Week 2
Genesis 16-27; Psalm 1, 4, 107; Mark 6-10
2nd stage of the great rescue plan is God's covenant with Abraham. First was with Noah. Happens about 2,000 BC. The covenant is repeated three times.
12:1-3 Called to leave his home, all business and relations and follow God to a land unseen. He was about 45 years old. Leaves Ur (about the time of the collapse of the Sumerian culture).
God gives Abraham 3 promises that are repeated 3 times.
Make you into a great nation (his descendants will actually become a nation).
Going bless you (to be rich). Here he is literally talking about material wealth. This seems to be in direct contrast to Jesus conversation with the rich young ruler. Today people often associate wealthy people negatively, as stingy, evil, lazy - for those who inherit it, or unfairly benefiting from unjust social conditions. But in Jesus day, wealth was a direct result of God's blessings, as denoted here in Abraham's call. Moses lays out the promise that blessing is a part of the reward for being obedient to God. And proverbs talks of obedient tithing bringing blessing. This is why the disciples are shocked at his teaching… when Jesus talks about the wealthy as having a hard time entering the kingdom of heaven, as hard as a camel going through the eye of a needle.
Remember that this man is claiming to be good because he has completely followed the law of Moses. Jesus is pointing out that what he lacks is CONNECTION to him, which might be impeded by his great wealth. Wealth, in and of itself, is not bad. There appear to have been wealthy people around Jesus that were caring for his needs and supporting his ministry. But Jesus is calling out wealth as it outranks the ultimate call to be with Jesus, to follow him. The sheer impossibility of a camel going through the eye of a needle indicates Jesus teaching is saying that salvation is an absolute impossibility for human beings, even the most blessed. Just because you have material wealth, just because you follow all the laws of Moses, does not mean you are saved. This wealthy man's problem is he sees self-salvation as possible. If he is just good enough, he will be saved. But Jesus showing him that self-salvation as a human project is impossible. This story records a specific remedy for this one person who is spiritually sick. May not be a blanket statement about all wealth; however, it is a warning in a broader sense, to all, that there should be nothing that rivals following Jesus. What impedes us in this?
Make your name great (make you famous) that will result in him being a blessing to all nations.
I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. (godfather talk) The years go by, he gets older, Sarai is older and possibility of childbirth becomes unlikely. In Ch. 15 she is postmenopausal. No baby. This wealthy man has no heirs. To whom will he give his land and resources? His status is lost.
15:1-6 , "O Lord God… what can you give me because I am childless? Let Eliezer be my heir."
God takes Abraham outside and has him look up in the dessert night sky and try to count the stars. And reiterates the promise and gives us more detail about the promise. And this is where the scripture says, "And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness." This is an important passage of scripture to the apostle Paul which we will talk about later when we get to the book of Romans. The point Paul makes centuries later, is that Abraham was reckoned holy and right with Him BEFORE he did anything to prove his obedience and loyalty. he was considered holy and right with God simply because he believed God.
Heir from your own body
Descendants as numerous as stars
Give you the land of Canaan
I am a shield to you, I am your very great reward, or your reward will be very great. Abraham struggles with doubt, "O Lord God, how am I to know all this? (Help me with my unbelief)". God says, "Bring me a virgin cow, goat, rams, etc. They are about to have a covenant. About to seal it. There is a deep sleep (last time God caused a deep sleep was when Adam slept and God took a rib and created Eve. Something creative is about to happen, He tells Abraham what will happen to his descendants and to him, that they will be oppressed as slaves in Egypt for 400 years but that they will come back to possess the land. He is meeting Abraham in his unbelief. Abraham lays the pieces in a corridor on the ground. In ANE covenants, the pieces are split and laid on the ground and the WEAKER party walks through the pieces and says, "may this happen to me if I break my covenant with you." But in this covenant, God is represented by the smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, and He passes between the pieces. The creator of the cosmos has descended to Abraham and has sworn to him ON HIS LIFE, that may what happens to these animals happen to me if I should break this covenant with you. as we look forward, every one of the mediators of the covenant have broken the covenant with God. He alone has remained faithful. He brought all these promises to Abraham to fruition. Every single one. As the Lord God walks between the pieces, he looks to the future and swears that when you break covenant, he will bear IN THE FLESH, the consequences of your failure. God is swearing that He will be their Suzerain no matter what, even if they break covenant with Him, He will remain steadfast. He will redeem. Gen. 17 , God reaffirms covenant, and Sarai laughs. (Ishmael has been born - Sarai gave Hagar to Abraham for an heir)
Reaffirms covenant
Name change.
Covenant sign in the flesh (circumcision). Makes sense that the sign of the covenant was on the male reproductive organ. Symbolizes the covenant is for the descendants of Abraham. Today Baptism replaces circumcision, that is the sign of the New Covenant.
Thoughts on Abraham and willingness to sacrifice Isaac
A. Child sacrifice was a part of pagan worship and not unfamiliar to Abraham.
B. Child sacrifice would be the ultimate test of faith. Giving up a child, presumably what one cherishes the most in this life, would be the ultimate test.
C. "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you."
* Abraham has Ishmael, so technically Isaac is not his only son. He is the only son of the promise, however. And God promised him that the covenant promise was for Isaac's line. So it is a test of Abraham's belief in God and His promise.
• Also the statement of "your son, whom you love" reminds us of Jesus' baptism and transfiguration when God says, "This is my beloved son, listen to him." this is pointing us to the sacrifice of Jesus.
• The land of Moriah - today the temple mount and the dome of the rock exist here. This would be the place where Jesus will be crucified. This is a foreshadow of God's sacrifice of HIS only beloved Son. The difference is, he stopped Abraham from going through with it; he however, went through with it.
• Offer him as a burnt offering - later when Isaac notes that we have the wood and the fire, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?, Abraham will respond, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." Prefigures the sacrifice of God's only Son, our Passover lamb, our burnt offering, the one who provides cover for our sin. Question: Are we tested like this today? What is the correlation to such tests to us today?
Trials come in order to reveal what is in our hearts. As Abraham was about to slay his son, the angel of the Lord said, " Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son " (v. 12).
One of the purposes of this test is to reveal what was in Abraham's heart. He said, "Now I know that you fear God." The test revealed that Abraham feared God even more than losing his son. He truly did hate his mother, father, wife, children, brother, sister and even his own life for the Lord's sake (cf. Luke 14:26-27), as we each are called to do . Notice that Abraham did not hesitate to go forth, this is the first time he did not have a question for God… note he asked God about his heirs, he asked God whether he would spare Sodom and Gomorrah if he found 10 righteous, but he did not question anything here.
In the same way, one of God's purposes in trials is to reveal what is in our hearts. Consider what Peter said to the Christians suffering in the Roman Empire in 1 Peter 1:6-7: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Contrast to Abraham is the Israelites in the wilderness. God said this to the Israelites while they were in the wilderness in Deuteronomy 8:2: "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands ." God took them through the desert (or the wilderness) to test them and see what was in their hearts. As you know, while the Israelites were in the wilderness, trials revealed complaining, idol worship, sexual immorality, and rebellion. Their testing revealed what was really in their hearts.
Let us consider today, that when God brings trials, what will it reveal in our hearts? Will we be like Abraham or like Israel in the wilderness? Will we complain, get drunk, commit sexual immorality and rebel against God's authority, or will we submit fully to follow him in obedience, trusting that He is a God of the promise and has our best interest at heart?
Mark's Gospel :
The dual multiplication of the bread stories:
In the first story: 6:30-44
* Jesus has compassion on the crowds (like sheep without a shepherd)
* disciple don't understand
*five loaves and 2 fish.
* Ordered them to get all the people to sit in groups on the green grass (Psalm 27), he has compassion on them like sheep without a shepherd and then organizes them on green grass and feeds them - imagery of this psalm.
* all ate and were filled
* 12 baskets left over
Second story: 8:1-9
• Again he has compassion on the people.
• Orders disciples to feed them, and they still don't understand
• Have 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish
• 7 baskets left over.
Why both stories? In the first story, note that Jesus is in Jewish territory, had been ministering to Jews and was feeding Jews. 12 baskets left over would symbolize the feeding of the 12 tribes of Israel. In the second story, it is worth noting that Jesus has been ministering for the first time in Gentile territory. He encounters a Syrophoenician woman
Jesus begins speaking to her as a typical Jew would address a Gentile - Jews considered Gentiles like dogs (filthy, unclean). Jews considered themselves prized children of God. This woman is reimaging the dog as a pet, as Gentiles had them as pets, but also recognizing the order… that Jews are first and then the Gentiles. This is a NT theme, especially among Paul.
Jews first, but then also the Gentiles. The Jews are not just another ethnic category but the vehicle through which God chose to reveal His redemptive plan. They are special. Israel is to be a light to the nations. Perhaps she is asking for the remainder of the food leftover from the feeding of the 5,000 (12 baskets) be given to the Gentiles. She may be asking for crumbs, but she knows even the crumbs from Jesus table will be more than satisfying. Then he heals a mute Gentile man. In the second feeding he is feeding a GENTILE crowd of 4,000. We could, therefore, interpret the number of leftover baskets to be as follows:
(A) 12 stands for Jews; 7 stands for Gentiles
(B) Both 12 and 7 are numbers symbolizing fullness and completeness. The crowds in both are fully satisfied, so much so that there is some left over. Jesus is doing what only God can do, he brings to the needy complete satisfaction and complete abundance. Jesus invites us to trust him for abundant living. do you relate the two stories of feeding the multitudes to Elisha in 2 Kings 4:42-44 and if so, how and why? "a man came from Baalshalishah, bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, "Give it to the people and let them eat." But his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred people?" So he repeated, "Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the Lord, 'They shall eat and have some left.'" He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the Lord." Note in Bible: Elisha notes that when God is at work, the food will be more than enough. I think this was what was meant by this story of Elisha, which is related. However, there is more relation to Moses who provided food from God. we see Moses as the one through whom God provided food for the nation of Israel. Difference is, the manna in the wilderness was just enough for each day. there was to be none left over. The second feeding miracle could make us think of Abraham, through whom all nations on the earth will be blessed, including Gentiles. Even Gentiles will feed at God's table and be completely satisfied. With Jesus, his provision is more than enough, there is an over abundance, left-overs, more than satisfied. After all this the Pharisees ask for a sign. THIS IS SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS. Whenever they are confused, he just says something more confusing. "Be every hearing, but never understanding; ever seeing but never perceiving" - as long as their hearts are stubborn, they will NEVER SEE OR UNDERSTAND THE MIRACLE. They are always moving the line of proof. No matter what he does, no matter how great the miracles, they refuse to believe.
The disciples also fail to understand or perceive the miracles. They are asking Jesus for bread, forgetting the miracles he has just performed. But they also failed to understand the significance of the feedings - Jesus brings fullness and abundance. Their hearts are not fully open to God yet, so they are still BLIND. Next miracle is about a blind man being healed!!! It's a two part healing. Why is Jesus performing a miracle in 2 steps? Sight in the OT refers often to spiritual sight. Blindness, likewise, to spiritual blindness. (Is. 6:9- 10). Therefore, this 2 part healing could easily suggest that spiritual sight may require several steps before a person can see clearly. It certainly did for the disciples. In this miracle, the second stage of healing brought full sight. The disciples partly see Jesus - the confess that he is the Christ, the Messiah. But then Peter rejects Jesus' mission that he must suffer and die. Lesson : we may need to receive spiritual insight in stages. Most of us are probably in between. We have partial peace, joy, insight but not full joy, full peace, full insight. Thankfully, Jesus is very patient with his disciples and does not cast them aside even when they don't understand them fully. Shows salvation is a process after our initial conversion. This is called sanctification. Chapters 1-8 form a large unit of his public ministry, heavy with miracles. Chapters 9-16 form another large unit, largely dominated by Jesus now turning to Jerusalem to die and be raised. 8:31, Jesus takes a completely new direction in his teaching, that he would be killed by Jewish and Gentile leaders and that he would be raised from the dead after three days. (Jesus knew ahead of time, had full knowledge of what would happen to him. he went to the cross in FULL confidence that God would raise him from the dead - Just like Abraham and full confidence that God raises from the dead). Jesus rebukes Peter - "you, get back following me". Why does he call him Satan? Because Satan is the opposer of everything God is and stands for. God wants life for all; Satan wants death for all. "you do not have in mind the things of God, but human concerns." Peter thinks the way humans think, which is typically opposed to God. God doesn't think the way we do, his ways are so much higher. PETER IS ONLY SEEING A PART OF GOD'S TRUTH - that Jesus is the Messiah; but he does not see fully what that means. God's thinking is different than human think. His saving strategy, through Jesus, is so much higher than our thoughts. We would think he would attack the Roman empire or her armies, or that he would keep attacking the tentacles of the monster death… But God's plan is for Jesus to go at the core of the monster - death itself. Jesus will die, so as to defeat death from the inside out. Jesus will die in order to win. Human's resist this approach of dying in order to win. When we insist on thinking in typical human ways, we will likely be blind to the works of God and may hinder his words.
We are called into a life of surrender, to take up our cross, not because God is against us, but because he is for us. Mark 8:31-10:52 has a definite literary structure and purpose. 3 predictions 8:31; 9:30-31; 10:32-34 Each is more detailed than the one before it, creating a rising anticipation of the coming events. Each prediction is followed by 3 failures of the disciples 8:31 - Peter rejects Jesus talk of death and resurrection 9:30-31 - disciples are in a battle of egos 10:32-34, disciples are shown to be seeking status for themselves. EACH OF THESE FAILURES RUNS COMPLETELY OPPOSITE OF JESUS CHARACTER AND MISSION. Jesus is saying, "I will humble myself", disciples saying, "I will elevate myself". After each failure, Jesus uses it as a teaching moment about how disciples are to think and act. All this is bookended by healing miracles. The first one is the blind man in 8:22 (the two part healing), and the last is the healing of blind Bartimaeus. These are the only two healings of blind people in Mark's Gospel and so are likely strategically positioned to bracket the large teaching unit of discipleship in 8:31-10:45. What does being a disciple entail? IT INVOLVES BEING WILLING TO HAVE OUR VISION HEALED AND TO RECEIVE THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD AND OURSELVES. WE NEED SPIRITUAL VISION IN ORDER TO SEE THIS WAY OF JESUS DOWNWARD MOBILITY IN HUMILTY AND TRUST. It is interesting that this section is concluded by the healing of Bartimaeus, a blind man who cannot physically see, but he spiritually sees Jesus as the Son of David - making a belief claim of Jesus being Israel's king. Jesus asks James and John, "What do you want me to do for you?" and they respond "grant that one of us may sit at your right and at your left when you come into your kingdom". Bartimaeus answers far better - "What do you want me to do for you?" and Bart. Responds, "I want to see". And then he gets up and follows Jesus. (Remember blindness and sight in the bible often have spiritual connotations.) Bartimeaus is showing himself to be a model disciple. "Go, your faith has made you well". Contrast to disciples: Bart. Recognized his need, showed zeal and determination to get his need met, he was willing to say his need out loud, and he called on Jesus to meet his need and he trusted Jesus to meet his need. The transfiguration: happens after the first prediction of Jesus. 9:2ff - Happens on a high mountain, only three disciples invited to witness. Jesus appearance was changed… someone else acted upon Jesus to change his clothing to bright white, symbolizing an otherworldly, heavenly origin., showing that Jesus has indeed come from God's very presence. (Angel at the tomb described as clothing as white as snow.) Why these characters Moses and Elijah? Why not David or Samuel, or Adam or Abraham? In Jesus day, "Moses and Elijah represented "the law and the prophets". The represent the entire OT with all its divine teaching and instruction. They represent the full revelation of God to Israel at this point in history. Note we don't have the content of the conversation, just that it happened. But it is clear they are not arguing, or hostile… they are all on same page. Out of a cloud comes a declaration "This is my beloved Son". This cloud overshadowed them, creating a darkness that allowed the radiant Jesus to appear all the more distinct. (The effect would seem to be that Moses and Elijah faded away). So probably emphasis is THIS is my beloved son (Jesus, not the other two), listen to HIM (not Moses and Elijah, Jesus is your supreme authority now.) a tectonic shift is taking place in revelation. Moses and Elijah are not thrown out or rejected, but are incorporated within the message of Jesus who brings to highest form God's will for humankind. Now Jesus fills their whole vision. Moses and Elijah are now stepping off to the side.
Thoughts on Psalm 107 vv. 1-3 "those of the redeemed of the Lord say so, gathered in from all lands" (could be an allusion to jesus who fulfills promise to Abraham by being the one through whom all nations on the earth could be blessed). This is told through David, the messenger, God's beloved son. vv. 4-9 likened to Jesus miracle of the bread and feeding the multitudes ("he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things") vv. 10-16 likened to Jesus doing battle with demonic realm and evil, also sin. 9"he brought them out of darkness and gloom and broke their bonds asunder." vv. 17-22 likened to Jesus doing battle with sickness/sin ("he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.") vv. 23-32 likened to Jesus miracle of calming the storm, his dominion and power over nature ("For he commanded and raised the stormy wind", "he made the storm be still and the waves of the sea were hushed.") vv. 33-43 likened Jesus to the parable of the fig tree - that he will curse. ("he turns rivers into deserts, springs of water into thirsty ground, a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.") he takes away the need for the temple - has become a seedbed for wickedness and keeps people from God. But now, in himself, all people can receive life and blessing. Jesus hears the cry of the needy, and he will judge the wickedness of this generation and protect the righteous.