Chapter # 2 Paragraph # 2 Study # 1
July 23, 2019
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
(090)
1901 ASV
13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the [
son] of Alphaeus sitting at the place of toll, and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
15 And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many
publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
16 And the scribes
of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and
publicans, said unto his disciples,
[
How is it] that he eateth
and drinketh with
publicans and sinners?
17 And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are
whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
- I. The Developing Acceptance/Opposition Thesis.
- A. In the structure of Mark's Gospel, there are two major issues in this section of his Gospel: Who is Jesus? and What were the responses of the people to Him?
- B. In our studies so far we have seen that Mark has presented Jesus as "The Final Authority" in respect to the "Kingdom of God" that is "at hand".
- 1. This "authority" covers all of creation with a focus upon the "creatures" of "personhood".
- a. He is "The Final Authority" when He addresses the "powers of the spiritual realm" as "persons" of "spirit" (demonstrated by a focus upon those "spirits" which were totally antagonistic because those which were in harmony with Him would not demonstrate that it was "authority" that was in mind since their "love" for Him would have automatically agreed with His directions). Some truths are more easily seen by contrast than by complement. "Authority" is best seen when exercised toward those who would disobey if they could.
- b. He is "The Final Authority" when He addresses the "powers of the physical realm" as they impact "persons" dwelling in "bodies" as human beings (demonstrated by a focus upon diseases and/or destructive incidents because these are the issues of "authority" for physically debilitated human beings).
- 2. This "authority" gradually pushes the issue to the fore: Jesus, as "The Final Authority" is, in some way, connected uniquely to "God" as His chosen "Ruler" of His Final/Eternal Kingdom.
- a. John first introduced Him as "The Mightier Than I Who Comes After My Preparer Work is Done". The "mightier" concept he defined as a contrast to his weak ability to effect real change (baptism with water) because, in His "mightier" identity, He possesses the ability to effect real change (baptism with the Spirit of God).
- b. Then, when Jesus had been baptized by John, the Voice From Heaven declares Jesus to be "My Beloved Son"; thus making Him far more than "mere" man, though fully Man He was.
- C. But these studies have also introduced us to the reality of "responses" to Jesus as "The Final Authority".
- 1. Initially, we have "Satan Who Opposes" and "Four Who Follow".
- 2. Then we have an explosive and expanding popularity that is rooted in extreme superficiality (people seeking benefits without understanding how those benefits "obligate").
- D. And most recently we have seen Jesus pushing the issues of His identity as He "rewards" faith and "overwhelms" unbelieving opposition.
- 1. In the "rewards of faith" arena, those who "believe" receive what they "need".
- 2. In the "overwhelming of unbelieving opposition" arena, those who "oppose" are exposed as corrupted in some particular way. They are forced to "know" Who/What He is even though they are adamant in opposition to Him.
- II. Mark's Current Presentation.
- A. Another "by the sea summons of a disciple who follows" record.
- 1. According to Strong's there are 15 references to Jesus in respect to the "sea" with several presenting "teaching" with the "sea" as a backdrop and several others presenting the awesome "destructive capacities" of the "sea" as an environment of death for creatures that breathe air into their lungs.
- 2. The "And He went again alongside the sea" pushes us backwards into the original record that is contained in Mark's introductory section (1:2-20).
- a. In that part of the introduction, Jesus' selection of four (to be His "followers" whom He would transform into "disciples" who would carry forward His agenda after His departure from this world), plays off of the "Satanic" opposition narrative as a contrast so that these "followers" are seen as embracing Him and His agenda.
- b. This introductory positive response to Jesus' Person and Task sets the stage for our current text/context.
- 3. The repetition of the "alongside the sea" setting is, again, a presentation of the "setting" for Jesus' "Task" in that the "sea" is a potent "death" setting, but that is where the "fish" are. To "net" them and draw them out of the "sea", the "followers" must subject themselves to the potential of the "sea" to destroy them.
- a. The "...and He was teaching them..." is a step further into the "ministry" motif: the "teaching" always has the backdrop of the "sea" even when the "sea" is not in the text or context: the "ministry" is the subjection of oneself to the potential for death in order to draw "men" out of that "death environment". This "teaching" motif initially moved from the "sea" into the "synagogue" where the real "Death" issues are being cemented into the hearts and minds of those living in the depths of the death environment: the doctrine of the scribes.
- b. There are no "details", just Mark's focus upon the "generic" concept of "teaching" (just like the "He was speaking the Word to them" in the record of the healing of the paralytic).
- 4. The issue of the "multitude" ("all of the crowd") "coming to Him" is also a hearkening back to the "problem" of Jesus being the object of exploding popularity egged on by the leper's failure to "follow" Jesus' instructions. This is an underlying "problem" because it is the stimulant for "scribal opposition" (Mark 15:10).
- 5. The original record sets up the possibility that Jesus' selection of "Levi" was also because of the significance of his "name" in the light of his "vocation".
- a. The original "Levi" was named such because his mother was a thorough-going legalist who thought that her "productions" would lead to her being "loved" (Genesis 29:34).
- b. Mark does not use "Levi" any longer in his record, actually reverting to his more recognized name (Matthew) in 3:18, so that we conclude there was a reason for the use of "Levi".
- 1) There are two types of "legalists": the self-righteous; and the hopelessly despairing.
- 2) As a tax collector, this "Levi" was of the latter type.
- c. The significance would, then, be this: the "ministry" of "hope through grace" has this basic reality: though people are thorough-going legalists, there is hope for those who have come to despair under Law.
- 6. The "summons" is the same: "Follow Me". The response is the same: "...he arose and followed...".
- B. Another "scribal opposition" record.
