Bible Notes on Mark for Advent 30th November to 21st December 2014 by Barrie Morley

November 30th - Advent Sunday     

The RCL gives preachers a challenging Gospel passage for Advent Sunday this year.

Mark was written during the 'Jewish War' which, in time was to see the sacking of Jerusalem and the ruin of the Temple.  Almost certainly some of Jesus words here refer to that event, almost 2,000 years ago.   Talk of trauma for refugees must ring  bells for the many displaced people in the Middle East this Advent time.   But this passage has become a happy hunting ground for those who only look for predictions of the return of Christ.   The problem is which of these words have already been fulfiled, and which are yet to be?

The 'Second Advent' is very important.  This season is much more than a time of preparation for Christmas, but what can we say as we deal with the confusing picture language of this week's Gospel?   What we CAN say is this.  'in the beginning God....and in the end, God.'    This is the message of the Bible.

POSSIBLE PREACHING TOPIC

Jesus speaks here of a time of trauma.   Modern times produce great distress for so many people.   Let's not get tangled in the intricacies of this passage, but let us hold to its message and the message of the Bible.   'In the beginning God....and...in the end....God.'  This is Advent Hope. 

December 7th - Mark 1:1-8

'To begin at the beginning' intones Richard Burton at the start of the radio play 'Under Milk Wood.'

   

'The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.' writes Mark in the opening words of his gospel.  'Listen, only you can hear'   continues Burton in Dylan Thomas's play.  You are a secret observer and listener to twenty four hours of life in Llarregub.  Mark too is dealing in a secret.  He shows us that the value and true identity of Jesus and his message is a secret.  The Priests and doctors of the law miss theirsgnificance.  So do the the crowds, and even the disciples.  Even at the Resurrection, the first reaction of the disciples is of fear and astonishment rather than belief. (Ch 16: 8)

AND YET....the reader of Mark is in on the secret of Jesus true identity, and the value of his message.

Mark tells us plainly what it is in the opening words,  'Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'   In Thomas's play we see an open public day in the life of one small seaside town.

Perhaps the link for us this Advent is that now, just as in Mark's time the value of Jesus and his gospel are there for those who will look and listen, but now as then the majority of people in our culture and time miss the true worth of Jesus and his message.  

   

POSSIBLE PREACHING TOPIC

What does it mean in our time and culture,  to be one of a minority who are in on the secret of who Jesus is and what he does?

December 14th - John 1:6-8, 19-28

The RCL now follows its usual pattern of introducing readings from John's Gospel around the Christmas and Easter seasons.   'John the Forerunner' is a traditional Advent topic.  He represents (as Jesus himself said) the height of the Old Testament witness.  There may have been an almost rival discipleship movement to that of Jesus for a time (see Acts  18: 24-19: 7).  However the Gospel of John has no doubt that John the Baptist was no more than the messenger of the coming Messiah.

POSSIBLE PREACHING TOPIC

John preached a demanding, no compromise message.  In our liberal, multi-cultural age, how do we live in the light of John's witness and the more important witness and example of Jesus Christ?

What in the Old Testament do we learn from and live by?  What do we sit more loose to in the light of the revelation of Jesus?

December 21st - Luke 1:26-38

Only Matthew and Luke give us details of the birth of Jesus.  For Luke the Gospel is  'Good news to the poor.'   The shepherds, a low status class of people, are the first to hear the good news, and they receive it whilst out..and working a night shift, ..'Out in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night.'

Whereas Matthew has Jesus pronouncing  blessings on the poor in spirit,  Luke is more direct in his version of the Beatitudes...'Blessed are the poor.' (Luke 6:20)

So here in today's passage a peasant woman from an unfashionable village is chosen to the mother of the Lord.  Later in this chapter comes Mary's song of praise the Magnificat, praising God for reversing the social status of society then and now.

POSSIBLE THOUGHTS FOR WORSHIP

• Explore how the poor are blessed and used by God.  'The humble poor believe.'  C. Wesley. 
• Are their spiritual blessings that only the humble or the poor can receive?
• What here and now, on earth in 2014 is the Good News to the overlooked unfashionable and poor? 

Sources 

• Cranfield, C.F.D., The Gospel according to Mark.  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1959
• Barclay, W., The Gospel of Mark.  St Andrews: St Andrew Press, 1954
• Hooker, M., The Message of Mark.  Peterborough: Epworth Press, 1983
• Hargreaves, J., A Guide to St. Mark's Gospel.  London: SPCK,  1965
• Martin, Ralph P., Mark: Evangelist and Theologian.  Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 1972
• Leaney, A.R.C., Cambridge: Black, 1958.