Rediscovering Jesus By David B. Capes, Rodney Reeves and E. Randolph Richards - EXCERPT

8202019 Rediscovering Jesus By David B Capes Rodney Reeves and E Randolph Richards - EXCERPT

httpslidepdfcomreaderfullrediscovering-jesus-by-david-b-capes-rodney-reeves-and-e-randolph-richards 131





REDISCOVERING

J E S U SAn Introduction to Biblical Religious

and Cultural Perspectives on Christ

D983137983158983145983140 B C983137983152983141983155 R983151983140983150983141983161 R983141983141983158983141983155

983137983150983140 E R983137983150983140983151983148983152983144 R983145983139983144983137983154983140983155

Copyrighted Material wwwivpresscompermissions



InterVarsity Press

PO Box 104862598309210486241048624 Downers Grove IL 98309410486249830931048625983093-1048625983092983090983094

ivpresscom

emailivpresscom

copy98309010486241048625983093 by David B Capes Rodney Reeves and E Randolph Richards All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from

InterVarsity Press

InterVarsity Pressreg is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian FellowshipUSAreg a movement of

students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities colleges and schools of nursing in the United

States of America and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students For

information about local and regional activities visit intervarsityorg

Scripture quotations unless otherwise noted are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible copyright

1048625983097983096983097 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA Used by

permission All rights reserved

While any stories in this book are true some names and identifying information may have been changed to protect

the privacy of individuals

Cover design Cindy Kiple

Interior design Beth McGill

Images Head of Christ by Antonio Allegri Correggio at J Paul Getty Museum Los Angeles USA Bridgeman Images

torn paper copy kayiStockphoto

ISBN 983097983095983096-1048624-9830969830911048624983096-983090983092983095983090-983092 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-1048624-9830969830911048624983096-983097983096983093983094-983093 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

As a member of the Green Press Initiative InterVarsity Press is committed to protectingthe environment and to the responsible use of natural resources o learn more visit greenpressinitiativeorg

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Capes David B

Rediscovering Jesus an introduction to biblical religious and cultural perspectives on Christ David B Capes

Rodney Reeves and E Randolph Richards

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index

ISBN 983097983095983096-1048624-9830969830911048624983096-983090983092983095983090-983092 (casebound alk paper)

1048625 Jesus Christ--Person and offices I itle

B9830901048624983091C983091983093 98309010486241048625983093983090983091983090mdashdc983090983091

9830901048624104862598309310486241048625983092983096983096983090

P 983090983091 983090983090 9830901048625 9830901048624 1048625983097 1048625983096 1048625983095 1048625983094 1048625983093 1048625983092 1048625983091 1048625983090 10486251048625 10486251048624 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 1048625

Y 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 9830911048625 9830911048624 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 9830901048625 9830901048624 1048625983097 1048625983096 1048625983095 1048625983094 1048625983093




C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155

Preface 852025

Abbreviations 983089983091

Introduction ldquoMy Jesusrdquo 983089983093

Part IIntroduction Jesus in the Bible 983090983091

983089 Markrsquos Jesus 983090983093

983090 Matthewrsquos Jesus 983092983089

983091 Lukersquos Jesus 983093983094

983092 Johnrsquos Jesus 983095983092

983093 Paulrsquos Jesus 852024852025

983094 he Priestly Jesus 983089983088852024

983095 he Jesus o Exiles 983089983090983091

852024 he Apocalyptic Jesus 983089983091852025

Part II

Introduction Jesus Outside the Bible 983089983093983095

852025 he Gnostic Jesus 983089983093852025

983089983088 he Muslim Jesus 983089983095983094

983089983089 he Historical Jesus 983089852025983090

983089983090 he Mormon Jesus 983090983089983089

983089983091 he American Jesus 983090983090983090

983089983092 he Cinematic Jesus 983090983092983088Conclusion ldquoOur Jesusrdquo 983090983093983093

Subject and Name Index 983090983094983091

Scripture Index 983090983094852025




Introduction

ldquoM983161 J983141983155983157983155rdquo

Iwas sitting in the seminary caeteria enjoying a cup o coffee and re-

minding mysel that Jesus wouldnrsquot mind i I skipped chapel that day

Afer all didnrsquot Jesus himsel withdraw rom the crowds or a little ldquodown

timerdquo I was sitting there with some ellow seminary students A colleague

was waxing eloquently about Jesus turning the water into wine joking that

i Jesus had been a Baptist he would have turned the wine back into water

One o my tablemates wasnrsquot enjoying the joke as much judging rom his

stern look o disapproval He reminded us that Jesus was a teetotaler When

someone else pointed out that Jesus drank wine he inormed us that the

wine that Jesus drank was nonalcoholic Tis caught my attention and I

asked him where Jesus would get such wine He announced with righteous

indignation ldquoI donrsquot know but my Jesus would not drink alcoholic winerdquo

Te discussion was over but I was lef wondering i my Jesus was the same

one as his

We recognize that not everyone in the world sees Jesus the same way as

we do but in our heart o hearts each o us believes that ldquomy Jesusrdquo is closest

to the real Jesus Others also have the real Jesus if they have a Jesus that

doesnrsquot differ significantly rom minemdashthat is only minor differences which

really means as long as the differences involve issues that donrsquot overly

concern me Although I will concede that at other times and in other places

people have misinterpreted Jesus I am airly confident that I have Jesus




1048625852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

somewhat ldquorightrdquo Jesus tells the story o a slave owner who commands his

slave to serve him even when the slave is weary (Lk 104862510486311048631-1048625852016) I have baggage

rom my American history that makes me uncomortable with Jesus talkingabout real slaves Surely Jesus is reerring to some sort o spiritual slavery I

posit At the very least I want my translation to change the word rom ldquoslaverdquo

to ldquoservantrdquo Or perhaps this is some minor illustration that Jesus was

making and I am best served by skipping over that story I eel certain that

it would misrepresent Jesus or us to highlight that parable Although Luke

included the story we would not list it as one o our top ten avorite parables

We are all aware that others reinterpret Jesus reading Jesus through theirown cultural and religious lenses olerance is highly regarded in our society

I donrsquot like the story where Jesus equates a woman with a dog (Mt 1048625104862910486261048625-1048626983096)

My Jesus wouldnrsquot offend anyonemdashunless it was a bad person My Jesus

didnrsquot really mean it when he said ldquoWoe to you who are rich or you have

received your consolationrdquo (Lk 85202210486261048628) Even though I live comortably my

Jesus was talking about someone ar richer than me and I reason someone

who probably got rich by oppressing honest olks However deep downinside I believe that I donrsquot have an interpreted Jesus I am simply ldquoreadingrdquo

the Bible or taking the Bible ldquoliterallyrdquo I have the ldquoreal Jesusrdquo

Not only do I have a misinterpreted or reinterpreted Jesus but also my

Jesus is commonly a composite Jesusmdasha Jesus we canrsquot find in any one o the

Gospels He ministers in a composite world that I have created by joining

together the stories and characters that I think belong together For example

my Jesus the real Jesus cared about the rich young ruler but actually no

Gospel identifies the man that way He is rich in Mark 1048625852016 a rich young man

in Matthew 1048625983097 and a rich ruler in Luke 1048625983096 Only by combining all the stories

do we conclude that he is a rich young ruler Likewise ofen we think that

Mary the sister o Lazarus was a sinul woman We conclude this only by

combining stories across Gospels In Luke 1048631 we are told that a sinul woman

anointed Jesus In John 10486251048625ndash10486251048626 we read that Mary anointed Jesus so we con-

clude that Mary was a sinul woman (rescued by Jesus) We may be slan-

dering Maryrsquos character So my Jesus ofen is the product o combined

stories In Christmas plays the shepherds and the magi visit the newborn

Jesus in the manger on the same night Tese composite accounts require us

to gloss over differences in order to combine the stories According to




ldquoMy Jesusrdquo 10486251048631

Matthew the magi actually visit the toddler Jesus who was living in a house

Te rich ruler in Luke 1048625983096 insists that he had been keeping all the command-

ments ever since he was young When we create a composite Jesus we risklosing Lukersquos Jesus or Matthewrsquos Jesus leaving us a Jesus o the lowest

common denominator or worse a Jesus made up o the parts I like

My Jesus is ofen a smorgasbord Jesus a Jesus who doesnrsquot look like the

one in the Bible Just like a buffet in the caeteria where I go through the

line and pick out what I want I read through the Gospels pulling out the

stories I like I see Brussels sprouts I know that theyrsquore good or me but I

donrsquot like them so I skip past them So likewise this smorgasbord Jesusdoesnrsquot hurl epithets at women or make demands o slaves In the caeteria

buffet I like dessert I likewise want a sweet agreeable Jesus one who likes

what I like and hates what I hate Everyone agrees that child trafficking is

bad so letrsquos talk about a Jesus who loves children But Irsquom uncomortable

with a Jesus who might disapprove o my purchase o the latest hi-tech

gadget when there are millions o children who donrsquot have enough to eat so

I avoid sayings o Jesus that might suggest that Frankly my Jesus isnrsquot overlyconcerned with the things Irsquom not overly concerned about

But we can see that it canrsquot be all about me Te British rock band De-

peche Mode sang about ldquomy personal Jesusrdquo Yet I know it cannot just be

about my personal experience with the risen Christ So how do we redis-

cover the real Jesus We suggest first allowing each picture o Jesus to speak

or itsel As evangelicals we believe that it was the inspiration o the Spirit

that led to producing our portraits o Jesus rather than a single composite

one Although each o our Gospels probably arose in its own community

why didnrsquot early Christians bring the our stories into one at least when they

were gathering writings into a collection An early church ather atian (ca

983137983140 10486251048626852016ndash1048625983096852016) thought it would be better just to have one Gospel so he wove

our our together Te result is his book the Diatessaron (meaning ldquothrough

ourrdquo) Collecting all the unique stories and blending the shared stories

creates what is called a ldquoharmony o the Gospelsrdquo Early Christians rejected

atianrsquos well-intended effortsmdashalthough in practice we still combine stories

Having different images o Jesus is somehow better So we are going to look

at the New estament Jesus rom a number o angles Clearly we privilege

the our canonical Gospels but the New estament has other pictures o




1048625983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

Jesus as well Beyond the New estament individuals and groups through

the ages have also interpreted Jesus As much as we would like to think

otherwise we have been influenced by how Jesus has been viewed beore usWe also no longer have the luxury o pretending that white Western males

are the only ones whose opinions matter Could Arican and Asian voices

help us to see Jesus better Tose outside our aith also have interpretations

o Jesus righteous angel rightly guided prophet enlightened sage darling

o heaven When Jesus asked his ollowers ldquoWho do people say that I amrdquo

he wasnrsquot just curious about what his ollowers believed he wanted to know

what the crowds were saying In effect he set up a question that can be andmust be asked by all peoples down through the ages

As each chapter in this book explores a different view o Jesus we will ask

first ldquoWhat does this picture o Jesus look likerdquo For example in chapter

three we pose the question ldquoWho does Luke say that I amrdquo narrowing the

ocus o Jesusrsquo amous question In other words we are going to look at each

story individually what Mark Strauss calls reading ldquoverticallyrdquo rom top to

bottommdashwithout looking ldquohorizontallyrdquo to other Gospelsmdashto discover themeaning o Jesus in each Gospel on its own terms rom beginning to end

Strauss contends that since each Gospel has a story to tell (and since the

Holy Spirit chose to inspire our and not just one) ldquowe should respect the

integrity o each storyrdquo983089 Looking at Markrsquos Jesus allows us to see the picture

that Mark wanted us to see rom how he introduces Jesus to the rise o ol-

lowers and opponents and the seemingly inevitable conflict to Godrsquos grand

resolution

Te second section o each chapter looks at how a particular portrayal o

Jesus differs rom other images or even rom the composite image that we

have o Jesus So we will ask or example ldquoHow is Lukersquos Jesus differentrdquo

Luke paints a different image than John does Tat statement might make

some uncomortable but even a casual reader can see that it is immediately

true We need to see the distinctives o each picture o Jesus Te dangers o

atianrsquos approach o reading harmonistically are that we blend stories and

we lose uniqueness both o which distort the message For example most

o us are amiliar with the ldquoSeven Sayings o Jesus on the Crossrdquo Yet there

1Mark L Strauss Four Portraits One Jesus An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels (Grand Rapids

Zondervan 983090983088983088983095) p 983091983090





are seven only i one collects the sayings rom the our Gospels1048626 When we

add all o them together however we miss the emphasis o each writer

Markrsquos Jesus utters only one line rom the cross ldquoMy God my God whyhave you orsaken merdquo (Mk 1048625104862910486271048628) In Mark the crucifixion is an ominous

and dark moment But Lukersquos Jesus speaks to the crowds around him o-

ering warnings as he carries his cross ldquoDo not weep or me but weep or

yourselves and or your childrenrdquo (Lk 104862610486271048626983096) and to one person he offers

orgiveness and encouragement rom the cross ldquooday you will be with me

in Paradiserdquo (Lk 1048626104862710486281048627) From the cross Johnrsquos Jesus makes sure that his

mother will be taken care o and then he announces ldquoIt is finishedrdquo (Jn10486259830971048627852016)1048627 When we harmonize Lukersquos Jesus who is talking to the crowds with

Johnrsquos Jesus who is talking to his amily we miss Markrsquos picture o despairing

isolation It is important to look at each picture o Jesus separately first How

will this help us rediscover Jesus Well Lukersquos readers or example may

have had only Lukersquos Gospel Tey elt that it was enough Churches arose

Christians grew in aith ollowing Lukersquos Jesus When we blend our pictures

o Jesus too quickly we can lose the distinctives o each Worse we cancreate a Jesus o the lowest common denominator or a Jesus overshadowed

by the picture that we most preer

Te third section o each chapter asks Who would we say that Jesus is i

this were the only picture o Jesus that we had I we had only Markrsquos Jesus

what would Christmas and Easter look like (i we celebrated them at all)

What would our preaching sound like Well i we ollowed Markrsquos Jesus we

would preach ldquoTe kingdom o God is nearrdquo and not Johnrsquos message ldquoBe-

lieve in Jesus and yoursquoll have eternal lierdquo Or i we only had Lukersquos Jesus what

would our churches be doing Lukersquos Jesus cares or the marginalized Or

consider Matthewrsquos Jesus who tells us that the greatest in the kingdom are

the ones who practice and teach the commandments (Mt 10486291048625983097) And what

about Paul For Paul the main thing is that Christ died or our sins and rose

on the third day (1048625 Cor 104862510486291048627-1048628) Churches that emphasize Paulrsquos Jesus will

know exactly why Jesus died but will tend to compress the story o Jesus to

2In fact the saying ldquoFather forgive them for they do not know what they are doingrdquo (Lk 983090983091983091983092)

doesnrsquot appear in the oldest manuscripts leading many scholars to conclude that it was added

by scribes to create ldquoseven sayingsrdquo3For this insightful point we are indebted to Strauss Four Portraits pp 983091983091-983091983092




1048626852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

his death burial and resurrection And what about the Revelation o John

Te apocalyptic Jesus is hardly the gentle savior meek and mild whom we

read about in Luke Consequently this third section o each chapter helpsus to clariy what that particular image o Jesus says to us Looking directly

at the question ldquoWhat i this were our only Jesusrdquo will help us see first what

this picture o Jesus is emphasizing Maybe we need Markrsquos Jesus to remind

us that Jesus was bringing in the kingdom before the cross Or when we

preer Paulrsquos Jesus to the neglect o Jamesrsquo Jesus we orget that aith without

works is dead It matters what we do When did you last hear a sermon that

demanded ldquoCleanse your hands you sinners and puriy your heartsrdquo (Jas1048628983096) While we love abiding in Johnrsquos Jesus Peterrsquos Jesus reminds us to ldquomake

every effort to support your aith with goodness and goodness with

knowledgerdquo (1048626 Pet 10486251048629)

Tis is what we need to do take in the entire New estament and let each

biblical writer teach us about Jesus Rather than rely upon our avorite parts

our preerred picture o Jesus we need to rediscover the ldquowholerdquo Jesusmdash

every portrait every picture every single verse By looking at many differentimages o Jesus even the ones outside the Bible we might be in a better

position to rediscover Jesus beyond our preerences challenging our preju-

dices and enhancing our aith Jesus asked his first disciples what others

thought o him Ten he asked the question that matters just as much or

even more ldquoBut who do you say that I amrdquo (Mk 9830961048626983097) Some might think

that these are two separate questions and that you can answer the first and

ignore the second or you can answer the second as i you are unaffected by

the first We think that Jesus asked one question two ways Indeed you canrsquot

answer one without the other or it seems that everyone has an opinion

about Jesus and no one can figure him out alone In act we believe that this

twoold question still deserves a good answer because Jesusrsquo question still

stands today Itrsquos a question asked o every person We hope that this book

will help you find the answer




PART I




Introduction

J983141983155983157983155 983145983150 983156983144983141 B983145983138983148983141

Iattended the uneral o Daniel a fine Christian gentleman whom I didnrsquot

know all that well Te church was packed It was a testament to a long

lie well lived Clearly Daniel was much loved and admired Several people

stood up to share their memories o how Daniel had touched them Some

stories were humorous some quite serious Some were told by close riends

others by business associates One person knew Daniel only as a young man

another only when Daniel was old In the reception time aferwards I heard

other stories Sometimes I heard the same event told by different people with

different perspectives Each story helped flesh out the man Even though

each person spoke truthully every speaker helped me to see more Te

more stories I heard the better I understood Daniel It didnrsquot lead me to

believe that there were many Daniels but rather I began to see a more

complex Daniel with rich overtones

Likewise our Gospels lead us to see not our Jesuses but rather a uller

portrait o the one Jesus One personrsquos perspective doesnrsquot tell the whole

story Each New estament image o Jesus enriches our understanding o

him Yet we tend to gravitate toward the pictures that we like the best or are

the most amiliar Tus we in the modern West tend to spend our time with

the Jesus o Paul and John In act when I was in seminary a very popular

course was titled ldquoTe Teology o Paul and Johnrdquo Afer all wasnrsquot that all

we really needed When we say it so bluntly we know immediately that it




10486261048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

isnrsquot true We know that we need the entire New estament yet we ofen

pull our image o Jesus rom only select parts In part one we will look at

biblical portraits o JesusHowever we look not only at the common pictures o Jesus rom the

Gospels but also at the Jesus we find in Paulrsquos letters Hebrews 1048625 Peter and

Revelation For example we will ask the Jesus question ldquoWho does James

say that I amrdquo Afer looking at what James says we will ask another im-

portant question ldquoHow is Jamesrsquos Jesus differentrdquo It is ofen in looking at

what James says (and doesnrsquot say) that we find the uniqueness o Jamesrsquos

picture Finally wersquoll ask ldquoWhat i Jamesrsquos Jesus were our only Jesusrdquo Howwould our evangelism or worship be different How would we even speak

o evangelism i we donrsquot have Romans to pull verses rom Instead o just

assuming that we would have a truncated gospel we will seek what treasures

we can find in this other perspective o Jesus What would our churches do

i all we had were Jamesrsquos Jesus Instead o just thinking about what we

wouldnrsquot have such as not knowing about the parable o the good Samaritan

we should think about what we would be doing For James it matters thatour deeds match our words For James the gospel o Jesus is about taking

care o widows and orphans it is about giving ood and clothing to those

who need them and not merely spouting words o encouragement

aking in the ull picture o the biblical Jesus will mean having ears to

hear every story both the amiliar and obscure and having eyes to appre-

ciate every perspective rom the first book to the last Afer all since we

believe that the entire New estament was inspired by God we want to know

everything it says about the one we claim to ollow




852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

Have you ever wanted to travel back in time to witness firsthand some

important event in history In the early days o television Walter

Cronkite hosted an educational series titled You Are Tere Te program

took us ldquoback in timerdquo and reenacted key events in American and world

history Afer a brie setup by Cronkite rom his studios in New York theannouncer says ldquoTe date is October 10486251048628 104862598309710486251048626 and the place is Milwaukee

Wisconsin and You Are Tere or the attempted assassination o eddy

Rooseveltrdquo983089 Te scene immediately shifs to the past News reporters in

modern dress cover the events o the day and interview the people in-

volved just as they do modern events Te hal-hour show concludes with

Cronkite in New York with these words ldquoWhat sort o day was it A day

like all days filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times

And you were thererdquo

CBS News understood the power o drawing the audience in by por-

traying past actions in a vivid up-to-the-minute way Tey wanted us to

sense that we are there at the moment when these extraordinary events are

taking place Mark used a similar technique in his Gospel writing the story

as i ldquoyou were thererdquo his Greek text switches rom past to present tense at

key moments o a story to highlight the critical action (eg Mk 104862810486271048629-10486281048625)

with the effect o bringing Jesusrsquo time into our own Mark used several tech-

niques to bring his audience ace-to-ace with Jesus

1Episode 1048625983088 first broadcast on June 983090 1048625983097983093983095




1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103

And who is this Jesus He is the Messiah (Christ) and Son o Godmdashthat

is Godrsquos end-time agent whose task is to liberate the world rom eviloppression sin sickness and death he world that Jesus enters is hostile

and contrary to the human race he Messiah appears in order to claim

all that God has made on behal o heaven In Markrsquos account Jesus

moves quickly along ldquothe wayrdquo challenging and disrupting demonic

powers disease religious authorities storms and ultimately the power

o Rome itsel

But Jesus does not appear rom nowhere prophets such as Malachi andIsaiah have written o him long ago Tey oresaw his coming and John the

Baptizer arrived right on schedule to prepare his way I John is Godrsquos mes-

senger (Mal 10486271048625) and the voice crying out in the wilderness (Is 10486288520161048627) then

surely Jesus is the ldquoLordrdquo whose paths must be made straight (Mk 10486251048626-1048627) But

the word ldquoLordrdquo here is no polite address to an English country gentleman

or a simple affirmation o a person in authority it is the way Greek-speaking

Jews uttered the unspeakable name o the one true God o Israel Jesus theChrist is no ordinary man or the very name o Godmdasha name protected by

the en Commandmentsmdashbelongs rightly to him As Markrsquos story unolds

it is apparent why this is so

When Jesus heard that a prophet had again appeared in Israel he lef

Nazareth to see or himsel As he entered the Jordan River to be baptized

onlookers would have thought that Jesus was becoming a disciple o John

But it was what Jesus heard and saw next that dramatically changed his lie

He saw a vision the heavens were ripped open and the Spirit descended on

him like a dove Ten he heard a voice rom heaven ldquoYou are my Sonrdquo (Ps

10486261048631) and ldquowith you I am well pleasedrdquo (Is 104862810486261048625) Whether or not anyone else

saw or heard what was going on in the heavens that day is unclear Mark tells

us only that Jesus saw and heard perhaps Jesusrsquo special sonship was a secret

that needed protecting or a while But it was enough or Jesus to see and

hear it because it was about him and him alone He knew what he must do

next He must leave behind Nazareth and the anonymity o the workshop

or a public lie in Galilee and beyond He must trade a builderrsquos tools or

the skills o a traveling rabbi




Markrsquos Jesus 10486261048631

T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150

Te Spirit sendsmdashactually drivesmdashJesus into the wilderness where he battles

with Satan or orty days and is served by angels a hint o things to comeWhen John is arrested (another hint) Jesus returns to Galilee to begin the

next phase o his lie with a proound message ldquoTe time is ulfilled and the

kingdom o God has come near repent and believe in the good newsrdquo (Mk

104862510486251048629) Te essential message o Jesus had to do with the kingdom o God I

we ail to understand that then we will ail to understand Markrsquos Jesus Jesus

did not come so that people might go to heaven when they die As important

WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

Scholars do not often agree on much but the majority of scholars

today agree on this the New Testament Gospels belong to a genre of

literature known as ldquobiographiesrdquo (bioi ) In the middle of the twen-

tieth century many scholars challenged this notion arguing that the

Gospels were totally unique compositions But more recently schol-

ars such as Richard Burridge and David Aune have made compelling

cases that ancient biographies provide clear evidence that the Gos-

pels ought to be read as a biography of a recent person They point to

analogies in Plutarchrsquos Lives Tacitusrsquos Annals and Suetoniusrsquos Livesof the Caesars

Modern biographies are different from ancient ones We prefer

dates and events in sequential order Ancient biographies often

are arranged in thematic or topical order rather than chronological

Moreover they generally are not concerned with describing physi-

cal traits instead the true greatness of people is measured in what

they did and what they said and especially in how they died In addi-

tion ancient writers felt free to paraphrase (and usually abbreviate)

a personrsquos speeches as long as they stayed true to the essence ofwhat was said Finally ancient biographies functioned in a variety

of ways they were entertaining of course but writers often chose

their subjects because their lives provided inspiring examples wor-

thy of imitation We see many of these same dynamics at work in the

New Testament Gospels




1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

as that may be that is not the center o his message Te crux o it is that Godrsquos

reign on this world is about to begin so get ready It is not too ar-etched to

understand everything that Markrsquos Jesus does and says has to do with thekingdom So understanding what the kingdom o God means or Jesus and

his first hearers is crucial Simply put the kingdom o God is the time and

place in history when Godrsquos will is done on earth as it is in heaven

Tere is ambiguity in Jesusrsquo statements about the kingdom beginning

with his initial proclamation ldquoTe kingdom o God is nearrdquo What does

Jesus mean Is the kingdom already here (present) or has it not yet arrived

(uture) For Mark the ocus appears to be the uture but the uture hasalready begun in the present Te ambiguous nature o the kingdomrsquos

present-uture or ldquoalready but not yetrdquo aspect gains clarity in reerence to

Jesus For Mark it is impossible to talk about the kingdom apart rom Jesus

Where the king is there is the kingdom

Te claim that Godrsquos reign is about to begin on earth does not sit well with

the powers that be Satan and dark orces line up against Jesus Powerul

peoplemdashsome religious some not so muchmdashband together against Jesus inorder to silence him In Markrsquos Gospel Jesus is a deeply polarizing figure He

is either loved or hated He is either a devil who deserves to be destroyed or

Godrsquos Messiah the Son o God who has come to serve and give his lie ldquoa

ransom or manyrdquo (Mk 104862585201610486281048629) Mark does not leave room or an ambiguous

response to Jesus He never meant to

Signs and wonders Markrsquos portrait o Jesus emphasizes miracles in the

cities and villages o the Galilee As he travels Jesus encounters people in

great need some are demonized sick hungry and dying Tey come alone

and others with large masses because they wish what we all wish to be

whole and well

Yet there is some ambiguity regarding the relationship o aith to Jesusrsquo

miracles Where aith exists Jesus is portrayed as able to do mighty deeds

unhindered Te leper who approaches Jesus confident that the Nazarene

can make him well is soon healed and sent to procure the priestrsquos confir-

mation (Mk 10486251048628852016-10486281048629) When Jesus encounters the disabled man carried by

our riends he sees the aith o his riends and heals him (Mk 10486261048625-10486251048626) Jesus

also heals the woman with a bleeding disorder and sends her home with this

encouragement ldquoYour aith has made you wellrdquo (Mk 104862910486271048628) He says the same





thing to the ormerly blind beggar Bartimaeus in Jericho (Mk 104862585201610486291048626) Un-

belie however seems to have impeded Jesusrsquo healing ministry at home in

Nazareth Although he did perorm a handul o healings ldquohe could do nodeed o power thererdquo (Mk 8520221048629) due apparently to unbelie Tis may explain

passages such as Mark 104862510486271048626-10486271048628 where the locals in Galilee brought to Jesus

ldquoallrdquo who were sick and oppressed and Jesus healed ldquomanyrdquo On the other

hand aith must have been ull in Gennesaret the day Jesus embarked there

or all who touched the ringe o his garments were healed (Mk 85202210486291048627-1048629852022)

For Mark the miracles that Jesus perorms are not just individual acts o

benevolence good deeds done to deserving persons Rather properly un-

derstood the miracles are maniestations o the reign o God in the world

Tey demonstrate the priorities o the kingdom and what kind o world

WHATrsquoS MORE

Four Types of Miracles

Jesus performs four kinds of miracles Each demonstrates some-

thing of his authority

1 Exorcisms Jesus has authority over evil

bull the man in the synagogue at Capernaum (Mk 121-28)

bull the man from Gerasa (Mk 51-20)

bull the boy with an unclean spirit (Mk 914-29)

2 Healings Jesus has authority over disease

bull the leper (Mk 135-39)

bull the paralytic (Mk 21-12)

bull the blind man in Bethsaida (Mk 822-26)

3 Nature miracles Jesus has authority over nature itselfbull he stills a storm (Mk 435-41)

bull he walks on water (Mk 645-52)

bull he feeds a crowd of five thousand (Mk 630-44)

4 Resuscitations Jesus has authority over death

bull Jairusrsquos daughter (Mk 521-43)




1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

there will be when the world to come eclipses the present evil age Evil will

no longer oppress Disease will no longer ravage Nature will no longer be

contrary Death will no longer claim Te reign o God looks much differentrom this age and the miracles pull back the veil to reveal the world as God

had always intended it

Parables Although Jesus is ofen addressed as ldquoeacherrdquo in Markrsquos

Gospel (eg Mk 10486281048627983096 104862585201610486251048631 1048625104862610486251048628 104862510486271048625) we encounter only a little o his

ormal teaching Seldom in Mark does Jesus sit down or stand beore a

crowd to teach When he does (Mk 104862510486261048625-1048626983096) wersquore not told what he says or

the point o the story lies beyond the lesson o the day For Mark Jesusteaches by example evident in his daily interactions with the sick sinners

nature opponents and disciples When he does sit beore the crowds he

speaks in parables designed to conceal as much as they reveal (Mk 10486281048625-1048626852016)

For insiders the parables reveal the true nature o the kingdom o God or

those outside the parables merely conceal it

T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156

When Jesus perorms miracles he stirs things up Demons recognize him

Crowds grow Questions are asked ldquoWhat is this A new teachingmdashwith

authorityrdquo (Mk 104862510486261048631) People are amazed at his authority But Jesusrsquo kingdom

message and actions also stir up his opponents Mark wants his readers to

see how quickly Jesusrsquo message rubbed the sel-appointed guardians o

culture the wrong way So he lays out or his audience a series o contro-

versies that swirled around Jesus Jesus meets each challenge with a clari-

ying wordmdasha pronouncementmdashabout his mission and ministry How he

answers these charges reveal the heart o the Markan Jesus

Blasphemy Opponents charge Jesus with blasphemy or claiming to

orgive the sins o the paralyzed man (Mk 10486261048625-10486251048626) No one can orgive sins

except God alone they grumble Jesus answers by appealing to his avorite

sel-designation Te ldquoSon o Manrdquo has not usurped Godrsquos right indeed he

exercises properly heavenrsquos authority to orgive sins on earth He punctuates

the pronouncement by healing the man and sending him home

Friend of sinners Opponents charge Jesus with beriending notorious

sinners Jesus responds with a pronouncement ldquoTose who are well have

no need o a physician but those who are sick I have come to call not the





righteous but sinnersrdquo (Mk 104862610486251048631) Jesus seems more comortable in the

company o sinners than o those who think that they are righteous

Violating the traditions of the elders Opponents charge Jesus with notollowing the traditions handed down rom the elders (Mk 10486261048625983096 10486311048629) Jesus

responds not by declaring an end to all tradition but by appealing to the

moment Now is not the time to ast now is the time to east because the

bridegroom (Jesus himsel) is present When the bridegroom is taken

awaymdasha cryptic reerence to Jesusrsquo arrest and executionmdashit will be time to

ast With parables about mending garments and making wine Jesus hints

that the newness o the kingdom requires new traditions to contain itBreaking Sabbath law Jesusrsquo opponents watched him careully scruti-

nized his every move and were quick to accuse him o breaking Godrsquos law

regarding the Sabbath So Jesus appealed to Scripture and compassion I

someone is in need o ood or healing or some other good thing on the

Sabbath it is lawul to provide them He pronounces ldquoTe sabbath was

made or humankind and not humankind or the sabbath so the Son o

Man is lord even o the sabbathrdquo (Mk 104862610486261048631-1048626983096)In league with the devil Opponents claim that Jesus casts out demons

because he is in league with the devil Ironically they never challenge his

ability to perorm these exorcisms they claim that Jesus received his

power rom the devil (Beelzebul) himsel Jesus responds with a bit o

common sense How can Satan cast out Satan A house divided cannot

stand But it is the parable that Jesus tells next that sheds the greatest light

on how he understood his role ldquoBut no one can enter a strong manrsquos house

and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man then

indeed the house can be plunderedrdquo (Mk 104862710486261048631) What are we to make o

such a cryptic lesson Who is the strong man Who is the robber who

dares to break in tie up the strong man and plunder his world Te world

that Markrsquos Jesus enters has been co-opted by Satan dark orces and rulers

Satan is ldquothe god o this worldrdquo working contrary to the will o heaven So

Satan is the strong man he acts like he owns the house and all its goodies

Tat makes Jesus the robber For Mark it was the miracles o Jesus par-

ticularly his exorcisms that constituted Jesusrsquo sustained attack on the do-

minion o darkness Trough his miracles Jesus corrected the horrible

results o the evil onersquos pretentious reign Te Masterrsquos miracles were




10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

binding the devil restricting him to the point that Jesus could take back

the house that rightly belonged to God So Markrsquos Jesus is an apocalyptic

Jesus As the Son o Man he has come rom above bearing the name o theone true God directed and empowered by the Spirit to take on Satan and

the world that he rules

T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140

As Jesusrsquo baptism is a major point in his lie the episode in Caesarea Philippi

WHATrsquoS MORE

Jesus at War Although Mark portrays Jesus at war often Christians avoid this im-

age Notice in the famous hymn by Folliott S Pierpoint (1835ndash1917) how

the world is all rosy and undefiled and all in the universe are friends

For the beauty of the earth

for the beauty of the skies

for the love which from our birth

over and around us liesLord of all to thee we raise

this our grateful hymn of praise

For the beauty of each hour

of the day and of the night

hill and vale and tree and flower

sun and moon and stars of light

Lord of all to thee we raise


For the joy of human love

brother sister parent child

friends on earth and friends above

Pleasures pure and undefiled



Markrsquos Jesus seems less likely to sing about love beauty and

flowers Hersquos at war





is the watershed moment in Markrsquos story Te readers o the Gospel have

known rom the beginning that Jesus is the Messiah the Son o God (Mk

10486251048625) Likewise demons and dark orces have recognized Jesus as the HolyOne o God and recoiled in terror in his presence (Mk 104862510486261048628 10486271048628) Te religious

leaders who opposed him understood the threat that he posed to their com-

ortable existence Now finally the disciples have the opportunity to stake

their claim Peter speaking or the rest says what they all have come to

believe ldquoYou are the Messiahrdquo (Mk 9830961048626983097) Immediately Jesus warns them not

to speak o this to anyone else

More than any other Gospel Mark underscores the need to keep Jesusrsquotrue identity a secret at least at first We see this at work in several ways Jesus

appears to have been the only one to see the vision and hear the voice o the

Father at his baptism ldquoYou are my Sonrdquo (Mk 104862510486251048625) Demons recognize him

and are told to be silent (Mk 104862510486261048628-10486261048629 104862710486251048625-10486251048626) Tose made well by Jesusrsquo mir-

acles are instructed to keep the good news to themselves (Mk 104862510486281048628 104862910486281048627 10486311048627852022)

Now he warns his disciples to tell no one what they have come to believe

about him Much has been made o what is now called the ldquomessianic secretrdquoin Markrsquos Gospel Some consider it Markrsquos clever cover-up or the act that

Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah Others regard it as Jesus taking care

not to allow hostile orces to compromise his mission and bring it to a pre-

mature end What seems clear is that Jesus wanted to define his messianic

destiny or himsel as the Suffering Servant (see Is 1048629104862610486251048627ndash1048629104862710486251048626) Regardless o

Markrsquos purpose or this ldquosecretrdquo afer Caesarea Philippi the secret is out

Peterrsquos insightul conession that Jesus is the Messiah is lef hanging in the

air nearly orgotten by the sting o Jesusrsquo rebuke As soon as Peter conesses

the disciplesrsquo belie Jesus predicts that the Son o Man must suffer be re-

jected by their leaders be crucified and then be raised on the third day But

ldquothe Rockrdquo (the meaning o Peterrsquos nickname) will have none o it so Peter

rebukes Jesus in private o Jesus Peterrsquos rebuke sounds like the voice o

Satan tempting him to avoid the suffering to come So Jesus returns the

rebuke or the rest o the disciples to hear ldquoGet behind me Satan For you

are setting your mind not on divine things but on human thingsrdquo (Mk 98309610486271048627)

As their reactions will show in the short time remaining none o the dis-

ciples have a clue that ldquothe wayrdquo destined or Jesus will be a way o suffering

So we see that the disciples in Mark play an ambiguous role Although




10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

they can display great aith and insight they ofen ail to understand what

Jesus is trying to tell them especially when it comes to his suffering Tey

act out o pride and sel-interest Tey lack aith Tey seem ignorant o thebasics o discipleship Other New estament Gospels sometimes portray the

disciples in a somewhat negative light but Mark takes it to a whole new level

He has no interest in rehabilitating the disciplesrsquo image Judas one o the

welve betrays him Peter one o the inner circle denies him When Jesus

is arrested the disciples scatter and abandon him At what may well be the

end o Markrsquos story the women who find the tomb empty run away in terror

For Mark the disciples are not worthy o imitation but Jesus is He is theideal disciple His aithulness to God stands in contrast to the aithlessness

o the disciples He alone is worthy to be ollowed and imitated or he un-

derstood that the path to glory must not bypass suffering

Te purpose o that suffering is described in Mark 104862585201610486281048629 ldquoFor the Son o

Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his lie a ransom or

manyrdquo Tis pronouncement echoes the Servant Songs o Isaiah particu-

larly Isaiah 1048629104862610486251048627ndash1048629104862710486251048626 In these poetic lines the Servant o Yahweh (theLord) is rejected by the people yet suffers or their sins It is the will o God

to crush him and make his lie an atoning sacrifice this is why the Servant

pours out his lie and bears the sins o ldquomanyrdquo In these words Markrsquos Jesus

WHATrsquoS MORE

Reading Stories Together

Mark intends many of his stories to be read together each lend-

ing meaning to the other Some episodes are tied by shared words

Jairusrsquos daughter is twelve years old the woman with a bleeding dis-

order had suffered it for twelve years Jairus falls at Jesusrsquo feet as

does the healed woman Both women are termed ldquodaughterrdquo Other

stories in Mark are tied by their position to each other In Mark the

story of the cursing of the fig tree is split in half with the clearing of

the temple in between Mark intends us to use the fig tree to inter-pret the temple incident Jesus didnrsquot hate trees Rather like the fig

tree the temple was full of life but bearing no fruit So Jesus curses

the fig tree and condemns the activit ies in the temple





finds the meaning and ocus o his lie suffering and rejection are ldquothe wayrdquo

set aside or him

Tis is not to say that Mark ails to provide positive examples o aith andaithulness other than Jesus He does He finds them in the leper who con-

fidently asks Jesus to make him well (Mk 10486251048628852016-10486281048629) Mark finds them in the

riends o a disabled man who peel back the roo o a house in Capernaum

to gain access to Jesus (Mk 10486261048625-10486251048625) Mark utilizes a literary technique known

as ldquoramingrdquo to weave together the healing o Jairusrsquos daughter and o a

woman suffering rom a bleeding disorder In both cases Mark discovers

great aith (Mk 104862910486261048625-10486281048627)Jesus finds extraordinary aith not among the religious leaders but rather

among the sick o Gennesaret (Mk 85202210486291048627-1048629852022) in the Syrophoenician woman

(Mk 104863110486261048627-1048627852016) in blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10486258520161048628852022-10486291048626) and in the widow who

gave two small coins (Mk 1048625104862610486281048625-10486281048628) Perhaps the greatest irony however lies

in the conession voiced by the Roman centurion in charge o Jesusrsquo cruci-

fixion When Jesus drew his final breath the officer said ldquoruly this man

was Godrsquos Sonrdquo (Mk 104862510486291048627983097) Te conession made by this Roman soldiermatches the testimony o God the Father as it echoed rom heaven at Jesusrsquo

baptism and transfiguration it accords completely with what the disciples

had come to believemdashon one o their better daysmdashabout who Jesus is

Indeed the aithul are like the seed growing secretly (Mk 10486281048626852022-1048626983097) the poor

the blind the lame and the sick are the ertile soil where the gospel is taking

root and will one day fill the garden (Mk 10486281048625-1048626852016)

H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103

Markrsquos Jesus arrives on the scene as an adult We know little about him other

than he was the son o Mary a descendant o King David and a carpenter

rom Nazareth in Galilee (eg Mk 8520221048625-852022) No account o his birth or

childhood fills out the portrait or helps to explain what he is about to do

Jesus it seems is just a man who arrives at the Jordan curious that a desert

prophet is announcing God is up to something new

In Markrsquos account Jesus is not a warm uzzy ellow he is a man driven

by the Spirit He moves quickly rom place to place pressed into conflict

with spiritual and political powers Here is a Jesus who acts more and teaches

less or when he does teach no one seems to get it Here is a son and brother




1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

whose amily is concerned or his saety and sanity (Mk 10486271048625983097b-10486261048625) Afer

Johnrsquos arrest and death it is up to him and him alone to make straight the

way As the Messiah and Son o God his every word and action is calculatedto put the present-uture kingdom on ull display Mark describes how Jesus

becomes angry at those who place religious correctness above people Markrsquos

Jesus extends mercy and shows compassion to the sick and lost (eg Mk

10486271048625-852022) He is a model o righteous indignation

On the eve o his death this Jesus experiences deep distress and anxiety

(Mk 1048625104862810486271048627-10486271048628) Even though Jesus predicted this day he recoils rom the

prospect and prays ldquoAbba Father remove this cup rom merdquo (Mk 104862510486281048627852022)Nevertheless the day comes and Jesus is nailed to a Roman cross For

reasons not altogether clear Mark details the hours o Jesusrsquo suffering at

983097852016852016 am they hung him on the cross at 10486251048626852016852016 noon darkness covered the

land at 1048627852016852016 pm Jesus cried out the words o Psalm 10486261048626 and then breathed

one last time

On the Sunday ollowing Jesusrsquo execution something amazing happened

Te rock-hewn tomb where they laid the body o Jesus is ound emptyInside a young man dressed in white proclaims to the women ldquoHe has

risenrdquo He tells them the risen

one is heading or Galilee

and they will see him there

But unlike the other Gospels

Mark relates no account o

Jesus himsel appearing to

his ollowers It endsmdashrather

oddly according to somemdash

with those same women

running rom the tomb

gripped with ear and

amazement

Markrsquos account o Jesus

ends as it begins in dramatic

ashion In this ast-moving

hard-hitting Gospel Mark

wants his readers to see the

SO WHAT

Should Christians Fear Death

We often hear people say that Chris-

tians facing death should ldquohave more

faithrdquo Popular Greek philosophers in

Jesusrsquo day welcomed death as a friend

that freed the soul from the prison of

the body Christian faith teaches that

death is the last enemy of God (1 Cor

1526) We should admit that death is

real Even Jesus prayed that God wouldremove the cup of suffering from him

A desire to avoid suffering and death

does not signify a lack of faith





lie o Jesus rom his baptism to his resurrection as the beginning o the good

news Tis strategy invites his audience to see their lives as the next in-

stallment o the good news For Mark God was on the move in remarkableways through Jesus ways only the prophets could have imagined and God

was still on the move when the churches gathered to read Markrsquos Gospel

W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103

Itrsquos difficult to say what is different about Markrsquos Jesus since 983097852016 percent o

his Gospel appears in Matthew and Luke So letrsquos conduct a thought ex-

periment I we were to pretend that Markrsquos Jesus were the only Jesus whatwould we believe about him What would the church look like today

With no account o the virgin birth no shepherds in the field keeping

watch over flocks and no

magi ollowing the star we

would likely not celebrate

Christmas at all Likewise

with only an empty tomband no resurrection appear-

ances we would have much

less to talk about at Easter

Given Markrsquos emphasis

upon Jesus as a healer and ex-

orcist our gatherings would

eature ewer sermons andmore exorcisms When we

did sermonize on Jesusrsquo

teachings we would have

little to say about orgiveness

nothing to say about turning

the other cheek and no one

would have ever heard o theldquogolden rulerdquo (Do to others

what you would have others

do to you)

SO WHAT

WWJDWhat Would Jesus Do

This is the kind of question that Markrsquos

Jesus encourages rather than ldquoWhat

does Jesus teachrdquo In fact you cannot

ask ldquoWhat would Jesus dordquo until you

know ldquoWhat did Jesus dordquo That is

why reading the Gospels is so crucial

to our faith Our churches wouldnrsquot beabout coming sitting and listening to

a sermon theyrsquod be about confronting

the moral decay in our neighborhoods

Markrsquos Jesus wouldnrsquot convene a

prayer meeting to discuss the prob-

lems of the inner city hersquod be walking

the streets and confronting the dark-

ness with light Does such talk make

modern religious leaders squirm andworry how the local authorities will

react What would Markrsquos Jesus do




1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

Like Jesus we would have more interest in the kingdom o God than in

going to heaven afer we die We would view our mission in more aggressive

terms than most modern Christians find comortable We would accom-modate less and conront more We would see ourselves locked in conflict with

evil oppression death and disease We may build hospitals in his name but

we would name them ldquoVictory Carerdquo rather than ldquoGood Samaritan Hospitalrdquo

Since Mark never uses the

word ldquochurchrdquo our gatherings

may go by a different name

With Jesusrsquo rebuke o Peterstill ringing in their ears and

Peterrsquos denials o Jesus unad-

dressed it is not likely anyone

would have thought Peter a

good candidate to succeed

Jesus Apostolic succession in

general probably would beconsidered a bad idea given

how badly Jesusrsquo ollowers be-

haved Tomas however

would never have been

branded ldquodoubting Tomasrdquo

Without the Sermon on

the Mount (Mt 1048629ndash1048631) encour-

aging us to be peacemakers

Christians might be turning

over more tables We wouldnrsquot

shrink rom conflict or our

Master never did In act he

seemed to relish taking the

battle to Godrsquos enemies With

so little instruction on prayer

in Mark there would be nothing distinctive about Christian prayer and

perhaps little interest in it Without the mandate to make disciples o the

nations and baptize others (Mt 10486269830961048625852022-1048626852016) it is not clear whether Christ ol-

SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables

Angry Christians often appeal to Je-

susrsquo behavior in the temple citing his

ldquorighteous indignationrdquo Indignation is

actually pretty easy itrsquos the righteous

part thatrsquos the challenge How often

is our anger really righteous One in-

stance from Jesusrsquo ministry shouldnrsquotjustify weekly outbursts from us

Jesus clearly was a polarizing

figure and found himself in conflict

with others Christians may also find

themselves in conflict with those

around them But we need to assess

whether the conflict arises because

we are standing up for what is right or

because we are being vindictive judg-mental or condemning Rather than

defend ourselves perhaps we should

recognize there will always be con-

flict for those who follow Jesus but

there are no heavenly (or earthly for

that matter) rewards for being a jerk

There is a difference





lowers would have ounded universities and seminaries or engaged in

modern missions baptism itsel may be something that Jesus did but not

that we doI Markrsquos Jesus were our only Jesus the Dutch master Rembrandt never

would have created the amous painting Te Return of the Prodigal Son now

hanging in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg Russia Nor would

Italian Renaissance artists have captured the story o the annunciation and

birth o Jesus so memorably on canvas and wood

Mark provides us with a memorable portrait o Jesus At one point early

in Christian history there were communities located in the Mediterraneanbasin that had only one Gospel the Gospel o Mark Tey read it and recited

it when they gathered or worship Tey copied it and shared it with others

Tis Gospel shaped their lives and gave them all they knew about Jesus

R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156

Burridge Richard What Are the Gospels A Comparison with Graeco-Roman Biog-

raphy 1048626nd ed Grand Rapids Eerdmans 10486268520168520161048628

Henderson Suzanne Watts ldquoMark Gospel according tordquo In Te Oxford Encyclo-

pedia of the Books of the Bible edited by Michael Coogan pp 10486281048626-1048629852022 Oxord

Oxord University Press 104862685201610486251048625

Lane William L Te Gospel According to Mark New International Commentary on

the New estament Grand Rapids Eerdmans 104862598309710486311048628

Martin Ralph P Mark Evangelist and Teologian Grand Rapids Zondervan 104862598309710486311048627

Perrin Nicholas ldquoMark Gospel ordquo In Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels edited by

Joel B Green Jeannine K Brown and Nicholas Perrin pp 104862910486291048627-852022852022 1048626nd edDowners Grove IL IVP Academic 104862685201610486251048627

D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155

1 What do the titles ldquoLordrdquo and ldquoSon o Godrdquo mean or Mark How do

these titles relate to the Old estament

2 Te central message o Jesus has to do with the kingdom o God What

did Jesusrsquo disciples take away rom that message How do his miraclesfit the message

3 Why is Markrsquos presentation o the disciples primarily negative




1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

4 For Mark what does it mean to ldquoollow Jesusrdquo

5 I Mark were the only Gospel we had what would we know about Jesus

What would we not know What difference would it make

6 What does Mark add to our understanding o Jesus








REDISCOVERING



D983137983158983145983140 B C983137983152983141983155 R983151983140983150983141983161 R983141983141983158983141983155

983137983150983140 E R983137983150983140983151983148983152983144 R983145983139983144983137983154983140983155




InterVarsity Press


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emailivpresscom


InterVarsity Press














ISBN 983097983095983096-1048624-9830969830911048624983096-983090983092983095983090-983092 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-1048624-9830969830911048624983096-983097983096983093983094-983093 (digital)




Capes David B



pages cm




B9830901048624983091C983091983093 98309010486241048625983093983090983091983090mdashdc983090983091

9830901048624104862598309310486241048625983092983096983096983090

P 983090983091 983090983090 9830901048625 9830901048624 1048625983097 1048625983096 1048625983095 1048625983094 1048625983093 1048625983092 1048625983091 1048625983090 10486251048625 10486251048624 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 1048625

Y 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 9830911048625 9830911048624 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 9830901048625 9830901048624 1048625983097 1048625983096 1048625983095 1048625983094 1048625983093




C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155

Preface 852025










983095 he Jesus o Exiles 983089983090983091


Part II


852025 he Gnostic Jesus 983089983093852025

983089983088 he Muslim Jesus 983089983095983094


983089983090 he Mormon Jesus 983090983089983089








Introduction

ldquoM983161 J983141983155983157983155rdquo














one as his











1048625852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155








































































1048625983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





















resolution











Zondervan 983090983088983088983095) p 983091983090







































1048626852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155































PART I




Introduction

J983141983155983157983155 983145983150 983156983144983141 B983145983138983148983141

























10486261048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


























852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

























1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










InterVarsity Press


ivpresscom

emailivpresscom


InterVarsity Press














ISBN 983097983095983096-1048624-9830969830911048624983096-983090983092983095983090-983092 (print)

ISBN 983097983095983096-1048624-9830969830911048624983096-983097983096983093983094-983093 (digital)




Capes David B



pages cm




B9830901048624983091C983091983093 98309010486241048625983093983090983091983090mdashdc983090983091

9830901048624104862598309310486241048625983092983096983096983090

P 983090983091 983090983090 9830901048625 9830901048624 1048625983097 1048625983096 1048625983095 1048625983094 1048625983093 1048625983092 1048625983091 1048625983090 10486251048625 10486251048624 983097 983096 983095 983094 983093 983092 983091 983090 1048625

Y 983091983092 983091983091 983091983090 9830911048625 9830911048624 983090983097 983090983096 983090983095 983090983094 983090983093 983090983092 983090983091 983090983090 9830901048625 9830901048624 1048625983097 1048625983096 1048625983095 1048625983094 1048625983093




C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155

Preface 852025










983095 he Jesus o Exiles 983089983090983091


Part II


852025 he Gnostic Jesus 983089983093852025

983089983088 he Muslim Jesus 983089983095983094


983089983090 he Mormon Jesus 983090983089983089








Introduction

ldquoM983161 J983141983155983157983155rdquo














one as his











1048625852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155








































































1048625983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





















resolution











Zondervan 983090983088983088983095) p 983091983090







































1048626852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155































PART I




Introduction

J983141983155983157983155 983145983150 983156983144983141 B983145983138983148983141

























10486261048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


























852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

























1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










C983151983150983156983141983150983156983155

Preface 852025










983095 he Jesus o Exiles 983089983090983091


Part II


852025 he Gnostic Jesus 983089983093852025

983089983088 he Muslim Jesus 983089983095983094


983089983090 he Mormon Jesus 983090983089983089








Introduction

ldquoM983161 J983141983155983157983155rdquo














one as his











1048625852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155








































































1048625983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





















resolution











Zondervan 983090983088983088983095) p 983091983090







































1048626852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155































PART I




Introduction

J983141983155983157983155 983145983150 983156983144983141 B983145983138983148983141

























10486261048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


























852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

























1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










Introduction

ldquoM983161 J983141983155983157983155rdquo














one as his











1048625852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155








































































1048625983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





















resolution











Zondervan 983090983088983088983095) p 983091983090







































1048626852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155































PART I




Introduction

J983141983155983157983155 983145983150 983156983144983141 B983145983138983148983141

























10486261048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


























852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

























1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










1048625852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155








































































1048625983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





















resolution











Zondervan 983090983088983088983095) p 983091983090







































1048626852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155































PART I




Introduction

J983141983155983157983155 983145983150 983156983144983141 B983145983138983148983141

























10486261048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


























852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

























1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














































1048625983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





















resolution











Zondervan 983090983088983088983095) p 983091983090







































1048626852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155































PART I




Introduction

J983141983155983157983155 983145983150 983156983144983141 B983145983138983148983141

























10486261048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


























852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

























1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













































1048626852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155































PART I




Introduction

J983141983155983157983155 983145983150 983156983144983141 B983145983138983148983141

























10486261048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


























852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

























1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










PART I




Introduction

J983141983155983157983155 983145983150 983156983144983141 B983145983138983148983141

























10486261048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


























852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

























1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










Introduction

J983141983155983157983155 983145983150 983156983144983141 B983145983138983148983141

























10486261048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


























852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

























1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










10486261048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


























852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

























1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










852017

M983137983154983147rsquo983155 J983141983155983157983155

























1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










1048626852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

W983144983151 D983151983141983155 M983137983154983147 S983137983161 T983144983137983156 I A983149983103







o Rome itsel




























T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155











T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 A983139983156983145983151983150








WHATrsquoS MORE

What Is a Gospel

























1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































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WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










1048626983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155
























whole and well
























WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155






















WHATrsquoS MORE




















1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










1048627852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 983145983150 C983151983150983142983148983145983139983156


























































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














































10486271048626 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155





T983144983141 M983141983155983155983145983137983144 R983141983146983141983139983156983141983140


WHATrsquoS MORE






























































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155














































10486271048628 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155


















WHATrsquoS MORE

















set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155












set aside or him



















H983151983159 I983155 T983144983145983155 J983141983155983157983155 D983145983142983142983141983154983141983150983156983103














1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










1048627852022 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155













one last time














amazement






SO WHAT





















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155















W983144983137983156 I983142 T983144983145983155 W983141983154983141 O983157983154 O983150983148983161 J983141983155983157983155983103























do to you)

SO WHAT





















1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










1048627983096 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155

















haved Tomas however
















SO WHAT

Turning Over Tables





































R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155






















R983141983137983140 M983151983154983141 A983138983151983157983156 I983156











D983145983155983139983157983155983155983145983151983150 Q983157983141983155983156983145983151983150983155









1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155










1048628852016 R983141983140983145983155983139983151983158983141983154983145983150983143 J983141983155983157983155








Rediscovering Jesus By David B. Capes, Rodney Reeves and E. Randolph Richards - EXCERPT

Documents

Transcript of Rediscovering Jesus By David B. Capes, Rodney Reeves and E. Randolph Richards - EXCERPT