I started my reading with the
Gospel according to Mark for a number of reasons. I know that it was the
earliest gospel account and served, somewhat, as an outline for Luke and
Matthew. So I thought it would be a good warm up run and introduction to the
“real” gospels. But, in truth, the actual reason was that I did not like this
short, unadorned, unembellished, simple and boring book. I just wanted to get
it out of the way, over and done.
But...
But as I worked my way through it
and pondered its simplicity and succinctness I came to love this account of the
life of Jesus. For all the reasons I shunned it, I now enjoyed it. It is self
contained, consistent, simple and to the point. Mark holds together from
beginning to end in ways the other gospels do not.
It tells a story, a story of faith
being fulfilled by the outsider but missed by the insider. It is a challenge to
perceived authority by true authority. It is the development of an ideal in
tension with culture, religion and politics. It is a modern story of
stereotypes, cultural norms and conflicts of the soul.
I find the Gospel according to Mark
to be more than just a simple story, but rather a complex story of faith
challenging my own perceived notions of authority, religiosity and faith. But I
only found that truth by approaching it as an outsider, surprised by the Jesus
of compassion.
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