Christian Beginnings
Notes for Friday April 12, 2002

Matthew, Luke and Mark are “synoptic” gospel. Synoptic comes from the Greek meaning “same seeing” or “same view.”

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GOSPELS OF MARK AND JOHN


MARK
1. * Jesus teaches in parables (to the masses. Later, he explains them to the disciples.) He does this so people will hear his teachings but not understand, to keep the outsiders/enemies/casual listeners in the dark. Jesus only wants true followers to know his word, to convey “truth” to the spiritually ready/open. People close to God are going to understand. * Jesus also taught this way to keep his ministry from ending too soon/prematurely. (Doesn’t want to say he is the Messiah or the Jews with crucify him.) * Speaking in parables fulfills prophecy by Isaiah in O.T.

2. * “Messianic secret.” Jesus doesn’t openly proclaim he’s Christ (Messiah) or Son of God. In his ministry, he tells people to keep quiet about it. * Only exception is the story of the Gerastene Demoniac (Mark 5) - After the exorcism, Jesus tells him to “tell the world what the Lord has done.” This is in Palestine, and Jesus isn’t going to be there anymore, so this is okay.

3. * Emphasis on Jesus’ deeds (healings, exorcisms.)

4. * Low Christology: * Primary theme: Kingdom of God - The Church on Earth. (i.e. hi followers, his family of believers) (vs. his family (by blood) who don’t believe in him.) * Parable of mustard seed: basically means that it (his teaching) will start small but it will take over the Earth. And “The Kingdom Come” - after the last judgment of the world.

5. * Strong escatology (doctrine of “Last things.”)

6. * End of world seen as being intermittent.


JOHN

1. * Jesus teaches openly about everything, including his identity.

2. * No “Messianic secret.”

3. * John’s gospel centers around Jesus’ last days in Jerusalem. * Emphasis on Jesus’ teaching - long metaphysical discourses on the nature of Jesus and his relationship to the Father.

4. * High Christology: * Primary theme - Eternal life through faith in Jesus.

5. * Weak escatology.

6. * End of the world is seen in the indefinite future. (Makes sense because John wrote his gospel much later, after the supposed end was supposed to have already come.)


Question: Did Matthew use Mark’s story in writing his gospel? (Most of the story is word for word, and Mark wrote his gospel first.) Conservatives say - If you teach, you may teach the same thing twice to different people. Liberals say - It seems odd he would “use so much of Mark if he was there.”

Question: Why didn’t the Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah? The concept of the Messiah was the “conquering hero.” Jesus didn’t fit that mold. The Jews expected the Messiah to fulfill a prophecy of restoring independence of Israel (destroy the Romans.)

Christians try to convert people even today, because it is one of the commandments Jesus gave.

VIEWS REGARDING JESUS KEEPING HIS IDENTITY SECRET
Liberal view - Evolution from Jesus of Nazareth to Christ of Faith - Jesus is nervous about people knowing. “It’s a sign Jesus didn’t say these things - They were later beliefs of the Church.”

Conservative view - Jesus keeps his identity a secret for the same reason he teaches in parables - to avoid his ministry coming to an end prematurely.

Idea of crowd control - Jesus wants people who are really committed, concentrates on people who believe his teachings or need help.

Question: Did Matthew write in Hebrew as it is assumed? People didn’t write in Hebrew, so it was probably in Aramaic. The Greek word for Hebrew and Aramaic are very similar/vague.