Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark

[Wayne]

    Hey friends! I've been thinking it might be nice to have a Bible study group.

For better and for worse, the Bible has a lot of influence on our culture and our lives. We've seen a lot of biblical themes and archetypes in Brokeback, like the Good Shepherd, sacrifice, and maybe atonement and redemption.

Some people use the Bible to justify prejudice, but it also has important messages about love and acceptance.

Maybe reading and talking about it together can help us understand what it really means.

It's a big book, so what if we start with the Gospel of Mark? It's the shortest of the Gospels, only 20 pages in my copy of the Revised Standard Version.

If we read and talk about a chapter or two a day we could have a whole Gospel under our belts in a couple of weeks. Anybody who likes can catch up or join in as we go.

So how about Mark Chapter 1 for the next 24 hours. Anybody interested? Get a cup of coffee, pull up one of those folding chairs into the circle and let's talk!     

[Wayne]

Here's the entire text of Mark online:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/mark-asv.html

There's a lot of interesting background information on the Gospel of Mark at this site:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/mark.html

And Wikipedia is always great:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Mark

[Shasta542]

Hi WDJ -- I'll talk.  Wasn't John the Baptizer Jesus's cousin?  

[Shasta542]

I was always taught that John was the forerunner, a herald if you will, of Jesus. Mark starts with John baptizing people, but telling them about Jesus.

[Wayne]

Hey Shas! Yep, I think you're right.  This version doesn't mention that does it ...   

You know, I've always wondered what was the origin of the tradition of baptism ... should look that up! Were the Jews routinely baptizing before John the Baptist? Or was this his own idea

[injest]

now where is my Bible....is there gonna be donuts??

[Shasta542]

Well, these sites say baptism originated before John, but the reasons are different.

http://www.keyway.ca/htm2003/20031106.htm

http://www.bridgesforpeace.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2431

[Wayne]

    You bet - help yourself!  I like the chocolate ones ...   

[Wayne]

This first chapter seems to cover a lot!

Several healing miracles, and John the Baptist has already been taken by the authorities ...   

[Shasta542]

now where is my Bible....is there gonna be donuts??

There ya go, Jess.