In this passage Jesus is confronted by people, no mention of their identity, just people, who want to know why the disciples of Jesus do not fast like the disciples of John or the Pharisees. This is an extremely legitimate question for the people who are trying to understand who Jesus is and how he fits into the larger picture. They want to know why his disciples are eating and being merry, while the disciples of John, and the Pharisees, the keepers of the law, are busy leading more disciplined lives. Isn’t that what discipleship entails? Aren’t they supposed to be cutting themselves off, and acting abit more religious?
The answer Jesus gives them is mysterious. He answers with a metaphor and tells them that as long as the bridegroom is present, the guest must enjoy the banquet. That is rather mysterious for a group of several men. The bridegroom? Is this the stuff Dan Brown’s deepest dreams reveal? Then he says the day will come when the bridegroom is taken away and everyone will fast. OK, so we as readers know the end of the story Mark is telling and from that we know that Jesus is the bridegroom, but why the coded language?
Then he say that a new piece of cloth can not be sewn onto an old cloak and that new wine can not be put into old wine skins. Both of these imply that soemthing new is on the scene, and the old and the new ar similar, like the patch is similar to the old cloth, and the wine/wineskins are similr, but they are not compatible at this time. Once the new piece of cloth has been used, cleaned, shrunk, then it may be applied to the old cloak. Old wineskins however, are never going to be fit for new wineskins. They need to be replaced. Could this mean that the law and the gospel will never dance the same step? It sounds like Jesus is trying to tell us something about a new way that is to come, and perhaps a new relationship between God and His people.
Yes indeed, why the coded language at this point in the story? Is it just a Dan Brownesque way of building suspense?
Your last paragraph reflecting on new/old is repeated almost verbatim into Matthew. Do Mark & Matthew share a similar understanding of new/old with respect to Jesus? To the Law?
Okay, now we want to see your picture and hear your reflections on the process of reading, drawing, hearing the text.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
The pericope I am working on is Mark 2: 18-22
In this passage Jesus is confronted by people, no mention of their identity, just people, who want to know why the disciples of Jesus do not fast like the disciples of John or the Pharisees. This is an extremely legitimate question for the people who are trying to understand who Jesus is and how he fits into the larger picture. They want to know why his disciples are eating and being merry, while the disciples of John, and the Pharisees, the keepers of the law, are busy leading more disciplined lives. Isn’t that what discipleship entails? Aren’t they supposed to be cutting themselves off, and acting abit more religious?
The answer Jesus gives them is mysterious. He answers with a metaphor and tells them that as long as the bridegroom is present, the guest must enjoy the banquet. That is rather mysterious for a group of several men. The bridegroom? Is this the stuff Dan Brown’s deepest dreams reveal? Then he says the day will come when the bridegroom is taken away and everyone will fast. OK, so we as readers know the end of the story Mark is telling and from that we know that Jesus is the bridegroom, but why the coded language?
Then he say that a new piece of cloth can not be sewn onto an old cloak and that new wine can not be put into old wine skins. Both of these imply that soemthing new is on the scene, and the old and the new ar similar, like the patch is similar to the old cloth, and the wine/wineskins are similr, but they are not compatible at this time. Once the new piece of cloth has been used, cleaned, shrunk, then it may be applied to the old cloak. Old wineskins however, are never going to be fit for new wineskins. They need to be replaced. Could this mean that the law and the gospel will never dance the same step? It sounds like Jesus is trying to tell us something about a new way that is to come, and perhaps a new relationship between God and His people.
October 11th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Yes indeed, why the coded language at this point in the story? Is it just a Dan Brownesque way of building suspense?
Your last paragraph reflecting on new/old is repeated almost verbatim into Matthew. Do Mark & Matthew share a similar understanding of new/old with respect to Jesus? To the Law?
Okay, now we want to see your picture and hear your reflections on the process of reading, drawing, hearing the text.