GOSPEL OF MARK
A view. This Gospel is widely thought to be the first one written. The many explanations of Aramaic words and Jewish customs in Mark suggest that Mark wrote to Gentile or non-Jewish Christians. St.Mark focused on encouraging the readers believe in Jesus. Many of Jesus works are similar to St.Matthew.
Large crowds come to Jesus:[3:7-10]
A map point clearly shows the distances of Galilee, Jerusalem, Jordan and many other places where from people came to listen to Jesus from long distances. Those days, mode of transport was either by boat, or donkey or camel and it takes days to reach from one place to another. So much of tolerance in traveling, and unstoppable shouting of people to Jesus that he is the Son of God, moved Jesus. He healed many sick and released evil spirits. Scientific thinking to some extent disagrees with the existence of evil spirits but appropriately exorcism is another word. To the point, an assumption or , realistic, Jesus did heal many who battled with evil spirits. An audience of five thousand was present when Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fishes and fed who came to listen to Him. Jesus attracted crowds calling Him as ‘Jesus of Nazareth’.
Another story about seeds[Mark 4:26-29]
In this parable, farmer is God who scatters human beings [seeds]for them to grow in the land. As compared, the sprouts grow and produce plants, so also the character of human beings. Good vs bad. A good seed maketh a good crop. Kingdom of God is compared to land and human beings as seeds. In the final stage, the farmer uses the sickle to the separation of both. Jesus spoke through this parable, that Kingdom of God waits until the harvest of end of human era and separates both merciful and hard hearted.
Blind man at Bethsaida [Mark 8:22-25]
People when they came to know that Jesus and His disciplines were in Bethsaida they were courteous to bring the blind man to be healed. Personal attention was given to this man. Jesus took his hand, lead him out of the village. Most of the healings performed by Jesus, drew a very personal attention and care. Jesus spit and touched once, man explained he could see people walking like trees, Jesus once again touched his eyes, he was healed. Jesus instructed him to go home and not to the town. It is given to understand that Jesus was not interested in His propagation as ‘Healer’ as many others would come to know about Jesus healing of blind man. This could have lead Jesus to say and ask the man to go home rather than the town.
GOSPEL OF ST.LUKE
A view. The two main concepts in writing of this Gospel was, 1. God loves everyone. 2. Jesus came into the world as savior of all people. Also the emphasis is on Holy Spirit. Jesus prayed often and prayer was important to him. The following points are unique and limited to this Gospel. The learning points in this section are:
The good Samaritan:[10:25-37]
The parable begins with questions and answers similar to teacher student interaction. Here an expert in Law is piling up questions for Jesus to understand the law of eternity.Interestingly, Jesus, made the lawyer agree to two priority commandments. In order to test Jesus or to clarify himself, a question ‘who is my neighbor? Jesus unfolded a beautiful parable that is close to approach even to day. There are three kinds of people.
Priest, Levite and a Samaritan. Of these three, two are of higher or upper caste, whereas Samaritans are untouchables or downgraded. A tourist who was beaten and deprived of his possessions, was left helpless was noticed by both priest and Levite who visit to temple every day to offer worship service in those times. Surprisingly, it is noticed that they did not carry a heart of helping nature whereas a low-caste Samaritan resolved to the health and well being of tourist and paid all on his behalf. As a result, he attained a name of ‘good Samaritan’. Jesus is to be really appreciated and worthy of encomiums.
Dishonest Manager:[16:1-8]
Jesus narrated this parable with His disciples. A quick thought exclusively states that Jesus was good at Human Resource Management. A dishonest manager was corrected from his faults and finally excused. Someone rightly said ‘a good deed erases a bad deed’ which proved very close to this parable.
Lazarus & Rich man:[16:19-31]
Lazarus was poor and lived at the helm of garment of Rich man. Jesus depicts a sharp contrast between the lives of rich and poor here in this parable. Secondly, the experience of hell and heaven, unimportant and neglected poor Lazarus was with Abraham and Rich man was in hot fire after death. If an analysis is made and draw a conclusion that if, Lazarus was helped by Rich man and after death, both would experience the honorable presence of God and Abraham.
The suffering and agony and precarious living conditions of Lazarus, provide an understanding, that suffering causes purity of mind and that is the reason, presumably Lazarus is launched in Heaven. Also the wish of rich man remain unfulfilled that His family should not visit Hell and a prophet from Heaven be sent to their rescue.
GOSPEL OF ST.JOHN
Who is Jesus Christ? St.John calls Jesus the “word” by which he gave life to everyone. The following are the learning points.
The work of the Holy Spirit:[16:5-15]
The work of Holy Spirit is discussed only in St.John. [John 1:32] Jesus specifies that after his departure from this world, a comforter in the form of Holy Spirit will offer guidance to the people of the world in truth, justice and judgment. He concludes that Father and Jesus are one and the same.[16:15] For those who follow Jesus in faith, and request for Holy Spirit, on Jesus behalf ,will be guided by Holy Spirit to distinguish between dos and don’ts of this world. As Jesus disciples were much burdened with the saying that He would go away to the Father. To pacify their sadness and feelings of his absence, He described about Holy Spirit.
Jesus favorite Disciple told Peter, ‘It’s the LORD’ [21:7]
This passage, explains that after the death of Jesus, disciples did not leave the profession of fishing along the shore of Lake Tiberius. They worked all night to catch fish. But were unsuccessful. Next day morning, Jesus stood on the shore, disciples could not recognize Him. It is not recorded in the scripture which disciple told Peter ‘It’s the LORD’ [Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples.21:1-2 KJV]This sentence carries a great excitement even to the readers giving a sense of realistic feeling of seeing Jesus face to face. Jesus had meal with the disciples. A question also arises, ‘why disciples could not recognize Jesus?
Jesus & Thomas:[20:24-29]
Thomas called Didymus, had no faith in resurrection of Jesus as per the passage. [20:25] When Jesus asks Thomas to reach him, [20:27] Thomas is satisfied and says “My Lord and my God”[20:28] Another powerful and most influential verse in this passage recorded is [20:29] blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
