There is good reason to believe that Mark is strongly influenced by the preaching of Peter. That Mark was written partly because Peter was put to death and no longer preaching. Legend says that Peter was crucified on account of what he was preaching. This should not surprise us since Jesus, the one he is preaching about, was crucified. This makes me wonder what happened to Mark? Was there any risk of putting these words into print? Was he ever in danger of being executed?
What about readers and hearers? What should we expect our fate to be? Should we announce sermon titles in signs in front of church buildings? Should we preach with such predictability? Would it be more prudent to schedule secret meetings to discuss the words of this Gospel where everyone is in danger of being crucified? Should we be asking ourselves the question whether Jesus would be crucified for our sermons?
Mark places an emphasis on the surprising next move from Jesus. The next surprising words from Jesus. Moves and words that led to his crucifixion. He places an emphasis on following Jesus. On carrying a cross while following Jesus. He is in a hurry to emphasize anything at all. (Not only does he give us the shortest of the Gospels, he uses the word “immediately” more than forty times).
My friend Earl and I have been reading selections of Mark along with others on Tuesday evenings. One night he said that he finds himself nearly out of breath reading this gospel. Perhaps that is how we should all feel. It is not easy to keep up with this Jesus. We never know where he is headed next, or who we will find him with, or what he will be doing, or what he will be saying. Perhaps we should be wary about where he is leading us.
Many commentators emphasize the importance of the scene in chapter eight where Jesus tells Peter to get behind him. Preach that. Behind Jesus is exactly where we belong. To be anywhere else, to offer him any advice, is to be in league with Satan.
Leading up to this scene we find a series of questions, “What is this?” “Who can do that?” “Why does he do that?” “Why do his followers do that?” “Who is this?” “Where did he learn this?” But, following chapter eight the narrative changes dramatically. As if Mark is suggesting that once you discover who Jesus is, then you may begin to understand the role of the cross.
Whether we are able to catch our breath during our reading or not, one thing is for sure. We know where we are to be, behind Jesus. Where Peter belongs, where all disciples belong. And the very next verse states very clearly “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
hermeneuts 