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.]”