s listeners can only understand the verse (Mark 1:4) including known terms such as ‘repentance’ and ‘forgiveness of sins’

    E – John only addresses the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judea

    Mark 1:5 People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

    F – Faithfulness to the old Word

    Mark 2:18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were often fasting. So people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t Your disciples fast like John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees?” (BSB)

    John’s disciples abstain from food => They do not eat the Good News because they did not leave their father’s law (the old Word)

    3 – JOHN’S BEHEADING: DEATH FOR THE PHYSICAL BODY AND SEPARATION OF BODY AND SPIRIT

    A – Death for the physical body and end of the old Word

    Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded (607), has risen from the dead!”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/607.htm apokephalizÓ: to behead
    Word Origin from apo and kephale;
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2776.htm kephalÉ: the head

    John represents the old Word that God gave to the sons of Israel before the Good News. His death signifies the end of the old Word in order to make room for the new Word because the two Words cannot coexist (Mark 1:23,24 and (Mark 2:21,22)

    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue: (BSB)
    Mark 1:24 saying, “What to us and to You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are, the Holy One of God!” (BLB)
    The man in the synagogue represents the Hebrews who do not want to leave their father’s law (the old Word of God)

    Mark 2:21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, and a worse tear will result. (BSB)
    Old garment => garment in camel’s hair => Old Word
    New piece/garment => garment of salvation => New Word

    Mark 2:22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”
    Old wineskins => the old covenant based on the blood of circumcision (Genesis 17:10,11)
    New wine => the new covenant based on new blood i.e. the fruit of the vine (Mark 14:24,25)

    B – Separation of body and spirit

    Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded (607), has risen (1453) from the dead!”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1453.htm egeirÓ: to waken, to raise up

    The head represents the spirit which animated the man’s body during his earthly life.
    John’s spirit does not die, it escapes from death and raises to God. This elevation and life in another form will be illustrated by John’s head on the tablet (Mark 6:28)

    4 – ELEVATION OF JOHN AND JESUS: THE LIFTING UP OF HEADS ON PHARAOH’S BIRTHDAY IN GENESIS

    A – The lifting up of heads on birthday, during a banquet and before officials
    B – The baker’s hanging and John’s beheading: a death by lifting up of head
    C – Elevation of the cupbearer and John
    D – The baker’s hanging and Jesus’ hanging on the wood of the cross
    E – Elevation of the cupbearer and Jesus
    F – The imprisonnement and the man bound before his elevation

    A – The lifting up of heads on birthday, during a banquet and before officials
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/40.htm

    Genesis 40:20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up (5375) the heads (7218) of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.

    Genesis 40:21 Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.
    Genesis 40:22 But Pharaoh hanged (8518) the chief baker, just as Joseph had described to them in his interpretation.

    Mark 6:21 On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5375.htm nasa or nasah: to lift, carry, take
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7218.htm rosh: head
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8518.htm talah: to hang

    B – The baker’s hanging and John’s beheading: a death by lifting up of head

    Genesis 40:20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up (5375) the heads (7218) of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
    Genesis 40:22 But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had described to them in his interpretation.

    Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen (1453) from the dead!”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1453.htm egeirÓ: to waken, to raise up

    C – Elevation of the cupbearer and John

    Genesis 40:20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
    Genesis 40:21 Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.
    Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen (1453) from the dead!”
    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he (John) was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.
    Mark 6:28 The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

    Jean is a righteous man because he faithfully served the old Word. As a result, his spirit is lifted up in order to live close to God.
    See my paragraph “John’s head on a tablet: the John’s name written in the book of the righteous”

    D – The baker’s hanging and Jesus’ hanging on the wood of the cross

    Genesis 40:18 Joseph replied, “This is the interpretation: The three baskets are three days.
    Genesis 40:19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. Then the birds will eat the flesh of your body.”
    Genesis 40:20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he (Pharaoh) lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
    Genesis 40:22 But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had described to them in his interpretation.

    Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
    Mark 15:24 And they crucified (4717) Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.
    Mark 15:37 But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4716.htm stauros: an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4717.htm stauroÓ: to crucify

    Jesus is hanged on the wood of the cross in order to fufill the new Word. He must die to redeem the sins of others

    E – Elevation of the cupbearer and Jesus

    Genesis 40:20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
    Genesis 40:21 Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.

    Mark 16:6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen (1453)! He is not here! See the place where they put Him.

    Mark 16:9 And having risen (450) early the first day of the week, He appeared (5319) first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. (BLB)
    Mark 16:12 And after these things, He appeared (5319) in another form (3444) to two of them as they are walking, going into the country. (BLB)

    Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/450.htm anistÉmi: to raise up, to rise
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1453.htm egeirÓ: to waken, to raise up

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3444.htm morphÉ: form, shape
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5319.htm phaneroÓ: to make visible, make clear

    F – The imprisonnement and the man bound before his elevation

    Genesis 40:1 Some time later, the king’s cupbearer and baker offended their master, the king of Egypt.
    Genesis 40:2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,
    Genesis 40:3 and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, the same prison where Joseph was confined.

    Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound (1210) and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.

    Mark 15:1 Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound (1210) Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1210.htm deÓ: to tie, bind

    5 – THE RIGHTEOUS SERVANTS: JOHN AND JESUS

    A – JOHN, THE RIGHTEOUS SERVANT OF THE OLD WORD

    A1 – Herod’s fear: The fear due to the presence of God

    Herod knows that the John’s words are the God’s words and he feels the presence of God through the Word

    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared (5399) John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly (2234).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten
    (Mark 4:41 5:15 5:33 5:36)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2234.htm hÉdeÓs: sweetly, gladly
    (Mark 6:20 12:37)

    OT Sources about the fear and the pleasure of hearing the Word of God

    Psalms 112:1 Hallelujah! Blessed is the man who fears (3372) the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.

    Deuteronomy 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes and to fear (3372) the LORD our God, that we may always be prosperous and preserved, as we are to this day.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3372.htm yare’: affright

    OT Sources about the presence of God

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/33.htm (The Tent of Meeting and The Promise of God’s Presence)

    Exodus 33:7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp.
    Exodus 33:9 As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses.

    Exodus 33:14 And the LORD answered, “My Presence (6440) will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
    Exodus 33:23 Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face (6440) must not be seen.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6440.htm panim or paneh: face, faces

    A2 – John the righteous servant who will receive his reward at the time of judgment

    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous (1342) and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1342.htm dikaios: correct, righteous
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1247.htm diakoneÓ: to serve, minister

    OT Sources

    https://biblehub.com/job/36-7.htm
    Job 36:7 He (God) does not take His eyes off the righteous (6662), but He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/61.htm
    Isaiah 61:7 Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
    Isaiah 61:8 For I, the LORD, love justice (4941); I hate robbery and iniquity; in My faithfulness I will give them their recompense (6468) and make an everlasting covenant with them.

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/1.htm
    Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
    Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.
    Psalms 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
    Psalms 1:4 Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.
    Psalms 1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment (4941), nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous (6662).
    Psalms 1:6 For the LORD guards the path (1863) of the righteous (6662), but the way of the wicked (6563) will perish.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4941.htm mishpat: judgment
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6468.htm peullah: a work, recompense
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6662.htm tsaddiq: just, righteous

    B – JESUS, THE RIGHTEOUS SERVANT WHO FULFILLS THE NEW WORD OF GOD

    Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
    Mark 14:36 “Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

    OT Sources: The suffering servant

    Isaiah 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous (6662) Servant will justify (6663) many, and He will bear their iniquities.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6662.htm tsaddiq: just, righteous
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6663.htm tsadeq or tsadoq: to be just or righteous

    6 – THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT OF JOHN’S HEAD ON A TABLET

    A – THE DAUGHTER

    A1 – The daughter does not decide by herself. She defers to her mother who asks for the head of John
    Mark 6:24 Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.”

    A2 – The daughter takes up her mother’s request and adds ‘on a tablet’
    Mark 6:25 At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter/tablet immediately.”

    B – THE EXECUTIONER

    B1 – The king asks for the head of John but does not specify the head on a tablet
    Mark 6:27 So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.

    B2 – The executioner brings the head on a tablet
    Mark 6:28 The man brought John’s head on a platter/tablet (4094) and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

    C – THE WRITING TABLET

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4094.htm pinax: a board, dish
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4093.htm pinakidion: a writing tablet
    Word Origin: dim. of pinax

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinax
    a votive tablet of painted wood, or terracotta, marble or bronze relief that served as a votive object deposited in a sanctuary or as a memorial affixed within a burial chamber.

    7 – JOHN’S HEAD ON A TABLET: THE JOHN’S NAME WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE RIGHTEOUS

    Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous (1342) and holy man

    Mark 6:28 The man brought John’s head on a platter/tablet (4094) and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1342.htm dikaios: correct, righteous

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4094.htm pinax: a board, dish
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4093.htm pinakidion: a writing tablet

    A – Identification of a person by his name (Mark 6:14) or his head (Mark 6:28 )

    Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known (5318), and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

    Mark 6:28 The man brought John’s head on a platter/tablet (4094) and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5318.htm phaneros: visible, manifest

    B – The tablet as the writing of God (the Moses’ law and the books of the prophets)

    Exodus 31:18 When the LORD had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets (3871) of the Testimony, tablets (3871) of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

    Exodus 32:16 And the tables (3871) were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables (3871).

    Isaiah 30:8 Go now, write it on a tablet (3871) in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll; it will be for the days to come, a witness forever and ever.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3871.htm luach: a tablet, board or plank, a plate

    C – The tablet as the book of Righteous in which will be written the names of men who will be saved

    C1 – https://biblehub.com/daniel/12-1.htm

    Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

    C2 – Sources based on the word ‘yashar/3477’ (Deuteronomy 6:18 Joshua 10:13 2 Samuel 1:18)

    Deuteronomy 6:18 Do what is right (3477) and good in the sight of the LORD, so that it may be well with you and that you may enter and possess the good land that the LORD your God swore to give your fathers,

    Joshua 10:13 So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar (3477) “So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.”

    2 Samuel 1:18 and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar (3477):

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3477.htm yashar: straight, right

    C3 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/9.htm (The Wicked Are Slain)

    Ezekiel 9:3 Then the glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit (7083) at his side.
    Ezekiel 9:4 “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark (8420) on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”
    Ezekiel 9:5 And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone!
    Ezekiel 9:6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark (8420). Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7083.htm qeseth: a pot (for ink), inkhorn
    Word Origin: from the same as qasah
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7184.htm qasah or qasvah: jug, jar

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8420.htm tav
    (Brown-Driver-Briggs: mark on forehead, sign of exemption from judgment)
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8427.htm tavah: to make or set a mark

    D – John’s head on a tablet: God lifts up his righteous servant

    Psalms 146:8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind, the LORD lifts (2210) those who are weighed down, the LORD loves the righteous (6662).

    Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked (1980) with God, and then he was no more, because God had taken him away.
    Genesis 6:9 This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous (6662) man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked (1980) with God.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1980.htm halak: to go, come, walk
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2210.htm zaqaph: to raise up
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6662.htm tsaddiq: just, righteous
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6663.htm tsadeq or tsadoq: to be just or righteous

    E – The body in a tomb

    Mark 6:29 When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

    The body entering the tomb is devoid of its spirit.
    Mark makes it clear that the judgment and elevation of the righteous takes place at the time of their physical death.

    F – SYNTHESIS

    Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous (1342) and holy man

    Mark 6:28 The man brought John’s head on a platter/tablet (4094) and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1342.htm dikaios: correct, righteous

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4094.htm pinax: a board, dish
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4093.htm pinakidion: a writing tablet
    Word Origin dim. of pinax

    The head as well as the name identifies the person
    The head of John represents the spirit which animated him during his earthly life
    The tablet represents both the Word that God wrote and the book on which the names of the righteous servants are written.
    The John’s head on a tablet means that John’s spirit does not die, it escapes from death and is lifted up to go on living near God.

    8 – ISRAEL, JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JOHN BOANERGES

    A – James son of Zebedee and his brother John named Boanerges

    Mark 1:19 Going on a little farther, He saw James [son] of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.
    Mark 1:20 Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.

    https://biblehub.com/mark/3-17.htm (various translations and greek text)

    Mark 3:17 James [son] of Zebedee and his brother John ([whom] He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons (5207) of Thunder”), (Berean Study Bible)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5207.htm huios: a son

    The words in square brackets do not appear in the greek text. It is John alone who is named Boanerges

    B – Boanerges = ( Boan/Ben + energes)

    Mark 3:17 James [son] of Zebedee and his brother John ([whom] He named Boanerges (993), meaning “Sons of Thunder”),

    Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work (1754) in him.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/993.htm BoanÉrges: Boanerges

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1754.htm energeÓ: to be at work, to work, to do
    Word Origin: from energÉs
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1756.htm energÉs: at work, active
    Word Origin: from en and ergon
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2041.htm ergon: work

    C – The wrath of Israel’s God

    Mark 3:17 James [son] of Zebedee and his brother John ([whom] He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),

    Daniel 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious (2528) with rage (7266), summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,

    https://biblehub.com/greek/993.htm BoanÉrges: Boanerges
    Word Origin: of Aramaic origin ben and regaz

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7266.htm regaz: a rage
    Word Origin (Aramaic) from regaz

    https://biblehub.com/isaiah/66-15.htm (fire, anger, fury)
    Isaiah 65:15 For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger (639) with fury (2534) and His rebuke with flames of fire.

    https://biblehub.com/isaiah/66-16.htm (fire, judgment)
    Isaiah 65:16 For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment (8199) on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8199.htm shaphat: to judge, govern

    D – Zeus, the thunder god

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus
    Zeus is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, who rules as king of the gods of Mount Olympus. His name is cognate with the first element of his Roman equivalent Jupiter.

    E – The sons of Zeus

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes
    In myth, Hermes functioned as the emissary and messenger of the gods
    He is able to move quickly and freely between the worlds of the mortal and the divine, aided by his winged sandals. Hermes plays the role of the psychopomp or “soul guide”—a conductor of souls into the afterlife

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo
    Medicine and healing are associated with Apollo, whether through the god himself or mediated through his son Asclepius.

    F – Israel, John the baptist and then John boanerges meaning sons of thunder

    John the baptist represents the old Word that God gave to Israel while John Boanerges represents the new one.

    The first pair (Jacob/Israel, John the Baptist) => Israel who received the law of Moses and the prophecies of old times
    The second pair (James/Israel, John) => Israel who receives the Good News

    The Good News will remain on earth through John the new messenger of God (Hermes, son of Zeus, is the messenger of the gods)
    The Good News heal (Medicine and healing are associated with Apollo, son of Zeus).

    9 – ELIJAH TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN AND THE PREDICTION OF HIS RETURN TO EARTH

    Mark 6:15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_kings/2.htm
    2 Kings 2:11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/malachi/4.htm
    Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.

    10 – THE MARRIAGE OF KING HEROD

    A – The reminder of the law: the prohibition on marrying the wife of a brother still living

    Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.
    Mark 6:18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”

    https://biblehub.com/leviticus/20-21.htm
    Leviticus 20:21 If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity (5079). He has uncovered the nakedness (6172) of his brother; they shall be childless.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5079.htm niddah: impurity
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6172.htm ervah: nakedness

    B – The Marriage between God and his People

    B1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/62.htm (Zion’s Salvation and New Name)

    Isaiah 62:4 No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride.
    Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.

    B2 – Marriage to your brother’s wife (Mark 6:18) => nakedness (Leviticus 18:16 ) => separation from God (Ezekiel 16:8)

    Mark 6:18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”

    Leviticus 18:16 You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame (6172) your brother.

    Leviticus 20:21 If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity (5079). He has uncovered the nakedness (6172) of his brother; they shall be childless.

    Ezekiel 16:8 Then I passed by and saw you (Jerusalem) , and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness (6172). I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6172.htm ervah: nakedness

    B3 – More about Ezekiel 16

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/16.htm (Jerusalem’s Unfaithfulness)

    Ezekiel 16:1 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
    Ezekiel 16:2 “<Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her abominations
    Ezekiel 16:3 and tell her that this is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite

    Ezekiel 16:8 Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD.
    Ezekiel 16:9 Then I bathed you with water, rinsed off your blood, and anointed you with oil.

    C – The marriage in Mark’s Gospel

    C1 – Jesus, the temporary link between God (bridegroom) and Israel (bride)
    Mark 2:19 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast.
    Mark 2:20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

    C2 – Herod, the Jewish king who broke the covenant made with the God of Israel
    Mark 6:18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”

    C3 – The marriage between a man and his wife as the image of the covenant that God makes with his people
    Mark 10:2 Some Pharisees came to test Him. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce (630) his wife?” they inquired.
    Mark 10:9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/630.htm apoluÓ: to set free, release

    11 – PHILIP THE BROTHER, PHILIP THE APOSTLE AND CAESAREA PHILIPPI

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5376.htm Philippos
    (Mark 3:18 Mark 6:17 Mark 8:27)

    Philip refers to king Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great.
    The name ‘Philip’ evokes the greek world

    A – Philip the apostle (the greek populations)

    Mark 3:18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite,
    Andrew and Philip represent the greek populations just as Bartholomew represents the aramean populations

    B – Philip the brother (greek culture and pagan world)

    Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.

    John blames Herod for espousing greek culture instead of serving the God Israel

    C – Caesarea Philippi: the announcement of Christ to the Romans and Greeks

    C1 – Who is Jesus? (Jesus in his fatherland)
    Mark 6:14 … and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
    Mark 6:15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

    C2 – Who is Jesus? (Jesus at Caesarea Philippi)
    Mark 8:27 Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say I am?”
    Mark 8:28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

    C3 – Peter’s answer
    Mark 8:28 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

    Caesarea => Roman empire
    Philippi => the greek territories conquered by Alexander the Great, son of Philip

    D – Synthesis

    Philip refers to king Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great.
    At this context (Mark 6:17) Philip represents the greek culture and the pagan world.
    John blames Herod for espousing greek culture instead of serving the God Israel.

    12 – HERODIAS/JEZEBEL (WOMEN WHO WANT TO KILL THE PROPHET)

    Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.
    Mark 6:18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”
    Mark 6:19 And Herodias held it against him, and wished to kill him, and was not able.

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_kings/19.htm (Elijah Flees from Jezebel to save his life)

    1 Kings 19:1 Now Ahab told Jezebel (348) everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
    1 Kings 19:2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the lives of those you killed!”
    1 Kings 19:3 And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/348.htm Izebel: queen of Isr. with King Ahab

    13 – HERODIANS, HEROD, HERODIAS

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2264.htm HÉrÓdÉs: Herod, the name of several kings of the Jews
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2265.htm HÉrÓdianoi: Herodians, partisans of Herod
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2266.htm HÉrÓdias: Herodias

    Mark 3:6 At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
    Mark 6:19 And Herodias held it against him, and wished to kill him, and was not able.
    Mark 6:27 So without delay, the king (Herod) commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.

    The term ‘Herodian’ and the name ‘Herodias’ are derived from the name ‘Herod’.
    Herod and Herodias killed the old Word. The Herodians want to kill the new Word

    14 – HEROD’S PERPLEXITY

    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed (639); yet he listened to him gladly.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/639.htm aporeÓ: to be at a loss, be perplexed

    Herod is greatly perplexed when he hears John’s words. This means that he does not understand everything. Mark has created a vulnerable Herod character in order to prepare the scene in which he will trap himself by adding an oath.

    At this point, Herod protects John against Herodias

    15 – THE IRRUPTION OF HERODIAS’ DAUGHTER

    Mark 6:19 And Herodias held it against him, and wished to kill him, and was not able.
    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him,

    Mark 6:22 When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”

    Mark 6:24 Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.”

    The girl bursts in and dances. This is the beginning of the scene causing the reversal and allowing Herodias to carry out her plan to kill John

    A – (Mark 6:19) The Herodias’ project cannot be realised
    B – (Mark 6:22) Irruption of Herodias’ daughter
    A’ – (Mark 6:24) The Herodias’ project will succeed

    This irruption is the second one in the gospel. In the first one, the pagan woman interrupted the scene in which Jesus saves the hebrew girl

    16 – HALF THE KINGDOM: THE REFERENCE TO ESTHER REQUIRING THAT HAMAN BE HANGED

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/esther/7.htm

    A – The offer renewed with a stronger expression the second time

    Esther 7:1 So the king and Haman went to dine with Esther the queen,
    Esther 7:2 and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther,
    what is your petition (7596)? It will be given to you.
    What is your request ? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7596.htm sheelah or shelah: request, thing asked for
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1246.htm baqqashah: request, entreaty

    Mark 6:22 When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”

    Mark 6:23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3660.htm omnuÓ: to swear, take an oath

    B – The king’s decision

    Esther 7:6 Esther replied, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked man—Haman!” And Haman stood in terror before the king and queen.
    Esther 7:9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said: “There is a gallows fifty cubits high at Haman’s house. He had it built for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” “Hang him on it!” declared the king.

    Mark 6:27 So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.

    17 – THE ADDITIONAL OATH: THE REFERENCE TO JEPHTHAH HAVING TO SACRIFICE HIS DAUGHTER

    A – Jephthah

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/judges/11.htm

    Judges 11:30 Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand,
    Judges 11:31 then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

    Judges 11:34 And when Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, there was his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no son or daughter besides her.
    Judges 11:35 As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have brought me to my knees! You have brought great misery upon me (5916), for I have given my word to the LORD and cannot take it back.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5916.htm akar: to stir up, disturb, trouble

    B – Herod

    Mark 6:22 When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests …
    Mark 6:23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”
    Mark 6:25 At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”

    Mark 6:26 The king was consumed with sorrow (4036), but because of his oaths (3727) and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3727.htm horkos: an oath
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4036.htm perilupos: very sad

    Note also the daughters coming and dancing
    Judges 11:34 … there was his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing!
    Mark 6:22 When the daughter of Herodias came and danced,

    C – The oath to be observed

    Numbers 30:1 Then Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded:
    Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow (5088) to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

    Deuteronomy 23:21 If you make a vow (5088) to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.

    Judges 11:30 Jephthah made this vow (5088) to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand,
    Judges 11:35 As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have brought me to my knees! You have brought great misery upon me (5916), for I have given my word to the LORD and cannot take it back.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5088.htm neder: a vow

    18 – JOHN’S BEHEADING: THE REFERENCE TO JUDITH BEHEADING HOLOFERNES

    https://biblehub.com/topical/j/judith.htm

    She (Judith) reiterates to Holofernes the doctrine taught by Achior that these Jews can easily be conquered when they break the laws of their Deity, and she knows the necessities of their situation would lead them to eat food prohibited in their sacred laws, and when this takes place she informs him that he might at once attack them. Holofernes listens, applauds, and is at once captured by her personal charms. He agrees to her proposal and consents that she
    and her maid should be allowed each night to say their prayers out in the valley near the Hebrew fortress. On the 4th night after her arrival, Holofernes arranges a banquet to which only his household servants and the two Jewesses are invited. When all is over, by a preconcerted plan the Assyrian general and the beautiful Jewish widow are left alone. He, however, is dead drunk and heavily asleep. With his own scimitar she cuts off his
    head, calls her maid who puts it into the provision bag, and together they leave the camp as if for their usual prayers and join their Hebrew compatriots, still frantic about the immediate future. But the sight of the head of their arch foe puts new heart into them, and next day they march upon the enemy now in panic at what had happened, and win an easy victory.

    https://biblehub.com/drb/judith/10.htm

    Judith 10:14 And when the men had heard her words, they beheld her face, and their eyes were amazed, for they wondered exceedingly at her beauty.
    Judith 10:12 And when she was come into his presence, forthwith Holofernes was caught by his eyes.
    Mark 6:22 When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests …

    Judith 11:18 And all these words pleased Holofernes, and his servants, and they admired her wisdom, and they said one to another:
    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.

    Judith 13:10 And she struck twice upon his neck, and cut off his head, and took off his canopy from the pillars, and rolled away his headless body.
    Mark 6:27 So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison.
    Mark 6:29 When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

    Judith 13:11 And after a while she went out, and delivered the head of Holofernes to her maid, and bade her put it into her wallet/bag.
    Mark 6:8 He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—

    Reply

28. Continuing

    19 – HEROD, KING OF GALILEE IN MARK’S GOSPEL

    Mark 6:14 Now King (935) Herod heard about this …
    Mark 6:21 On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/935.htm basileus: a king
    Mark 6:14 => King Herod heard
    Mark 15:26 => written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
    Mark 15:32 => Let Christ the King of Israel descend

    Mark creates his own king Herod and makes him king of Galilee to avoid any identification with a historical figure. The aim is to allude to Herod the Great while avoiding the identification, which would turn the gospel into a historical account.

    20 – THE SPECULATOR AS EXECUTIONER IN MARK’S GOSPEL

    Mark 6:27 So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner (4688), who went and beheaded him in the prison.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4688.htm spekoulatÓr: a scout, by ext. an executioner
    Word Origin: of Latin origin

    21 – THE ‘COHORTES SPECULATORUM’ OF MARK ANTONY AS A SOURCE

    A – SOURCES

    A1 – Speculatores

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculatores
    Speculatores and Exploratores were the scouts and reconnaissance element of the Roman army. In both the legions and in the praetorian camp, speculatores were initially scouts but became bodyguards, couriers, law-enforcers, and sometimes executioners

    https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculatores
    Les exÉcuteurs qui tuent les hommes proscrits par les triumvirs sont des speculatores.
    Marc Antoine regroupe ses speculatores en une cohorte spÉciale.
    Claude a l’habitude de s’entourer de speculatores lorsqu’il assiste À des dÎners.

    A2 – Mark Antony denarius

    https://www.romanumismatics.com/historicarticles?view=article&article_id=505
    Roman Imperators, Mark Antony – Cohortes Speculatorum

    With this issue, Antony honours the Cohortes Speculatorum. Speculator, derived from specula, roughly equates to ‘a view from the summit of a place, whence anything may be seen advantageously from a distance.’ Thus the cohort was established, based on the idea that they may explore, act as watchmen or sentries and scouts. These soldiers also served as messengers, spies and even assassins. While ten Speculatores were normally assigned to a specific legion, Antony’s Speculatores were a special detachment who carried out his personal assignments. This innovation of Antony’s was copied by Augustus during the empire, and the Speculatores became an elite group within the Praetorian Guard whose mission was to protect the emperor’s person.

    On this type three standards are shown with two wreaths and a miniature depiction of the prow of the galley, referencing the specula (look out or turret in Latin) and the specialised role of the Speculatores as look outs on the ships.

    Mark Antony AR Denarius. Travelling mint with Mark Antony, 32-31 BC. Galley right, with sceptre tied with fillet on prow; ANT• AVG above; III•VIR•R•P•C / Three standards; CHORTIS SPECVLATORVM around.

    B – MARK’S GOSPEL

    B1 – Speculator as executioner

    Mark 6:27 So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner (4688), who went and beheaded him in the prison.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4688.htm spekoulatÓr: a scout, by ext. an executioner
    Word Origin of Latin origin

    B2 – Speculatores as Praetorian Guard and Cohort

    Mark 15:16 Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium (4232)) and called the whole company/cohort (4686) together.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4232.htm praitÓrion: Praetorium (official residence of a governor), praetorian guard
    Word Origin of Latin origin
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4686.htm speira: a body (of soldiers), i.e. a cohort
    Word Origin of Latin origin

    B3 – Speculatores as look outs on the ship (the prow of the Galley on the denarius)

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern (4403), sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4403.htm prumna: the stern (of a ship)

    ‘Jesus is in the stern’ suggests that the disciples are in the prow to look out

    B4 – Speculatores as watchmen/sentries

    Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower (4444). Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

    Mark 15:40 And there were also women watching (2334) from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2334.htm theÓreÓ: to look at, gaze

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4444.htm purgos: a tower
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4026.htm migdal or migdalah: a tower

    22 – ANTIGONUS, KING OF THE JEWS, WHOM MARK ANTONY BEHEADED

    A – Antigonus

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigonus_II_Mattathias (Reign 40 – 37 BCE)
    https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-last-of-the-maccabees-coins
    Antigonus Mattathias Prutah with retrograde inscription (Brom. 18)
    The large bronze of Mattathias, featuring double cornucopiae, is the biggest coin issued by the Hasmoneans. Its dual Hebrew and Greek inscriptions tied together Antigonus and Mattathias for the first time for historians.

    B – Mark Antony

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Antony#Reconquest_of_Judea

    C – Plutarch (Life of Antony 36.2)

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch (from Chaeronea, Boeotia AD 46 – after AD 119)
    https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0007%3Achapter%3D36%3Asection%3D2
    He (Antony) deprived many monarchs of their kingdoms, as, for instance, Antigonus the Jew, whom he (Antony) brought forth and beheaded, though no other king before him had been so punished.

    French texts
    http://remacle.org/bloodwolf/historiens/Plutarque/antoine.htm (XXXVII)

    D – Josephus (War of Jews, Book 1, chapter 18)

    https://penelope.uchicago.edu/josephus/war-1.html
    Hereupon Sosius dedicated a crown of gold to God, and then went away from Jerusalem, leading Antigonus away in bonds to Antony: then did the axe bring him to his end,

    French and Greek texts
    http://remacle.org/bloodwolf/historiens/Flajose/guerre1.htm
    http://remacle.org/bloodwolf/historiens/Flajose/guerre1gr.htm

    23 – JESUS WHOM PILATE HANGS ON THE WOOD AS KING OF THE JEWS

    A – Jesus before Pilate

    Mark 15:1 Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound (1210) Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.
    Mark 15:2 So Pilate (4091) questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
    Mark 15:15 And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified (4717).

    Source: Plutarch (Life of Antony 36.2)

    He (Antony) deprived many monarchs of their kingdoms, as, for instance, Antigonus the Jew, whom he (Antony) brought forth and beheaded, though no other king before him had been so punished.

    B – The rebels and the insurrection

    Mark 15:7 And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned (1210) with the rebels (4955) who had committed murder (5408) during the insurrection (4714).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4955.htm sustasiastÉs: rebel
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5408.htm phonos: a murder
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4714.htm stasis: standing, place, dissension

    Note that Mark wrote ‘Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels’ and not ‘Barabbas was a rebel’

    Source: Antigonus joining the Parthians and fighting against the Romans
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Antony#Reconquest_of_Judea

    C – Speculatores as Praetorian Guard and Cohort

    Mark 15:16 Then the soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium (4232)) and called the whole company/cohort (4686) together.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4232.htm praitÓrion: Praetorium (official residence of a governor), praetorian guard
    Word Origin of Latin origin
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4686.htm speira: a body (of soldiers), i.e. a cohort
    Word Origin of Latin origin

    Source: see my paragraph about the ‘cohortes speculatorum’ of Mark Antony

    D – About the name pilate

    Mark 15:15 And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released (630) Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified (4717).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/630.htm apoluÓ: to set free, release

    Mark built the name Pilate from
    1 – the Latin word “Pilum/Pila”, which alludes to the primus pilus and represents the roman power
    2 – the Hebrew root “P-L-T”, which means liberation/deliverance

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4091.htm Pilatos: Pilate
    a Latin name, equivalent to ‘armed with a pilum or javelin,’

    In Mark’s gospel, the term pilate alludes to the primus pilus, the highest ranking centurion in the legion and identifies the roman power

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6403.htm palat: to escape
    NASB Translation
    calves (1), carries it off (1), deliver (5), delivered (4), deliverer (5), delivers (3), escape (1), preserve (2), rescue (3).
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6405.htm pallet: deliverance

    Psalms 17:13 Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver (6403) me from the wicked by Your sword,
    Psalms 56:7 In spite of such sin, will they escape (6405)? In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations.

    By releasing Barrabas, Pilate condemns Jesus to die. This death is required in order to fulfill the new word of God which delivers man from sin.

    F – Synthesis

    Mark 15:1 Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound (1210) Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.
    Mark 15:2 So Pilate (4091) questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.
    Mark 15:15 And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified (4717).

    Mark does not introduce the character Pilate because there is no need for that. The following sentence ‘they bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate’ and the term ‘King of the Jews’ are enough to grasp the reference to the capture of Antigonus by the Romans.

    The use of the terms ‘rebel’, ‘sedition’ reminds us again of Antigonus joining the Parthians and fighting against the Romans

    Finally, the execution of Jesus by a high-ranking roman official and the use of the words ‘praetorium’ and ‘cohort’ recalls Mark Antony and his ‘cohortes speculatorum’

    24 – HEROD THE GREAT, WHOM MARK ANTONY SET UP AS KING

    A – HEROD THE GREAT

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great (c. 72 – 4 or 1 BCE)

    https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/herod-the-great-rsquo-s-coins
    Coin of Herod featuring cross within a diadem & tripod (Herbst 1125)
    The most common coin (prutah) of Herod the Great is similar to Hasmonean coins – an anchor with Greek inscription “HRwD BACI” (King Herod), and a caduceus between double cornucopiae.

    B – MARK ANTONY, MASTER OF THE EAST

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Antony (14 January 83 BC – 1 August 30 BC)
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Antony#/media/File:Octavian_and_Antony_denarius.jpg
    Denarius struck at Ephesus in 41 B.C. commemorating the Second Triumvirate. One on side is Octavian, later Caesar Augustus, and on the other is Antony
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Antony#/media/File:Roman-Empire-39BC-sm.png
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Antony#Antony's_Parthian_War
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Antony#Reconquest_of_Judea

    C – STRABO (Geography, XVI, 46)

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strabo (from Amaseia in Pontus, 64 or 63 BC – c. 24 AD)
    http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0239%3Abook%3D16%3Achapter%3D2%3Asection%3D46

    Pompey curtailed the territory which had been forcibly appropriated by the Jews, and assigned to Hyrcanus the priesthood. Some time afterwards, Herod, of the same family, and a native of the country, having surreptitiously obtained the priesthood, distinguished himself so much above his predecessors, particularly in his intercourse, both civil and political, with the Romans, that he received the title and authority of king, first from Antony, and afterwards from Augustus CÆsar. He put to death some of his sons, on the pretext of their having conspired against him; other sons he left at his death, to succeed him, and assigned to each, portions of his kingdom. CÆsar bestowed upon the sons also of Herod marks of honour, on his sister Salome, and on her daughter Berenice. The sons were unfortunate, and were publicly accused. One of them died in exile among the GalatÆ Allobroges, whose country was assigned for his abode. The others, by great interest and solicitation, but with difficulty, obtained leave to return to their own country, each with his tetrarchy restored to him.

    D – APPIAN (civil wars, 5)

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appian Appian of Alexandria (c. 95 – c. AD 165)
    https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/appian/civil_wars/5*.html
    https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0232%3Abook%3D5&force=y

    [75] After these events Octavius set forth on an expedition to Gaul, which was in a disturbed state, and Antony started for the war against the Parthians. The Senate having voted to ratify all that he had done or should do, Antony again despatched his lieutenants in all directions and arranged everything else as he wished. He (Antony) set up kings here and there as he pleased, on condition of their paying a prescribed tribute: in Pontus, Darius, the son of Pharnaces and grandson of Mithridates; in Idumea and Samaria, Herod; in Pisidia, Amyntas; in a part of Cilicia, Polemon, and others in other countries.

    French texts
    http://remacle.org/bloodwolf/erudits/strabon/livre162.htm (BOOK XVI, CH II, greek and french texts)
    http://remacle.org/bloodwolf/historiens/appien/civile5.htm

    25 – JOHN AND JESUS: TWO LINKED FATES

    A – Holy

    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy (40) One of God!”

    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy (40) man.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/40.htm hagios: sacred, holy

    B – Death because of Herodians

    Mark 3:6 At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

    Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!”
    Mark 6:24 Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother (Herodias) answered, “The head of John the Baptist.”

    C – Elevation by beheading and hanging on the wood

    Mark 6:28 The man brought John’s head on a platter/tablet and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

    Mark 15:24 And they crucified (4717) Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4716.htm stauros: an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4717.htm stauroÓ: to crucify

    D – The body placed in a tomb

    Mark 6:29 When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

    Mark 15:46 So Joseph bought a linen cloth, took down the body of Jesus, wrapped it in the cloth, and placed it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.

    E – The bound man

    Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound (1210) and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.

    Mark 15:1 Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound (1210) Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1210.htm deÓ: to tie, bind

    F – The leader who orders the killing against his own will

    Mark 6:25 At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”
    Mark 6:26 The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.

    Mark 15:14 “Why?” asked Pilate. “What evil has He done?” But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify Him!”
    Mark 15:15 And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

    F – The pleasure of listening to the Word of God

    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly (2234).

    Mark 12:37 David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight (2234).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2234.htm hÉdeÓs: sweetly, gladly

    G – Two killings that Mark wrote by using the same sources

    biblical source => the hanging of the chief baker (Genesis 40)
    historical source => the beheading of Antigonus by Mark Antony, master of the East

    26 – COUNTING THE RIGHTEOUS SERVANTS AT GOLGOTHA

    A – Golgotha: the place where heads are counted

    Mark 15:22 They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (1115), which means The Place of the Skull (2898).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1115.htm Golgotha
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1538.htm gulgoleth: a skull, head, poll (of persons)
    Word Origin: from galal

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2898.htm kranion: a skull

    Word Origin: from kara (the head)

    OT Sources: https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/1.htm (The First Census of Israel)

    Numbers 1:1 On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said:
    Numbers 1:2 “Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing (4557) every man by name, one by one (1538).

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1538.htm gulgoleth: a skull, head, poll (of persons)
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4557.htm mispar: number, tally
    Word Origin: from the same as sepher
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5612.htm sepher: a missive, document, writing, book

    B – The women who are named in order to be counted

    Mark 15:40 And there were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

    Mark 15:41 These women had followed Jesus and ministered (1247) to Him while He was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1247.htm diakoneÓ: to serve, minister
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1342.htm dikaios: correct, righteous

    C – Joseph of Arimathea, the one in charge of counting

    Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea (707), a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.

    C1 – OT Source

    Genesis 41:18 During those seven years, Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt and stored it in the cities. In every city he laid up the food from the fields around it.
    Genesis 41:19 So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance, like the sand of the sea, that he stopped keeping track of it (5608); for it was beyond measure.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5608.htm saphar: to count, recount, relate
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5612.htm sepher: a missive, document, writing, book

    C2 – More about Arimathea = Ramathayim + arithmetike

    https://biblehub.com/greek/707.htm Harimathaia: Arimathea,
    of Hebrew origin, cf. Ramah
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7436.htm Ramathayim Tsophim: “double height of watchers,” a city in Ephraim
    Word Origin: from ramah and tsaphah

    https://www.etymonline.com/word/arithmetic
    from Latin arithmetica, from Greek arithmetike (tekhne) “(the) counting (art),” fem. of arithmetikos “of or for reckoning, arithmetical,” from arithmos “number, counting, amount

    D – The registration in the book

    https://biblehub.com/daniel/12-1.htm
    Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered (4422).

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3789.htm kathab: to write
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5612.htm sepher: a missive, document, writing, book
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4422.htm malat: to slip away
    Brown-Driver-Briggs
    3 passive be delivered Psalm 22:6; Proverbs 11:21; Proverbs 28:26; Job 22:30; Daniel 12:1 (later usage).

    E – EpigraphÉ and ApographÉ

    Mark 15:26 And there was the inscription (1923) of the accusation against Him, having been written (1924) : The King of the Jews. (BLB)
    Mark 15:26 And the charge inscribed (1923) against Him read (1924): THE KING OF THE JEWS. (BSB)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1923.htm epigraphÉ: an inscription
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1924.htm epigraphÓ: to write upon
    from epi and grapho

    https://biblehub.com/greek/582.htm apographÉ: a register, enrollment
    https://biblehub.com/greek/583.htm apographÓ: to copy, enroll
    from apo and grapho

    SYNTHESIS

    The counting of those who will be judged as righteous according to the Good News takes place at Golgatha.
    Three women will be named so that their names will be written in the book of the righteous, the new book listing those who will be elevated and enter the kingdom of God.

    To read more about the three women, see my chapter 19 Jesus in his fatherland
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-201746
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-201747

    27 – TWO GREEK WORDS FOR ELEVATION (EGEIRO AND ANISTEMI )

    A – EGEIRO (1453) healing/awakening/elevation on earth

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1453.htm egeirÓ: to waken, to raise up

    Mark 1:31 So He went to her (mother-in-law), took her by the hand, and helped her up (1453). The fever left her, and she began to serve them.

    Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up (1453), pick up your mat, and walk’?
    Mark 2:11 “I tell you, get up (1453), pick up your mat, and go home.”
    Mark 2:12 And immediately the man got up (1453), picked up his mat, and walked out in front of them all. As a result, they were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

    Mark 3:3 Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up (1453) among us.”

    Mark 4:26 Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
    Mark 4:27 Night and day he sleeps (2518) and wakes (1453), and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping (2518) on the cushion. So they woke (1453) Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

    Mark 5:39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep (2518).”
    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up (1453)!”

    B – ANISTEMI (450): The change of form and the elevation to God

    https://biblehub.com/greek/450.htm anistÉmi: to raise up, to rise
    Word Origin: from ana and histemi

    B1 – Jesus, son of God, gets up (450) in order to commune with God

    Mark 1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up (450) and slipped out to a solitary place to pray (4336).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4335.htm proseuchÉ: prayer
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4336.htm proseuchomai: to pray

    B2 – Levi son of Alphaeus leaves his human form to join God

    Mark 2: As He was walking along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up (450) and followed Him.

    The expression “son of Alphaeus” refers to the Alpheus river and alludes to disappearance in one form and reappearance in another form.
    We will never hear of Levi again because he is elevated, which means that he disappears in his human form and his spirit is elevated to God

    B3 – Satan, the unclean spirit rising against himself

    Mark 3:26 And if Satan is divided and rises (450) against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.

    C – The Jairus’ Daugther and her elevation

    Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet
    Mark 5:23 and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death (2079). Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be saved (4982) and live (2198).”

    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead (599); why bother the Teacher anymore?”
    Mark 5:39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead (599), but asleep.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2079.htm eschatÓs: extremely
    https://biblehub.com/greek/599.htm apothnÉskÓ: to die
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4982.htm sÓzÓ: to save
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2198.htm zaÓ: to live

    Mark 5:41 Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up (1453)!”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1453.htm egeirÓ: to waken, to raise up

    Jesus asks that she be raised up on earth thanks to the new Word

    Mark 5:42 Immediately the girl got up (450) and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/450.htm anistÉmi: to raise up, to rise

    ‘began to walk around’ => the girl begins to live on earth according to the new Word
    ‘the girl got up (450)’ => Mark uses the term ‘anistÉmi ‘ in order to express the salvation of the girl. Her spirit will be elevated to the God of Israel at the time of her physical death

    D – The elevation of John

    D1 – Lifting up on earth (separation of body and spirit)

    Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen (1453) from the dead (3498)!”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1453.htm egeirÓ: to waken, to raise up
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3498.htm nekros: dead

    D2 – Elevation to God in another form (the true elevation, that of the spirit which animated man on earth)

    Mark 6:28 The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

    E – Another elevation (for further study)

    Mark 9:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus admonished them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen (450) from the dead.
    Mark 9:10 So they kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise (450) from the dead.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/450.htm anistÉmi: to raise up, to rise

    F – SYNTHESIS

    F1 – First step (life on earth)
    EgeirÓ/1453: The lifting up on earth thanks to the Good News. Its representation is healing and awakening.

    F2 – Second step (at the time of death)
    AnistÉmi/450: The elevation to God and the life in another form at the time of death

    F3 – Representation and meaning

    egeirÓ/1453 (healing/awakening) => => anistÉmi/450 (entry into the rock-cut tomb)
    egeirÓ/1453 (conversion to the Good News) => => anistÉmi/450 (salvation, entry into the kingdom of God)

    Note: The elevation of John the baptist is a peculiar case because he is associated with the old Word.
    His true elevation to God is represented by the head on the tablet.

    28 – MORE ABOUT HANGING ON THE WOOD AND BEHEADING

    A – HANGING ON THE WOOD

    Genesis 40:19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang (8518) you on a tree (6086). Then the birds will eat the flesh of your body.”

    Esther 7:9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said: “There is a gallows (6086) fifty cubits high at Haman’s house. He had it built for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” “Hang (8518) him on it!” declared the king.…

    Deuteronomy 21:22 If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is executed, and you hang (8518) his body on a tree (6086),

    Joshua 8:29 He hung (8518) the king of Ai on a tree (6086) until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take down the body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And over it they raised a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8518.htm talah: to hang
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6086.htm ets: tree, trees, wood

    Mark 15:24 And they crucified (4717) Him. They also divided His garments by casting lots to decide what each of them would take.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4716.htm stauros: an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4717.htm stauroÓ: to crucify

    B – BEHEADING

    B1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_kings/10.htm (Ahab’s Seventy Sons Killed)

    2 Kings 10:7 And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads (7218) in baskets (1731) and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1731.htm dud: a pot, jar
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7218.htm rosh: head

    B2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_samuel/17.htm (David Slays Goliath)

    1 Samuel 17:46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
    1 Samuel 17:47 And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

    B3 – Beheadings in the bible

    https://www.gotquestions.org/beheadings-in-the-Bible.html

    29 – WHO IS JESUS ?

    Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
    Mark 6:15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

    Mark 8:27 Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say I am?”
    Mark 8:28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

    A – THE VARIOUS FORMS ALREADY STUDIED

    A1 – Nazirite

    Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

    Numbers 6:2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite (5139), to separate himself to the LORD,
    Numbers 6:5 For the entire period of his vow of separation (5145), no razor shall pass over his head. He (the Nazirite) must be holy until the time of his separation to the LORD is complete; he must let the hair of his head grow long.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5139.htm nazir: one consecrated, devoted
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5145.htm nezer: consecration, crown, Naziriteship

    A2 – Son of Man on earth and Lord of the Sabbath.

    Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralytic,

    Mark 2:28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

    A3 – Son of God

    Mark 3:01 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.
    Mark 3:11 And when the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

    A3 – Teacher

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher (1320), don’t You care that we are perishing?”

    Mark 5:35 While He was still speaking, messengers from the house of Jairus arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; why bother the Teacher (1320) anymore?”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1320.htm didaskalos: an instructor

    B – FOR FURTHER STUDY

    B1 – Beloved Son

    Mark 1:11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
    Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
    Mark 12:6 Finally, having one beloved son, he sent him to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

    B2 – Appearance

    Mark 6:49 but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost (5326)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5326.htm phantasma: an appearance, apparition
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5319.htm phaneroÓ: to make visible, make clear

    B3 – Son of Man

    Mark 8:31 Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again.

    B4 – Transfiguration

    Mark 9:2 After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them.

    B5 – Christ

    Mark 14:61 … Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

    B6 – King of the Jews

    Mark 15:2 So Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

    30 – THE INTERCALATION LINKING THE PREACHING OF THE NEW WORD WITH THE END OF THE OLD ONE

    (A): The teaching of the new word and the signs that will accompany it

    Mark 6:7 Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

    Mark 6:12 So they set out and preached that the people should repent.
    Mark 6:13 They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

    (B): The end of the old Word

    Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, …

    Mark 6:29 When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

    (A’ ): The success of the new Word

    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

    Further, the intercalation seems necessary to give the disciples time to go out and do their thing, and then report back to Jesus.

    SUMMARY

    Beheading is
    1 – the death for the physical body
    2 – the separation of body and spirit

    John’s head symbolises the spirit animating John during his earthly life. In other words, John’s head represents John in a form freed from his carnal envelope

    The tablet is the physical medium on which one can write. It symbolises 2 things
    1 – the Word of God (the tablets of the law and the books of the prophets)
    2 – the book on which are written the names of men judged as righteous servants of the Word
    In short, the tablet is both the criterion by which one counts and the list of those who are counted.

    The John’s head on a tablet means that
    1 – John is elevated to God and escapes from death.
    2 – The old Word fades away in favour of the Good News

    The message to the reader is that men now must be righteous according to the new Word (the Good News) in order to be saved and enter the kingdom of God at the time of their death.

    To write the current sequence, Mark combined and reinterpreted
    1 – several biblical sources: The lifting up of heads in Genesis, Esther, Jezebel, Jephthah, Judith, Leviticus, …
    2 – a historical source: The beheading of Antigonus ordered by Mark Antony

    Mark will again use the ‘lifting up of heads in Genesis’ and the ‘beheading of Antigonus’ to write the last scenes of the gospel (Jesus before Pilate, Jesus’ death and Jesus’ elevation)

    Mark will again talk about the topics introduced in this sequence
    1 – The death and the escape from death
    2 – Jesus’ identity and change of form
    3 – Marriage
    4 – Census of the Righteous

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 6:30-56) First breaking of loaves, Second crossing, Jesus at Gennesaret
    (Mark 7) The tradition of the Elders, The greek woman, The deaf and mute man
    (Mark 8:1-26) Second breaking of loaves, Jesus at Dalmanutha, The blind man at Bethsaida, Third synthesis

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter: Chapter 20 Jesus sends the Twelve
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-205955

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

29. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 22: First breaking of loaves
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 6:30-44) The new Torah that the sons of Israel must make fruitful in themselves so that God counts them as righteous servants of his Word

    1 – OVERVIEW
    2 – BY THE SEA: THE ISRAELITE CROWD ON THE WESTERN BANK
    3 – RECOGNITION: THE ISRAELITES WHO KNOW THE MAIN CONTENT OF THE GOOD NEWS (THE NEW FORGIVENESS OF SIN)
    4 – RACE AND OVERTAKING: THE ISREALITES WHO BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS AND WERE THE FIRST TO KNOW THE WORD OF GOD
    5 – COMPASSION: GOD DOES NOT ABANDON HIS PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM
    6 – THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN IN A DESOLATE PLACE: THE NEW MANNA THAT GOD GIVES TO ISRAELITES
    7 – THE BELIEVERS FALLING BACK ON THE GROUND LIKE THE SEEDS SOWN ON GOOD SOIL
    8 – THE BELIEVERS EATING THEIR FILL: FROM SOWING TO HUNDREDFOLD HARVEST
    9 – GROUPS OF HUNDREDS AND FIFTIES: THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT GOD WILL JUDGE THE FRUIT OF THE HARVEST
    10 – THE CENSUS OF THE 5000 SONS OF ISRAEL WHO WILL GET THEIR REWARD
    11 – HARVEST TIME: DIVINE JUDGMENT AT THE TIME OF DEATH AND SEPARATION OF BODY AND SPIRIT
    12 – THE 5 LOAVES AND 10 BASKETS: THE 5 BOOKS OF THE NEW TORAH AND THE DOUBLE PORTION TO 5000 SONS OF ISRAEL
    13 – THE 7 LOAVES AND 7 BASKETS: THE GOOD NEWS AND THE SIMPLE PORTION TO PAGAN PEOPLE
    14 – LIBERATION FROM SIN (5 LOAVES), LIBERATION FROM RITUAL LAWS (2 FISH) AND LIBERATION OF MAN (7 LOAVES)
    15 – THE LEFTOVER FOOD: THE GOOD NEWS AS INEXHAUSTIBLE FOOD
    16 – THE 200 DENARII AND THE DOUBLE PORTION
    17 – REST IN A DESERT PLACE: A REFERENCE TO THE FIRST MANNA AND THE FIRST SABBATH
    18 – FISH AS ALTERNATE FOOD TO MANNA
    19 – THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GRAIN (OF CEREALS) AND FISH
    20 – WHY 2 FISH ?
    21 – SHEPHERD, GREEN GRASS: PREFIGURATION OF THE RETURN (TO GOD)
    22 – DESOLATE PLACE AND LATE HOUR: CHANGE OF TIME (THE TIME WITH JESUS AND THE TIME AFTER JESUS)
    23 – THE UNEXPECTED INTERFERING OF THE DISCIPLES TO DESCRIBE THE TIME AFTER JESUS
    24 – THE DISMISSAL OF THE CROWD AND THE FASTING PERIOD: THE TIME AFTER JESUS
    25 – THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN AND THE DESOLATE PLACE: THE WORD THAT GOD GIVES TO ISREALITES IN ORDER TO TEST THEM
    26 – THE FIRST TEST: JESUS IN THE DESERT
    27 – MORE ABOUT THE DESOLATE PLACE
    28 – MORE ABOUT THE DOUBLE PORTION
    29 – OT SOURCES: KEY VERSES TO UNDERSTAND THE BREAKING OF LOAVES
    30 – BREAKING OF LOAVES IN MARK’S GOSPEL
    31 – MARK’S GOSPEL (HARVEST, KINGDOM OF GOD, TIME OF DEATH, CENSUS)
    SUMMARY
    SOME READINGS

    1 – OVERVIEW
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/6.htm

    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

    This verse resumes and closes the story about the preaching that the twelve had began
    (Mark 6:7-13) Sending of the twelve and preaching of the new Word of God
    (Mark 6:14-30) John’s beheading (end of the old Word)
    (Mark 6:30) Report of the twelve

    Mark 6:31 And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

    Apostles need to revitalise themselves by hearning/eating the new Word/food.
    The terms ‘rest’ and ‘solitary place’ refer to the first manna and the first sabbath (Exodus 16)

    Mark 6:32 So they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary place.

    Jesus leaves his fatherland (Mark 6:1)
    Note that Jesus has not yet given food to the apostles

    Mark 6:33 But many people saw them leaving and recognized (1921) them. They ran together on foot from all the towns and arrived before them.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1921.htm epiginÓskÓ: to know exactly, to recognize

    The scene takes place on the western bank since Jesus comes from his fatherland and did not cross to the other side of the sea. So people are Israelites

    ‘People recognized them’ => At this point, people known the main content of the Good News that Jesus teaches, which is “the only way to be saved is the new forgiveness of sin”

    The Israelites run because they need the new Word that Jesus teaches, which also means that they believe in Good News
    The Israelites arrive before Jesus because they have known the Word of God which preceded the Good News

    Race and overtaking refer to Ahimaaz who runs, tells the king the good news and outruns the Cushite (2 Samuel 18)

    Mark 6:34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

    Jesus is actually on the western bank because he did not cross the sea.

    Mark uses again the word ‘compassion’ to mean that God does not abandon his people and acts to save them. So, Jesus (which means savior) begins to teach the new Word of God.

    Mark 6:35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late.

    Note that Mark no longer speaks of apostles but of disciples

    The disciples interrupt Jesus who is teaching the crowd. It is quite unexpected and surprising

    The verse itself is also a bit strange
    A => the hour was already late
    B => This is a desolate place
    A’ => the hour is already late

    In fact, Mark associates ‘the desolate place’ with ‘the late hour’ to mean that the current scene will happen again at some future time.
    current scene => (A, B) => (the hour was already late in a desolate place)
    future scenes => (A’, B) => (the hour will be already late in a desolate place)
    In other words, the disciples and the israelites will be again in a desolate place after the story time

    Mark 6:36 Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

    The dismissal of the crowd alludes to the future time in which the sons of Israel will be separated from Jesus.
    So the disciples speak of this future time and the need for people to feed by themselves without the help of Jesus

    The words ‘fields’ and ‘villages’ allude to rural life and the need to cultivate the fields in order to get something to eat

    Mark 6:37 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?”

    ‘You give them something to eat’ => Jesus asks the disciples to give food to people because this task will be theirs after his departure

    ‘two hundred denarii’ => The number 200 (2*100) refers to the double portion to Israel (Isaiah 61:7) and the hundredfold growth in the parable of the sower.

    Mark 6:38 “Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking (1097), they said, “Five—and two fish.”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1097.htm ginÓskÓ: to come to know, recognize, perceive
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1921.htm epiginÓskÓ: to know exactly, to recognize

    Jesus asks how many loaves can be found out in a desolate place
    After thinking, the disciples answer that the food available in the desert is the Word of God and they designate the Good News by their content.
    1 – The 5 loaves represent the new forgiveness of sins
    2 – The 2 fish represent the abolition of Isrealite ritual laws such as circumcision, dietary laws and Sabbath observance

    Mark 6:39 Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit (347) in groups on the green grass.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/347.htm anaklinÓ: to lay upon, lay down, to lie back
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2825.htm kline: a couch, bed, mat, bier

    Jesus commands because his power comes from God (Mark 6:2)
    The green grass evokes the end of the exile and the return to God

    Mark 6:40 So they sat down (377) in groups of hundreds and fifties.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/377.htm anapiptÓ: to fall back
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4098.htm piptÓ: to fall<

    ‘they>sat down (377)’ =>The believers fall back on the ground like the seeds sown on good soil in the parable of the sower

    ‘groups of hundreds and fifties’ => the order to divide by groups of 100 and 50 refers to (Exodus 18:21,22) and alludes to judgment
    Note also that the division into groups will make easier the counting at the end of the sequence

    Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

    Jesus takes the food from heaven. First, he breaks the 5 loaves so that the disciples give each one a tiny piece. Then he divides the 2 fish.

    Mark 6:42 They all ate and were satisfied,

    A small piece of bread/Word can grow a hundredfold in the hearts of those who believe the Good News. So 5 loaves are enough to feed the crowd of believers
    In other words, the distribution of the loaves is an accelerated representation from the sowing of the Word to its harvest producing a hundredfold

    Mark 6:43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

    The 5 loaves and 2 fish represent the food in whole form while the 12 baskets represent the food in divided form.
    The first 5 baskets equate the 5 broken loaves already distributed. They can be distributed again because the Good News are an inexhaustible food (Mark 6:10)
    The next 5 baskets represent the double portion that God gives to the sons of Israel (Isaiah 61:7)
    The last 2 baskets equate the 2 fish that the sons of Israel refuse to eat

    5 broken loaves + 2 divided fishes => (5+5+2) basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish

    Mark 6:44 And there were five thousand men who had eaten the loaves.

    This last verse makes it clear that the 5000 Israelite believers only ate the 5 loaves and ignored the 2 fish

    The 5 loaves represent the main part of the content of the Good News, namely the new forgiveness of sins
    The two fish represent the other part of the content, namely the abolition of Isrealite ritual laws such as circumcision, dietary laws and Sabbath observance.
    So the 5 loaves symbolise the new Torah which is the new forgiveness of sins associated with the keeping of Israelite traditions

    5000 = 5 * 1000
    The number 5 refers to the 5 books of the ancient torah and the 5000 men represent the Israelite multitude who know the ancient Torah and believe in new Torah.

    The counting of 5000 men reminds us of the census that Moses did to divide the promise land among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names (Number 26).
    So, this last verse tells us that the sons of Israel, who believe and make the new Torah fruitful,
    will enter the kingdom of God.
    In Mark’s gospel, the new promised land and true reward is the kingdom of God

    2 – BY THE SEA: THE ISRAELITE CROWD ON THE WESTERN BANK

    A – THE ISREALITE CROWD ON THE WESTERN BANK

    Mark 6:1 Jesus went on from there and came to His hometown/fatherland (3968), accompanied by His disciples.
    Mark 6:6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He went around from village to village, teaching the people.

    Mark 6:32 So they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary place.
    Mark 6:33 But many people saw them leaving and recognized them. They ran together on foot from all the towns and arrived before them.
    Mark 6:34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

    Jesus goes away in a boat. He leaves his fatherland but does not cross the sea. Therefore, the scene takes place on the western bank and the people are Israelites.

    B – CONFIRMATION: THE 5000 MEN

    Mark 6:44 And there were five thousand men who had eaten the loaves.

    5000 = 5 * 1000
    The number 5 refers to the 5 books of the ancient torah and the 5000 men represent the Israelite multitude who knows the ancient torah but believes in Good News.

    Deuteronomy 10:22 Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous (7320) as the stars in the sky.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7230.htm rob: multitude, abundance, greatness

    3 – RECOGNITION: THE ISRAELITES WHO KNOW THE MAIN CONTENT OF THE GOOD NEWS (THE NEW FORGIVENESS OF SIN)

    Mark 6:33 But many people saw them leaving and recognized (1921) [them]. They ran together (4936) on foot from all the towns and arrived before (4281) them.

    Mark 6:38 And He says to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go, see.” And having known (1097), they say, “Five, and two fish.” (BLB)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1921.htm epiginÓskÓ: to know exactly, to recognize
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1097.htm ginÓskÓ: to come to know, recognize, perceive

    At this point, the Israelites know Jesus’ last teaching in the synagogue, which is “the only way to be saved is the new forgiveness of sin”
    To read more, see my chapter 19: Jesus in his fatherland
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-201746
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-201747

    OTHER USES OF 1097

    Mark 4:13 Then Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand (1492) this parable? Then how will you understand (1097) any of the parables?

    Mark 5:29 And immediately her flow of blood was dried up, and she knew (1097) in the body that she was healed from the affliction. (BLB)

    Mark 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know (1097) about this,

    4 – RACE AND OVERTAKING: THE ISREALITES WHO BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS AND WERE THE FIRST TO KNOW THE WORD OF GOD

    Mark 6:33 But many people saw them leaving and recognized (1921) [them]. They ran together (4936) on foot from all the towns and arrived before (4281) them.

    A – John announces the one who is coming after him to teach the new Word of God that will supersede the old one
    B – Israelite believers run to be fed with Good News
    C – Israelite believers who received the old Word of God before they knew the Good News
    D – OT Sources about race, overtaking and Word

    A – John announces the one who is coming after him to teach the new Word of God that will supersede the old one

    Mark 1:7 And he (John) began to proclaim: “After (3694) me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3694.htm opisÓ: back, behind, after

    B – Israelite believers run to be fed with Good News

    Mark 6:32 So they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary place.
    Mark 6:33 But many people saw them leaving and recognized (1921) [them]. They ran together (4936) on foot from all the towns and arrived before (4281) them.
    Mark 6:34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4936.htm suntrechÓ: to run with
    Word Origin: from sun and trechÓ
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5143.htm trechÓ: to run

    C – Israelite believers who received the old Word of God before they knew the Good News

    Mark 6:33 But many people saw them leaving and recognized (1921) [them]. They ran together (4936) on foot from all the towns and arrived before (4281) them.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4281.htm proerchomai: to go forward, go on
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4253.htm pro: before
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2064.htm erchomai: to come, go

    D – OT Sources about race, overtaking and Word

    D1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_samuel/18.htm (David Mourns for Absalom)

    2 Samuel 18:19 Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok (6659) said, “Please let me run (7323) and tell the king the good news (1319) that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”

    2 Samuel 18:20 But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news (1309) today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”

    2 Samuel 18:22 Ahimaaz son of Zadok, however, persisted and said to Joab, “Regardless of whatever may happen, please let me also run (7323) behind the Cushite!” “My son,”
    Joab replied, “why do you want to run (7323), since you will not receive a reward?” (BSB)
    Joab says, “Why [is] this—you are running, my son, and [there are] no tidings (1309) found from you?” (Literal Standard Version)

    2 Samuel 18:23 “No matter what, I want to run (7323)!” he replied. “Then run!” Joab told him. So Ahimaaz ran (7323) by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6659.htm Tsadoq
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6664.htm tsedeq: rightness, righteousness

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7323.htm ruts: to run

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1309.htm besorah: tidings
    Word Origin from basar
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1319.htm basar: to bear tidings

    D2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/11.htm (Seventy Elders Anointed)

    Numbers 11:26 Two men, however, had remained in the camp—one named Eldad and the other Medad—and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those listed, but they had not gone out to the tent, and they prophesied (5012) in the camp.

    Numbers 11:27 A young man ran (7323) and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying (5012) in the camp.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7323.htm ruts: to run
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5012.htm naba: to prophesy

    5 – COMPASSION: GOD DOES NOT ABANDON HIS PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM

    Mark 6:34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion (4697) on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4697.htm splagchnizomai: to be moved in the inward parts, i.e. to feel compassion

    A – COMPASSION IN MARK’S GOSPEL AND EXODUS IN THE BIBLE

    A1 – The first compassion on the sons of Israel and the raised hand => End of exclusion for the leper and end of exile in Egypt

    Mark 1:40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
    Mark 1:41 Moved with compassion (4697), Jesus reached out (5186) His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1614.htm ekteinÓ: to extend

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/14 .htm
    Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and there were the Egyptians coming after them! The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the LORD for help.
    Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out (5186) his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided,
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5186.htm natah: to stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend

    A2 – The second compassion on the sons of Israel => The Word/bread from heaven

    Mark 6:34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion (4697) on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
    Mark 6:35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late.
    Mark 6:38 “Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

    https://biblehub.com/exodus/16.htm
    Exodus 16:2 And there in the desert they all grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
    Exodus 16:3 “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”
    Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.

    B – OTHER OT SOURCES ABOUT COMPASSION

    B1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/60.htm (Future Glory for Zion)
    Isaiah 54:8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but I will have compassion on you (7355) with everlasting love,” says the LORD your Redeemer.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7355.htm racham: to love, have compassion

    B2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/deuteronomy/30.htm (The Promise of Restoration)
    Deuteronomy 30:2 and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey His voice with all your heart and all your soul according to everything I am giving you today,

    Deuteronomy 30:3 then he will restore your fortunes, have compassion (7355) on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7355.htm racham: to love, have compassion

    Deuteronomy 30:5 And the LORD your God will bring you into the land your fathers possessed, and you will take possession of it. He will cause you to prosper and multiply more than your fathers.

    B3 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/deuteronomy/4.htm (A Warning against Idolatry)
    Deuteronomy 4:30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice.

    Deuteronomy 4:31 For the LORD your God is a merciful (7349) God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7349.htm rachum: compassionate

    B4 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/23.htm (The LORD Is My Shepherd)
    Psalms 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    Psalms 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
    Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness (2896) and mercy (2617) will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2896.htm towb: beautiful
    Definition: pleasant, agreeable, good
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2617.htm checed: favour
    Definition: goodness, kindness

    C – SYNTHESIS

    When God has compassion on his people, he puts an end to the period of punishment by forgiving the sins so that people return to Him

    The word compassion evokes forgiveness and return to God
    In our context, the word compassion means that God will welcome those who believe the Good News

    6 – THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN IN A DESOLATE PLACE: THE NEW MANNA THAT GOD GIVES TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

    A – THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN (MARK’S GOSPEL AND OT SOURCES)

    Mark 6:35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place (2048), and the hour is already late.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2048.htm erÉmos: solitary, desolate
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2047.htm erÉmia: a solitude, a wilderness
    Word Origin: from erÉmos>

    Mark 6:38 “Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

    Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing (2127) and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2127.htm eulogeÓ: to speak well of, praise
    Word Origin: from eu and logos
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2128.htm eulogÉtos: well spoken of, i.e. blessed

    OT sources

    Exodus 16:1 On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt, the whole congregation of Israel set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai.

    Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions.

    Exodus 16:31 Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.

    B – THE SMALL PIECES OF BREAD THAT GOD GIVES (MARK’S GOSPEL)

    Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

    In Mark’s gospel, God gives only small pieces of bread to everyone

    7 – THE BELIEVERS FALLING BACK ON THE GROUND LIKE THE SEEDS SOWN ON GOOD SOIL

    A – PARABLE (piptÓ: to fall)

    Mark 4:8 Still other seed fell (4098) on good soil/ground (1093), where it sprouted, grew up, and produced a crop—one bearing thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold.”
    Mark 4:20 Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil (1903). They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop – thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4098.htm piptÓ: to fall
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1093.htm gÉ: the earth, land

    B – ILLUSTRATION OF THE PARABLE (anapiptÓ: to fall back)

    Mark 6:39 Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit (347) in groups on the green grass.

    Mark 6:40 So they sat down (377) in groups of hundreds and fiftie
    Mark 8:6 And He instructed the crowd to sit down (377) on the ground (1093).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/377.htm anapiptÓ: to fall back
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1093.htm gÉ: the earth, land

    More about translation

    Mark 6:39 Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit (347) in groups on the green grass. (BSB)
    Mark 6:39 And He commanded them to make them all recline (347), groups by groups, on the green grass. (BLB)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/347.htm anaklinÓ: to lay upon, lay down, to lie back
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2825.htm kline: a couch, bed, mat, bier

    8 – THE BELIEVERS EATING THEIR FILL: FROM SOWING TO HUNDREDFOLD HARVEST

    A – Sowing = distribution of small pieces of bread/Word

    Mark 4:3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.
    Mark 4:14 The farmer sows the word.
    Mark 4:20 Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil (1903). They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop – thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.”

    Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

    B – Growth and satiety at harvest time

    Mark 4:8 Still other seed fell (4098) on good soil/ground (1093), where it sprouted, grew up, and produced a crop—one bearing thirtyfold, another sixtyfold, and another a hundredfold

    Mark 4:20 Still others are like the seeds sown on good soil (1903). They hear the word, receive it, and produce a crop – thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or a hundredfold.”

    Mark 6:42 They all ate and were satisfied,

    C – Synthesis

    The seeds sown on good soil (Mark 4:20) => The small pieces of bread/Word distributed to believers (Mark 6:41)
    The hundredfold harvest (Mark 4:20) => the Good News feeding the crowd of believers (Mark 6:42)

    A small piece of bread/Word can grow a hundredfold in the hearts of those who believe the Good News. So a few loaves are enough to feed the crowds of believers
    In other words, the distribution of the loaves is an accelerated representation from the sowing of the Word to its harvest producing a hundredfold

    9 – GROUPS OF HUNDREDS AND FIFTIES: THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT GOD WILL JUDGE THE FRUIT OF THE HARVEST

    A – From sowing to harvest time (God is like a man who scatters seed and then awaits the fruit of the harvest)

    Mark 4:26 Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
    Mark 4:27 Night and day he sleeps and wakes, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he knows not how.
    Mark 4:28 All by itself the earth produces a crop – first the stalk, then the head, then grain that ripens within.
    Mark 4:29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he (God) swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

    B – Measurement/judgment

    Mark 4:24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure (3358) you use, it will be measured (3354) to you, and even more will be added to you.

    Just as man measures the fruit of the harvest, God will measure the fruit of the Word he has put in your hearts

    C – Groups (4237) of hundreds and fifties => The announcement of judgment

    Mark 6:39 Then Jesus directed (2004) them to have the people sit in groups (4849) on the green grass.
    Mark 6:40 So they sat down in groups (4237) of hundreds and fifties.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/4849.htm sumposion: a drinking party, company (guests at a party)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4237.htm prasia: a garden bed
    Usage: a company formed into divisions (like garden-beds).

    OT Source

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/18.htm (Jethro Advises Moses)
    Exodus 18:13 The next day Moses took his seat to judge (8199) the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening.

    Exodus 18:21 Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

    Exodus 18:22 Have these men judge (8199) the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8199.htm shaphat: to judge, govern

    10 – THE CENSUS OF THE 5000 SONS OF ISRAEL WHO WILL GET THEIR REWARD

    A – The announcement of the Word leading to the kingdom of God
    B – The promise of entering the kingdom of God for those who hear and make the Word of God fruitful
    C – The census of Isrealites who have made the Word fruitful
    D – Synthesis: Compassion and counting

    A – The announcement of the Word leading to the kingdom of God

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

    B – The promise of entering the kingdom of God for those who hear and make the Word of God fruitful

    Mark 4:24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.
    Mark 4:25 For whoever has will be given more.
    Whoever has made the Word fruitful will receive even more, for he will enter the kingdom of God.

    Mark 4:26 Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
    This verse tells us that to enter the kingdom of God, we must consider God as the sower who puts a small piece of his Word in the heart and then awaits the fruit of the harvest

    C – The census of Isrealites who have made the Word fruitful

    Mark 6:40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
    100 * 50 = 5000

    Mark 6:44 And there were five thousand men who had eaten the loaves.

    OT Sources: The counting of Israelites who ate the manna and got a share of the promised land

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/26.htm (The Second Census of Israel)
    Numbers 26:1 After the plague had ended, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,

    Numbers 26:3 So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction,

    Numbers 26:4 “Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:

    Numbers 26:7 These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730.
    Numbers 26:14 These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.

    Numbers 26:52 Then the LORD said to Moses,
    Numbers 26:53 “The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names.

    D – Synthesis: Compassion and counting

    Mark 6:34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
    Mark 6:44 And there were five thousand men who had eaten the loaves.

    The word ‘compassion’ appears at the beginning of the scene. This word contains the idea of returning to God
    Mark closes the scene by counting those who have received and served the new Word of God. In this way, Mark reminds us of the counting of the Israelites who received the manna in the desert and got a share of the promised land
    In Mark’s gospel, the new promised land and true reward is the kingdom of God

    11 – HARVEST TIME: DIVINE JUDGEMENT AT THE TIME OF DEATH AND SEPARATION OF BODY AND SPIRIT

    Mark 4:26 Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground.
    God sows the Word in the heart of man in the same way that the farmer sows the seed

    Mark 4:29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he (God) swings the sickle, because the harvest (2326) has come.”
    When the grain is ripe, it cannot grow any further. The farmer then cuts the stalk and extracts the grain.
    When man comes to the end of his earthly life, he cannot make the Word grow any further. God then cuts him off from his earthly roots in order to judge how much the man has made the Word bear fruit
    The sickle symbolises the end of earthly life and the separation of body and spirit.

    OT SOURCES

    A – https://biblehub.com/bsb/joel/3.htm (The LORD Judges the Nations)

    Joel 3:1 “Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity,

    Joel 3:4 Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads.

    Joel 3:12 Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge (8199) all the nations on every side.

    Joel 3:13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great.

    Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

    B – https://biblehub.com/bsb/ecclesiastes/3.htm (To Everything There Is a Season)

    Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
    Ecclesiastes 3:2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

    Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

    Ecclesiastes 3:17 I said in my heart, “God will judge (8199) the righteous (6662) and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8199.htm shaphat: to judge, govern

    12 – THE 5 LOAVES AND 10 BASKETS: THE 5 BOOKS OF THE NEW TORAH AND THE DOUBLE PORTION TO 5000 SONS OF ISRAEL

    A – The 5000 sons of Israel eat the 5 loaves and ignore the 2 fish
    B – The 5 books of the new torah
    C – The breaking of 5 loaves and the double portion (5+5)
    D – OT Sources: Double portion to Israel (5 => 5+5)
    E – OT Sources: Double amount of food that the Israelites gather on the sixth day in preparation for the Sabbath
    F – OT Sources: David takes the 5 loaves of bread
    G – Synthesis

    A – The 5000 sons of Israel eat the 5 loaves but ignore the 2 fish

    Mark 6:40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
    100 * 50 = 5000

    Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

    Mark 6:44 And there were five thousand men who had eaten the loaves.

    B – The 5 books of the new torah

    Mark 6:44 And there were five thousand men who had eaten the (5) loaves.

    5 loaves => The number 5 refers to the 5 books of the ancient torah
    5 * 1000 men => the Israelite multitude to whom God gives the new torah

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8451.htm torah: direction, instruction, law

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah
    The Torah is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In that sense, Torah means the same as Pentateuch or the Five Books of Moses. It is also known in the Jewish tradition as the Written Torah
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah#/media/File:K%C3%B6ln-Tora-und-Innenansicht-Synagoge-Glockengasse-040.JPG

    C – The breaking of 5 loaves and the double portion (5+5)

    Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.
    Mark 6:42 They all ate and were satisfied,
    Mark 6:43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

    The 5 loaves and 2 fish represent the food in whole form, while the 12 baskets represent the food in divided form.
    The first 5 baskets equate the 5 broken loaves already distributed. They can be distributed again because the Good News are an inexhaustible food (Mark 6:10)
    The next 5 baskets represent the double portion that God gives to the sons of Israel (Isaiah 61:7)
    The last 2 baskets equate the 2 fish that the sons of Israel refuse to eat

    5 broken loaves + 2 divided fishes => (5+5+2) basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish

    D – OT Sources: Double portion to Israel (5 => 5+5)

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/61.htm (The Year of the LORD’s Favor)

    Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

    Isaiah 61:7 Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion (4932) , and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share; and so they will inherit a double portion (4932) in their land, and everlasting joy (8057) will be theirs.
    Isaiah 61:8 For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity; in My faithfulness I will give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4932.htm mishneh: a double, copy, second

    E – OT Sources: Double amount of food that the Israelites gather on the sixth day in preparation for the Sabbath

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/16.htm (Bread from Heaven)

    Exodus 16:1 On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt, the whole congregation of Israel set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai.

    Exodus 16:22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice (4932) as much food (3899)—two omers per person—and all the leaders of the congregation came and reported this to Moses.
    Exodus 16:23 He told them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Then set aside whatever remains and keep it until morning.’ ”

    Exodus 16:25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. Today you will not find anything in the field.

    Exodus 16:31 Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4932.htm mishneh: a double, copy, second
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3899.htm lechem: bread, food

    F – OT Sources: David takes the 5 loaves of bread

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_samuel/21.htm (David Takes the Consecrated Bread)
    1 Samuel 21:3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”

    G – Synthesis

    The 5 loaves symbolise the main part of the content of the Good News, namely the liberation from sin thanks to the new forgiveness of sin
    The two fish symbolise the other part of the content, namely the liberation from Israelite ritual laws such as circumcision, dietary laws and Sabbath observance

    The new torah is the new forgiveness of sin associated with the keeping of Israelite traditions

    The 10 baskets filled with the broken pieces of loaves symbolise the same thing as the 5 loaves.
    The number ’10’ only adds the notion of double portion

    The 5000 men who eat the 5 loaves are the sons of Israel who accept the new forgiveness of sins while keeping the traditions of their father

    13 – THE 7 LOAVES AND 7 BASKETS: THE SIMPLE PORTION TO PAGAN PEOPLE

    A – The 7 loaves are counted but the few small fish remain uncounted
    B – The 7 loaves are broken but not the small fish
    C – Synthesis

    A – The 7 loaves are counted but the few small fish remain uncounted

    Mark 8:5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.

    Mark 8:7 They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.

    B – The 7 loaves are broken but not the small fish

    Mark 8:5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied.
    Mark 8:6 And He directs the crowd to recline on the ground. And having taken the seven loaves, having given thanks, He broke them and kept giving them to His disciples, that they might set before them. And they set it before the crowd.
    Mark 8:7 They also had a few small fish, and Jesus blessed them and ordered that these be set before them as well.
    Mark 8:8 The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
    Mark 8:9 And about four thousand men were present. As soon as Jesus had dismissed the crowd,

    C – Synthesis

    The 7 loaves symbolise the whole content of the Good News, namely liberation from from sin and liberation from israelite ritual laws.
    The few small fish are only mentioned to remind us that the 2 previous fish have become 2 loaves of bread.

    The 4000 men who eat the 7 loaves are the pagan people who accept the new forgiveness of sins while keeping their own traditions (no circumcision and no dietary laws)

    14 – LIBERATION FROM SIN (5 LOAVES), LIBERATION FROM RITUAL LAWS (2 FISH) AND LIBERATION OF MAN (7 LOAVES)

    A – THE VARIOUS LIBERATIONS BROUGHT BY THE GOOD NEWS

    The previous chapters have learned us that

    1 – The Good News release man from sin as Jesus takes upon himself the sin of others and redeems them

    2 – The sons of Israel must accept the new forgiveness of sin but can keep their ritual laws (those things which Moses commanded)
    Mark 1:44 and (Jesus) said to him (the leper), “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

    3 – The pagans must accept the new forgiveness of sin and can continue to live according to their own tradition
    Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,“Son, your sins are forgiven.”
    Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has saved (4982) you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction (3148).”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3148.htm mastix: a whip, scourge, disease, affliction
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4982.htm sÓzÓ: to save

    To read more, see my chapters about
    1 – the leper’s healing
    2 – the paralytic’s healing
    3 – Levi son of Alphaeus
    4 – the demon of Gerasa
    5 – the bleeding woman

    B – THE VARIOUS REPRESENTATIONS WITH THE NOTIONS OF SIMPLE AND DOUBLE PORTION

    5 (broken) loaves = liberation from sin (thanks to the new forgiveness of sin)
    2 (divided) fish = liberation from Israelite ritual laws

    5 broken loaves + 2 divided fish = 7 baskets containing the broken pieces (simple portion)
    5 broken loaves + 5 broken loaves + 2 divided fish = 12 baskets containing the broken pieces (double portion to Israel)

    7 (broken) loaves = liberation of man (liberation from sin and liberation from Israelite ritual laws)
    7 broken loaves = 7 baskets containing the broken pieces (simple portion to pagan people)

    15 – THE LEFTOVER FOOD: THE GOOD NEWS AS INEXHAUSTIBLE FOOD

    A – THE LEFTOVER FOOD

    Mark 6:42 They all ate and were satisfied,
    Mark 6:43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

    Mark 8:8 The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

    OT Sources

    A1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/ruth/2.htm (Boaz meets Ruth)

    Ruth 2:14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here; have some bread and dip it into the vinegar sauce.” So she sat down beside the harvesters, and he offered her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left over.

    A2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_kings/4.htm (Feeding a Hundred Men)

    2 Kings 4:42 Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha.

    2 Kings 4:43 But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’ ”

    2 Kings 4:44 So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.

    B – THE GOOD NEWS AS INEXHAUSTIBLE FOOD

    Mark 6:10 And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area.
    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught (1321).
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1321.htm didaskÓ: to teach

    The apostles enter the house to teach the Good News. They can stay there and give people the spiritual food as long as they ask for it because it is inexhaustible.

    16 – THE 200 DENARII AND THE DOUBLE PORTION

    A – The parabole of the sower

    Mark 4:8 And other fell into the good soil and began yielding fruit, growing up and increasing, and one bearing thirtyfold, and one sixty, and one a hundred.”

    (60/30) * 100 = 2 * 100 = 200

    B – First breaking of loaves (double portion to Israel)

    Mark 6:37 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii (1220) to give all of them bread to eat?”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1220.htm dÉnarion: denarius (a Roman coin)
    Word Origin: of Latin origin

    Mark 6:38 “Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

    (1 portion = 5 loaves = 100 denarii) => (2 portions = 10 loaves = 2 *100 denarii)

    Mark 6:40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

    (100/50) = 2

    17 – REST IN A DESERT PLACE: A REFERENCE TO THE FIRST MANNA AND THE FIRST SABBATH

    Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.

    Mark 6:31 And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary (2048) place, and let us rest (373) for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2048.htm erÉmos: solitary, desolate
    https://biblehub.com/greek/373.htm anapauÓ: to give rest, give intermission from labor, by impl. refresh

    OT Sources: First sabbath rest and Manna

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/16.htm (Bread from Heaven)
    Exodus 16:15 When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

    Exodus 16:22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much food—two omers per person—and all the leaders of the congregation came and reported this to Moses.

    Exodus 16:23 He told them, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of complete rest (7677), a holy Sabbath (7676) to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Then set aside whatever remains and keep it until morning.’ ”

    Exodus 16:31 Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7673.htm shabath
    Definition: to cease, desist, rest
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7676.htm shabbath: sabbath
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7677.htm shabbathon: sabbath observance, sabbatism

    OT Sources: Rest and God’s Presence

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/33.htm (The Promise of God’s Presence)
    Exodus 33:14 And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5117.htm nuach: to rest

    Synthesis

    The word ‘rest’ reminds us of the first manna and the first Sabbath. The day before the Sabbath is also the day when Israelites gather twice as much food.

    18 – FISH AS ALTERNATE FOOD TO MANNA

    Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish (2486) and looking up to heaven,
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2486.htm ichthus: a fish

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/11.htm (The Complaints of the People)
    Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish (1710) we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.
    Numbers 11:6 But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!”
    Numbers 11:7 Now the manna resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of gum resin.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1709.htm dag: a fish
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4478.htm man: manna
    Definition: manna (a kind of bread)

    19 – THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GRAIN (OF CEREALS) AND FISH

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1715.htm dagan: corn, grain (of cereals)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1709.htm dag: a fish
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1710.htm dagah: a fish
    Word Origin: fem. of dag

    A – Dagan (1715) = grain (of cereals)

    A1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/78.htm (I Will Open My Mouth in Parables)
    Psalm 78:24 He rained down manna for them to eat; He gave them grain (1715) from heaven.

    A2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/62.htm (Zion’s Salvation and New Name)
    Isaiah 62:8 The LORD has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain (1715) to your enemies for food (3978), nor will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled.
    Isaiah 62:9 For those who harvest [grain] will eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather grapes will drink the wine in My holy courts.”

    A3 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/36.htm (A New Heart and a New Spirit)
    Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
    Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.
    Ezekiel 36:28 Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.
    Ezekiel 36:29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain (1715) and make it plentiful (7235), and I will not bring famine upon you.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7235.htm rabah: multiply

    B – dag/dagah (1709/1710) = Fish

    B1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/11.htm (The Complaints of the People)
    Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish (1710) we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.
    Numbers 11:6 But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!”
    Numbers 11:7 Now the manna resembled coriander (1407) seed, and its appearance was like that of gum resin.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1407.htm gad: coriander
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1709.htm dag: a fish
    Note the anagram (gad, dag)

    B2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/nehemiah/13.htm (The Sabbath Restored)
    Nehemiah 13:15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.
    Nehemiah 13:16 Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish (1709) and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.

    B3 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/jonah/2.htm (Jonah’s Prayer)
    Jonas 2:10 And the LORD commanded the fish (1709), and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

    C – OTHER COMMENTS

    C1 – The nets to catch fish

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/40.htm
    Ezekiel 47:10 Fishermen will stand by the shore; from En-gedi to En-eglaim they will spread their nets to catch fish (1710) of many kinds, like the fish (1710) of the Great Sea.

    Mark 1:16 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

    C2 – The time of death

    https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/9-12.htm
    Ecclesiastes 9:12 For surely no man knows his time: Like fish (1709) caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.

    Mark 13:32 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

    20 – WHY 2 FISH ?

    1 – The number of fish must be less than the number of loaves because the loaves represent the main content of the Good News, which is liberation from sin

    2 – The number ‘2’ makes it possible to reach the number ’12’ which symbolises the whole content of the Good News with the notion of double portion

    5 loaves + 5 loaves + 2 fish => 12 basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish

    OT sources

    The number ’12’ refers to the Word of God and his covenant in accordance with the Word

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/24.htm (The Covenant Sealed )

    Exodus 24:4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

    Exodus 24:8 So Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

    21 – SHEPHERD, GREEN GRASS: PREFIGURATION OF THE RETURN (TO GOD)

    A – SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD

    Mark 6:34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

    Numbers 27:16 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

    B – GREEN GRASS

    Mark 6:39 Then Jesus directed them to have the people sit in groups on the green grass.

    Psalms 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

    C – OT SOURCES: RETURN TO GOD

    C1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/27.htm (Moses Requests a Successor )
    Numbers 27:16 “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation

    Numbers 27:17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

    C2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/23.htm (The LORD Is My Shepherd)
    Psalms 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    Psalms 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
    Psalms 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
    Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
    Psalms 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
    Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

    C3 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/jeremiah/50.htm (Redemption for God’s People)
    Jeremiah 50:18 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria.
    Jeremiah 50:19 I will return Israel to his pasture, and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan; his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
    Jeremiah 50:20 In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, a search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for Judah’s sins, but they will not be found; for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.

    D – OT SOURCES: FOOD AND KNOWLEDGE

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/jeremiah/3.htm (A Call to Repentance)
    Jeremiah 3:15 Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

    E – SYNTHESIS

    The terms ‘shepherd’ and ‘green grass’ refer to the forgiveness of sins and the return to God.
    The terms ‘shepherd’ also refers to the knowledge of the Word (Jeremiah 3:15)

    Reply

30. Continuing

    22 – DESOLATE PLACE AND LATE HOUR: CHANGE OF TIME (THE TIME WITH JESUS AND THE TIME AFTER JESUS)

    A – THE TIME WHEN JESUS TEACHES THE CROWD AND THE TIME WHEN THE CROWD WILL BE DISMISSED

    Mark 6:34 … And He began to teach them many things.

    Mark 6:35 By now the hour (5610) was already late (4183). So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour (5610) is already late (4183).

    Mark 6:36 Dismiss the crowd
    https://biblehub.com/greek/630.htm apoluÓ: to set free, release
    Word Origin: from apo and luÓ

    The dismissal of the crowd alludes to the future time in which the sons of Israel will be separated from Jesus

    B – A STRANGE VERSE

    Mark 6:35 By now the hour (5610) was already late (4183). So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour (5610) is already late (4183).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5610.htm hÓra: a time or period, an hour
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4183.htm polus: much, many

    Structure of the verse
    A => the hour was already late
    B => This is a desolate place
    A’ => the hour is already late

    In fact, Mark associates ‘the desolate place’ with ‘the late hour’ to mean that the current scene will happen again at some future time.
    current scene => (A, B) => (the hour was already late in a desolate place)
    future scenes => (A’, B) => (the hour will be already late in a desolate place)
    In other words, the disciples and the israelites will be again in a desolate place after the story time.
    At this time, the Israelites will be separated from Jesus. This time will begin after Jesus’ death and continues to this day.

    C – STRANGE VERSES INDICATING THE CHANGE OF TIME

    Mark 1:33 and the whole town gathered at the door.

    Mark 6:35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late.

    The verse (Mark 1:33) express the separation between two times
    1 – the forgiveness of sins (apparent healings are the time when Jesus takes upon himself the sins of believers)
    2 – the redemption of sins (Jesus’ death on the cross)

    The verse (Mark 6:35) express the separation between two times
    1 – the time when Jesus teaches the Israelites
    2 – the time when the Israelites will be separated from Jesus

    D – AORIST TENSE

    https://biblehub.com/mark/6-35.htm
    Mark 6:35 By now the hour was (1096) already late

    was
    Verb – Aorist Participle Middle – Genitive Feminine Singular
    Strong’s 1096

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aorist
    Aorist verb forms usually express perfective aspect and refer to past events, similar to a preterite. Ancient Greek grammar had the aorist form

    Hermeneutic implications
    Because the aorist was not maintained in either Latin or the Germanic languages, there have long been difficulties in translating the Greek New Testament into Western languages

    23 – THE UNEXPECTED INTERFERING OF THE DISCIPLES TO DESCRIBE THE TIME AFTER JESUS

    Mark 6:34 When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

    Mark 6:35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3101.htm mathÉtÉs: a disciple
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3129.htm manthanÓ: to learn

    The verse (Mark 6:35) introduces the description of the time after Jesus
    In those days
    1 – People will have to continue to be fed spiritually (Mark 6:36)
    2 – The disciples will be there to teach them (Mark 6:37)

    Mark 6:36 Dismiss (630) the [crowd] so they can go to the surrounding countryside/fields (68) and villages and buy (59) themselves something to eat.”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/68.htm agros: a field, the country
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2968.htm kómé: a village
    Thayer’s Greek Lexicon => properly, the common sleeping-place to which laborers in the fields return
    https://biblehub.com/greek/59.htm agorazó: to buy in the marketplace, purchase

    Mark 6:37 But Jesus told them, “You give them [something] to eat.” They asked Him,

    OT SOURCES: The need to cultivate the fields in order to have something to eat

    Proverbs 28:19 The one who works his land (127) will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/127.htm adamah: ground, land

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/joshua/5.htm (The Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal)
    Joshua 5:12 And the day after they had eaten from the produce of the land, the manna ceased. There was no more manna for the Israelites, so that year they began to eat the crops of the land of Canaan
    The Israelites had to cultivate the land of Canaan to feed themselves.

    SYNTHESIS

    After Jesus’ death,
    1 – the disciples will provide the small pieces of bread by teaching the Word
    2 – people will have to work so that the Word may grow in them and feed them

    24 – THE DISMISSAL OF THE CROWD AND THE FASTING PERIOD: THE TIME AFTER JESUS

    Mark 6:36 Dismiss (630) the [crowd] so they can go to the surrounding countryside (68) and villages and buy (59) themselves something to eat.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/630.htm apoluÓ: to set free, release
    Word Origin: from apo and luÓ
    https://biblehub.com/greek/59.htm agorazÓ: to buy in the marketplace, purchase

    A – Announcement of the fasting period
    B – Announcement of the separation and Annoucement of the need to cultivate the fields
    C – Jesus’ farewell to the Israelite crowd
    D – Synthesis

    A – Announcement of the fasting period

    Mark 2:19 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? As long as He is with them, they cannot fast.

    Mark 2:20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

    The bridegroom is the God of Israel
    The guests are the Israelites and the pagan people because Jesus says these words beside the sea
    Jesus is the temporary link between God and people. His role is to teach the new Word of God

    B – Announcement of the separation and Annoucement of the need to cultivate the fields

    Mark 6:36 Dismiss (630) the [crowd] so they can go to the surrounding countryside/fields (68) and villages and buy (59) themselves something to eat.” (BSB)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/68.htm agros: a field, the country
    https://biblehub.com/greek/68.htm agros: a field, the country

    The dismissal of the crowd alludes to the future time in which he crowd will be separated from Jesus the teacher
    In those days, people will have to work the Word so that the Word may grow in them and feed them

    In those days, the disciples will provide the small pieces of Word through their teaching
    Mark 6:37 But Jesus told them, “You give them [something] to eat.” They asked Him,

    C – Jesus’ farewell to the Israelite crowd

    Mark 6:44 And there were five thousand men who had eaten the loaves.

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed (630) the crowd (3793).

    Jesus will no longer teach the Isrealite crowd by the sea

    D – Synthesis

    The dismissal of the crowd and the fasting period refer to the time when Jesus will no longer be there to teach the new Word. This time will begin after Jesus’ death and continues to this day.

    25 – THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN AND THE DESOLATE PLACE: THE WORD THAT GOD GIVES TO ISREALITES IN ORDER TO TEST THEM

    A – Mark’s gospel: The desolate place and the bread from heaven
    B – OT sources: God gave manna and tested his people in the desert
    C – Other OT Sources about testing
    D – Synthesis

    A – Mark’s gospel: The desolate place and the bread from heaven

    Mark 6:35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place (2048), and the hour is already late.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2048.htm erÉmos: solitary, desolate
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2047.htm erÉmia: a solitude, a wilderness
    Word Origin: from erÉmos

    Mark 6:38 “Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them. And after checking, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

    There is no physical food in the desert but only the spiritual food that God gives

    B – OT Sources: God gave manna and tested his people in the desert

    B1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/16.htm (Bread from Heaven)

    Exodus 16:1 On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt, the whole congregation of Israel set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai.

    Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread (3899) from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test (5254) whether or not they will follow My instructions.

    B2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/deuteronomy/8.htm (Remember the LORD Your God)

    Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test (5254) you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.

    Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3899.htm lechem: bread, food
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5254.htm nasah: to test, try

    C – Other OT sources about testing

    C1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/jeremiah/17.htm (The Sin and Punishment of Judah)
    Jeremiah 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine (974) the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/974.htm bachan: to examine, try

    C2 – https://biblehub.com/psalms/17-3.htm
    Psalms 17:3 You have tried (974) my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested (6884) me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/974.htm bachan: to examine, try
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6884.htm tsaraph: to smelt, refine, test

    D – Synthesis

    The distribution of the loaves in a desolate place reminds us of the manna that God gave to the Isrealites to test them, which means to know what is in their heart

    In Mark’s gospel, the test is to make the new Word bear fruit in you

    The man, who feeds himself spiritually on earth, will have his reward. God will raise him to Himself at the time of death

    26 – THE FIRST TEST: JESUS IN THE DESERT

    Mark 1:13 and He was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted (3985) by Satan, and He was with the beasts (2342), and the messengers were ministering (1247) to Him. (Literal Standard Version)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3985.htm peirazÓ: to make proof of, to attempt, test, tempt
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2342.htm thÉrion: a wild beast
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1247.htm diakoneÓ: to serve, minister

    OT SOURCES

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/ecclesiastes/3.htm (From Dust to Dust)
    Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests (1305) them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts (929).”
    Ecclesiastes 3:19 For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.
    Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal (929) descends into the earth?

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1305.htm barar: to purify, select
    Brown-Driver-Briggs => 4 test, prove Ecclesiastes 3:18
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/929.htm behemah: a beast, animal, cattle

    SYNTHESIS

    Jesus is tempted by Satan who offers him another way than the way of the God of Israel
    Thanks to the new Word of God given to him by the messengers, the fate of Jesus will not be that of the animals since he will be elevated to God

    At this point (Mark 1:13) the human nature of Jesus is revealed since he was baptized by a man (Mark 1:9).
    So the message to the reader is the following: If man feeds on the new Word of God then his fate will not be that of the animals since God will raise his spirit to him at the time of death.

    Mark reinterprets in his own way (Ecclesiastes 3:16)
    Ecclesiastes 3:19 For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath.

    MORE COMMENTS ABOUT MESSENGERS AND JUDGMENT

    Mark’s gospel

    The word ‘messengers’ (Mark 1:13) announces the God’s judgment (Mark 8:38).

    Mark 1:13 and He was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted (3985) by Satan, and He was with the beasts (2342), and the messengers (32) were ministering to Him. (Literal Standard Version)

    Mark 8:38 For whoever may be ashamed of Me, and of My words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He may come in the glory of His Father with the holy messengers (32).” (Literal Standard Version)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/32.htm aggelos: an angel, messenger

    OT Sources

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/ecclesiastes/3.htm
    Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
    Ecclesiastes 3:2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

    Ecclesiastes 3:17 I said in my heart, “God will judge (8199) the righteous (6662) and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”
    Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests (1305) them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts (929).”

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6662.htm tsaddiq: just, righteous
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8199.htm shaphat: to judge, govern

    27 – MORE ABOUT THE DESOLATE PLACE

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2047.htm erÉmia: a solitude, a wilderness
    Word Origin from erÉmos
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2048.htm erÉmos: solitary, desolate

    Mark 1:3 “A voice of one calling in the wilderness (2048), ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’ ”
    Mark 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness (2048), preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

    Mark 1:12 At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness (2048),
    Mark 1:13 and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.

    Mark 1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary (2048) place to pray.

    Mark 1:45 But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary (2048) places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.

    Mark 6:31 And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary (2048) place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

    Mark 6:32 So they went away in a boat by themselves to a solitary (2048) place.

    Mark 6:35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate (2048) place, and the hour is already late

    Mark 8:4 His disciples replied, “Where in this desolate (2047) place could anyone find enough bread to feed all these people?”

    28 – MORE ABOUT THE DOUBLE PORTION

    A – Double portion to Israel and double portion to gather on the sixth day in preparation for the Sabbath

    A1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/61.htm (The Year of the LORD’s Favor)

    Isaiah 61:7 Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion (4932), and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share; and so they will inherit a double portion (4932) in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

    Isaiah 61:8 For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity; in My faithfulness I will give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them.

    A2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/16.htm (Bread from Heaven)

    Exodus 16:22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice (4932) as much food —two omers per person—and all the leaders of the congregation came and reported this to Moses.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4932.htm mishneh: a double, copy, second

    B – Double portion to the firstborn and double portion of spirit

    B1 – https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/21.htm (Inheritance Rights of the Firstborn)

    Deuteronomy 21:17 Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double (8147) portion (6310) of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.

    B2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/2_kings/2.htm (Elijah Taken Up to Heaven)

    2 Kings 2:9 After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken away from you?” “Please, let me inherit a double (8147) portion (6310) of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8147.htm shenayim or shettayim: two (a cardinal number)
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6310.htm peh: mouth

    C – Double portion of land

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/47.htm (The Borders of the Land)

    Ezekiel 47:13 This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions (2256).

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2256.htm chebel: band

    Since Levi had no portion, Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh received land as two tribes.

    29 – OT SOURCES: KEY VERSES TO UNDERSTAND THE BREAKINGS OF LOAVES

    A – The bread/Word that God gives to the Israelites to test them
    B – God’s judgment at the time of death
    C – The census of Israelites who will enter the promised land

    A – The bread/Word that God gives to the Israelites to test them

    A1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/16.htm (Bread from Heaven)

    Exodus 16:1 On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt, the whole congregation of Israel set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai.

    Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test (5254) whether or not they will follow My instructions.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5254.htm nasah: to test, try

    A2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/deuteronomy/8.htm (Remember the LORD Your God)

    Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test (5254) you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.

    Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you, and cwhich neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

    B – God’s judgment at the time of death

    B1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/ecclesiastes/3.htm (To Everything There Is a Season)
    Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
    Ecclesiastes 3:2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

    Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

    Ecclesiastes 3:17 I said in my heart, “God will judge (8199) the righteous (6662) and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”
    Ecclesiastes 3:18 I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests (1305) them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”

    B2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/joel/3.htm (The LORD Judges the Nations)

    Joel 3:1 “Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity,

    Joel 3:4 Now what do you have against Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering against Me a recompense? If you retaliate against Me, I will swiftly and speedily return your recompense upon your heads.

    Joel 3:12 Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge (8199) all the nations on every side.

    Joel 3:13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great.

    Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6662.htm tsaddiq: just, righteous
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8199.htm shaphat: to judge, govern

    C – The census of Israelites who will enter the promised land

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/26.htm (The Second Census of Israel)
    Numbers 26:1 After the plague had ended, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,

    Numbers 26:3 So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction,

    Numbers 26:4 “Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:

    Numbers 26:7 These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730.
    Numbers 26:14 These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.

    Numbers 26:52 Then the LORD said to Moses,
    Numbers 26:53 “The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names.

    30 – BREAKING OF LOAVES IN MARK’S GOSPEL

    A – First breaking

    Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing (2127) and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

    Mark 6:42 They (people) all ate and were satisfied,

    B – Second breaking

    Mark 8:6 And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then He took the seven loaves, gave thanks (2168) and broke them, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people. And they distributed them to the crowd.

    Mark 8:8 The people ate and were satisfied, …

    C – Third breaking

    Mark 14:22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing (2127) and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2127.htm eulogeÓ: to speak well of, praise
    Word Origin: from eu and logos
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2128.htm eulogÉtos: well spoken of, i.e. blessed

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2168.htm eucharisteÓ: to be thankful

    31 – MARK’S GOSPEL (HARVEST, KINGDOM OF GOD, TIME OF DEATH, CENSUS)

    A – HARVEST AND KINGDOM OF GOD

    Mark 1:15 “The time (2540) is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

    Mark 4:29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he (God) swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/joel/3.htm (The LORD Judges the Nations)
    Joel 3:13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because their wickedness is great.

    Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the Day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

    B – HARVEST AND TIME OF DEATH

    Mark 4:29 And as soon as the grain is ripe, he (God) swings the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

    Mark 13:32 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

    Mark 13:35 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.

    https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/9-12.htm
    Ecclesiastes 9:12 For surely no man knows his time: Like fish (1709) caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.

    C – CENSUS OF THE RIGHTEOUS

    Justice is conformity to the law/Word of God

    C1 – The counting of the righteous Isrealites who served the old Word

    Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. …
    Mark 6:28 The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.

    The tablet is both the criterion by which one counts and the list of those who are counted.
    The John’s head on a tablet means that John’s spirit is elevated to God at the time of death.

    C2 – The counting of the righteous Isrealites who will serve the new Torah

    Mark 6:44 And there were five thousand men who had eaten the loaves.

    C3 – The counting of the righteous pagans who will serve the Good News

    Mark 8:8 The people ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
    Mark 8:9 And about four thousand men were present. …

    C4 – Golgotha: The place where the heads (of those who will enter the kingdom) will be counted

    Mark 15:22 They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (1115), which means The Place of the Skull/head (2898).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2898.htm kranion: a skull
    Word Origin: from kara (the head)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1115.htm Golgotha
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1538.htm gulgoleth: a skull, head, poll (of persons)
    Word Origin: from galal

    To read more about the women entering the rock tomb, see again my chapter 19 Jesus in his fatherland
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-201746
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-201747

    D – OT SOURCES ABOUT CENSUS

    D1- https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/1.htm (The First Census of Israel)

    Numbers 1:1 On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said:

    Numbers 1:2 “Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing (4557) every man by name, one by one (1538).

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1538.htm gulgoleth: a skull, head, poll (of persons)
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/4557.htm mispar: number, tally
    Word Origin: from the same as sepher
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5612.htm sepher: a missive, document, writing, book

    D2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/26.htm (The Second Census of Israel)

    Numbers 26:4 “Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:

    Numbers 26:7 These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730.
    Numbers 26:14 These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.

    Numbers 26:52 Then the LORD said to Moses,
    Numbers 26:53 “The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names.

    SUMMARY

    Mark describes the growth of the seed sown in good soil, from sowing to harvest.
    The man, who receives the smallest piece of bread, becomes like the seed sown in good soil. He grows and produces a hundredfold (Mark 4:8), which enables him to eat his fill.
    The small piece of bread represents the small piece of the Word that God gives to every man.
    The seed on the good soil is the man who believes the new Word of God. Thus, the Word, he hears, grows a hundredfold (Mark 4:20). In the current scene, the believers are Isrealites who know te main content of the Good News, which is “the only way to be saved is the new forgiveness of sin”

    At the time of harvest, God judges the produce of the harvest and counts the righteous servants of his Word in order to give them their reward i.e. the entry into the kingdom of God.
    Harvest time is the time/hour when God swings the sickle to cut man off from his earthly roots and know what in his heart/mind. The sickle thus symbolises the end of earthly life and the separation of body and spirit.

    The sequence illustrates
    1 – the seed falling on the good soil (Mark 4:8,20 => Mark 6:39)
    2 – the seed growing day and night to produce the stalk and then the new grains (Mark 4:26,29 => Mark 6:41,42)
    3 – the judgment and the true reward (Mark 4:23-25 => Mark 6:40,44)

    The food that the disciples distribute was found out in the desert, which recalls the Exodus and the manna that God gave to the Israelites to test them
    In a strange verse (Mark 6:35), Mark associates ‘the desolate place’ with ‘the late hour’ to mean that the current scene will happen again at some future time. This time will begin after Jesus’ death and continues to this day.
    In other words, new generations will be again in a desolate place after the story time. The new generations of disciples will again distribute the small pieces of bread/Word and the new generations of Isrealites will have to make the Word fruitful in themselves so that they enter the kingdom of God at the time of death.

    Mark designates the new Word of God (the Good News) by their content
    1 – The 5 loaves represent the new forgiveness of sins
    2 – The 2 fish represent the abolition of Israelite ritual laws such as circumcision, dietary laws and Sabbath observance
    The Israelite believers eat the 5 loaves but ignore the 2 fish.
    So the 5 loaves symbolise the new Torah, which is the new forgiveness of sins associated with the keeping of Israelite traditions (those things which Moses commanded, Mark 1:44)

    The 12 baskets represent the whole content of the Good News. This representation includes the notion of double portion that God gives to Israel
    5 broken loaves + 5 broken loaves + 2 divided fish = 12 basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish

    In short, the current scene tells us that the Israelites must spiritually elevate themselves through the new Torah so that God elevates their spirit at the time of death.
    Mark will soon tell us that the pagans must spiritually elevate themselves through the Good News so that God elevates their spirit at the time of death.
    The entry into the rock tomb represents the salvation through the Good News and the elevation of the spirit to God.

    SOME READINGS

    A – https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/harvest-time-is-coming

    Throughout the Bible, the term “harvest” is used not only to speak of ripe food crops but also refers to God’s judgments and “harvests” of mankind—the very purpose for His creation.

    God used His prophets to warn nations of their impending judgment, coming like a harvest as the fruits of their ways became ripe (Joel 3:1–13).

    God’s whole purpose for the creation is to produce “fruit for eternal life,” an offer to mankind for salvation and the gift of eternal life

    B – https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/harvest/

    Farmers needed to do their part in planting to be able to reap ( Prov 6:8 ). But the focus in harvest revolved around the product and the work of the Lord in bringing it to completion. Even during harvest, the Sabbath rest was to be kept so that the focus would remain on the Lord ( Exod 34:21-22 ).

    However, most usages allude to judgment.
    As God of the harvest, the Lord speaks and takes it away ( Hosea 2:9 ). In fact, Israel herself becomes a harvest ( Hosea 6:11 ). The nation of Babylon comes to “harvest” her ( Jer 51:33 ). The judgment of God uses a familiar image in the life of Israel, but it does not carry the joy experienced at the seasonal gathering. Israel turned away from the Lord and suffered a punishment like a harvest.

    C – https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-sower.html
    To summarize the point of the Parable of the Sower: “A man’s reception of God’s Word is determined by the condition of his heart.” A secondary lesson would be “Salvation is more than a superficial, albeit joyful, hearing of the gospel.

    D – More about testing
    https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God-Testing-People
    https://www.davidservant.com/books/gods_tests/gt_04/

    E – Studies in Exodus
    https://www.etzion.org.il/en/tanakh/torah/sefer-shemot/parashat-beshalach/beshalach-two-models-leadership

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 6:45-56 ) Second crossing, Jesus at Gennesaret
    (Mark 7) The tradition of the Elders, The greek woman, The deaf and mute man
    (Mark 8:1-26) Second breaking of loaves, Jesus at Dalmanutha, The blind man at Bethsaida, Third synthesis

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter: Chapter 21 John’s beheading
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-211792
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-211793

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730

    Reply

31. Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 23: Second crossing
    Tags: Midrash, Maurice Mergui, Nanine Charbonnel

    (Mark 6:45-52) God temporarily separates the Jesus’ spirit from his body so that the disciples see him in his spirit form and fully understand their role about the loaves.

    1 – OVERVIEW
    2 – THE MAN JESUS TO WHOM GOD GAVE A NEW SPIRIT (MARK 1:10)
    3 – JESUS, THE DISCIPLES AND THEIR CURRENT LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE LOAVES

    4 – THE DISCIPLES ALONE IN THE BOAT: A FIRST STORY TO DESCRIBE THEIR ROLE ABOUT THE LOAVES
    4.1 – “AHEAD OF JESUS” AND “IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA”: TWO REFERENCES TO THE ARK OF THE COVENANT CROSSING THE JORDAN (JOSHUA 3)
    4.2 – “IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA” AND “THE OARSMEN OF THE GALLEY”: TWO REFERENCES TO THE TROOPS CROSSING THE JORDAN (JOSHUA 4)
    4.3 – “THE DISCIPLES ROWING AGAINST”: A REFERENCE TO JONAH IN CHARGE OF PREACHING TO THE GREAT CITY OF NINEVEH
    4.4 – EVENING AND FOURTH WATCH: FROM DUSK (HARDSHIPS) TO DAWN (SALVATION)
    4.5 – “TAKE COURAGE, IT IS I, DO NOT BE AFRAID”: GOD IS WITH YOU AND WILL FIGHT WITH YOU

    5 – TOWARDS BETHSAIDA: A SECOND STORY SO THAT THE DISCIPLES UNDERSTAND BY THEMSELVES WHAT “YOU GIVE THEM TO EAT” MEANS
    5.1 – BETHSAIDA: THE PLACE WHERE THE BLIND MAN WILL DISCERN ALL THINGS CLEARLY
    5.2 – SEPARATION FROM THE DISCIPLES AND PURSUIT
    5.3 – SEPARATION FROM THE CROWD
    5.4 – THE PRAYER ON THE MOUNTAIN TO MEAN ELEVATION OF THE HUMAN BODY AND ITS SPIRIT
    5.5 – THE WIND TO ALLUDE TO THE SPIRIT FREED FROM ITS CARNAL ENVELOPE
    5.6 – JESUS WALKING ON THE SEA TO MEAN THE SEPARATION OF BODY AND SPIRIT (GENESIS 1:2)
    5.7 – THE CRIES CAUSED BY THE FACE-TO-FACE VIEW OF THE SPIRIT (EXODUS 33:20)
    5.8 – THE CRIES AND THE TERROR CAUSED BY A FORM PURSUING THEM (EXODUS 14)
    5.9 – “IT IS I”: IDENTITY OF JESUS AND PRESENCE OF GOD (MOSES AT THE BURNING BUSH)
    5.10 – “TAKE COURAGE, DO NOT BE AFRAID”: EXHORTATION TO OPEN YOUR EYES AND TO CHANGE YOUR HEART/MIND
    5.11 – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING
    5.12 – THE DISCIPLES’ FEAR CEASES WHEN JESUS REGAINS HIS UNITY OF FLESH AND SPIRIT
    5.13 – THE DISCIPLES REALIZE THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO CARRY THE BREAD/WORD WITHOUT THE MAN JESUS AND THEY ARE DISORIENTED
    5.14 – THE GREEK WORD ‘EXISTEMI’ TO EXPRESS THAT GOD IS BEHIND THE CURTAIN
    5.15 – ‘HARDNESS OF HEART’: THE DISCIPLES HAD REASONED IN THEIR FORMER HEART

    6 – BETHSAIDA AND THE IDEA OF A DOOR OPENING ONTO ANOTHER WORLD
    7 – MORE ABOUT THE FIRST AND SECOND PRAYER
    8 – JESUS WALKS TO REMIND US OF THE TWO CROSSINGS ON THE DRY LAND (RED SEA AND JORDAN RIVER CROSSINGS)
    9 – COMPARISON OF THE TWO SEA CROSSINGS AND MAIN DIFFERENCES
    10 – MAIN OT SOURCES ABOUT THE SECOND SEA CROSSING
    11 – A ROMAN SOURCE ABOUT THE DIVISION OF THE NIGHT INTO FOUR WATCHES
    SUMMARY

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/6.htm
    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
    Mark 6:46 After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray.
    Mark 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.
    Mark 6:48 He could see (3708) that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,
    Mark 6:49 but when they saw (3708) Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking (1380) He was a ghost—
    Mark 6:50 for they all saw (3708) Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded,
    Mark 6:52 for they had not understood (4920) about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/991.htm blepÓ: to look (at)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3708.htm horaÓ: to see, perceive, attend to
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1380.htm dokeÓ: to have an opinion, to seem
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4920.htm suniÉmi: to set together, fig. to understand

    1 – OVERVIEW

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of [Him] to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.

    ‘Jesus made His disciples get into the boat’ => The disciples alone in the boat prefigure the time when they will have to carry the bread/Word throughout the world without the man Jesus

    ‘go on ahead of him’ => Jesus separates himself from his disciples.
    ‘He dismissed the crowd’ => Jesus separates himself from the crowd

    ‘to Bethsaida’ => Bethsaida is the place where the blind man will see the light

    To grasp how the story is shaped, keep in mind that
    1 – The disciples are ahead of Jesus and therefore that Jesus is behind them
    2 – The disciples make the crossing over the sea without Jesus who remains on the shore

    To understand the purpose of the story, have in mind
    1 – The sequence in which the priests carry the ark of the covenant ahead of the Israelites crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3)
    2 – The previous scene in which the disciples set the pieces of loaves before the Israelites.

    So, the purpose is to test the disciples. The disciples are ahead of Jesus because they will have to carry the loaves across the world after Jesus’ departure

    Mark 6:46 After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray.

    ‘After bidding them farewell’ => Mark re-emphasises the separation
    ‘He went up on the mountain’ => Jesus raises his body and spirit
    ‘to pray’ => Jesus lifts his spirit to God because prayer is a spiritual relationship with God

    Mark 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.

    ‘When evening came’, ‘the boat’, ‘the sea’ => Mark reminds us of the first crossing (Mark 4:35-41)

    ‘in the middle of the sea’ => Another reference to the ark crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3 and Joshua 4)

    ‘alone on land’ => Mark re-emphasises that Jesus stays on the shore, away from the disciples who are sailing in middle of the sea

    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

    ‘the disciples were straining to row against’ => The Word to be preached to pagan people (Jonah 1) and the many difficulties in carrying out this task of preaching

    ‘to row’ => an allusion to the galleys carrying the soldiers to conquer the new land
    ‘The fourth watch of the night’ => Mark divides the night into four watches like the roman people

    ‘walking on the sea’ => The spirit of Jesus is dissociated from his body. It is the Jesus’ spirit which walks/floats on water. It reminds us of the spirit of God floating on the water (Genesis 1:2)

    ‘the wind’ => note the concomitance between the wind blowing on the sea and the spirit of Jesus moving on the sea

    ‘He intended to pass by them’ => Mark again points out that Jesus is still behind the disciples.

    Mark 6:49 but when they saw (3708) Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost (5326) —
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3708.htm horaÓ: to see, perceive, attend to
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5326.htm an appearance, apparition

    ‘they saw Him walking on the sea’ => The disciples see the spirit of Jesus face to face and not from back as Jesus is still behind them

    ‘they cried out’ => The screams express the fear caused by the face to face sight of the spirit. In the bible, God says that the men can see his back but cannot see his face on pain of death (Exodus 33:20-23)

    ‘Thinking He was a ghost’ => Mark adds this sentence to change the course of the story. From now on, we have to read that the disciples cry out because they see an unknown form pursuing them and therefore that they have not recognized Jesus in his spirit form.

    Mark 6:50 for they all saw (3708) Him and were terrified (5015). But [Jesus] spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid (5399).”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5015.htm tarassÓ
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ

    ‘they all saw Him and were terrified’ => Mark again tells the readers that the disciples see an unknown form and therefore that they have not recognized Jesus coming towards them

    ‘It is I’ => I am Jesus whom you should have recognized. Note also that the walk on the sea precedes the Jesus’ identification and make a parallel with the burning bush preceding the God’s identification in Exodus

    “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid” => The God of Israel will sustain you in your task and will fight with you. Mark reuses the many biblical exhortations in which God calls to battle, pledges his support and gives assurance of success

    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded,

    ‘He climbed into the boat’ => Jesus is back in human form. Indeed, the spirit became aware that the man was going to sink, so the spirit commanded the body so that the man climbs into the boat.

    ‘the wind died down’ => To point out that the spirit of Jesus is no longer free

    ‘utterly astounded’ => The disciples have understood that Jesus had come to them in another form. They now realize that the man Jesus will leave them and they are desoriented

    Mark 6:52 for they had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4456.htm pÓroÓ: to petrify, i.e. to harden

    ‘for they had not understood about the loaves’ => if the disciples had understood that their role would soon be to feed the crowds by themselves (Mark 6:37) then they would have understood that the form was Jesus.

    Mark equates the recognition of Jesus in another form with the understanding that the loaves feeding the crowds will no longer be given by the man Jesus.

    ‘their hearts had been hardened’ => the disciples’ hearts had not changed enough to be able to immediately understand that the form moving on the sea was Jesus

    2 – THE MAN JESUS TO WHOM GOD GAVE A NEW SPIRIT (MARK 1:10)

    A – Presentation of Mark’s Gospel and its main character Jesus

    Mark 1:1 This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2098.htm euaggelion: good news

    B – The theme of the gospel: The repentance for the forgiveness of sins

    Mark 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance (3341) for the forgiveness of sins.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3341.htm metanoia: change of mind, repentance

    C – Cleansing of a common man named Jesus

    Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

    D – God chooses Jesus and gives him the new spirit which will animate his life

    Mark 1:10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit (4151) descending on Him like a dove.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4151.htm pneuma: wind, spirit

    E – The mission of Jesus: Preaching the Good News so that people enter the kingdom of God.

    Mark 1:14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel (2098) of God.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2098.htm euaggelion: good news
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2784.htm kÉrussÓ: to be a herald, proclaim

    Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent (3340) and believe (4100) in the gospel (2098)!”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3340.htm metanoeÓ: to change one’s mind or purpose
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4100.htm pisteuÓ: to believe, entrust

    3 – JESUS, THE DISCIPLES AND THEIR CURRENT LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE LOAVES

    A – Jesus explains everything to his own disciples

    Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
    Mark 4:11 He replied,“The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,

    Mark 4:12 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing (991) but never perceiving (3708), and ever hearing but never understanding (4920); otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’ ”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/991.htm blepÓ: to look (at)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3708.htm horaÓ: to see, perceive, attend to
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4920.htm suniÉmi: to set together, fig. to understand

    Mark 4:14 The farmer sows the word (3056)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3056.htm logos: a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech

    Mark 4:34 He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples (3101).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3101.htm mathÉtÉs: a disciple
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3129.htm manthanÓ: to learn

    B – The disciples have not understood what “You give them something to eat” means

    Mark 6:35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late.

    Mark 6:37 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?”

    C – The disciples have understood that the loaves of bread represent the spiritual food

    Mark 6:38 And He says to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go, see.” And having known (1097), they say, “Five, and two fish.” (BLB)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1097.htm ginÓskÓ: to come to know, recognize, perceive
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1921.htm epiginÓskÓ: to know exactly, to recognize

    The disciples have learned by listening to Jesus’ explanations about the Good News. So they are able to designate the Good News by their content.
    1 – The 5 loaves represent the new forgiveness of sins
    2 – The 2 fish represent the abolition of Isrealite ritual laws such as circumcision, dietary laws and Sabbath observance

    C – The disciples set before the Israelites the food that Jesus gave to them

    Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves (740) and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves (740). Then He gave them to His disciples (3101) to set before (3908) the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3908.htm paratithÉmi: to place beside, to set before

    Note that the disciples have a passive role. They do not feed the crowd by themselves

    D – SYNTHESIS

    The disciples have learnt that the loaves of bread represent the spiritual food. But they have not yet realized that Jesus will leave them and that they will have to feed the Israelite and pagan crowds by themselves

    Note that the disciples do not teach, this role is assigned to the apostles

    4 – THE DISCIPLES ALONE IN THE BOAT: A FIRST STORY TO DESCRIBE THEIR ROLE ABOUT THE LOAVES

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/6.htm
    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
    Mark 6:46 After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray.
    Mark 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.
    Mark 6:48 He could see (3708) that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,
    Mark 6:49 but when they saw (3708) Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking (1380) He was a ghost—
    Mark 6:50 for they all saw (3708) Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded,
    Mark 6:52 for they had not understood (4920) about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.

    The disciples alone in the boat prefigure the time when they will have to carry the bread/Word throughout the world so that people hear it and make it fruiful in their heart.
    The struggle of the oarsmen represents the fight that the disciples will face in their task.
    The coming of Jesus and his exhortation represent the help that God will give to the disciples carrying out their task.

    4.1 – “AHEAD OF JESUS” AND “IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA”: TWO REFERENCES TO THE ARK OF THE COVENANT CROSSING THE JORDAN (JOSHUA 3)

    A – “AHEAD OF”

    Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves (740) and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves (740). Then He gave them to His disciples (3101) to set before (3908) the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3908.htm paratithÉmi: to place beside, to set before

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made (315) His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of (4254) [Him] to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/315.htm anagkazÓ: to necessitate, compel
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4254.htm proagÓ: to lead forth, to go before

    OT SOURCES
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/joshua/3.htm (Crossing the Jordan)

    Joshua 3:7 Now the LORD said to Joshua, ….
    Joshua 3:8 Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant …

    Joshua 3:14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of (6440) them.
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6440.htm panim or paneh: face, faces

    B – “IN THE MIDDLE OF”

    Mark 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle (8432) of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.

    OT SOURCES
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/joshua/3.htm (Crossing the Jordan)

    Joshua 3:17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan.

    C – SYNTHESIS

    The LORD says and Joshua commands the priests => Jesus compels his disciples
    The priests cross the Jordan => the disciples are in the boat
    The priests carry the ark containing the Word of God => The disciples will have to carry the Good News
    The priests are ahead of the people => The disciples are ahead of Jesus
    The ark stands in the middle of the Jordan => The boat is in the middle of the sea

    After setting the bread/Word before the Israelites (Mark 6:41), the disciples are in the boat (Mark 6:45,47) to set the bread/Word before the pagan people (Mark 8:6)

    4.2 – “IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA” AND “THE OARSMEN OF THE GALLEY”: TWO REFERENCES TO THE TROOPS CROSSING THE JORDAN (JOSHUA 4)

    Mark 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.
    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, …

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/joshua/4.htm (The troops armed for battle cross over the Jordan)
    Joshua 4:10 So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst (8432) of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over.
    Joshua 4:13 About 40,000 troops armed for battle crossed over before the LORD into the plains of Jericho.

    MORE ABOUT THE GALLEYS
    https://naval-encyclopedia.com/antique-ships.php
    https://naval-encyclopedia.com/antique-ships/hellenistic-ships.php
    https://naval-encyclopedia.com/antique-ships/roman-ships.php

    SYNTHESIS

    Joshua: The Ark accompanies the Israelites crossing the River Jordan to conquer the Promised Land

    Mark’s gospel: The boat/galley carries a cargo of loaves (the spiritual food) in order to conquer/convert the world

    4.3 – “THE DISCIPLES ROWING AGAINST”: A REFERENCE TO JONAH IN CHARGE OF PREACHING TO THE GREAT CITY OF NINEVEH

    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/jonah/1.htm
    Jonah 1:13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more.

    A – The Word to be preached and the boat carrying people and goods

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/jonah/1.htm
    Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying,
    Jonah 1:2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”
    Jonah 1:3 Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

    B – The men rowing hard for the wind/sea was against them

    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them.

    Jonah 1:13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more.

    C – Cries and fear

    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row,
    Mark 6:49 but when they saw (3708) Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking (1380) He was a ghost—
    Mark 6:50 for they all saw (3708) Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

    Jonah 1:5 The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.

    D – Presence in the boat and connection with the wind/sea

    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded,

    Jonah 1:9 “I am a Hebrew,” replied Jonah. “I worship the LORD, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.”
    Jonah 1:15 At this, they picked up Jonah and cast him into the sea, and the raging sea grew calm.

    D – SYNTHESIS

    Jonah had to preach the old Word => The disciples will have to carry the Good News
    Jonah was on the boat => Jesus was not on the boat
    The men rowed hard => The disciples were straining to row
    The sea was raging against them => The wind was against them
    The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god => The disciples cried out and were terrified
    They cast Jonah into the sea => Jesus climbed into the boat
    The raging sea grew calm => The wind died down

    The many references to Jonah are there to signify the new Word to be preached to pagan people
    The expression ‘the disciples were straining to row against’ announces the many difficulties in carrying out this task of preaching

    Note: Mark does not write ‘against the sea’ but ‘against the wind’. He does not provide any indication about the strength of the wind as the role of the wind is to accompany the Jesus’ walk on the sea

    4.4 – EVENING AND FOURTH WATCH: FROM DUSK (HARDSHIPS) TO DAWN (SALVATION)

    A – MARK DIVIDES THE NIGHT INTO FOUR WATCHES LIKE THE ROMANS

    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch (5438) of the night, Jesus went out to them,
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5438.htm phulakÉ: a guarding, guard, watch

    B – THE THREE WATCHES OF THE NIGHT IN THE BIBLE (FIRST WATCH, MIDDLE WATCH, MORNING WATCH)
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/821.htm ashmoreth or ashmurah: a watch

    B1 – First watch

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/lamentations/2.htm (God’s Anger over Jerusalem)
    Lamentations 2:19 Arise, cry out in the night from the first watch of the night. Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children who are fainting from hunger on the corner of every street.

    B2 – Middle watch

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/judges/7.htm (Gideon Defeats Midian)
    Judges 7:19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after the changing of the guard. They blew their horns and broke the jars that were in their hands.

    B3 – Morning watch

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/14.htm (Parting the Red Sea)
    Exodus 14:24 At morning watch, however, the LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians from the pillar of fire and cloud, and He threw their camp into confusion.
    Exodus 14:25 He caused their chariot wheels to wobble, so that they had difficulty driving. “Let us flee from the Israelites,” said the Egyptians, “for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!”

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_samuel/11.htm (Saul Defeats the Ammonites and will be confirmed as first king of Israel)
    1 Samuel 11:11 The next day Saul organized the troops into three divisions, and during the morning watch they invaded the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them, until the hottest part of the day. And the survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.

    1 Samuel 11:15 So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.

    C – FROM DUSK TO DAWN

    C1 – Dusk

    Mark 1:32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed,

    Mark 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.
    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them …

    C2 – Dawn

    Mark 6:48 … About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

    Mark 16:2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.

    D – SYNTHESIS

    Evening is associated with the difficulties to be overcome (Mark 1:32, Mark 6:47,48a) while the daybreak evokes a new start and the salvation (Mark 6:48b, Mark 16:2)

    Note also that there is no ‘fourth watch’ in the bible, So this term in Mark’s gospel suggests a new land or a new era coming after the promised land

    4.5 – “TAKE COURAGE, IT IS I, DO NOT BE AFRAID”: GOD IS WITH YOU AND WILL FIGHT WITH YOU

    A – The disciples are struggling to carry the Word

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat …
    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. …

    B – Jesus calls them to go on struggling because God will sustain them

    Mark 6:48 … About the fourth watch (5438) of the night, Jesus went out to them,

    Mark 6:50 … But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage (2293)! It is I. Do not be afraid .”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2293.htm tharseÓ: to be of good courage

    C – OT Sources

    C1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/joshua/1.htm (God Instructs Joshua)
    Joshua 1:1 Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying,
    Joshua 1:2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel.

    Joshua 1:6 Be strong (2388) and courageous (553), for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them.
    Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid (6206); do not be discouraged (2865), for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

    C2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/deuteronomy/31.htm (Joshua to Succeed Moses)
    Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong (2388) and courageous (553); do not be afraid (3372) or terrified (6206) of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

    C3 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/43.htm (Israel’s Only Savior)
    Isaiah 43:1 Now this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear (3372), for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
    Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

    Isaiah 43:15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, and your King.”
    Isaiah 43:16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters,

    C4 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_chronicles/22.htm (Solomon Anointed to Build the Temple)
    1 Chronicles 22:13 Then you will succeed, if you carefully follow the statutes and ordinances that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong (2388) and courageous (3372). Do not be afraid (3372) or discouraged (2865).

    C5 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_chronicles/28.htm (The Plans for the Temple)
    1 Chronicles 28:20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you before all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2388.htm chazaq: to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/553.htm amets: to be stout, strong, bold, alert
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3372.htm yare’: affright
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/6206.htm arats: to cause to tremble, tremble
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2865.htm chathath: to be shattered or dismayed

    D – SYNTHESIS ABOUT THE EXHORTATION

    The biblical sources (Joshua, Deuteronomy) tell us that the exhortation is a call to fight in order to spread the new Word throughout the world.

    9 – TOWARDS BETHSAIDA: A SECOND STORY SO THAT THE DISCIPLES UNDERSTAND BY THEMSELVES WHAT “YOU GIVE THEM TO EAT” MEANS

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/6.htm
    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
    Mark 6:46 After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray.
    Mark 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.
    Mark 6:48 He could see (3708) that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,
    Mark 6:49 but when they saw (3708) Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking (1380) He was a ghost—
    Mark 6:50 for they all saw (3708) Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded,
    Mark 6:52 for they had not understood (4920) about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.

    Bethsaida alludes to the light of undertsanding.
    In order for the disciples to understand that Jesus will leave them and that they will have to feed the crowds without the man Jesus, Mark creates a scene in which the disciples see Jesus in another form, that of the spirit.
    At first, the disciples are terrified because they do not understand that the form moving on the sea is Jesus in his spirit form.
    Then, the disciples are desoriented when they understand that the form was Jesus. Mark equates the recognition of Jesus in another form with the understanding that the loaves will no longer be given by the man Jesus. So, the disciples are desoriented because they have just become aware that Jesus will leaves them and that they will have to carry the bread/Word across the world.

    5.1 – BETHSAIDA: THE PLACE WHERE THE BLIND MAN WILL DISCERN ALL THINGS CLEARLY

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.

    Mark 6:50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

    Mark 8:22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. (BSB)
    Mark 8:25 Afterward again He put [His] hands on his eyes, and made him look up, and he was restored, and discerned (1689) all things clearly, (Literal Standard Version)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1689.htm emblepÓ: to look at, fig. to consider

    A – OT SOURCES
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/35.htm (The Glory of Zion)
    Isaiah 35:4 Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong (2388), do not fear (3372)! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”
    Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2388.htm chazaq: to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3372.htm yare’: affright

    B – “YOU GIVE THEM TO EAT”

    Mark 6:35 By now the hour was already late. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late.

    Mark 6:37 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?”

    C – SYNTHESIS

    The boat sails to Bethsaida so that the disciples open their eyes and understand by themselves what “You give them something to eat” means.

    5.2 – SEPARATION FROM THE DISCIPLES AND PURSUIT

    A – A previous scene: Simon and his companions pursue Jesus who is ahead of them

    Mark 1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out (1831) to a solitary place to pray. (BSB)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1831.htm exerchomai: to go or come out of

    Mark 1:36 Simon and his companions went (2614) to look for Him,
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2614.htm katadiÓkÓ: to pursue closely

    B – The current scene: Jesus pursues the disciples who are ahead of him

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of (4254) Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4254.htm proagÓ: to lead forth, to go before

    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out (2064) to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2064.htm erchomai: to come, go

    C – SYNTHESIS

    The separation from the disciples prefigures the day when the man Jesus will definitely leave the disciples.
    The pursuit prepares the scene in which the disciples will see Jesus face to face

    5.3 – SEPARATION FROM THE CROWD

    A – FIRST CROSSING

    Mark 4:36 After they (the disciples) had dismissed (863) the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/863.htm aphiÉmi: to send away, leave alone, permit

    B – FIRST BREAKING OF LOAVES

    Mark 6:36 Dismiss (630) them, that having gone to the surrounding region and villages, they might buy for themselves something to eat.” (BLB)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/630.htm apoluÓ: to set free, release

    C – SECOND CROSSING

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed (630) the crowd.

    Mark 6:46 After bidding them farewell (657), He went up on the mountain to pray.
    https://biblehub.com/greek/657.htm apotassÓ: to set apart, take leave of

    The separation from the crowd prefigures the day when the crowd will no longer be fed by the man Jesus

    5.4 – THE PRAYER ON THE MOUNTAIN TO MEAN THE ELEVATION OF THE SPIRIT

    A – THE FIRST PRAYER IN A PREVIOUS SCENE
    https://biblehub.com/mark/1-35.htm

    A1 – Berean study bible => Wrong translation because the word ‘Jesus’ is added
    Mark 1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, [Jesus] got up (450) and slipped out to a solitary place to pray (4336)

    A2 – Literal Standard Version => This translation allows two readings

    Mark 1:35 And very early, it being yet night, having risen (450), He went forth, and went away to a desolate place, and was praying (4336) there;

    A21 – First reading: The awakening

    Mark 1:35 And very early, it being yet night, (Jesus) having risen (450), He went forth, and went away to a desolate place, and was praying (4336) there;

    A22 – Second reading: The elevation of the spirit because prayer is a spiritual relationship with God

    Mark 1:35 And very early<, it being yet night, (The spirit of Jesus) having risen (450), He went forth, and went away to a desolate place, and was praying (4336) there;

    https://biblehub.com/greek/450.htm anistÉmi: to raise up, to rise
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4336.htm proseuchomai: to pray

    B – CURRENT PRAYER

    Mark 6:46 After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray (4336).

    ‘He went (565) up on the mountain’ => the body and the spirit of Jesus rise together
    ‘to pray’ => The spirit alone continues its elevation to God because prayer is a spiritual relationship with God

    C – SYNTHESIS

    (Mark 1:35) Awakening and elevation of the spirit
    (Mark 6:46) The body and the spirit of Jesus rise together, then the spirit alone continues its elevation to God

    The prayer on the mountain prefigures the separation of spirit from body

    5.5 – THE WIND TO ALLUDE TO THE SPIRIT FREED FROM ITS CARNAL ENVELOPE

    A – PREVIOUS SCENES: THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SPIRIT AND WIND

    Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed (2284) and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits (4151), and they obey (5219) Him!”

    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind (417) and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind (417) died down (2869) , and it was perfectly calm.
    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey (5219) Him?”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/417.htm anemos: wind
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4151.htm pneuma: wind, spirit
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5219.htm hupakouÓ: to listen, attend to

    B – CURRENT SCENE: THE WIND IDENTIFIES THE START AND END OF THE TEST

    B1 – The wind blows and Jesus walks on the sea

    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind (417) was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

    Jesus can walk on the sea because he is in his spirit form

    B2 – Jesus stops walking on the sea and the wind dies down

    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind (417) died down (2869). And the disciples were utterly astounded,
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2869.htm kopazÓ: to grow weary

    The wind dies down to point out that the spirit of Jesus is no longer free. The spirit is again imprisoned in a carnal envelope

    5.6 – JESUS WALKING ON THE SEA TO MEAN THE SEPARATION OF BODY AND SPIRIT (GENESIS 1:2)

    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind (417) was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,
    https://biblehub.com/greek/417.htm anemos: wind
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4151.htm pneuma: wind, spirit

    OT SOURCES
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/1.htm (The Creation)
    Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit (7307) of God was hovering (7363) over the surface of the waters.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7363.htm rachaph => flutter, move, shake
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7307.htm ruach: breath, wind, spirit

    5.7 – THE CRIES CAUSED BY THE FACE-TO-FACE VIEW OF THE SPRIRIT (EXODUS 33:20)

    A – THE SPIRIT, THE CRIES AND THE DESTRUCTION

    A1 – Previous scene in the synagogue on the Sabbath at Capernaum

    Mark 1:23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out (349) in the synagogue

    Mark 1:24 saying, “What [regards] us and You, Jesus the Nazarene? You came to destroy us; I have known You, who You are—the Holy One of God.”

    The man with an unclean spirit represents the Israelites faithful to the Moses’ law. He cries out because he understands that the teaching of Jesus will destroy them

    A2 – Current scene

    Mark 6:49 but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out (349), …
    https://biblehub.com/greek/349.htm anakrazÓ: to cry out
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2896.htm krazÓ: to scream, cry out

    B – MARK CREATES A SITUATION IN WHICH THE ENCOUNTER OCCURS FACE TO FACE

    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3928.htm parerchomai: to pass by, to come to

    Mark 6:49 but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out (349), …

    Jesus is right behind the disciples because he has not yet passed by them. So, the disciples see the spirit of Jesus face to face

    C – OT SOURCE ABOUT THE VISION OF GOD FACE TO FACE

    C1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/33.htm (The Promise of God’s Presence)

    Exodus 33:20 But He (The LORD) added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”
    Exodus 33:21 The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock,
    Exodus 33:22 and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
    Exodus 33:23 Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

    C2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/32.htm (Jacob Wrestles with God)

    Genesis 32:30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, “Indeed, I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

    C3 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/3.htm (Moses at the Burning Bush)

    Exodus 3:2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.

    Exodus 3:6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid (3372) to look at God.

    5.8 – THE CRIES AND THE TERROR CAUSED BY A FORM PURSUING THEM (EXODUS 14)

    A – The fear of being destroyed by an unknown form pursuing them

    Mark 6:48 … He intended to pass by (3928) them,
    Mark 6:49 but when they saw (3708) Him walking on the sea, they cried out (349), thinking He was a ghost (5326)—
    Mark 6:50 for they all saw Him (3708) and were terrified (5015). But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid (5399).”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5326.htm an appearance, apparition
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5015.htm tarassÓ
    NASB Translation => disturbed (1), disturbing (2), stirred (3), stirring (1), terrified (2), troubled (9).
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten

    B – OT SOURCES: The fear of being destroyed by the Egyptian pursuers

    Exodus 14:9 The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon.
    Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD.

    C – SYNTHESIS

    By adding the expression ‘Thinking He was a ghost’, Mark changes the course of the story.
    From now on, we have to read that the disciples cry out because they see an unknown form pursuing them and therefore that they have not recognized Jesus in his spirit form.

    5.9 – ‘IT IS I’: IDENTITY OF JESUS AND PRESENCE OF GOD (MOSES AT THE BURNING BUSH)

    Mark 6:49 but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost—
    Mark 6:50 for they all saw Him and were terrified (5015). But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage ! It is I (1473). Do not be afraid (5399).”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1473.htm egÓ: I (only expressed when emphatic)

    OT SOURCES
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/3.htm (Moses at the Burning Bush)

    Exodus 3:2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.

    Exodus 3:3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”
    Exodus 3:6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid (3372) to look at God.

    Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

    SYNTHESIS

    A – A odd scene so that the viewer question himself, change his mind/spirit and be ready for the encounter with God
    The disciples see a form moving on the sea => Moses sees a burning bush which does not consume

    B – The viewers think
    The disciples think that the form is a ghost => Moses thinks and approaches to understand

    C – Fear and identity
    The disciples are afraid of the ghost and Jesus declares his identity => God declares his identity and Moses is afraid

    In short
    The walk on the sea precedes the Jesus’ identification => The burning bush precedes the God’s identification

    5.10 – “TAKE COURAGE, DO NOT BE AFRAID”: EXHORTATION TO OPEN YOUR EYES AND TO CHANGE YOUR MIND

    A – The disciples do not recognize Jesus in his spirit form because they reason in their former heart

    Mark 6:49 but when they saw Him walking (4043) on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost—
    Mark 6:50 for they all saw Him and were terrified (5015). …

    B – Exhortation to change their heart/mind

    Mark 6:50 … But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage (2293)! It is I. Do not be afraid .”
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2293.htm tharseÓ: to be of good courage

    OT SOURCES
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/35.htm (The Glory of Zion)
    Isaiah 35:4 Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong (2388), do not fear (3372)! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”
    Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2388.htm chazaq: to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3372.htm yare’: affright

    C – SYNTHESIS ABOUT THE EXHORTATION

    It must be considered that disciples are still learning. So, the exhortation is a call to fight against oneself in order to change one’s own mind/spirit

    5.11 – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING

    A – THE GREEK WORDS TO EXPRESS SIGHT AND GRASP OF MEANING

    Mark 8:18 ‘Having eyes, do you not see (991) ? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember?
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3788.htm ophthalmos: the eye
    https://biblehub.com/greek/991.htm blepÓ: to look (at)

    Mark 4:11 He replied,“The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,
    Mark 4:12 so that, ‘they may be ever seeing (991) but never perceiving (3708), and ever hearing but never understanding (4920); otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’ ” (BSB)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/991.htm blepÓ: to look (at)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3708.htm horaÓ: to see, perceive, attend to
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4920.htm suniÉmi: to set together, fig. to understand

    Mark 6:49 but when they saw (3708) Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking (1380) He was a ghost—

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3708.htm horaÓ: to see, perceive, attend to
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1380.htm dokeÓ: to have an opinion, to seem

    B – CURRENT SCENE: WHAT IS SEEN AND WHAT IS UNDERSTOOD

    B1 – Jesus sees and understands that the disciples need help

    Mark 6:48 He could see (3708) that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

    B2 – The disciples see a shape pursuing them. They do not understand that Jesus is coming towards them in his spirit form

    Mark 6:48 … He intended to pass by them,
    Mark 6:49 but when they saw (3708) Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking (1380) He was a ghost—
    Mark 6:50 for they all saw (3708) Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
    Mark 6:52 for they had not understood (4920) about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.

    B3 – OT SOURCES

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/daniel/10.htm
    Daniel 10:7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but a great terror fell upon them, and they ran and hid themselves.

    Daniel 10:12 “Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

    C – A PREVIOUS SCENE IN WHICH THE SICK MEN AND THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS SEE BUT DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE SAME THING

    Mark 3:10 For He had healed so many that all who had diseases were pressing forward to touch Him.

    Mark 3:11 And when the unclean spirits saw (2334) Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2334.htm theÓreÓ: to look at, gaze

    The sick men see Jesus as a healer and they go to him
    The unclean spirits see the healings and understand that Jesus interacts with God to forgive sins.

    To read more about healing, forgiveness and interaction with God.
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-230356 (2022-07-16) Update: Jesus the man with three identities/faces (Nazarene, Christ, Son of God)

    E – SYNTHESIS

    While our eyes look at objects, our brain interprets and represents what we perceive.
    The current scene (Mark 6:48-50,52) illustrates the difference between sight and understanding (Mark 4:11,12)

    5.12 – THE DISCIPLES’ FEAR CEASES WHEN JESUS REGAINS HIS UNITY OF FLESH AND SPIRIT

    Mark 6:49 but when they saw Him walking (4043) on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost—
    Mark 6:50 for they all saw Him and were terrified (5015). …

    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed (305) into the boat with them, and the wind died down (2869). And the disciples were utterly amazed/desoriented (1839),

    https://biblehub.com/greek/305.htm anabainÓ: to go up, ascend
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1839.htm existÉmi: to displace, to stand aside from

    Jesus is back to his human form. So he climbs into the boat to avoid sinking. The action of climbing (body movement) results from the awareness (mind/spirit) of danger
    The disciples are no longer terrified. They are disoriented.

    5.13 – THE DISCIPLES REALIZE THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO CARRY THE BREAD/WORD WITHOUT THE MAN JESUS AND THEY ARE DISORIENTED

    A – PREVIOUS SCENE

    Mark 6:37 But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked Him, “Should we go out and spend two hundred denarii to give all of them bread to eat?”

    Mark 6:41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples (3101) to set before the people. And He divided the two fish among them all.

    B – CURRENT SCENE

    Mark 6:51a Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. …

    Mark 6:51b … And the disciples were utterly amazed/desoriented (1839),
    Mark 6:52 for they had not understood (4920) about the loaves, but their hearts had been hardened.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1839.htm existÉmi: to displace, to stand aside from

    C – COMMENT

    When Jesus climbs into the boat, the disciples realizes that Jesus has joined them by taking another form. They now know that the temporary change of form prefigures the day when Jesus’ body and spirit will be permanently separated.
    On that day, the man Jesus will no longer be there to give them the loaves to set before the people.
    The disciples are desoriented because they had not understood the following points
    1 – Jesus will leave them
    2 – They will have to carry the bread/Word across the World.

    The recognition of Jesus in another form equates the understanding that the loaves will no longer be given by the man Jesus.
    The current scene (Mark 6:51-52) illustrates what “you give them to eat ” means (Mark 6:37).

    5.14 – THE GREEK WORD ‘EXISTEMI’ TO EXPRESS THAT GOD IS BEHIND THE CURTAIN

    Mark 2:12 And he arose (1453), and immediately, having taken up the mat, he went forth before all, so as for all to be amazed/desoriented (1839) and to glorify God, saying, “Never did we see thus.” (BLB)

    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly amazed/desoriented (1839),

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1839.htm existÉmi: to displace, to stand aside from
    Mark 2:12 Mark 3:21 Mark 5:42 Mark 6:51

    A – Paralytic’s healing: The Israelites are desoriented because they see for the first time the God of Israel forgiving the sins of a pagan

    Mark 2:9 “Which is easier: to say to a paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up (1453), pick up your mat, and walk (4043)’? (BSB)
    Mark 2:12 And he arose (1453), and immediately, having taken up the mat, he went forth before all, so as for all to be amazed (1839) and to glorify God, saying, “Never did we see thus.” (BLB)

    B – Current scene: The disciples are desoriented because they now know that God is behind the change of form

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
    Mark 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.

    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly amazed/desoriented (1839),

    C – SYNTHESIS

    Mark associates the greek word ‘existemi/1839’ with divine presence on earth. The disciples are now aware that God is behind the change of form and that implies that they cannot refuse the role assigned to them by God.

    5.15 – ‘HARDNESS OF HEART’: THE DISCIPLES HAD REASONED IN THEIR FORMER HEART

    A – Current scene: Mark explicitly associates misunderstanding with hardened heart

    Mark 6:52 for they (disciples) had not understood about the loaves, but their hearts (2588) had been hardened (4456).

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2588.htm kardia: heart
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4456.htm pÓroÓ: to petrify, i.e. to harden
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4457.htm pÓrÓsis: a covering with a callous, fig. blindness

    B – OT Sources about the hearts of stone

    B1 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/36.htm (A New Heart and a New Spirit)

    Ezekiel 36:25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
    Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart (3820) and put a new spirit (7307) within you; I will remove your heart (3820) of stone (68) and give you a heart of flesh.
    Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put My Spirit (7307) within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.
    Ezekiel 36:28 Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/68.htm eben: a stone
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3820.htm leb: inner man, mind, will, heart
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7307.htm ruach: breath, wind, spirit

    B2 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/14.htm (Pharaoh Pursues the Israelites)

    Exodus 14:6 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds (3820) about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”

    Exodus 14:8 And the LORD hardened (2388) the heart (3820) of Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out defiantly.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2388.htm chazaq: to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen

    B3 – https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/63.htm (A Prayer for Mercy)

    Isaiah 63:17 Why, O LORD, do You make us stray from Your ways and harden (7188) our hearts (3820) from fearing You? Return, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7188.htm qashach: to make hard, treat roughly

    C – SYNTHESIS

    The term ‘hardened hearts’ means that the disciples’ hearts had not changed enough to be able to immediately understand that the form moving on the sea was Jesus.

    Reply

32. Continuing

    6 – BETHSAIDA AND THE IDEA OF A DOOR OPENING ONTO ANOTHER WORLD

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida (966), while He dismissed the crowd.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/966.htm BÉthsaida

    A – A greek name built from two hebrew words

    BETH (H1004) + SHAAR (H8179) => BETHSAIDA (G966)

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1004.htm bayith: a house => Beth
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8179.htm shaar: a gate

    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8179.htm shaar: a gate <= Hebrew word
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2374.htm thura: a door <= Greek word

    B – THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE WHERE JESUS TEACHES THE WORD

    Mark 2:1 And He having entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was heard that He is in the house (3624). (BLB)

    Mark 2:2 they gathered in such large numbers that there was no more room, not even outside the door (2374), as Jesus spoke the word (3056) to them.

    https://biblehub.com/greek/3624.htm oikos: a house, a dwelling
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2374.htm thura: a door
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2376.htm thuris: a window
    https://biblehub.com/greek/3056.htm logos: a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech

    C – THE DOOR TO GET THE LIGHT OF UNDERSTANDING

    Mark 8:22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. (BSB)
    Mark 8:25 Afterward again He put [His] hands on his eyes, and made him look up, and he was restored, and discerned (1689) all things clearly, (Literal Standard Version)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/1689.htm emblepÓ: to look at, fig. to consider

    D – THE DOOR OF SALVATION THAT GOD WILL OPEN

    Mark 1:32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed,
    Mark 1:33 and the whole town gathered at the door (2374).
    Mark 1:34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons

    Mark 2:7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

    Mark 16:3 They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance (2374) of the tomb?”

    Explanation

    (Mark1:32) => The time when men hear/receive the Word of God (the Good News)

    (Mark 1:33) => The time when men stand at the door because they have to make the Word fruitful in their heart so that their sins may be forgiven

    (Mark 1:34) => The time when the forgiven sins will be redeemed

    (Mark 2:7) => God alone can forgive the sins
    (Mark 16:3) => God alone can open the door of the kingdom. He will open the door to those whose sins have been redeemed

    7 – MORE ABOUT THE FIRST AND SECOND PRAYER

    A – FIRST PRAYER

    Mark 1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray (4336).
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4336.htm proseuchomai: to pray

    Mark 1:36 Simon and those who were with him pursued (2614) him (New American Bible)
    https://biblehub.com/greek/2614.htm katadiÓkÓ: to pursue closely

    B – SECOND PRAYER

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.
    Mark 6:46 After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray (4336).
    Mark 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.
    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

    C – COMPARISON

    Mark 1:35 Early in the morning => Mark 6:47 When evening came

    Mark 1:35 a solitary place to pray => Mark 6:46 the mountain to pray, Mark 6:47 Jesus was alone

    Mark 1:36 Simon and those who were with him pursued him => Mark 6:48 Jesus went out to them … He intended to pass by them

    8 – JESUS WALKS TO REMIND US OF THE TWO CROSSINGS ON THE DRY LAND (RED SEA AND JORDAN RIVER CROSSINGS)

    Mark 6:48 He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking (4043) on the sea. He intended to pass by them,
    https://biblehub.com/greek/4043.htm peripateÓ: to walk

    A – READ SEA CROSSING

    Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind (7307) that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided,
    https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7307.htm ruach: breath, wind, spirit

    B – JORDAN RIVER CROSSING

    https://biblehub.com/bsb/joshua/3.htm (Crossing the Jordan)
    Joshua 3:14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them.
    Joshua 3:15 Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge,
    Joshua 3:16 the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
    Joshua 3:17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan.

    C – CONNECTION BETWEEN THE RED SEA AND JORDAN RIVER CROSSINGS

    The connection between the Red Sea and Jordan River crossings is made explicit in Joshua 4:23

    Joshua 4:23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as He did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over.

    9 – COMPARISON OF THE TWO SEA CROSSINGS AND MAIN DIFFERENCES

    A – The disciples are in the foreground while Jesus is in the background

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion.

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him

    B – Jesus’ intervention

    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. …

    Mark 6:48 He could see (3708) that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, …

    C – Separation from the crowd

    Mark 4:36 After they had dismissed (863) the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him.

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed (630) the crowd.

    D – When evening came

    Mark 4:35 When that evening (3798) came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”

    Mark 6:47 When evening (3798) came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on land.

    E – The dangers of the sea: Shipwreck and drowning

    Mark 4:37 Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.

    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down (2869). And the disciples were utterly astounded,

    F – The wind growing weary

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2869.htm kopazÓ: to grow weary

    Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down (2869) , and it was perfectly calm.

    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down (2869). And the disciples were utterly astounded,

    F – Fear and Identity

    Mark 4:41 Overwhelmed with fear (5399), they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

    Mark 6:50 for they all saw Him and were terrified (5015). But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid (5399).”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/5015.htm tarassÓ
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten

    MAIN DIFFERENCES

    A – Faith

    A1 – First crossing: Jesus is with the disciples and blames them for their lack of faith

    Mark 4:38 But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

    Mark 4:40 And He said to them, Why are you so cowardly (1169)? how have you not faith? (Godbey New testament)

    https://biblehub.com/greek/1169.htm deilos: cowardly, fearful

    A2 – Second crossing: The disciples are alone and Jesus exhorts them to be strong

    Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.

    Mark 6:50 for they all saw Him and were terrified (5015). But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage (2293)! It is I. Do not be afraid (5399).”

    https://biblehub.com/greek/2293.htm tharseÓ: to be of good courage
    https://biblehub.com/greek/5399.htm phobeÓ: to put to flight, to terrify, frighten

    B -Wind

    B1 – First crossing: The windstorm and the shipwreck

    Mark 4:37 Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.

    B2 – Second crossing: The wind is concomitant with Jesus walking on the sea

    Mark 6:48 He could see (3708) that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

    Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded,

    SYNTHESIS

    The two crossings are difficult
    At the beginning of both scenes, the disciples are in the foreground while Jesus is in the background.
    The first crossing suggests the failure as the disciples lack of faith to carry the Word through the pagan land. The second crossing suggests the success as Jesus exhorts the disciples to fight

    In both cases, the purpose is to highlight the following ideas
    1 – spreading the new Word will be difficult
    2 – the disciples will have to carry the Word without the man Jesus but God will support them

    To read more about the first sea crossing
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-143646

    10 – MAIN OT SOURCES ABOUT THE SECOND SEA CROSSING

    “The disciples ahead of him” and “the boat in the middle of the sea”
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/joshua/3.htm (The ark of the covenant crossing the Jordan)

    “The disciples as oarsmen” and “the boat in the middle of the sea”
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/joshua/4.htm (The troops armed for battle cross over the Jordan)

    The disciples straining to row
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/jonah/1.htm (The men rowing hard to get back to dry land)

    The form pursuing the disciples
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/14.htm (Pharaoh Pursues the Israelites, Wind parting the sea, crossing on the dry land)

    Jesus walking on the sea
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/1.htm (The Spirit of God hovering over the waters)

    The face-to-face vision of Jesus’ spirit
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/33.htm (The vision of God face to face)
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/32.htm (Jacob Wrestles with God)

    ‘It is I’
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/3.htm (Moses at the Burning Bush)

    “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid .”
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/joshua/1.htm (God Instructs Joshua)
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/deuteronomy/31.htm (Joshua to Succeed Moses)
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/35.htm (The Glory of Zion)
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/43.htm (Israel’s Only Savior)
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/63.htm (A Prayer for Mercy)
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_chronicles/22.htm (Solomon Anointed to Build the Temple)

    The hardened hearts
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/ezekiel/36.htm (A New Heart and a New Spirit)
    https://biblehub.com/bsb/exodus/14.htm (Pharaoh Pursues the Israelites)

    11 – A ROMAN SOURCE ABOUT THE DIVISION OF THE NIGHT INTO FOUR WATCHES

    Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 44

    https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0149%3Abook%3D44%3Achapter%3D35
    [9] He then ordered the guides to divide the road in such a manner that they might attack Pythium at the fourth watch on the third day.

    https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0149%3Abook%3D44%3Achapter%3D43
    [5] Perseus was met at the palace by Euctus, governor of Pella, and the royal pages; but of all his friends who had escaped from the battle by various chances, and had reached Pella, not one would come near him, though they were repeatedly sent for. Only three persons accompanied him in his flight; Evander a Cretan, Neo a Bœotian, and Archidamus an Aetolian. [6] With these he continued his retreat, at the fourth watch;

    https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Histoire_romaine_(Tite-Live)/Livre_XLIV
    et les guides eurent ordre de rÉgler la marche de maniÈre À ce qu’on pÛt attaquer Pythium le troisiÈme jour, À la quatriÈme veille.
    …
    il se remit en route vers la quatriÈme veille avec les trois officiers qui lui Étaient restÉs fidÈles,

    SUMMARY

    Mark superimposes two stories.
    The first one prefigures the mission that the disciples will have to perform when Jesus is no longer be with them.
    The second one is an odd scene in which the disciples become aware that Jesus will leave them
    The last verse links the two stories: Mark equates the recognition of Jesus in another form with the understanding that the disciples will have to feed the crowds by themselves without the man Jesus.

    A – FIRST STORY
    The disciples alone in the boat prefigure the time when they will have to carry the bread/Word across the world so that people hear it and make it fruiful in their heart.
    The struggle of the oarsmen represents the fight that the disciples will face in their task
    The coming of Jesus and his exhortation represent the help that God will give to the disciples carrying out their task.

    Details about the task assigned to the disciples
    The disciples in the boat and ‘ahead of’ => The sea crossing to carry the Word across the world
    The disciples straining to row and ‘against them’ => The Word to be preached to pagan people and and the difficulties related to this task
    The rowers and the fourth watch => The new land to be conquered
    ‘Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid’ => Exhortation to fight for God is with you

    B – SECOND STORY
    In order for the disciples to understand that Jesus will leave them and that they will have to feed the crowds without the man Jesus, Mark creates a scene in which the disciples temporarily see Jesus in another form, that of the spirit form. The temporary change of form prefigures the day when Jesus’ body and spirit will be permanently separated.
    At first, the disciples are terrified because they do not understand that the form moving on the sea is Jesus in his spirit form.
    Then, the disciples are desoriented when they understand that the form was Jesus because that implies that they will have to carry the bread/Word across the world on their own.
    Mark adds that the disciples’ hearts had not changed enough to be able to immediately understand that the shape moving on the sea was Jesus.

    Details about the time after Jesus
    Towards Bethsaida => The crossing to get the light of understanding
    Separation from the crowd and disciples => The time after Jesus
    Prayer on the mountain => Elevation of body and spirit
    The blowing wind => An allusion to the spirit freed from its carnal envelope
    Jesus walking on the sea => The spirit of Jesus moving on water
    The disciples ahead of Jesus and the pursuit => The vision face to face
    The disciples perceive (3708) => The difference between sight (991) and understanding (4920)
    The fear caused by the ghost => The disciples do not identify Jesus in his spirit form
    ‘It I’ => Jesus declares his identity
    ‘Take courage! Do not be afraid’ => Exhortation to change one’s own heart
    Jesus climbing into the boat => Jesus regains his unity of flesh and spirit
    The wind dying down => The spirit is no longer free
    The disoriented disciples => They have become aware that Jesus will leave them and that they will have to carry the loaves across the world
    The greek word ‘existemi/1839’ => God is behind the curtain. The disciples cannot refuse the task that God has set for them
    The hardened hearts => The disciples had reasoned in their former heart
    Evening and fourth watch => from dusk (hardships) to dawn (salvation)

    C – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PHYSICAL PERCEPTION AND UNDERSTANDING
    The current scene illustrates the difference between physical perception (listening, seeing) and understanding.
    1- The disciples had heard Jesus explaining them the parables about the seeds and they understood perfectly well that the loaves represented the Word (Mark 6:38)
    2 – The disciples had heard Jesus telling them to feed the Israelite crowd and at first they understood that they had to buy bread (Mark 6:37). Now they have understood that they will have to feed the crowds without the man Jesus
    3 – The disciples saw a shape. At first they thought it was a ghost before they realize that Jesus had come to them in his spirit form

    D – BETHSAIDA
    A greek name built from two hebrew words ‘Beth’ and ‘shaar’. It conveys the idea of a door opening onto another world

    E – THE BOAT
    In the current scene, the boat is a galley intented to carry a cargo (of loaves) or troops (armed for battle)

    F – THE TWO SEA CROSSINGS IN MARK’S GOSPEL

    The purpose is to highlight the following points
    1 – spreading the new Word will be difficult
    2 – the disciples will have to carry the Word without the man Jesus but God will support them

    The first crossing suggests the failure as the disciples lack of faith to carry the Word through the pagan land
    The second crossing suggests the success as Jesus exhorts the disciples to fight

    OT sources for the first sea crossing: Exodus (read sea crossing), Jonah
    OT sources for the second sea crossing: Exodus (read sea crossing), Joshua (Jordan river crossing), Jonah

    NEXT STEPS

    (Mark 6:53-56) Jesus at Gennesaret
    (Mark 7) The Judean customs, The greek woman in the region of Tyre, The deaf mute of Decapolis
    (Mark 8) Second breaking of loaves, Jesus at Dalmanutha, The blind man at Bethsaida, Jesus at Caesarea Philippi,
    (Mark 1-8) Third synthesis

    PREVIOUS STEPS

    My previous chapter: Chapter 22 First breaking of loaves
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-227760 (2022-06-20)
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-227762 (2022-06-20)

    My last synthesis:
    Reading Mark as a midrash, Chapter 10: Second synthesis
    (Mark 1-2) A NEW THOUGHT PUT INTO A NARRATIVE
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122729 (2020-12-07)
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-122730 (2020-12-07)
    https://vridar.org/2019/10/05/ot-sources-for-the-gospel-of-mark-chapters-2-and-3/#comment-230356 (2022-07-16) Update: Jesus the man with three identities/faces (Nazarene, Christ, Son of God)

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