Bible Question:
Hello, I am completing a Catholic Teaching course this year as part of my teacher training programme. I have been asked to complete an assignment on the background to St Mark's Gospel including authorship, influences of Mark as a writer, intended readership and importance of passion narrative. I have found this very interesting to research but I have been struggling with the reasons why the passion narrative is so important. I know that the passion narrative takes up a large part of the gospel but I was wondering if someone could help explain the importance of this in the gospel? Thank you very much for your help! |
Bible Answer: Greetings and welcome to the forum. Right from the get go in the gospel of Mark one would be at a great advantage just understanding what the word gospel means. The word gospel and how it ties with the passion of Christ is wrapped up in the original language of the New Testament. i.e. the Koine Greek. The word originally used was the word EUANGELION and the clearest meaning in the English is literally the (GOOD NEWS). The next question should be the good news about what, and that is that God has sent His Christ or actually His appointed one. Now we have to ask, the appointed one for what, and the answer is found back in the book of Isaiah chapter 53. Isaiah 53:1-12 (ASV) 1 Who hath believed our message? and to whom hath the arm of Jehovah been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. The key to what Jesus did as the appointed one is found in the 10th verse of the chapter. Isaiah 53:10 (ASV) 10 Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand. It actually pleased God the Father to punish His own Son because the Son was paying the price that God demanded for (OUR SIN). Now that’s good news, Jesus has already paid the price so I can live forever in heaven with God and that price is imputed to everyone who will put their complete trust in what Jesus did for them and not trust in their own works, God gives eternal life as a GIFT, but it must come through faith in God’s Son! When we work for salvation it is like wages, we earn it but a gift is free. Romans 6:23 (ASV) 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. It’s strictly by believing in the FINISHED word of Christ that we can know we have eternal life as a gift. All those that put their hope in Jesus, God gives them the Son. Notice how the good news of Mark plays out in the following because of the passion of Christ. 1 John 5:10-13 (ASV) 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. 11 And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. 13 These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God. I hope this helps, CDBJ |
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inquiring mind | ||
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maxamillion | ||
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gillybean012 | ||
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CDBJ | ||
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DocTrinsograce | ||
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jwpawpaw | ||
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heman | ||
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womanatthewell2 | ||
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heman | ||
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heman | ||
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heman | ||
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JCAMMAN |