Mark 9: listen

 How can adult aid to a child be decided on the child believing in Jesus (V. 42)? I think Mark was writing for the Church rather than for humankind and the consequence is confused Christianity. It’s one reason there are 45,000 Christian sects and death of a child from a different sect seems tolerated as process. Jesus’ civic influence pursues better human performance.

Quoting leader Kenneth Tipton, “[For 2023, Nomads] are “Discovering Advent in the Gospel of Mark” through the study authored by Traci Daub titled, Holy Disruption.  [In week one, citing Mark 13,] we explored the Christmas theme of waiting and were encouraged by Jesus to be proactive and WATCH.   [For week 2,] we explore the Christmas theme of Peace on Earth Good Will to All.  Week 3’s Mark Chapter 8 . . . begins with a familiar story of a miracle and ends with a rebuke and an admonition by Jesus to FOLLOW.  In Week 4, we are invited, in Mark 9, to listen.

[I read scripture with 2 principles in mind:  I perceive Genesis 1:26-28’s authorization that female and male humankind may and can choose to rule to thegood on earth and Jesus’ message that individual humans may and can pursue perfect performance -- in theGod’s image. When I perceive Christian bias in NIV, I check CJB. “Civic” expresses reliably responsible connections and transactions to thegood on earth. Humankind today benefits from 300,000 years’ development as homo sapiens, 10,000 years with grammar, 3,000 years since the Bible’s books were started, and 2,000 years since Jesus lived. Today, humankind plans to colonize a planet in a couple decades, knows the sun is a natural nuclear reactor, and has much more evidence to consider in choosing thegood.]

9:1 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” [These 2,000 years later, it seems behaving to comprehend, intend, and achieve thegood facilitates happiness and hope despite a persistently worldly world. Reform seems possible if most citizens practice both Genesis 1:26-28 and Matthew 5:48.]

The Transfiguration

² After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John [Three apostles.] with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

[Copying and paraphrasing from Wikipedia today, Elijah, meaning "My God is Yahweh", was, according to the Hebrew Bible, a prophet and a miracle worker who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab (9th century BC). In 1 Kings 18, Elijah defended the worship of the Hebrew God over that of the Canaanite deity Baal. God also performed many miracles through Elijah, including resurrection, bringing fire down from the sky, and entering heaven alive "by fire." He is also portrayed as leading a school of prophets known as "the sons of the prophets." Following his ascension, Elisha, his disciple and most devoted assistant, took over his role as leader of this school. The Book of Malachi prophesies Elijah's return "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD," making him a harbinger of the Messiah and of the end times in various faiths that revere the Hebrew Bible. References to Elijah appear in Sirach, the New Testament, the Mishnah and Talmud, the Quran, the Book of Mormon, and Baháʼí writings.] [Again, from Wikipedia, generally, the majority of scholars see the biblical Moses as a legendary figure, while retaining the possibility that Moses or a Moses-like figure existed in the 13th century BCE. Rabbinical Judaism calculated a lifespan of Moses corresponding to 1391–1271 BCE; Jerome suggested his birth 3600 years ago.

The Egyptian name "Moses" is mentioned in ancient Egyptian literature. [A] treasonous ancient Egyptian priest, Osarseph, perhaps 3200 years ago, renamed himself Moses and led a successful coup against the presiding pharaoh.

Moses is considered the most important prophet in Judaism and one of the most important prophets in Christianity, Islam, the Druze faith, the Baháʼí Faith, and other Abrahamic religions. According to both the Bible and the Quran, Moses was the leader of the Israelites and lawgiver to whom the authorship, or "acquisition from heaven", of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) is attributed.

According to the Book of Exodus, Moses was born in a time when his people, the Israelites, an enslaved minority, were increasing in population and, as a result, the Egyptian Pharaoh worried that they might ally themselves with Egypt's enemies. Moses' Hebrew mother, Jochebed, secretly hid him when Pharaoh ordered all newborn Hebrew boys to be killed in order to reduce the population of the Israelites. Through Pharaoh's daughter (identified as Queen Bithia in the Midrash), the child was adopted as a foundling from the Nile and grew up with the Egyptian royal family. After killing an Egyptian slave-master who was beating a Hebrew, Moses fled across the Red Sea to Midian, where he encountered the Angel of the Lord, speaking to him from within a burning bush on Mount Horeb, which he regarded as the Mountain of God.

God sent Moses back to Egypt to demand the release of the Israelites from slavery. Moses said that he could not speak eloquently, so God allowed Aaron, his elder brother, to become his spokesperson. After the Ten Plagues, Moses led the Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea, after which they based themselves at Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments. After 40 years of wandering in the desert, Moses died on Mount Nebo at the age of 120, within sight of the Promised Land.]

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) [They murmured.]

⁷ Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” [We may perceive in this mysterious story the scribe’s representation of authority respecting the mystery of God. Mark wrote either what he thought or what others imposed on him. However, I know of no evidence that a voice actually came from a cloud or that that voice responsibly represented Jesus. For all I know, Jesus is theGod. I write expressing doubt in the church that canonized the Bible. I encourage humility to whatever constrains human choices and pursuit of Jesus’ civic influence.]

⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. [Elijah and Moses no longer relevant? Elijah (and successor Elisha), who raised the dead, and Moses, the law receiver were rendered obsolete by Jesus. Also, the guild called “the sons of the prophets” is replaced by “the Son of Man”.]

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. [They murmured.]

¹¹ And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹² Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? ¹³ But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.” [I tried to research what “done to him” refers to, but failed.]

Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit

¹⁴ When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

¹⁶ “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

¹⁷ A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. ¹⁸ Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” [Perhaps “disciples” refers to apostles, authorized by Jesus to act in his name.]

¹⁹ “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” [Jesus illustrates that forgiveness does not prevent frustration when there is neither remorse nor reform.]

²⁰ So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. ²² “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

²³ “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” [I don’t trust Mark’s representation of Jesus:  I don’t think Jesus healed on a quid pro quo relationship. That’s a wealth and war approach rather than Jesus’ peace.]

²⁴ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” [Genesis 1:26-28 says overcoming unbelief is a personal action. See James 4:17, where “sin” is intentional error. Also, the concept that belief can overcome reality is a church-principle intended to enslave the minds of contributors. It’s taxation for nothing beyond hope and comfort.]

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

²⁶ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. [It seems clear that, relative to human being (verb), spiritualism is worse than animalism.] The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

²⁸ After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” [Confirming that the father had asked the apostles and they tried (V 18).]

²⁹ He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer [perhaps “and fasting”].” [Jesus rebuked and commanded (V 25).]

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

³⁰ They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples [apostles?]. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” ³² But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. [They murmured.]

³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. [They murmured. Perhaps they thought one of them would be like Elisha, heir to Elijah-power.]

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” [Do some people perceive sacrifice in order to be first? Are some who “sacrifice” delusional? Do self-proclaimed victims perceive their “sacrifices” will be rewarded? Is the appearance that someone needs help an invitation to invasion of privacy? Is the volunteer qualified to help?]

³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me [This seems clear advice to aid every child, provided you limit selection to “in Jesus name”. In other words, if you help a child for the child’s sake, you failed. That is, if the child lives in Yahweh’s name it’s OK to neglect the child. I disagree and would like to address the issue. I think adults should aid every child they can.]; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” [I think it is commendable that “the one” is not capitalized, because Jesus may represent thegood (a contraction for singularity) rather than a deity. On the other hand, Jesus may be theGod. Also, “Christ” may not represent Jesus. It is important for the individual to acquire humility toward theGod, whatever that entity may be.]

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

³⁸ “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

³⁹ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. [His name is “Jesus” rather than “Christ”. Also, I think the “in my name” limitation is imposed by the Church for its benefit. I read, write, and speak to motivate, facilitate, and encourage believers to reform their church to accommodate Matthew 5:48 respecting Genesis 1:26-28, the civic way their church perceives it. “Civic” means for life rather than for afterdeath.] [Without a doubt, anyone who aids thegood need not be judged on why they made that choice. I advocate Jesus’ civic influence and oppose Church when it interferes, accepting that I do not know theineluctabletruth. Yet, just as I do not accept judgement by others, I do not judge others.]

Causing to Stumble

⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. [I don’t accept Mark’s limitation to children “those who believe in me”. Thanks to the recent Nomads’ 6 weeks on the Book of James, I am reminded that James’ Jesus improved the Torah and advocated female and male human to be perfect in theGod’s image. Anyone who knows thegood and does not do it, errs. Thegood care for their children.] ⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. ^[44] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. ^[46] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ where

“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
    and the fire is not quenched.’

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted with fire.

⁵⁰ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

[I am grateful for the Nomads’ December 24, 2023 insights on Mark 9 reading.]

Mark 3: together comprehend and mirror Jesus' civic influence (Yeshua note)

Note: In early 2024 I learned his mom and dad in Nazareth named and called him "Yeshua", and "Jesus" is a consequence of translations from Aramaic/Hebrew to Greek, to Latin, to old English, then to Protestant English. "Christ" supports Paul, and some people believe Paul without civic objection. This discovery is wonderful and to be shared.

 [I read Bible passages to perceive ways to pursue perfect performance according to Genesis 1:26-28. It’s a neglected Mesopotamian political philosophy that says, in Jewish vernacular, that God-the-creator willed unto female and male human being, in their image, the duty to rule on earth to thegood (a word-contraction for specificity). I argue that the people who work to constrain the bad are civic citizens and are authorized by thegood to perfectly self-protect from worldly ways of living. I don’t know theineluctabletruth and opine that “civic citizens” mirror Jesus’ influence.]

3:1 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. ² Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. ³ Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

⁴ Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” [This argument reflects Genesis 1:26-28 duty to rule to thegood.] But they remained silent.

⁵ He looked around at them in anger [I doubt Jesus suffered anger, so question Mark’s writing.] and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts [Jesus perceived if not knew their hearts and was patient for them to choose reform.], said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. ⁶ Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. [I think this story is a primitive construct to argue that Jesus could perform miracles like those reported about more ancient people – raising the dead, controlling the weather and such: myths. Claims like raising someone who’s been dead 4 days invite opinion. My opinion is that such stories lessen Jesus’ civic influence to thegood. I do not want anyone to mimic me but do want to call attention to Jesus’ civic influence.]

Crowds Follow Jesus

⁷ Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. ⁸ When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. ⁹ Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. ¹⁰ For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. [Being a man, Jesus was subject to contagion.] ¹¹ Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” ¹² But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him. [Do impure spirits obey God? I doubt enemies obey.]

Jesus Appoints the Twelve

¹³ Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve [apostles] that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ and to have authority to drive out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), ¹⁷ James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. [Not James son of Joseph.]

Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law

²⁰ Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. ²¹ When his family [associates, since mother and brothers arrive in V 31. And what about sisters?] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

²² And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

²³ So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ²⁶ And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. [Can God stand against God? Can a Christian sect stand against Christianity? Can Christianity stand against Jesus’ civic influence? Can a body of believers stand against a Baptist church? Can an individual stand against humankind? Can freedom and liberty stand against thegood? Does theGod oppose thegood?] ²⁷ In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. ²⁸ Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” [Whoever opposes thegood begs ruin.]

³⁰ He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”

³¹ Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived [sisters kept at home?]. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. ³² A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

³³ “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

³⁴ Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” [In Genesis 1:26-28 God willed female and male humankind to rule on earth in “our image”. Can God usurp God’s will in order to usurp human duty? I don’t think so. Can any man define God’s will and thereby judge another man? I don’t think so. However, together, humankind may and can discern thegood on earth.]

Mark 8: pursue Jesus’ civic influence (Yeshua note)

Note: In early 2024 I learned his mom and dad in Nazareth named and called him "Yeshua", and "Jesus" is a consequence of translations from Aramaic/Hebrew to Greek, to Latin, to old English, then to Protestant English. "Christ" supports Paul, and some people believe Paul without civic objection. This discovery is wonderful and to be shared. 

Mark 8: pursue Jesus’ civic influence.

Quoting leader Kenneth Tipton, “[For 2023, Nomads] are “Discovering Advent in the Gospel of Mark” through the study authored by Traci Daub titled, Holy Disruption.  [In week one, citing Mark 13,] we explored the Christmas theme of waiting and were encouraged by Jesus to be proactive and WATCH.   [For week 2,] we explore the Christmas theme of Peace on Earth Good Will to All.  Mark Chapter 8 . . . begins with a familiar story of a miracle and ends with a rebuke and an admonition by Jesus to FOLLOW. 

[I read scripture with 2 principles in mind: Genesis 1:26-28’s message that humankind may and can choose to rule to thegood on earth and Jesus’ message that humans may and can pursue perfect performance -- in theGod’s image. When I perceive Christian bias in NIV, I check CJB. “Civic” expresses reliably responsible connections and transactions to thegood.]

8 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ² “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat [This year, my friend Phil Chialastri fasted 40 days. Also, provisions for 3 days might be stretched on intentions.]. ³ If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

⁴ His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

⁵ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

⁶ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. ⁷ They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. ⁸ The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ⁹ About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, ¹⁰ he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. [A suburb of Magdala?]

¹¹ The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. [A disciple could have reported the feeding of the crowd as a sign. Also, Mark could not judge the Pharisees; I speculate they sincerely wanted to know Jesus’ opinion to consider for improving the Torah.] ¹² He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” [Jesus could have responded, I just fed 4000; is that a sign, rather than “no sign will be given”. I doubt Mark’s report, because I consider Jesus reliable.] ¹³ Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. [If this is west to east across the Sea of Galilee, it’s a trip.]

¹⁴ The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. ¹⁵ “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast [leaven, rising, lightener, light -- a metaphor for either enlightenment or lies] of the Pharisees and that of Herod [church and state].”

¹⁶ They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

¹⁷ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand [V. 8 says 4000, so he refers to an earlier event.], how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,” they replied.

²⁰ “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”

²¹ He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” [That he is a miracle worker? I don’t think so.]

[My opinion (I don’t know theineluctabletruth) is that Jesus, in V 15, was reportedly saying that the Pharisees and Herod had not the appreciation to participate-in a miracle-demonstration. Also, in V 12, Jesus seemed to tell the Pharisees he would not negotiate with them.

This sequence, 1) feeding 5,000 with 12 basketfuls left then 4,000 with 7 leftovers; 2) then refusing to perform a test for Torah developers; 3) then decrying the attitude of the civic leader; and 4) finally chastising the disciples’ failure to understand, presents a quid pro quo. That is, you either 1) appreciate Jesus or 2) cannot get to know him. It affirms the concept of election, or being chosen by God to believe Jesus. See John 6:35-40; there, John describes election without using the term. Only Matthew and Mark use the word “election”. Election carries a risk: perceived antinomianism (not a biblical word), which can lead to a life unexamined.]

²² They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

²⁵ Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶ Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.” [Again, Mark’s report implies that miracles are intended for antinomians only; unbelievers are not to know miracles happened. I do not think theGod manipulates favorite people or groups.] [It took 2 experiences with Jesus for the blind man to see clearly. It’s another metaphor, perhaps to express understanding Jesus’ influence. Today, December 10, 2023, I see clearly that my individual joy at Christmas is to perceive Jesus’ civic influence rather than sacrifice to save souls to heaven. It is a joy that cannot be discouraged and I seek to share.]

²⁷ Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

²⁸ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

²⁹ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

³⁰ Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. [That’s Mark’s report, decades after Jesus was executed. Perhaps in actual reality Jesus said there would be no Messiah: theGod is for all humankind.]

³¹ He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law [that is, the Torah maintained by Israel, would not affirm Jesus as the Son of God], and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ³² He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

³³ But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” [Perhaps Jesus was rejecting his own thoughts, rather than accusing Peter of being Satan.] he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” [How could Jesus accuse Peter of evil then explain that he does not understand theGod, perhaps Jesus. Since God is a mystery, people may willfully call Phil Beaver “Satan”, but I doubt they do.]

³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. [This sentence contradicts Jesus’ affirmation of Genesis 1:26-28, which assigns to the individual the independent responsibility for order and prosperity to life on earth and to the earth. Does “the gospel” differ from Jesus influence? And is Jesus message -- that humans can perfect personal behavior, the “Good News” (CJB)?] ³⁶ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? [Can a person perfect their behavior and lose their soul? This calls to mind the competition between James’ epistle about behavior and Paul’s argument for “election” or antinomianism.] ³⁷ Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? [Their life? If so, that’s a contradiction.] ³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. [Since returning to UBC on October 17, 2021, I realize that the-metaphysical-Jesus supported every good decision I ever made. I will not allow the mysteries of God, the Holy Spirit, Satan, soul, worship& praise, Christ, any religious construct, or church lessen my appreciation for Jesus’ civic influence.]”

Joshua 2; Rahab seems a traitor

Joshua 2, CJB, My comments in endnotes.

Concise opinion: Viewed as an agent of the-God, Rahab seems a traitor to humankind. Respecting Yahweh, Rahab broke several of the 10 commandments. As a Canaanite, Rahab seems an egocentric traitor to her people, excepting her immediate family. If I were an Israelite contemporary, I would not trust her or her family, because of their fears and errors. Making Rahab a hero to any ideology or religion bemuses believers.

[In studying the Bible, I ponder reliability to the-God’s message in Genesis 1:26-28, NIV, “make mankind in our image so they may rule over the [lesser species] . . . [and] fill and subdue the earth”. Coming from the-God, “may” implies can choose to. Each person may and can choose to responsibly pursue order on earth. Happy is the person whose actions the-God both appreciates and would mimic if on earth. I want to behave to so represent the-good against the-bad. I want to be a civic citizen. “Civic” means responsible in human connections and transactions.

“May choose to rule” is not equivalent to free-will, which accommodates no-rule, or chaos, or evil. Necessity requires constraint, so those who choose free-will get ruled by citizens who accept and never doubt the-God’s appreciation. “May rule” implies that the-God appreciates the-good and will not usurp mankind’s role. In other words, the-God’s gift to mankind is their opportunity to pursue the-good on earth. It seems “subdue” refers to humankind’s erroneous behavior.

I perceive that John 1:1 asserts that Jesus is the-God. Further, Matthew 5:48 asserts that a human-being may and can pursue unique perfection that mimics Jesus’ reliability. No surrogate can pursue a person’s unique perfection: the person must rule his/her way of living. Also, Matthew 25:41-45 expresses that citizens who do not treat fellow-civic-citizens as unique images of Jesus accept neither Genesis 1:26-28 nor the-God. Each person may accept the-God’s appreciation and pursue Jesus’ civic influence.

Jesus’ civic influence may be discerned in the gospels when he speaks with individuals. Happy is the person who joins with fellow-citizens to pursue, facilitate, and promote Jesus’ civic influence. That is, pursue reliability to Jesus' civic influence to the-good to each generation – “to ourselves and our Posterity”, quoting the preamble to the U.S. Constitution.

I write opinion, because I do not know the-ineluctable-truth. Ineluctable means: not to be assailed, avoided, changed, escaped, neglected, obfuscated, rationalized, or resisted.]

 

2 Y’hoshua [Israelite] the son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Sheetim with these instructions: “Go, inspect the land and Yericho.”[A] They left and came to the house of a prostitute named Rachav, where they spent the night. ² The king[B] of Yericho [Canaanite] was told[C] about it — “Tonight some men from Isra’el came here to reconnoiter the land.”

³ The king of Yericho sent a message to Rachav [Canaanite], “Bring out the men who came to you and are staying in your house, because they have come to reconnoiter all the land.” ⁴ However, the woman, after taking the two men and hiding them, replied, “Yes, the men did come to me; but I didn’t know where they had come from [a lie]. ⁵ The men left around the time when they shut the gate, when it was dark. Where they went I don’t know [a lie]; but if you chase after them quickly, you will overtake them.”[D] ⁶ Actually she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them under some stalks of flax she had spread out there. ⁷ The men pursued them all the way to the fords at the Yarden; as soon as the pursuit party had left, the gate was shut.

⁸ The two men had not yet lain down when she returned to the roof ⁹ and said to them, “I know that Adonai has given you the land. Fear[E] of you has fallen on us; everyone in the land is terrified at the thought of you. ¹⁰ We’ve heard how Adonai dried up the water in the Sea of Suf ahead of you, when you left Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Emori on the other side of the Yarden, Sichon and ‘Og, that you completely destroyed them. ¹¹ As soon as we heard it, our hearts failed us. Because of you, everyone is in a state of depression. For Adonai your God — he is God in heaven above and on the earth below. ¹² So, please, swear to me by Adonai that, since I have been kind to you, you will also be kind to my father’s family. Give me some evidence of your good faith, ¹³ that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers and sisters and all who are theirs, so that we won’t be killed.”[F] ¹⁴ The men replied to her, “Our lives are certainly worth yours [the bargain for favor], provided you don’t betray our mission. So when Adonai gives us the land [we completely destroy Jericho], we will treat you kindly and in good faith.”

¹⁵ Then she lowered them by a rope through the window; since her house abutted the city wall, indeed was actually built into it. ¹⁶ She told them, “Head for the hills, so that the pursuit party won’t get their hands on you; and hide yourselves there for three days, until the pursuers have returned. After that, you can go on your way.” ¹⁷ The men said to her, “We will not be guilty of violating the oath you made us swear, provided that ¹⁸ when we enter the land, you tie this piece of scarlet cord in the window you let us down from; and you gather together in your house your father, mother, brothers, and your father’s entire household. ¹⁹ If anyone goes out the doors of your house into the street, he will be responsible for his own blood, and we will be guiltless. But everyone who stays with you in the house — we will be responsible for his blood if anyone lays a hand on him. ²⁰ However, if you say a word about this business of ours, then we will be free of your oath that you made us swear.” ²¹ “According to your words, so be it,” she said, and sent them away. As they departed, she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

²² They left, arrived in the hills, and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had returned. The pursuers had searched for them all the way but hadn’t found them. ²³ Then the two men returned. Descending from the hills they crossed over and came to Y’hoshua the son of Nun, and reported everything that had happened to them. ²⁴ “Truly Adonai has handed over all the land to us,” they told Y’hoshua. “Everyone in the land is terrified that we’re coming.”

Updated on 9/22/2023

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[A] Yericho was a Canaanite city; https://www.bibleodyssey.org/places/main-articles/jericho.

[B] The Canaanites (and the Hebrews) were Northern Semites; Ancient Semitic-speaking peoples - Wikipedia.

[C] Who leaked the secret?

[D] Rachav or Rahab deceived her king, her city, her family, and her neighbors, I think breaking at least the 1^st, 3^rd, and 9^th of 10 commandments.

[E] Rahab committed treason against everyone in Jericho to save her life and her immediate family who could and would come to her home.

[F] Did Rahab’s quid pro quo exclude her 4 grandparents and theirs from protection? Seems so.