Author Topic: Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark  (Read 155041 times)

Offline Wayne

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Re: Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark
« Reply #140 on: December 15, 2007, 08:27:28 pm »
Hey Artiste! Hope you're feeling better soon  !!    :-\ :-X

So far I don't think I've seen anything specific to homosexuality   ??? :o   Isn't that what the Bible is supposed to be about ?!?    :laugh: ;)

There have been some phrases about adultery and divorce. But if you can't get married, I reckon you can't get divorced...

I suspect even the divorce issue may not have been a primary concern of Jesus's. It was the Pharisees who brought it up, not Jesus, and they may have brought it up in hopes of trapping him. Remember that the reason John the Baptist was beheaded was for criticizing Herod's wife because she was divorced.
When you put people in charge of the government who are committed to proving that it doesn't work, you can be sure that they will cause it to not work.

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Offline Wayne

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Re: Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark
« Reply #141 on: December 15, 2007, 10:17:23 pm »
 :D   We're getting some rain here in the southeast. Very happy about that.    :)
When you put people in charge of the government who are committed to proving that it doesn't work, you can be sure that they will cause it to not work.

Don

Offline Wayne

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Re: Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark
« Reply #142 on: December 16, 2007, 02:15:46 am »
 :D  OK now, Mark chapter 10.  Up to now, Jesus and his disciples have spent most of their time in Galilee, Jesus's home province in the north. They also went over to Lebanon even farther north on the Mediterranean coast.

Galilee was sort of the New Jersey of the time. Now Jesus is going south to Judea, with Jerusalem which was the center of life for the Jews. The Pharisees confront him there with questions about divorce. Mark says they are trying to trick Jesus into making some statement that will offend the authorities. Remember that John the Baptist was beheaded because he did not approve of Herod marrying a divorced woman (worse yet, his own brother's ex...    ::) )

Jesus deftly avoids them noting that the law of Moses allowed for divorce, even though in a perfect world it would be nice if it could be avoided.
When you put people in charge of the government who are committed to proving that it doesn't work, you can be sure that they will cause it to not work.

Don

Offline Wayne

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Re: Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark
« Reply #143 on: December 16, 2007, 02:23:32 am »
Next, people are bringing their children to Jesus for his blessing, but the disciples are turning them away.

Jesus gets annoyed with the disciples and says "whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."

This could be taken as a paradigm shift from the model of the time that relied on observing a complex system of rules.

It sounds to me like he's saying lighten up, be yourself, walk through your imagination into the world we really want to live in.
When you put people in charge of the government who are committed to proving that it doesn't work, you can be sure that they will cause it to not work.

Don

Offline Wayne

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Re: Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark
« Reply #144 on: December 16, 2007, 02:36:27 am »
A man who is interested in Jesus's message asks him what he must do to obtain eternal life.

Jesus tells him to sell everything he owns, give it to the poor, and follow him. The man goes away very sad.

Jesus tells his disciples that it is harder for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. The disciples wonder who can get into heaven at all then.    ???

Jesus says with God all things are possible.

This seems to be among the earliest scanty details about eternal life and heaven. Up to now Mark's descriptions seem to focus more on earthly physical and mental healing.

Is Jesus more focused on the here and now, while the culture around him is trying to define methods to obtain eternal life?
When you put people in charge of the government who are committed to proving that it doesn't work, you can be sure that they will cause it to not work.

Don

injest

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Re: Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark
« Reply #145 on: December 16, 2007, 02:43:15 am »
all of the ancient civilizations had myths of 'afterlife'.....I do believe Jesus was trying to spread an attitude of compassion for the weak and poor. To try to improve living conditions for all people here on earth. (remember being charitable is good not just for the receiving party but also for the one that gives)

Offline Wayne

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Re: Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark
« Reply #146 on: December 16, 2007, 02:45:57 am »
As they walk toward Jerusalem, the disciples are afraid of the conflict ahead. Jesus tells the Twelve that the son of man will be mocked, scourged, and killed, and three days later He will rise again.

James and John seem to miss the point, asking to sit on either side of Jesus's throne in the new kingdom.

Maybe we should read between the lines a bit here. Peter, John, and James are frequently mentioned in the gospel of Mark. Mark is apparently Peter's protege', writing all of this down in Rome some 30 to 50 years later.

By that time Peter had established himself as a leader in the church in Rome. In this role he eventually came to be thought of as the first pope.

So according to these verses they were already competing.
« Last Edit: December 16, 2007, 10:49:23 am by wdj »
When you put people in charge of the government who are committed to proving that it doesn't work, you can be sure that they will cause it to not work.

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Offline Wayne

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Re: Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark
« Reply #147 on: December 16, 2007, 02:51:58 am »
 :D   Hey Miz Jess!  Glad you could join us for Bible study tonight.    ;) :-*

Yeah, for thousands of years the religion of the Egyptians seemed to be very focused on the afterlife.

It sounds almost comical how badly everyone seems to be missing Jesus's point. Can't you just imagine him rolling his eyes ...  ::)
When you put people in charge of the government who are committed to proving that it doesn't work, you can be sure that they will cause it to not work.

Don

injest

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Re: Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark
« Reply #148 on: December 16, 2007, 02:54:23 am »
:D   Hey Miz Jess!  Glad you could join us for Bible study tonight.    ;) :-*

Yeah, for thousands of years the religion of the Egyptians seemed to be very focused on the afterlife.

It sounds almost comical how badly everyone seems to be missing Jesus's point. Can't you just imagine him rolling his eyes ...  ::)

sounded to me like they were trying to look for the 'angles' you know..."How can I get around the rules"??

in so many of the older religions you could 'buy' your way out of trouble by buying animals to sacrifice or trinkets for the temple...now here is Jesus saying "It is not what you have...but who you are!" that is important

Offline Wayne

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Re: Twist family Bible study: the Gospel of Mark
« Reply #149 on: December 16, 2007, 03:01:12 am »
in so many of the older religions you could 'buy' your way out of trouble by buying animals to sacrifice or trinkets for the temple
Right - the rich man seems to be relying on his riches, and Jesus challenges him to do exactly the opposite - to abandon his riches.
When you put people in charge of the government who are committed to proving that it doesn't work, you can be sure that they will cause it to not work.

Don