Day 36
The oldest and shortest Gospel, Mark is a great read. Gone are lengthy explanations and, instead, there’s a pithy Jesus on a mission. That’s what stands out to me most here. Jesus is very frank, often withdraws, quickly moves on to other locations, and loses his patience. A lot of religious art has Jesus walking around looking absolutely blitzed with a glowing halo, but Mark gives us the real prophet. Here’s Jesus in carpenters’ clothing, worse-for-wear sandals, disheveled hair, and no time for ridiculous tests or traps. It’s the Jesus you’d imagine driving a VW bus, wearing hemp clothing, and carrying a well thumbed through copy of Jack Kerouac.
Okay, maybe that’s too romantic. But Mark offers a grittier Jesus. The Gospel begins abruptly with his baptism and ends abruptly with the empty tomb. Both of these features are unique. Gone is the annunciation, the virgin birth, and the magi of the Christmas story. Gone is Doubting Thomas, Jesus walking through walls, and his ascension into heaven. What remains is his ministry, plainly told. Even the parables are fewer or erring on the side of brevity. Mark emphasizes the miracles, signs, and healing of Jesus’ ministry.
I also noticed the call for secrecy. Often miracles were performed and Jesus commanded people not to share them widely. (They did anyway.) Or he’d withdraw with the disciples and impart a teaching just for them. It’s a curious take on Jesus and his style of teaching. I wouldn’t say this falls into a proto-gnostic or mystery religion category, but it does make one wonder why this was emphasized.
A unique story that Mark offers us versus the remaining Gospels comes after the Parable of the Sower: The Parable of the Growing Seed. (Or Secret Seed) Rather than try to explain it, here it is from Mark 4:26-29:
He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Save a botanist, who knows the workings of the the plants they grow? Perhaps a master gardener would know more than I would. But for me, if I plant mint, I trust it will grow and I give it what is needed. I have no intimate knowledge of what is happening under the soil. I read this brief parable and think of the spiritual life. As a minister, I say things often (It’s part of the job!) and I have no knowledge of what those words do. Or my actions. And sometimes, years later, I hear from people telling me that a turn of phrase or a manner in which I acted or exercised leadership — that was what inspired them to some new chapter of their spiritual lives.
Isn’t it that way with most spiritual work? Plant seeds, trust the soil, look forward to the harvest. All of this, of course, assumes the work is noble and worthy. But even those who sew evil in this world, it works the same way. So, for me, it just means the time for planting is ever more important.
This post is part of a lager series where I read the entirety of Hebrew & Christian scriptures in 45 days. Take a look a the original post for more info, as well as links to other reflections on this journey.