Chapter # 4 Paragraph # 9 Study # 2
July 28, 2020
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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Thesis:   Mark's references to the "crowd" and "other boats" are subtle, but significant, "markers" involving his presentation of Jesus in the pursuit of the development of "fishers/menders of men".

Introduction:   In our introductory study of this paragraph last week we noted that Mark's overall point is the timidity and unbelief of The Twelve. His reason for this "point" is his understanding of the importance of an immediate response of "faith" when understanding is given regarding the Word of God. This is not a minor issue as Hebrews 3:7-4:11 (with a particular focus upon 8, 13, 15, and 4:7) makes clear. There is, always, a clear and present danger (Hebrews 3:13) that something very important will be nullified by "distraction", and "faith" will not develop as it is given opportunity.

This evening we are going to look a bit further into Mark's details.

• I. The General, Underlying, Principle of "Life By Words".
  • A. Jesus declared it (Matthew 4:4).
  • B. Jesus also intensified it (Matthew 5:18).
  • C. The only legitimate conclusion we can draw is that it is Life-Necessary to pay attention to the details.
• II. Mark's Details.
  • A. In our last study, we saw that Mark emphasized the link between the parables and the experience upon the sea by doubling down on "that day" and "when evening had come" and Jesus', at it turned out to be "impossible", command.
  • B. There are other significant details which are notable for their "apparent" lack of reason for being in the text.
    • 1. Jesus' "leaving the crowd".
      • a. This could be taken as a simple statement that Jesus was finished teaching in parables and was leaving the crowd behind.
      • b. The problem is that Mark deliberately turns right around and says "other boats were with Him", seemingly allowing that the "leaving" was not a "total" thing.
      • c. Thus, we need to understand what "leaving the crowd" signifies.
        • 1) The word translated "leaving" is used extensively by Mark (found in 34 of his texts).
          • a) This word is the root of the essence of John's preaching: 1:4.
            • i. As such, it is a "critical concern" word.
            • ii. A word study in Mark reveals that the essence of the word involves the creation of "distance" between two, or more, entities.
            • iii. The significance of the promise of "distance" between a man and his sins involves both the "problem" of sins (as compelling reasons under Justice for negative consequences) and the "promise" of the amount of distance God is willing to create (as far as the East is from the West).
          • b) In this light, "leaving" generally signals a deliberate and significant creation of an "uncrossable" distance.
            • i. In a very real sense, Jesus had already "left" the crowd as early as 4:1 when He got into a "boat" and deliberately shielded His Truth from the crowd's understanding by teaching only in parables.
            • ii. The reason for this is both "immediate" and "longer term": in the "Immediate present" He "left them" because of their basic narcissism (2:4 and 3:9); and in the "longer term" He "left them" because He was not going to "create a distance" between them and their sins (4:11-12).
            • iii. But this "leaving" was geographical: He was already in the boat when He told the disciples to cross over to the other side (explaining the "as He was in the boat" phrase).
        • 2) The "crowd" and the "other boats".
          • a) The "crowd" is referred to by Mark in 35 texts in his record.
            • i. The reference to "crowd" in 4:36 has its most recent backdrop in 4:1 where multiple issues are involved (teaching by the sea; getting into a boat; and the "crowd" being "on the land"), the chiefest of which is the necessity for the "crowd" to come to grips with the real issues of "Life" -- not health and demon issues.
            • ii. This "crowd" is deliberately distinct from the "disciples" as Jesus pointedly declared in His explanation for His only teaching in parables.
          • b) The "other boats".
            • i. What could be Mark's "point" in even mentioning "other boats"?
            • ii. The references to "boats" by Mark (15 of them) underscore Jesus' affinity for getting His disciples away from the crowd so that He might deal with their great need for development into "believing men" (1:19-20; 4:37; 6:47; and 8:14).
            • iii. So, why "other boats"? My guess is that Mark may also have wanted to point out that it did no good to be "in a boat" unless Jesus was in it too.

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This is article #176.
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