Gospel of Luke - Chapters 5-10 Notes

Chapter 5

5:1-11

Lake of Gennesarat is the Sea of Galilee. Jesus sees two boats and gets into Simon's boat and begins to teach from there. The apostles have a great catch due to Jesus. Simon Peter we should note has a home and a boat so financially he is doing pretty well here. This huge catch that happens here is essentially a huge miracle and they have just made a lot of money that can help them out. It touches Simon Peter because he is dependent on this financially to make a living. The dead water we find here is teeming with life (fish). God gives life to the world in Genesis and this is supposed to be a reference to that here. Jesus commands nature here and Peter has picked up on it in some sense. Jesus next calls these four fishermen to be His disciples and they end up giving up on their livelihood here to follow Jesus. 

5:12-16

Jesus cleanses a leper (probably someone with Hason's Disease). The only way they would be allowed back into society would be for a leper to show the high priest that they were cured. Jesus merely cures him with a word. He is willing to cleanse the leper and simply says with authority: "Be Clean".

This leper risks a death sentence coming into society to see Jesus. Jesus does something seen as risky in society too by touching this leper to heal him. This man has probably not had someone touch him in many years, perhaps even decades of isolation. 

Jesus then goes off to pray.

5:17-26

Jesus heals a man who is paralyzed and tells him to get up and walk. Pharisees and scribes are listening to Him teach and they question Him. These people care about their friend's well being so much that they cut open the roof to get to Jesus and are rewarded for their faithfulness to Christ and their faithfulness that Jesus will be able to heal him. The Pharisees freak out over this because Jesus says "Your sins are forgiven" and they realize, theologically, according to the OT, that only God could do this. If Jesus is the one forgiving sin, then He is God. Jesus also knows their thoughts. He does this miracle to show them and make it clear that He is God and Messiah. He is making a point to show them and yet He calls Himself Son of Man or Son of Adam to also show He is a man. 

5:27-32

Jesus calls Levi/Matthew, a tax collector, and also a Roman collaborator. Levi/Matthew leaves his cushy job that pays him greatly, though it is through unethical means, to follow Jesus. St. Luke probably shows this to show that following Jesus may involve persecution, martyrdom, and giving up things in life like your job and your wealth. 

5:33-39

An issue over fasting comes up. Jesus talks about the bridegroom and references 4 Esdras. The destruction of the First Temple (by Babylon) is used metaphorically with a bride and a bridegroom. Jesus is using this to allude to His death here. Here they are also found celebrating the New Covenant. 

[By 110 AD the Pharisees (Reform Judaism) were fasting Saturday and Sunday while the Early Church added fasts to Wednesday and Friday for the death and resurrection of Christ]

Jesus talks about old and new wineskins. New wines need to be in a new wineskin and they can't work in the old otherwise it will tear. Jesus is telling them that they need to be new and stop drinking the old wine. Right now they are choosing the Old Covenant over the New Covenant. 

Chapter 6

6:1-5

Jesus is walking through a grainfield and the Pharisees see them taking food on the Sabbath. They question why His disciples are doing this and Jesus responds by pointing to 1 Samuel when David was on the run and they took the showbread in the Tabernacle. They broke the Law there to eat. David is King then and a prototype for the Messiah. Previously in Chapter 5, they had argued only God can forgive sin and Jesus did not argue because He is God. He says here that He is also the Law-Giver, and Lord of the Sabbath. Therefore, it is okay to do this because He is God. The Sabbath Law was made before the 10 Commandments were given. It was there in Genesis. Before Mosaic Law was the Sabbath Law.

6:6-11

Next Sabbath, He taught at a synagogue again: The scribes and Pharisees are back at it again and Jesus asks whether it is good to do good or evil on a Sabbath. The Pharisees don't respond so Jesus heals the man with the withered hand. In private, they then get angry and begin devising plots for revenge. 

6:12-16

Jesus calls His disciples, the 12. This includes Judas, the traitor. Jesus goes to pray atop a mountain and chooses them. Jesus will choose about 70/72 and 120 but this specific 12 Disciples? Why 12? Because the apostles will represent the Old Testament's Tribes of Israel. 

6:17-19

Crowds came to hear and see Him and be healed. Luke distinguishes again between sick and demon-possessed people. The Greco-Roman people weren't ignorant or primitives. They would likely consider us Americans to be primitive in our morality. These people have come from Jew and Gentile lands. Jesus has started with His own people but He is also here for all people. 

6:20-26

This is a sermon given: The Sermon on the Plain, not the Sermon on the Mountain. Jesus is on a level plane with them all here. Some bible critics try to argue Matthew and Luke contradict each other here in their gospel accounts but this is absurd. Jesus preaches in a different place here and Jesus also preaches more than one sermon to people and sometimes, as we all do, people repeat themselves and their messages. St. Luke records the Beatitudes and the Woes. This sermon is different from the Sermon on the Mount. Blessed are you poor. Blessed are you who hunger NOW. Blessed are you who weep NOW. Those who are oppressed and being screwed and taken advantage of by the wicked will get their rewards. 

Luke records curses. "Woe" is used here - a cuss word equivalent at that time. 

6:24-26

Those who prize their vices and this stuff now will be last. Will you long for the temporary things of this world and chase after them or will you chase after the eternal things and chase after God? Christ aims this at His disciples mostly but obviously, it applies to the general audience and ourselves. 

6:27-36

He is talking to the crowd but directly calls out the Pharisees. They cannot listen and refuse to listen to Him. We should all take this to heart not to try and take revenge but focus instead on love.

"You will be sons of the Most High" - You will be like Jesus the Son. He is the Image of the Father (eikon). Theosis is seen here. Through theosis, we who follow God will be like God. 

6:37-42

Jesus talks about the Last Judgment here. Do you want to stand condemned? No? Then be merciful to others like God wants to be with all of us. Jesus preaches here about hypocrisy. 

6:42-49

Continues on... Be a good tree and bear good fruit. Strive for a good reputation. Repentance is turning and fighting a disease and curing it. We can only start on this by building on a good foundation.

Chapter 7

7:1-10

When Jesus finishes preaching, He enters Capernaum. A centurion's servant is dying and sends Jewish elders to Him to come. They beg Him to because he has built them a synagogue and it is clear that this centurion is a god-fearer, a Gentile who believes in Yahweh. In this Gentile's home, these Jews were being in someone funding it. Paul and the Apostles later would use the houses like this as churches. This centurion is also a Roman soldier, well-off, and most Jews at this time would have counted him mostly as an enemy. 

[Note that polygamy until the 11th CE was practiced in Judaism. Christians were the ones to begin instituting monogamy and one marriage]

This Roman knew enough about their culture of cleanliness that he didn't go directly to Jesus as well but sent Jews to speak to Him. In places like Corinth, we know that Romans paid for Jewish synagogues and buildings to be built.

The goal of Roman life was excellence and magnificence, to be a high-profile person. They would therefore fund and help a building be built. There was no separation between church and state back then and they saw temples much in the same way that we see a library - as a part of the community. When the Christians eventually would not participate in this, the Roman people would think they were odd and believe they were anarchists who were trying to wreck and destroy the community. 

There was also a Roman fad at the time where they were very interested in Jews and Yahweh because Yahweh had no statuary and they found this odd. They are all fascinated about what is in the Temple and some even were aware that there was no Ark of the Covenant there any longer in the 2nd Temple so nothing was in there. This confounded Greco-Roman people and they believed that Jews practiced SOLA MENTES which means worship only in the mind. In other words, they thought it was a philosophical religion. 

A lot of St. Paul's earliest converts were god-fearing Gentiles. The Gentiles actually convert en masse because they don't have to do a lot of the things Jews do such as circumcision and when Christians live this way, this inevitably began to also hit Jewish synagogues' funding in the pocketbooks.

The centurion considers himself unworthy so he sends word that Christ doesn't have to come to his home. He says this out of pure respect because Jesus would have then entered an "unclean" home. Here is Jesus, who is essentially a homeless peasant and this Roman centurion shows Him the utmost respect here and acknowledges as well that Jesus has the authority to command diseases like he does Roman soldiers. It is very clear as well that the Centurion knows that Jesus is God and Messiah from this. He acknowledges that Jesus isn't like the OT prophets and is God Incarnate by His actions. The centurion's faithfulness heals his servant. This also shows us that Israel is faithless and doesn't know God while this Roman Gentile is faithful and knows who He is. 

7:11-17

The next day, Jesus goes to Nain. There is a funeral happening on the way out and we find a dead son and a widowed peasant woman here. The widowed woman has no rights whatsoever and her only son and child are dead. She can now only beg in a town full of poor peasants. When the Lord, Jesus saw her He had compassion on her and told the young man to rise saying, "Do not weep". The young man begins speaking and is now alive. [Compassion was associated with the spleen so here the Greek actually says that Christ spleened for her, a very human emotion].

Everyone fears Him and realizes that Jesus is a Great Prophet and says God has visited His people. This report goes throughout all of Judaea and the region. These Jews don't say that He is God Incarnate because they think He is only a prophet. This is deliberately done here by St. Luke to show again that the Gentile centurion's faith is superior.

7:18-35

John's disciples report these things to him. John asks if He is the Messiah or not. "Are you the Coming One or is there another?" 

We understand the OT prophets today but back then, they did not know. They were still piecing these prophecies together. Some sects of Judaism thought that there might even be two messiahs. Some of the Dead Sea Scrolls have two messiahs, one a priest and the other a king messiah. Some even said there would be a literal or figurative Elijah and then a Messiah. 

So John the Baptist here is asking Jesus which one He is and getting clarification from someone who he knows can clarify. That hour, Jesus cured many diseases, and injuries, and gave sight to the blind. Jesus then gives them a visual and tells John's disciples a passage from Isaiah. Jesus' answer is that He is the One that Isaiah spoke of. 

"Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me". He is explaining that He will not do as they expect Messiah will do. He talks about John the Baptist and then to the crowd: Clarifying that John the Baptist is more than just a prophet but is actually the prophesied Forerunner to the Messiah. John is Elijah, the one in the wild who paves the way for the Messiah. 

Refers to King Herod when he asks if they went to go to see a wimp. 

John is the one prophesied in Malachi. The Forerunner is the greatest OT prophet aside from Jesus Christ. The sinners find forgiveness while the Pharisees are pissed. 

[Note: Even Josephus, who decided that Rome was Messiah, said John the Baptist was a holy prophet and thought that 70 AD was a judgment for the unjust death of John]

"This generation" (genos) is used here. It refers to a people group, ethnicity, the men of this ethnicity? This is Jewish people.

John the Forerunner gave them bad news and you people rejected him. Now the Messiah comes with good news, forgiveness, healing, etc. and they say He is a drunk and reject Him too. They will not listen. 

7:36-50

"And then..." after that, next happened...

A Pharisee (Simon) asks Jesus to eat with him. A woman comes with an alabaster flask of oil and washes his feet with her tears. The centurion respected Jesus. This Pharisee doesn't and wants to check Him out for Himself and test Him. 

Simon the Pharisee judges this woman as evil and that Jesus lets her even touch His feet. 

Jesus then tells the Pharisee that He has been disrespected by him while the woman Simon calls a sinner is doing all she can to honor Him the best she can and knows how to. This Pharisee already rejected John the Baptist and he will reject Jesus. He is cutting himself off from God. This woman has not. 

Jesus gives a story to Simon the Pharisee about two debtors who owe 50 denari and 500 denari. He asks which debtor should get more love from if he forgives them. 

He speaks to the woman and Simon, as equals, and tells him how she is forgiven because she loves much. Simon was there to judge Jesus and wasn't going to change. Her sins are forgiven for she loved much and Jesus' point to Simon is that because you love so little you won't receive much forgiveness. Salvation is presented as repentance and living in love and better in love. Their life must be transformed. Those who sat at the table begin freaking out when Jesus forgives her of her sin because again they know only God can do this so who is Jesus? God Incarnate obviously. 

This story is obviously put here to juxtapose the Centurion's (Gentile nations) faithfulness and willingness to choose Yahweh and Simon the Pharisee's (Israel) faithlessness. 

Chapter 8

8:1-3

And it happened - it came to pass - a new section of St. Luke's gospel here. Jesus is proclaiming the Gospel. Luke also mentions women here.

Mary Magdeline - is not a prostitute but she is someone delivered by seven evil spirits - demons. There is no proof that she ever was one but there is proof that she biblically was demon-possessed. 

Joanna - wife of Chuza, a steward of King Herod and Susanna. These women had some money and helped fund Jesus' missions. St. Luke mentions them both likely because at this time they are still alive and can corroborate the evidence and the claims Luke makes. Mentioning women at this time was also a big deal to Greco-Roman peoples and would have been seen as scandalous because back then women had no rights and were seen in negative ways often. 

8:4-15

A big crowd comes and Jesus gives a parable here. He explains the parable to the apostles and it is self-explanatory. He tells all the disciples too (including the women). He tells this parable purposely to confuse some people so they have no excuse when they don't bother to listen or repent in the first place. Jesus quotes Isaiah here. The seed represents different people. 

8:16-18

He gives another example to people to take heed of how they hear what is said. In the same way, in a modern context, you would not put a flashlight under your bed, you would not waste your lamp oil. God will reveal all. Christ is here continuing the Parable of the Sower.

8:19-21

The crowd sees Jesus' family there and tells Him they are there desiring to see Him. His response here is not him disowning His family. People use this verse and take it out of context. 

"My mother and brothers are THESE who hear the word of God and do it". He is saying what makes them His family is THEY follow God. It is positive what Jesus says here and He has said this AFTER His parable of the Sower with an application. The idea is that YOU can be part of HIS FAMILY too if YOU follow God. There is no negative participles in the Greek here. 

8:22-25

Next, on a certain day, Jesus and the Apostles ride a boat and a storm takes place, and the boat takes water. Jesus is asleep and so they wake Him up and then Jesus commands the sea to calm. This shows us here that He is God Incarnate and also that He is stronger than Baal a storm deity/demon. 

Jonah was asleep too like this. Jonah knew Yahweh controlled the sea and storm. The sailors were pagan and ultimately prayed and trusted in their gods (demons) first. The disciples do not even bother to pray at all. They panic. This is why Jesus asks them, "Where is your faith"? Shows how frail we all are who claim to be faithful Christians. 

8:26-39

They sailed to the country of the Gadarenes - Gentile lands. When He lands there, a naked demoniac is there in the tombs. He has been living there with scavengers and unclean animals. Jesus and the demons then converse. The demon Legion knows who Jesus is. Contrast this with the disciples earlier. 

The Oracle of Delphi was possessed by Apollos. People often in Gentile lands regularly tried to be possessed by the demons. They would have festivals like that of the Baccheus festivals. In the modern day, we still see this done in Voodoo religion where they try to be possessed by the Loa. This demoniac probably partook in rituals and was then possessed by a demon. Jesus exorcised the demon and put the spirits in pigs. These spirits torment and destroy this man so Jesus sends them into pigs and they drown themselves because they can only torment and destroy.

The Gadarenes have Jesus depart. He ruined their pig business and saw the demoniac sane and just chilling out, without demons. Jesus literally only spoke and the demons left him. Jesus restores order. The Gentiles recognize Jesus is very powerful and they are afraid of Him so He leaves by boat. They probably were also questioning literally everything because of this and recognized they would have to change their entire life, culture, and religion if He stayed. The man wants to go with Jesus but He sends him back to his own people, back to their Gentile land, to tell them what God has done for him. 

8:40-56

Jesus returns and Jairus, a synagogue chief (meaning he paid for it and is the primary benefactor) asks for Jesus to help him as his 12-year-old daughter is dying. As Jesus heads there, a Jewish woman who has been bleeding for twelve years touches Jesus and is healed immediately. She confesses she touched Him and is unclean and has touched a Rabbi in the middle of a large crowd. Jesus praises her instead of condemning her and then goes to Jairus' daughter and raises her, reviving her from death. 

Chapter 9

9:1-9

Luke again here distinguishes demons and diseases. Jesus touches and fixes the natural and spiritual issues. The ancients had concepts and ideas about science and they were not primitives. Jesus gathers the Twelve and gives them authority over all demons and diseases, like a sheriff deputizing the deputy. Jesus can do this because He is God. He sends them off to heal and evangelize and has them take nothing for their journey. The Kingdom has come and is here currently. 

What would they be preaching? Not the same gospel in Acts. They proclaim that in Acts. They are proclaiming verbally, the Kingdom of God here and showing it is currently here and are showing it is hereby healing people. They are still unclear of how Jesus is establishing this Kingdom but here it is. Jesus sends them off around Galilee villages where they rely on God and people. 

9:6

They tell good news. If they accept it, keep it. If not, depart. When these people hear the Kingdom of God is here, they mostly think, "God is coming and will set things straight". Jesus doesn't do as expected though. Instead of a message of war, he sends out weak people with no armor! 

Herod the tetrarch hears this and freaks out because St. John the Forerunner had just been beheaded and some were telling him that John had risen from the dead. Herod wants to see Jesus and is worried and paranoid. This isn't hope; it is concern and dear because he wants to keep his power and position in society and this Jesus might screw that up and overthrow it all for him. Herod is put here in contrast to Jesus. Herod is a king and has military and political power and yet is afraid while Jesus has nothing, is a peasant, and has real power. 

9:10-17

The apostles return. Jesus and them go to a place of seclusion. The multitude follows and so the apostles say to send them off and Jesus responds "You give them something to eat". The apostles retort with a snarky response since they have five loaves and two fish and have to feed 5000 people (plus women and children). Jesus feeds them all. They were all sent out by themselves with nothing and God took care of all of them. The apostles don't get it but God would provide for them to feed these people. This also is here to remind us all of God feeding the Hebrews in the desert. Jesus blesses and breaks the bread. They even reported having leftovers. 

9:18-20

Jesus asks who the disciples think He is. He knows many have said He is Elijah or John the Baptist as one of the old prophets. Peter answers that He is "The Anointed One of God" - the Christos - Messiah. 

9:21-28

Jesus tells them not to say that He is Christ because it is not His time yet to suffer. Jesus tells them not to speak and then tells them how things will happen. He says He will suffer and be rejected and then be killed, and then be resurrected after three days. This is not how they expect the Messiah to do things. Be killed? Resurrect? Rejected? All of this is not the expectation. They had thought Jesus would be a warrior who sets all things straight. Christ does but it is through the Cross that He will do this. 

9:26-27

In context, take up your cross and follow Me... If you wish to follow you must die with Me. If you don't, you will lose your life (eternal life) (condemnation). What good is it if you are Ceasar and lose your soul? 

"There are some here who shall not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God". He has just said that we are all going to be defeated, be killed, but you will see the Kingdom of God? They think that they want a king that dominates all Gentiles but that is not it. David's kingdom may have been great but what good was it if you died a sinner? The problem is not the Gentiles, it is sin. Sin gets them exiled from Eden. It gets them exiled from God's presence. He calls them to repentance so they can begin the process of restoration. Jesus is dealing with sin and death, the real problem, and this is why He brings up the Resurrection and Last Judgment language here. 

9:28-36

Eight days. Transfiguration. They go to Mount Tabor and Jesus takes Peter, James, and John of Zebedee with Him. As He prays, He changes. Moses and Elijah appear and speak of His death in Jerusalem, a foretaste of the Resurrection. Moses' body had disappeared and Elijah was taken. They have glorified bodies here, pointing to the Resurrection. They were sleepy and this woke them all up. Peter says something goofy here. We then get a cloud here that comes and God talks (echoes of Exodus are shown here). They hear from God face-to-face. They kept quiet about all this until later.

9:37-42

They come down from Mount Tabor and a man in the multitude asks Jesus to heal his only child who is demon-possessed, and says that the apostles couldn't exorcise it. 

[The 1st Resurrection of Revelation - the resurrection (spiritual) between His 2nd Coming and the resurrection of the dead - The intermediate state right now saints are with the God of the Living awaiting the Resurrection of the dead and the 2nd Coming]

"Generation" [Gk. genos] [family group] O' faithless and perverse people! Reference to Moses when he finds idols. Reference to the OT and their wickedness. 

9:43-45

The crowd is amazed. Jesus heals more people. He says "Listen". He says He will be betrayed and they don't get it and are scared to ask and don't want to know either. 

9:46-48

The Twelve debate about who would be the greatest of them so Jesus takes a child to show they must be low like a slave to be greatest. 

9:49-50

Self explanatory. The man was working for Jesus and was not 2nd class. 

9:51-56

They enter a Samaritan (half-breed Jews) village and they reject Him. James and John get mad and they ask if Christ wants to destroy them. Jesus rebukes them and they go to another village. Jesus wants to save them too. He loves all people because they aren't our enemies. The devil is. Christ restores ALL ISRAEL. This includes Samaritans too. 

9:57-62

Someone says He will follow Christ. Christ's point is that there will be conflicts if you follow Jesus. Your life was as a Gentile going to change as you couldn't participate any longer in most of Greco-Roman life any longer. 

Chapter 10

10:1-24

Jesus sends out the 70. Two by two to go to each city. He almost tells the same to the Twelve that He did before. St. Luke makes a point that "the harvest is great. Labor is few". 

There are many able to take and accept Christ but not enough evangelicals. Jesus says the Last Judgment will be worse and make the day, that was for Sodom, look tolerable.

Jesus gives a woe to Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. He says if Tyre and Sidon had seen Jesus they would have repented like Jonah with Ninevah. They get Jesus Himself and reject Him so they are to be held more accountable.

"He who hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me". If you've heard from the 70, you've heard from Jesus Himself. 

The 70 are excited. They just told "demons" (false gods) what to do. The things/demons worshipped by Gentiles are under His authority. Jesus says "I saw Satan fall from heaven". He was there when He cast Satan from heaven. He has the authority because He is God Incarnate. 

He says "Don't be impressed because of this power. Be happy you are finding salvation and will find your name in the Book of Life". Jesus rejoices in the Spirit of God and thanks God for them. He loves the outcasts, the downtrodden, and the never-do-wells. The way we know who God is is through Jesus Christ, God the Son. Through Jesus, God the Son enters Creation. The Father, uncreated God. Apart from Christ, we don't know God.

10:25-37

Samaria is in between Jerusalem. They are despised by Jews as they are considered half-breeds. Samaria was just mad at Jesus in Chapter 9 for worshipping in Jerusalem instead of Samaria and at Mount Gemitrim. James and John wanted to destroy them earlier like Jonah wanted Ninevah to be destroyed. This is spiritually not a good space to be in. 

"Manner of spirit" - they did not understand who God is. They speak wrongly. For context, we should keep this in mind with anyone we perceive to be "the enemy". Christ is here to save these people. 

The apostles were going through or had just gone through and also, because they earlier wanted to smite Samaria, Jesus gives them this parable. 

A Pharisee scholar (lawyer) stands up and tries to test Jesus in an adversarial way with this question, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus answers with a question, what is written in the Law? What is your reading of it? 

The lawyer responds with quotes from Deuteronomy 28. 

Jesus says he has answered correctly. 

The lawyer, wants to try and structure the argument to win and have Jesus agree with his argument, so he asks, "Who is my neighbor?" Who do I have to love? My literal neighbor? Jews? Even Romans? Jesus answers with the Great Samaritan parable story. 

A man from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked by bandits and left for dead. A priest from Jerusalem sees him and walks off. According to the Torah, if he touches a nearly dead or dead man and he's bleeding out, he is unclean. Pharisees would say the priest is justified to walk away. Next, a Levite man finds him and he would be counted unclean too so he doesn't help him. 

A Samaritan, a half-breed the Jews considered unclean and heretical, has compassion and helps the man. The Samaritan also takes him to an inn, gives the innkeeper two denari, and says he'll pay back if need be to pay more. Jesus asks which one was more of a neighbor. 

The Lawyer responds: the one who showed Mercy. 

"Go and do likewise" - Jesus. We must love God and love ALL people and though there is Law, there is Mercy. The Law points to Mercy. You're not clean if you're being non-neighborly. 

The purpose of the Torah/Law was to clean yourself, not to follow it to a tee to the point of violating it by not loving another person. The Pharisees miss the point of the Law. It is the writing of the Torah vs. the spirit of the Torah argument. The whole purpose of the Torah is that it points to Jesus. 

Were the rules made so we couldn't help people? No. That is absurd. 

10:38-42

We are told in this, it is in Bethany (John's Gospel). Martha's house (slums of Jerusalem). They are poor and show hospitality to Jesus. Mary, her sister listens to Jesus. Disciple - student; one who "sat at one's feet" - an idiom for that.

Martha is trying to serve and feels like she's being screwed around a bit since her sister is seemingly doing nothing with this small group of people. She tells Jesus to tell her to help her serve so Jesus responds and tells her that she's doing good but is missing the point. Mary is His disciple and she should be one too and come listen to Him and hear Him. This is a big deal that He is saying this because Luke is writing to Greco-Roman Gentiles. Women were seen as so inferior in fact that unfortunately, rape was only seen as a crime because it was a crime against the man of the house. Gentiles reading St. Luke's Gospel would see women here as a disciple is very important because Luke is saying that Jesus sees women as equal to men so treat them as such. Following Christ inverts the social order of the 1st CE and even today. 

Gospel of Luke - Introduction - Chapters 1-4 Notes

St. Luke presents his gospel as a historical account written for a man named Theophilus. He also gives us the Acts of the Apostles as well. Luke-Acts is actually a 2-part book. As a physician, St Luke would have been strong in many of the arts. He is known for being the first iconographer. Back in the 1st CE, you would have made iconography and art with wax and we have what is claimed to be the icons he made, they are made of wax. Luke likely possesses a lot of the information he shares about Jesus' infancy because he directly gained that information from Mary, Mother of Christ herself. Luke's gospel is traditionally associated with an ox as a symbol of sacrifice and Luke focuses a lot on the priesthood of Jesus. If you read Luke you will see he reads in classical Koine Greek. He seems to have Gentile readers mostly in mind in his writings however this would also apply to the Greek-speaking Jews as well. 

Chapter 1

1:1-5

Theophilus, which means "lover of God" is a convert who wants the gospel told and has had St. Luke do this as a commission. St. Luke is a 2nd Generation Christian just like St. Mark is. 

"Those things which have been fulfilled among us" lends credibility to this writing being constructed after 70 AD. 

1:5-25

Begins in the days of Herod the Great, before his death and the tetrarchy formed. He begins with Zechariah, who is unusual for this time because he is supposed to legitimately be a High Priest while the Sadducees are not legitimate. Zechariah was not the High Priest but he was a liturgical part of the priesthood. He and his wife Elizabeth are righteous but have had no children yet. Zechariah is offering to Yahweh in the Temple when the angel of the Lord comes to him. There has been no presence of God at the altar because of the Exile being ongoing so this is why he is deeply troubled because this is obviously not a common occurrence taking place. The angel promises him and Elizabeth will have a child who will have the spirit and power of God over him like the prophet Elijah. Elijah is coming in 2nd Temple Judaism to prepare the way for the Messiah, the time of Restoration and Judgment. Things will begin to be made right and John the Baptist is part of this. John the Baptist will be the New, 2nd Elijah. He will be The Voice in the Wilderness who prepares and will be like a Nazarite.

Zechariah is baffled because he is old and has been told this child is also the 2nd Elijah. He asks for a sign and is given one: he is made mute until John is born. When Zechariah came out of the Temple he was speechless and couldn't see. His time to serve is up and he departs to his home. Elizabeth hides for 5 months because she is old and pregnant.

1:26-38

Mary meets Gabriel, an archangel, at Nazareth. She will give birth, as a Virgin, to Messiah. Joseph and Mary are both listed as descendants of King David. St. John the Baptist is a descendant of Aaron the High Priest. 

Mary - Miriam, on the side of Jesus, the Messiah of David's lineage. "One filled with grace" - "highly favored one". 

Mary isn't troubled by an angel showing up. She is troubled by the way Gabriel greets her. She shows great humility here. Mary was a dedicated woman to the Temple. A nun essentially in our period. She asks how she will be pregnant if she doesn't have sex with a man and Gabriel answers her that she will conceive by the Holy Spirit. 

Her asking "How can this be?" shows she never planned to have sexual relations. She planned to stay dedicated to God and the promise of Anna and Joachim, her parents. This should not surprise people because this practice of women being dedicated to God and keeping chaste was done even in the time of the Maccabees. She is told He will be the "Son of God". Gabriel also tells her that Elizabeth is pregnant too. Luke makes a point that she, Mary, actively signs off on the plan of God, and consents to it; a 14-year-old who is dedicated to the Temple accepts her role God has asked her to complete. Festal virgins when found pregnant could and would be stoned. In Nazareth, it was definitely doubted how Jesus was born. Mary is a woman and so at this period, she has no rights whatsoever. It is going to be a huge test of potential suffering and danger. 

1:39-45

Mary meets up with Elizabeth and they greet each other. Elizabeth asks why she has been granted to meet with the Mother of God, My Lord. Lord is a replacement for God. So she is quite literally saying: Mother of My God. Theotokos.

Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. She is speaking God's Word. 

1:46-56

Elizabeth says Mary is blessed. John in the womb is also a person here. Mary sings the Magnificat and exults the Lord. 

1:48 "From now on, all nations will call me blessed". All will be blessed through Abraham's descendants. His seed - Jesus. This song has a lot in common with the OT prophets. This child will fulfill all OT prophecies. 

1:53-54

The poor but faithful and oppressed are to be rescued from evil rulers both physical and spiritual. Mary remains with Zechariah and Elizabeth for 3 months more. 

1:57-66 

John is born, and circumcised on the 8th Day. The neighbors marvel and rejoice and they think they will name him Zechariah but she says no, because Gabriel already said what he was to be named. Zechariah writes on a tablet, "His name is John". Then he can speak and praise God. This scares everyone and Judaea's community freaks out because they seem to all recognize that John is special and that God is with him. Luke has apparently talked to some of these people who witnessed John the Baptist and found it odd and amazing. 

1:67-79

Zechariah filled with Spirit, prophesies that the time of Redemption is taking place. God has visited them. He is in Mary's womb. Our humanity and salvation are already incarnated. Jesus is the Davidic King, the horn of salvation. All the way back from Genesis, this was the plan of God to overthrow all enemies of God. Remember that this letter is written to Theophilus and the entire Church, which here is largely Gentile. 

1:76-79

Now he speaks of John the Baptist. He is to be the Messenger who leads the people and prepares them for the Messiah. He is the Highest of prophets. When John baptizes, their sins are forgiven. This is important to remember here. There is real forgiveness even before Christ dies and is resurrected. God can forgive AT WILL. And always has been able to. 

1:80

The child, John, grew and became strong in spirit and was in the desert until the day of his manifestation of Israel. Tradition has that when Herod had all the children murdered Zechariah was murdered at the Temple trying to stop him. Elizabeth by tradition fled to the desert and died there where John stayed in the desert and was from then on raised by angels. Jesus refers to Zechariah's murder later in the Gospels when He says that from Abel to Zechariah were the prophets of God murdered. 

Chapter 2

2:1-7

Reign of Ceasar Augustus. He wanted taxes so he called for a census that happened as Syria was being governed by Quirinius. There is no record of Quirinius, however, we don't have evidence of most of the governors of that time either. We also until the 1960s did not have a verified record of Pontius Pilate beyond the Church Fathers. Being governor of a province was kind of like being a mayor of a city at that time. You are usually forgettable but it doesn't mean you didn't exist or that none of this happened. 

Joseph and Mary leave Galilee to be registered in Bethlehem. This fulfills Micah 5:1. Mary is with a child and visibly pregnant. Mary has Jesus, her firstborn Son, called Prototokos, meaning no child was born before Him. None after too. Tradition says that Mary was Joseph's second wife after his first wife had died. The first calf born is sacrificed and the first child is dedicated to God. The animal is sacrificed as a substitution for the child.

2:8-20

Nowhere in the Gospels does it say Joses or James are the sons of Mary. Jesus is her son. The manger is actually a cave where they keep animals. In the same area surrounding Bethlehem, there were migratory nomad shepherds who lived with their sheep basically. They see an angel and the angel tells them that a king who is the Messiah has been born. This angel has told a bunch of poor homeless shepherds who are powerless and have nothing really. This tells us that God is more interested in these people rather than the ones with power, the kings and the rulers. St. Luke was educated and would not have been part of the peasant class but he nonetheless shares often about how Jesus cares greatly for the poor. 

The angels proclaim "peace" which is significant because Rome declares Pax Romana. This peace however is not from the state declaring it. That has no real power nor claim to power at the end of the day and can't last. This peace from Yahweh is everlasting and He gives it to Christ, not Rome nor anyone else. 

God never declared war on mankind. Man declared war on God. God declares Peace through Christ, who forgave us. They went after the angels left and met Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, and praised and glorified Jesus. They told many people while Mary kept it all and pondered over all of it in her heart. Her own faith is strengthened by this all. 

2:21 

After 8 days Jesus is circumcised. In Hebrew His name is Joshua. In Greek it is Yesu. In Latin, it is the most common usage of Jesus. 

2:22-24

The firstborn is dedicated to God. You sacrifice your first lamb or animal to God as a substitute. Mary and Joseph are dirt poor so they sacrifice a pair of turtledoves or two pigeons. Their dedicating Christ is them offering Jesus to God too which He is the Lamb of God (Genesis 22:8). 

2:25-35

Simeon, a wise and devout man of God, filled with Spirit is here. All around is corruption but there is still a remnant of good and godly believers. Simeon is one of these men. He has the Spirit of God so he is a prophet. God had told Simeon he would not die until he saw the Messiah. He sees Christ and knows who He is. He is righteous and sees Him and knows Him. Out of all these babies, He sees Him. Then sings for joy a psalm. Now depart - Nunc Dimittis. 

2:32

All people will be saved: Jew and Gentile are revealed the Light. 

2:34

This child is the fall and rise of many in Israel.

2:33-35 

Simeon prophesies to Mary specifically, not Joseph. A sword will pierce through her soul as well as others. Anguish will come from what the Messiah will do. She will suffer as well as the Messiah. The first crucifixion prophecy is given here. Mary gets the privilege of birthing the Messiah but she also will have to experience hate, ostracization, poverty, and profound sufferings for it as well. She is a true saint who was loyal to her Son, Jesus Christ. 

2:36-38

Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of Asher's tribe. She was 104 years old living in the Temple, had been married for 7 years, and had been a widow for 84 years. This is what Mary would have likely done and returned to the Temple like this, had she not been chosen to be the Theotokos. Anna saw the Messiah and knew He had come. 

2:39-40

They return to Galilee and then to Nazareth. Jesus grew and became "strong in spirit". 

2:41-50

Jesus' whole family has gone to do Passover on their way back to their home and then they realize that He is missing. It took them three days to find Him and He is found in the Temple. He is 12 so Jesus is not yet an adult. He is found talking with the top rabbis and they are all astonished at how wise He is. They (Mary and Joseph) freak out and Jesus asks them "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" He is saying to them that this should have been the first place they should have looked because He is there for God and already at 12 aware of His purpose. Jesus is not being disrespectful either to His parents here. 

2:51-52

Mary kept all these things in her heart (she committed many things to memory and gave them to Luke). Jesus, Lord of the Universe, obeyed His parents and grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man. 

Chapter 3

In the Incarnation, Jesus is God and lives a TRUE HUMAN life perfectly. His ordinary life was a stumbling block for many. Still is for some. 

3:1-7

15th year of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate is Governor of Judaea. Herod is the tetrarch of Galilee, Phillip, and Lysania. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. Herod the Great has died since then. He has a precise history of Judaea here. 

John the Baptist, son of Zechariah is out in the wilderness preaching and prophesying a message of baptism of repentance. They are having sin forgiven by St. John the Baptist. He teaches Isaiah 40:3-5 (no punctuation... remember that when scripture is quoted it is a paraphrase of full quotes...). 

The prophecy is about Israel coming out of Exile from Babylon to Paradise and the New Covenant. This is significant because 2nd Temple Judaism still believed they were in Exile (and Reform Jews still do today). St. John the Baptist is leading and preparing the new covenant people for it and the Messiah, who is to end the Exile and begin the Restoration of Israel (with Gentiles) through the Church. 

3:7-9

John the Baptist tells the people to repent and to stop relying on their ancestry to save them. God's Wrath is coming (judgment). God will sort things out as the Exile ends so repent to be part of the Restoration. Some of Abraham's "children" will be cut down for they have bad fruit. 

3:10-20

John the Baptist tells them to make changes and transform for good to be God's child. He tells the people to give to the poor, tax collectors he calls thieves of the poor and to collect no more, tells the soldiers to go and do good to others and be content with their wages from the tax census. He's basically telling them all to quit their current jobs and find better and more ethical ways to do good. (Talks to temple guards). 

When asked if John is the Messiah, he answers them that he is not but is the Messenger who paves the way for Him Who is the Messiah, the Christ. We will all be judged for what we have done and who we have helped. 

3:17 

The Messiah will separate good and evil. 

3:18-20

John preaches many exhortations and rebukes even Herod the Tetrarch who's been having relations with his brother Phillip's wife Herodias. He had divorced his wife to marry his brother's wife while Phillip was still alive. This is very sinful behavior. Herod has also put John into prison now at this time.

3:21-22

Jesus comes, is baptized, and while He prays, heaven opens. The Holy Spirit descends in bodily form and a voice from heaven says "You're My Son and I am pleased" -The Trinity is here-

3:23-38

Jesus begins His ministry at age 30. The genealogy is for Christ's credentials, not where He is from and who He is. Luke does the genealogy backward. His adopted father is Joseph, the son of __ (who goes on to share the lineage and goes all the way to Adam. Matthew only goes to Abraham in his. 

Matthew makes a point to show that Jesus is the 7th of 7's. St. Luke doesn't mention women's lineage but Matthew does. 

Luke is selective here for credential purposes. Basically from Zerubabbel and David to Abraham, to Noah, to Adam is to show He is the "seed" - The Messiah long promised. The seed of Abraham and of King David. He goes to Adam, son of God, to set up a parallel because Jesus is the New Adam and we are ALL descended from Adam, both Jew and Gentile. Jesus is related to everybody. 

In Adam, son of God, all die. In Christ, the New Adam, Son of God, all may live. 

Chapter 4

4:1-2

Jesus, filled with Holy Spirit is led by the Spirit to go into the wilderness for 40 days of temptation. The "wilderness" was seen as a place where evil spirits lived. On the Day of Atonement, 2 goats were used. One for sacrifice to Yahweh and one for the sin to go to the wilderness. 

The monastics used to be marveled at because to be out in the wilderness meant there must be some power or something special about the person. 

Luke tells us Jesus is human when he says he is hungry after 40 days. 

4:3 

the devil - diabolos - evil spirit speaks to Jesus in the desert. Fallen beings who were cast down - demons. The wilderness is perfect for them to be and dwell in and this is also mentioned in the OT that this is where many do go and dwell in. 

4:3-13

Satan tempts Him. Satan knows He is God the Son very well. Jesus doesn't have to prove anything to Satan for the Father will provide. Jesus quotes the OT and Deuteronomy in response as well as other verses showing us that Christ relies on God the Father. 

The devil tempts Jesus like Adam and Eve were and He, the New Adam wins. Adam failed and they handed the world as king and queen to Satan, sin, and death. Satan right now has control and gives authority to whoever he desires. This means all kingdoms, including Rome, are under His control. He is the "prince" of this world. -warlord, strongman, petty dictator- 

After the Resurrection, however, Christ will have taken back the authority, and the Great Commission and the Acts will be Reclamation. Jesus is going to break slavery from Satan, sin, and death through the Cross. Satan knows the Bible too. He quotes against Jesus too. Satan departs after this "until an opportune time". The Devil is not finished trying to stop Christ. Having no sin means death has no claim over Jesus. He doesn't have to die but dies voluntarily to save us. 

4:14-15

Jesus returns with the power of the Holy Spirit to Galilee. He begins to teach in the synagogues. The Spirit is with Him constantly. 

4:16-22

At Nazareth Jesus reads and teaches Isaiah in the form of a codice of Isaiah from the Greek OT. This means Jesus is reading Koine Greek here. Not Hebrew. In Acts, we find Peter talks Greek too (though it is by Spirit he does this). 

Galilee was very mixed culturally and we keep finding Greek OT writings/fragments there in that area. Jesus says this verse in Isaiah is fulfilled. Is this not Joseph's son the people ask. They marvel at Him. Back then, they had synagogues for Sabbath and they preached a message, which Jesus does here. 

4:23-30

The Jews rejected reading the Greek OT texts after Christianity came in. Before Christ, you could read Hebrew or Greek by itself in the synagogue. The people are astonished because they know he is teaching from a Messianic passage. This was the beginning of that sermon. He goes and gives the rest of the sermon. He knows they have heard what He did in Capernaum and says He won't do it here for them. He begins to use examples of Elijah in pagan places and performing miracles for them, while Israel is basically faithless. HE uses Gentile examples. Only Naaman the Syrian, a Gentile was cleansed. He is comparing the Jews here to faithless Israel. Jews rejected Jesus and Gentiles understood Him. 

Everyone in the synagogue fills up with wrath and tries to throw Jesus off a cliff. Jesus gets away from them and "went His way". Satan's last temptation was to try and get to jump off a cliff and it almost happens here with the Jews. That's not a coincidence. 

4:31-37

He goes back to Capernaum and teaches on the Sabbaths. In the synagogue there is a demon possessed man here. Holy One of God that Jesus is, He commands the demon leave and the demon does. Jesus has authority over demons and only God could do this. 

These demons were seen as powerful. Many OT prophets sometimes could not even it was said deliver people from demons and it had to be God Who has authority greater than Satan to do it. Obviously Jesus has this because He is God Incarnate. 

4:38-41

Jesus has power over disease, a fever too. Not just spirits but the natural world as well. He heals St. Peter's mother-in-law (he's married). St. Luke makes a distinction between demons and diseases. 

4:42-44

The demons are saying that He is the Christ and God the Son. He is healing everyone and growing in popularity. Christ goes off to a deserted place and the people try to seek Him and keep Him with them and Christ tells them He must leave so He can preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities so he continues here preaching to Galilee. Capernaum it must be noted (Gentiles) here love Him while the Jewish populated cities and their people keep rejecting Him. 

Gospel of Mark - Chapters 13-16 Notes

Chapter 13 [The Eschatological Discourse]

The way the Jews understood it, the Exile was the judgment and the Messiah was going to come and defeat all enemies, mainly Rome. They were a bit off. Christ and the Church correct this. The Jews don't realize that John the Baptist has been telling them to repent because the Messiah is coming to judge Israel and when He does a remnant will survive (Jews and Gentiles) and inherit the Kingdom. 

13:1-2 

As they are leaving, the Apostles are marveling at the Temple and all the buildings. Jesus says: This building won't be here for long. It will be leveled. 

13:3-13

They rest on the Mount of Olives and ask privately about this. Jesus answers that when you see these things take place, these will be the beginning of sorrows. 

64 AD a rebellion begins and Jews try to take Jerusalem. 

70 AD Nero and later Vespasian send Titus who kills off all the rebels there. They level the Temple also. It is the economic center, place of power, etc. They seized the Temple Treasury which was all of the chief priests' wealth. 

128 AD Simon bar Kochba (Son of a Star) shows up, claims he is Messiah, and starts off the 3rd Jewish-Roman War. They temporarily free a chunk of Judea. 

131-132 AD Masada is all that is left and they all commit suicide. Jerusalem is then completely flattened, Simon is killed and the High Priest gets filleted alive. Rome then found a new pagan city atop Jerusalem's ruins and only allowed them into Jerusalem one day of the entire year to mourn the Temple Mound. 

"Many will come saying "I am He". It did. 70 and 132 AD it does take place. 

Simon Bar Kochba even mints himself coinages with "Year One" on it. 

79 AD there is also a huge earthquake and Mount Vesuvius destroys Pompey. Famines and pestilences happen dramatically. Jesus warns the disciples that they will face persecution themselves. This happens to them way before 64 AD in Acts as well. Paul and Peter get executed by Nero and James is killed by the Jews. 

13:14-23 

Code is here (let the reader understand) for the Romans are going to destroy everything. Mark has just seen Peter die in Rome when he writes this gospel. 

The abomination of desolation in Daniel is Antiochus IV who sacrifices to Zeus at the Temple. This is going to happen again in 70 AD when Titus makes sacrifices to Zeus/Jupiter in the Temple before destroying it. 

It sounds like hyperbole but Josephus records how horrible the Jewish Roman War was. It was horrific and that is what Jesus refers to here. The Christians left for Jordan in Petra and Pella. 

There will be a remnant preserved. For the sake of the ones who will believe (Jewish Christians), there will be Jews to survive. If it went further, they would be exterminated. Rome had exterminated before. Phoenicians were by Rome before. Jews barely survive but God saves some. Jesus has warned them here beforehand. He is Messiah so they should know when Bar Kochba claims he is Messiah, he is a liar. Mark had witnessed Peter's death and they'd already fled Jerusalem by that time. 

13:24-27

Shift here. "In those days, after that tribulation". It is not specified when. The last Judgement is here. The 2nd Coming. He brings it up here so they know that it is not the end of the world in 70 AD nor in 132-135 AD. 

13:28-37

A parable of the fig tree about the 2nd Coming is given by Christ. They just saw Him curse the fig tree. You plant a tree to produce fruit and Israel didn't produce fruit. When the fig tree is about to produce figs, we would expect harvest time. Harvest time is the Last Judgment time. We should ask ourselves what kind of fruit we will produce. If a fig tree doesn't produce, you remove it. 

13:30 

This generation (genea-genos-family line, race, ethnic group). 

Here, generation (in 1611 meant generate - to give birth to a family lineage) means "this people".

Which genos? His people. The Christians.

Not all Jews were wiped out in 70 AD. Nor 132-135 AD. Not all Christians have been wiped out either. Christians will survive until the end (the 2nd Coming). 

The promise He made WILL happen. God will protect His people and they will be in this world until it ends. Until He comes so keep watch and be mindful for we do not know the Day nor the hour.

Don't be asleep on the job. The penalty for a Roman officer asleep on the job was the death penalty. 

Chapter 14

14:1-2

After two days it is Passover (Pascha) and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread and the chief priests and scribes plot how to get Jesus and put Him to death. They also want to avoid making Pontius Pilate angry as they remember he has had people executed before for mob violence and attempts at messianic uprisings before. 

14:3-9 

In Bethany, house of the poor Simon the Leper (formerly a leper), Jesus is there with the Apostles and a woman comes in and annoints Him with a spikenard perfume (floral). She breaks the bottle and gives Jesus the whole thing. The disciples become upset because they think that this could have been used to feed a bunch of people. 300 denari's worth is a year's worth of money at that time. Jesus tells them though it is good because He is about to be killed. 

"For you the poor will always be with you". Jesus is saying here: Your concern for the poor... Where was it before? I see her love for Me. Where is your love at hating on this poor woman?

14:10-11

Judas goes off to betray Jesus. He seems to have his doubts now and that his future is unappealing so Judas wants out. Judas doesn't love Jesus and just hates it all. 

14:12-16

The disciples on the first day of Unleavened Bread kill the Pascha Lamb. Jesus gives them information to get them to do it all correctly and because He knows what is about to happen. He is sending a message that obviously He is the Messiah and this is part of the plan. 

14:17-31

What may be happening here is they are not doing the Pascha Seder here. There's a spot in the OT where you save money and then get a feast set up. This could also be Pascha Seder so it is debatable. Jesus never tells Judas to go away. Judas does so and betrays Jesus on his own volition. All the disciples ultimately betray Christ but all but Judas repented. In V. 19 they all ask "is it me?" because they all are thinking about it at least to some extent and were definitely ready to run off and abandon Him. Judas isn't the only one thinking about doing it. 

The Eucharist here is given. Christ cuts the covenant here with the Apostles. A sacrifice is made here.

Food=sacrifice offerings. 

You participate with the sacrifice by eating. You are offering and sharing food with "the gods" (in this case the One True God, Christ) to please them. This was how the OT and even paganism often worked, but in Judaism, it is more for hospitality reasons instead of to appease a wrathful deity. This section is here to remind you of Genesis 18 with Abraham when Yahweh cut the covenant with him. 

Prodigal Son, when the son returns, hospitality is given to the son when he has returned. A sacrifice is there and Communion. Jesus offers Himself as a pleasing sacrifice and takes the evil intentions of humanity and turns it into good. They sing a hymn after the Eucharist is given and taken and go to the Mount of Olices. You can see essentially all of Jerusalem there. Jesus tells them that they will all betray Him. He quotes Zechariah 13:7 in the process. 

Peter protests this and Jesus responds that Peter will actually deny Him 3x and that a rooster will crow twice. Before dawn, in mere hours this is going to happen. Peter does what Jesus says will happen. In only a few hours, Peter as well as the other apostles all do it, including Judas. 

14:32-42

They go to Gethsemane and Jesus brings His 3 closest to stand watch and then goes off to pray. Jesus is sorrowful. He is human after all. The hypostatic union is put on full display here. 

Cup = suffering. 

This is not a public announcement. This is put here to tell us something about Jesus privately to tell and show us that He is God, human, King, and servant. St. Mark has been showing us a lot that Jesus is God. Here, he makes sure to show us that Jesus is fully God and human; God Incarnate, not a god cloaked or pretending to be a human... a real human. 

In paganism, the gods could not die and pretended to be human a lot. Here, Mark shows us that Jesus is totally human and really does suffer and really died and really was scared. If Jesus is really a human, His instinct is to live, not to die. We brought death into the picture. Death and sin are foreign to Jesus. 

Jesus does not want to die but He will so "Your will be done" (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit's will). 

He comes back to the disciples 3x and they all fail to even stay awake. The 3rd time they find Him about to be arrested. The hour has come and they failed to keep the lookout. 

14:43-52

Before finishing speaking, Judas comes and betrays them. While they slept, Judas came back with the chief priests and etc. mob to get him. Judas kisses Judas, a sign to betray Him. Gives off His location. A servant of the high chief priest gets his ear sliced off by sword in the midst of the capture. Then a random youth followed Jesus and then ran off, under 13. All he had on was a tunic and he runs off naked to get away from them. Traditionally this is John Mark who the youth was. 

14:53-65

When Judah the Hammer (1 Maccabees) took back Judaea for a time he made his brother Simon, the high priest and they were until 70 AD. Annas father is Caiaphas, the High Priest. Annas gradually steppend into his role as High Priest. 

The Sanhedrin originally was based on Moses and the system placed in Numbers. Problem is even in Israel of old, they did not obey Torah and then Exile happened and they needed judgment. By Jesus' time it is predicted that the Sanhedrin had owned 85% of the land. The Levites weren't supposed to own or get the land but they control it here. 

They take Jesus to a "trial" at Caiaphas' home. They tell the servents to go out to the fireplace outside (Peter goes there and hangs around to see what happens). They try to charge Jesus with a crime but they can't manage to get two people to even agree until they mention the Temple and question Him if He is Messiah. Jesus answers "yes" and then says "I AM" as well. Jesus is quoting Daniel and uses the Name of the Lord. He is fulfilling it and answers Who He is: God Incarnate. Caiaphas breaks and they condemn Christ to the death penalty. 

It isn't blasphemy to claim you are Messiah. Claiming you are an archangel of God would just make you silly or stupid. Jesus here claims He is not just Messiah but God Incarnate. This is what the Jews try to claim is a blasphemy so they then beat and mock Jesus. 

14:66-72

They beat and abuse Jesus and then await to turn Him over to the Romans. Peter meanwhile in the courtyard is witnessing this and the servants by the fire realize Peter is a disciple and question him, who ends up denying Jesus, 3x just like Jesus said would happen. Peter even curses and swears about it, then realizes what he has done, weeps, and leaves.

Chapter 15

15:1-15

They deliver Jesus to Pilate, who likes to execute. Pilate asks, "Are You the King of the Jews?"

Romans hate kings and do not like that title. Even the emperor doesn't mean king because Rome saw kings as terrible tyrants. They hated it so much they stabbed Julius Caesar for it. Pilate does not want a revolt. He desires to keep Pax Romana for the Empire in this region so Jews causing him a problem causes him a problem and this could mean Pilate's head too.

Jesus answers Pilate but does not answer the Sanhedrin. Jesus admits He is King of the Jews and it perplexes Pilate. The Sanhedrin tries to charge Him with more crimes but Jesus says nothing in response. Pilate then likely for entertainment purposes tries to release a prisoner to the mob that comes. He gives a choice to the mob: Jesus OR a rebel murderer Barrabas. He knows the Sanhedrin are just plotting evil stuff and envy Jesus and Pilate thinks the Sanhedrin are scum too. He assumes Jesus will be freed but they get the mob to choose Barrabas, a rebel Jew. They choose to kill the Messiah and demand a crucifixion. 

Pilate curiously asks, "What has this Jesus guy done?" They just yell more and Pilate allows it. 

15:16-20

They release Barabbas and scourge Jesus and lead Him off to be crucified. The soldiers take Him to the Praetorium, a complex where the Legionaires are. It is where they beat and scourge and flog Jesus. They clothe Him mockingly with purple and give Him a crown of thorns. They hit Him with a reed and spit on Him, mock Him for being "King of the Jews". The reed here is important because in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, they take two goaats. One is sent off to the desert, sins are taken away.

In the Epistle of Barnabas, he explains that in the goat ritual they would put a red rag: blood around it and spit and hit the goat. 

Jesus is the Goat carrying their sins out of the city to cleanse them and bring them back into communion with God. 

15:21-32 

Mark mentions Simon of Cyrene, son of Rufus and Alexander, implying at the time of the writing, that they are alive and still able to be witnesses. Simon of Cyrene helps carry the Cross for Jesus. They go to Golgotha, Place of hte Skull. Tradition in 2nd Temple Judaism says that Adam was buried there and in Rabbinic Tradition, Jerusalem is also Eden/Paradise. This is where Jesus is killed (the New Adam). Tradition is that Jesus' blood dripped into Adam's grave signifying Adam and his descendents (all of us) will be raised from the dead. 

The Romans strip Christ naked and He doesn't drink the wine (myrrh) (it's poisonous). He refuses it. While on the Cross, they try and play lots to sell off His clothes and Isaiah 53 is fulfilled. 

In the 3rd Hour, He is crucified and an inscription is put on the Cross saying "The King of the Jews", his charge. He is crucified with two robbers, Him in the middle. "He was numbered with the transgressors". He is dying for the peoples' sins because He has none. The people mock Him. There are many here who apparently know Jesus and still blaspheme Him. How do you blaspheme a man if He isn't God? 

The chief priests mock Him and say to come off the Cross so they can "see and believe". They would not do it anyways if He did. It is mockery. 

15:33-41

On the 6th Hour, Jesus yells out in Aramaic, "Why hast Thou forsaketh Me? My God. My God." He is praying aloud Psalm 22. On this 6th Hour, there is a great darkness. Christ is expressing confidence here that though He appears forsaken, God is with Him and He will be victorious. This darkness is also evidence that a Day of the Lord and Judgement on the world is about to happen with His death. 

They all misinterpret Jesus here (Pharisees and all) and think He is calling out for Elijah to come and save him so they then try and mock Him again by trying to get Him to take a sponge of sour wine. Jesus then with His last breath dies. 

The judgment begins. The veil of the Temple is torn into two from top to bottom. When Jesus came, He first went to the Temple, the place/house where Yahweh is supposed to be and live in. Jesus has prophesied that the Temple will be destroyed. Much like Jeremiah who said to quit sacrificing because God had left the Temple and they didn't even notice (Israel). 

At the moment, Messiah dies, the veil is torn, signifying that God has left His people (the apostate Jews). The centurion actually says (later will be St. Longinus) "Truly this man was a son of a god", typical of a Roman Gentile centurion. Why does he say this? Because this Gentile witnessed it and can vouch for it. (St. Longinus converted later and became a Christian so he can tell about this event in Mark's time. Another list of witnesses is given: Mary Magdalene, Mary, Mother of James, Joses, and Salome. 

15:42-47

Day before Pascha. Anyone hanging on Pascha is cursing Pascha. Normally, the Romans would not care and would leave you unburied and hanging up there. 

St. Joseph of Aramathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the Kingdom of God, meaning he still believed in Jesus, even after He'd just died. He goes to Pilate knowing he could be executed for this bold act, and asks for Christ's body. Pilate marvels at this and asks the centurion if Jesus has been dead a while and then allows it. Joseph of Aramathea is an upper class Jew and member of the Sanhedrin and Pilate marvels that Jesus only lasted 6 hours and has died and is curious about it. Here are given witnesses to His burial: Jew and Gentile both. 

Chapter 16

16:1-8

Witnesses are given for the Empty Tomb. After the Sabbath had passed, the women go to annoint His body. This is a common burial practice but Joseph had to do a rush job and so the women are coming on Sunday to finish it. On the way, they question how they are going to roll the stone seal away but then they see it actually has already been rolled away. 

In the tomb, is a white robed man sitting there and they are alarmed because he is an angel. The angel tells them that Jesus has Risen and to go tell the disciples and Peter. Christ is going before them to Galilee. At this point, Peter isn't considered one of the disciples. This is written this way because Mark is writing Peter's account here. Why Galilee? They, the uneducated Gentiles get to see Him and rejoice, and they get to see the Resurrection. Jerusalem does not. They get the darkness, the "educated rich" ones. The ladies flee alarmed. 

This is where the earliest manuscripts of Mark end. When you read the entire NT, it is consistently seen that the Apostles and writers talk about the Resurrection and etc. Paul's letters are older too. 

There are likely manuscripts of Mark before Islam that had the rest of Chapter 16 but they have likely been destroyed since then. We know that all the lectionaries in Byantintium have 16:9-20. This may have been added because of the Lectionary. It is debatable and unclear, but this doesn't negate it from being inspired by God. God inspired everything with the process of the development of the Old and New Testaments. 

16:9-13 

When He rose, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, who had 7 demons. She tells the apostles and they don't believe her or them. Jesus appears to them again. Awkward transition here. 

16:14-18

Great Commission is given by Jesus to the disciples. 

16:19-20

Jesus ascends. Goes to the right hand of God. Ascends. Dan 7 is fulfilled. They preached and God was with them and the Holy Spirit. 

---

Some extra notes: The Gospel of Nicodemus, Enoch 1, 2, and 3, etc. all survive because of Orthodox Christians. The Jews in the 2nd and 3rd CE began to destroy these works and forbade these 2nd Temple works be read in Judaism. The Jews also began changing Pascha and added the Seders, adding prayers to them to try and parody the Eucharist. Rabbinic Judaism is a 5th CE response to Christianity and this is not much different from Islam. Until the 3rd CE, Sirach was used by Jews. They did not like that the Christians used it as a catechism book and so removed it from their usage forbidding it. 

The Christians did not have one canon but many of the Old Testament. They read non-canon works like Jubilees and Enoch at home or in private settings. 

Gospel of Mark - Chapters 9-12 Notes

Chapter 9

9:1 

This verse talks about Christ's Resurrection here. He is contrasting what he just talked about in Chapter 8. 

9:2-8 

The Transfiguration. After 6 days they go (Peter, James, and John) to a high mountain. Moses talked to God and descended down it glowing. Elijah appears talking to Christ. Moses and Elijah appear and are in the presence of God (Jesus). Elijah spoke to God on top of a mountain too. Clearly, Jesus is God here and is demonstrating that to be the case.

[Note: Jesus' clothes change]

A cloud comes down and the Father tells them that Christ is His Son and to "Hear Him!". The cloud is the Holy Spirit, Jesus is the Son, and the Father speaks. A picture is given here of the Trinity. 

Moses did not stay on the mountain and neither did Elijah. Jesus cannot either for He has work to do. The Father answers Peter when he foolishly tries to set up three tabernacles. The rest Peter seeks will come but for now, he has work to do. There here is a God we see (Christ) and a God we hear (the Father) here. Both are clearly God here. In 2nd Temple Judaism and Early Christianity, the Christ Jesus of Nazareth is the 2nd Power of Heaven. This is made very clear here. 

9:9-13

Christ tells them not to tell of this event until after He has resurrected. They questioned what rising from the dead meant... Good grief right? They have literally seen and witnessed Jesus resurrect people from the dead. Dense much?

The apostles ask why the scribes say Elijah comes first. They just saw Elijah up on the mountain. 

9:13 

Jesus refers to John the Baptist. Elijah did come and Jesus says I am Messiah. The apostles do not fully grasp the Old Testament here. They are trying but still see mostly from an earthly, worldly perspective.

[Note: John the Baptist is not physically Elijah nor a reincarnation of Elijah. What is meant here is that John the Baptist possesses the same spirit of God that the prophet Elijah possesses]

9:14-29 

The disciples are talking to everyone and the scribes are there trying to have a talk with the disciples and ask them what they're discussing with them. 

A person asks Jesus to heal his son of a spirit of muteness. The disciples could not deliver this child from his demon. Jesus heals the boy. "Lord I believe. Help me with my unbelief". This person is honest and has some faith but also has some doubt. Faith is confidence and trust that this is true. 

9:29 

This spirit can only come out through prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting are both important for a Christian to do. This grows and strengthens and spiritually nourishes us. 

There is no exam at the Last Judgment. What we say and do matter. "I believe but this is hard". "Help me trust You". Christ is telling them where faith comes from. Faith is not just an intellectual assent. It must transform you beyond just a belief. 

9:30-32

He teaches the Son of Man will be betrayed and killed and the disciples are too afraid to ask Jesus what He is saying. 

9:33-50 

Jesus at Capernaum asks the disciples what they were arguing about. They keep silent because they have been disputing over who would be the greatest disciple. Jesus tells them to be humble for the first shall be last and the last shall be first. 

They are still thinking that the Messiah will conquer Rome as a King. 

Jesus takes a child to show them an example of the first shall be last. 

Children at this time were seen as nothing here in this culture and essentially carried the status a slave had. The disciples must be like a child to be great in God's Kingdom. Children were lower than slaves in this culture. 

"He who receives these little ones receives Me". Treat these least important people like Me (Jesus). We are ALL in His Image. 

Whatever you are doing to man, you are also doing to God. 

Whoever causes even the least important people to stumble should be ready for eternal judgment. Be careful how you teach others and what you do. God will avenge. The person you hate the most is how you truly feel about Christ for even they are made in His Image. 

This one guy is found casting out demons in Christ's name but the disciples tell him to quit. This person is great. He doesn't have to be one of the 12 Apostles to do it. The way to greatness is to be a servant/slave. 

9:42-50 

Cut off what is bad. Do good. Don't lose your faith. If salt loses its saltiness, it's worthless and needs to be thrown out. We must not be apostates and we must not lead people astray. 

"Every sacrifice is seasoned with salt". Food is sacrificed to God who "eats" with priests. You'll season it. It is nasty if you don't and won't taste good. You must season yourself metaphorically so you taste good to God for you are an offering to God with your life (Romans 12).

Chapter 10

10:1-12

Wherever Jesus goes, crowds follow. He is now in Judea and teaches again. He is in the Pharisees' territory now and they test and question Him. They try to pull a trick question on him to ruin His standing with the crowd. An attempt at a gotcha moment. 

They answer Jesus when He asks a question in return. The Law of Moses was designed to keep their wives. In a divorce or a marriage, they had to present their certifications which would force them to have it put over their heads. This was to try and keep the men responsible and to care for their wives. The Pharisees give their interpretation. Usually, these men were given a wife in an arranged marriage by age 13 and the law was put there by God to keep them from abandoning their wife. In the 1st CE and before that and even after, a divorce could be a death sentence for a woman and her children as well. 

Jesus goes to Genesis 1 and 2:7 and talks about how marriage was intended by God to be. 

The man and woman are one in flesh. Eve is Adam's half (not side). 

The bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh. She is part of Adam and to divorce her is to divorce your half, to cut yourself in half. This is also cutting the covenant of marriage (referring to Abraham cutting the covenant with God in Genesis 15).

10:10-12

The disciples ask about it again to get clarification. 

Why do we allow 2nd or 3rd marriages in Orthodoxy? We take marriage seriously but 

1) Jesus says specifically that this 2nd marriage is happening right after the 1st marriage (not something we allow). 

2) Our services have different marriage ceremonies. They are not ideal but it is the real world and a bishop as well must okay it. It has to be for the sake of salvation and penitential too. 

A 3rd marriage, if even allowed, and usually not, is entirely penitential. 

The Church does NOT grant divorces out. We accept that they have happened. 

The disciples ask about marriage and Jesus doesn't give any wiggle room. 

10:13-16 

Children aren't seen as people in this time. To enter the Kingdom you must be the lowest of lows. Even slaves had more rights than children. Jesus blesses them and says not to forbid them from Him. 

10:17-31

Someone comes running and asks what must be done to inherit eternal life. Calls Jesus "Good Rabbi" like a Pharisee. Jesus answers this way to push him a bit. Jesus tells him what to do and this man doesn't get it. He is a bit full of it. Jesus does love this guy even though he doesn't get it. Jesus tells him to go and give up his riches and bear the cross. This man though had a lot of stuff and chose his stuff. 

The apostles are astonished and Jesus calls them children. Not a compliment. 

None of these men are rich and ask "Who can be saved if it's this hard?"

We all have this temptation that we can't live without this stuff we have in our society. What do we value? Christ or the material things we love and value?

10:28-31 

Peter answers in a way like "We follow You right? We're doing good!" and Jesus is showing them not to look for greatness and riches when we enter Jerusalem.

10:32-34 

They are amazed because they are in Jerusalem now. Sees many Pharisees and Romans, and sees crucified people too here. Jesus tells them He will be betrayed, delivered to the Gentiles, die, and rise again. 

10:35-45 

James and John of Zebedee ask that they be Christ's top men. Jesus says they must be the lowest of lows. On His left and right hand are crosses. Jesus tells them they will be martyred one day for Him. 

All of the apostles get upset with them. 

Jesus says the 1st shall be last. The last first. This inverts the social order. 

10:46-52 

They are in Jericho and see blind Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, begging. He cries, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!" The people tell him to be quiet but he yells all the more. He calls him "Teacher", the same as the Rich Man. He, in contrast to the Rich Man, a blind beggar follows Jesus on the road and takes mockery and more and follows him to inherit eternal life.

Chapter 11

11:1-11

They're in the slums of Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives. Christ tells them to get a colt that no one has sat on. He is going to ride it and says to tell them God needs it. It is not going to be seen as stealing because God owns it. The people that own it will give if they say, "God needs it". These people who have NOTHING give it to them. Contrast this to the people in the city. 

No saddle so they put clothes on the colt so Jesus can ride it. The people (crowd) believe He is the Messiah. They seem to think though that Jesus will be a conqueror. This is the same mob who will turn on Jesus. 

11:12-14 

Christ doesn't stay in Jerusalem. He stays in Bethany to be with the poor. Jesus is hungry and curses a fig tree (which is out of season for fruit). The disciples heard it so He did this deliberately as an example. He had just looked around Jerusalem and the Temple. This fig tree is like Jerusalem. No fruit. They condemn themself. "The axe is at the root of the tree". A Day of the Lord is about to happen with their refusal to be God's people. Through the Cross. 

11:15-19

Jesus comes to Jerusalem and the Temple and drives out those who bought and sold in the Temple. The elites there own about 95% of the land. Jesus doesn't come here to pray this time. He goes there to drive them out and calls them a "den of thieves". 

The scribes and Pharisees who own/control everything and hoard all this wealth also oppress the poor and get pissed off at Jesus who has begun messing up their profits. They're using the Temple essentially as Corporate Headquarters instead of being shepherds like they are supposed to and CALLED to do. They plot how to destroy and kill Jesus from this point on. 

11:20-26

The fig tree Christ cursed before has withered now. Peter notices it. Jerusalem and the Temple (Israel) is in apostasy and dead. Unfaithfail harlots. Israel is to soon be judged by Christ on the Cross and the Old Covenant is about to be fulfilled. Even its roots, aka the Chief Priests, which are supposed to nourish the people (Israel) are dried up/dead. 

11:23-26

They still have not gotten He is God and Messiah and the 2nd Power of Heaven. They are also faithless like dumb children. Jesus talks to them about prayer to teach them and they do not believe. They have no faith and Jesus points this out to them. Their faith and belief that He can and will save, He can and will. He also says prayer won't be answered if they haven't forgiven. It is not just this. It is just what is listed here. 

11:27-33

The chief priests, scribes, elders, etc. ask by whose authority Christ does these things so Jesus asks them a question back about John the Baptist's baptism. They answer "I don't know" and so Jesus says He won't answer them. Jesus' answer is God. His authority also is from God. 

Chapter 12

12:1-12 

A parable is given of a man and a vineyard to the Pharisees. 

The vineyard owner sends his son and they kill him. The servants are supposed to be dealing with this vineyard that is the owners'. The land is God's and He is looking for fruit and they do not want to give it to Him. The servant is the OT prophets while the Son is Jesus, who has come to the Temple asking for fruit and finding none. None is there, they kill the Son, and the Landowner, God, will destroy them (this happens in 70 AD).

The Pharisees and Sadducees knew exactly what Jesus said since they were evil landowners and a den of thieves. They want to kill Him and would if there wasn't a mob of people. 

12:13-17

The chiefs sent some Pharisees and Herodians to try and get Him in His words. They ask Him about taxes to Caesar. Notice they are all different groups that hate each other and are working together, to get rid of Jesus. They have become unified under Satan and hate God Incarnate. They say He is a True and Good Teacher to try and butter Him up. Ask about Caesar - pay the tax or not? It is a trick question obviously. They are trying to get Rome to execute Him there if He says no. If He says yes, to pay taxes, then the mob will probably get Him. This seems like a win-win to them. 

Jesus answers: Calls them on their hypocrisy and then asks for a denarius (a coin). Asks whose image is engraved on this coinage and then says, "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what's God's". They marvel because He has outsmarted them here. This is on one level an image of Caesar, and a person. Who owns Caesar? God, who created him. He is saying give to Caesar what is his but give God everything back to God. Who is hoarding everything? The Pharisees and Sadducees and Herodians who own everything and won't give the land back to the people. None of this is theirs. It is God's. 

12:18-27 

Some Sadducees show up now, who say there's no resurrection. The priests of the Temple, who only accept Torah as 5 books, just the Pentateuch. They try to make JEsus look dumb with a question about the Resurrection. 

Who's wife, after 7 brothers had her as a wife will she be in the Resurrection? 

Jesus answers that there is a resurrection and says there is no marriage after it. Says that they don't understand the Scripture. 

In the Resurrection, they will be different. A different world and reality. Jesus quotes the Pentateuch where God tells Moses in Exodus, He is God of the Living and God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

They can't be God's in the present tense if they're not to be resurrected from the dead. The Sadducees end up running off. 

12:28-34 

Scribes come. They ask, which is the first commandment of all? Jesus answers that: Deuteronomy 6:4-5. He quotes the Shema. This is like our Jesus Prayer to the Jews and they still use it today. Jesus then continues and quotes Leviticus 19:18 next. He has just summarized the entire Old Testament here with all bases covered. Love of neighbor is an expression of God's love. After that, they don't question Him. 

12:35-37

Jesus asks the crowd, why the scribes say the Messiah is the Son of David. If David says the Lord said to My Lord, how is He the Son? He quotes Psalm 110. Jesus is telling them that the Messiah is God Himself and not just some man. The commoners heard it greatly. 

12:38-40

Beware the scribes. He condemns them because they are in high authority and have spent their lives studying scripture but live evil lives and do evil. They should know and do better but do not. 

12:41-44

Jesus sits opposite the Temple's Treasury and watches the people pay their temple tax and sees a widow put in a quadrant (2 mites); essentially a penny is the modern equivalent. The widow probably had to beg for money, and just gave everything to God. 

Gospel of Mark - Chapters 5-8 Notes

Gospel of Mark - Chapters 5-8 Notes

By Lazarus Conley

Chapter 5

5:1-20

They go to the land of the Gadarenes; Galilee. A man possessed by a demon meets Jesus who had been out in the tombs. The demoniac continuously breaks chains, is naked, and is crazy from the demons. 

In the Greco-Roman world, this guy was not seen as evil. A Greco-Roman pagan would likely have seen him as having been touched by the pagan gods. He was likely being chained up by people who were trying to get the demon in him to tell them stuff - in this way, they would make contact with the "gods". The man has obviously gone down the wrong path. 

The demons are doing destruction to him. The Holy Spirit kept people safe.

The demoniac man bows to Jesus. He recognizes who Jesus is: Son of the Most High God.

Jesus tells the demon who has been tormenting the man to stop tormenting him. The demon says his name is "Legion". This man is possessed by thousands of demons. The demons ask that they not be sent to hell yet so Jesus gives some pity when they ask to be expelled into some pigs so Jesus does in fact allow it. Jesus only allows it however due to foreknowledge. The demons know that their time of reckoning is coming but they want to prolong it so Jesus lets them leave in the pigs (2000 in all) and they end up running off a cliff and drowning themselves in the sea because demons ultimately can only destroy so they destroy themselves. They torment the pigs, and creation, and end up in hell anyway because that's all they are capable of is a path to destruction and unrepentance. It is given to us in this chapter that the Pharisees and Scribes are also on this path and on the side of the demons. Demons only seek to ruin and destroy creation and so do they, unfortunately. 

The herdsmen of the pigs see this take place. They have lost their pigs, and source of income, and now others are coming to see the former demoniac is now sane and normal and all begin to freak out over it. They fear him and then ask Jesus to leave. Why? Because these are Jews who are raising swine, first of all. They are impious and the demoniac now has been freed and rendered sane again. Jesus has just wrecked their world. He has gotten rid of their wealth, income, and their false gods. Later, after the Resurrection, we will see the Apostles return here. 

Jesus and the Apostles leave and the formerly possessed man desires to go with them but Jesus tells him to go home and tell the people what happened so this man goes to Decapolis and preaches about Jesus. 

5:21-24 

The mob returns after Jesus gets to the other side of the sea of Galilee. He sees Jairus (a Latin name), a Jew who owns and rules the synagogue there. His daughter is dying and sick, so he asks Jesus to heal her. Jesus agrees and goes with him and the mob of people follow. Jairus believes fully that Jesus will heal her. 

5:25-34 Along their way to Jairus' home, a woman with a blood issue who has suffered and is broke now because of it hears Jesus is coming by, and decides that if she only touches His clothes she will be healed by the Messiah. She does it and is healed. If you had a menstrual issue like she has for 12 years, she was counted as unclean and would have been excluded from all life in general as a Jew. If she had been caught publicly touching anyone, she would be stoned. Great faith is shown here by her. 

Jesus asks "Who touched Me?" She gets scared that she might be stoned but she tells the truth of what she did and Jesus shows He is not angry and comforts her and wants everyone to see what has happened and show her faithfulness. Jesus has cleansed her. She like all of us are being transformed by Christ. 

5:35-43

Jairus' daughter has already died when they get there. Jesus says to "continue to believe". Peter, James, and John come into the house with Jesus and everyone is wailing and crying. The people ridicule Christ who says the daughter is sleeping. This girl is 12 years old and He tells her to rise. It is not a coincidence that this girl is 12 years old and the bleeding woman has also dealt with her issue for 12 years. Jesus makes the girl eat. Doing so will let everyone know for sure that she is truly alive. This also in its own way shows soul sleep is a false doctrine. When Jesus says not to tell anyone, it is to protect them from people like the Pharisees because we see that they wanted to kill Jesus and Lazarus.

Chapter 6

6:1-6 

Jesus goes to Nazareth and on Sabbath, He teaches. The people are astonished when He gets up, preaches, and teaches.They are amazed because they know Jesus. He is the son of Mary, a lowly carpenter (really a generalized day-laborer/handyman/jack-of-all-trades), the step-brother of James, Joses, Judas, Simon, and His step-sisters as well. He is poor as well. When he does miracles they all become offended. The fact that they call Jesus Mary's son gives an implication that Jesus is not Joseph's child and is a bastard. St. Joseph accepted, as did St. Mary, the social stigma that they would get. Prophets are not accepted in their hometown. Jesus marvels at their unbelief, heals some people, and leaves. 

6:7-13

Jesus sends disciples 2 by 2 to different villages and with nothing but a staff. Wherever you are allowed to go and stay for a bit stay a bit and if they reject you, leave. They leave and then go off to preach and do acts of repentance. They cast out demons and heal people. 

A judgment is spoken about on Sodom and Gomorrah and we learn that it was not actually about homosexuality but much more than that. It was because there was no righteous person there at all and because of that, they would all face judgment for it in their inhospitality, etc. Inhospitality to the gods was what gave you judgments and Sodom and Gomorrah do this to some extent because they try to rape helpless strangers (Lot is hospitable).

We see in this section that the practice of anointing someone with oil and healing the sick is done. We still do this today and do so to try and heal from the destructive effects of sin as well. 

6:14-29

Herod has St. John the Baptist beheaded. He had him in prison for a long time. His wife Herodias forms a plan on Herod's birthday and it leads to the execution of John. The daughter does an exotic dance for Herod and there is also a connection to demons and Satan here. This is his own step-daughter that he begins lusting after. Herod's entire family is deeply corrupt and disgusting. 

Herod grows fearful when he hears of Jesus, knowing that some people are saying that Jesus is John resurrected. 

6:30-44 

[Random fact: St. John the Baptist's body is in Syria and his head was in Constantinople. Now it is in France]

We see this mention of King Herod, the corrupt coward, and morally disgusting earthly king. Now we get the True King who cares for Israel like a True Monarch should.

The apostles try and take a break with Jesus but the mob of people follow them. Jesus tells the apostles to feed these people. The people are desperate. Jesus then feeds the 5000, treating them as human beings. 

The disciples we find here were callous when they said to let these people go and buy food. Jesus told them to feed them to challenge them in their lack of compassion. This is also to teach them a lesson. It's multi-faceted. The apostles should not be seeing these people as nuisances. God became a poor labor-working wandering homeless Jew. 

The apostles become sarcastic to Jesus and talk about money to Him. So Jesus takes the fish and bread and feeds all these people and they are filled too. 

5 loaves and 2 fish - the 13 people were going to eat and share in this. This miracle happens and they feed all of them. He tells the disciples to go sit in groups with them. 5000 men, plus women and children, are fed. 

6:39-44

There is a connection to God feeding Israel manna. They are out in a deserted area being fed. 

6:45-52 

Jesus sends them off, sends the people away, and then goes to pray on the mountain. The wind was rough and they are in the river. Jesus is on land and sees them and they are rowing hard; struggling. He walks on them by them at the sea at night and would have passed them by. It is about 2 AM in the morning. 6-8 hours have passed and the apostles are still fighting this current to get to their location. They thought Jesus was a ghost for a brief bit. Jesus says to them "Do not be scared" because it obviously scared and bothered them. The wind ceases. An allusion is given here: they are fighting God and are going against His current. 

6:53-56 

Everywhere Jesus went, people kept coming and bringing Him people to be healed. They are even simply just touching His hem of His clothes (reference to the bleeding woman) and are being made well. 

Chapter 7

7:1-23

The Pharisees and scribes show up. They go after Jesus' disciples for not washing their hands in a ritualistic, special way. Everything has to be pure and clean too. The Jews get this from the OT laws somewhat but it is moreso symbolic for them to cleanse their minds and their hearts. 

Jesus then quotes Isaiah 29:13 to them and calls them out as they are hypocrites. He says they lay aside the Torah's commands. They don't teach on repentance. They only hate and judge and condemn. They are unclean in both body and soul. He then brings up how they dishonor mother and father with their crap. They do not pay back their parents and says to give the debts to God. They are conning people out of money and using "God" for evil by twisting words. They make people end up sinning too by taking away all their money. The Pharisees and scribes here deserve death and the Pharisees don't respond to Jesus here. 

Jesus calls the people over and teaches them that what is impure is when you do evil and sin. He goes back to what the commandments actually mean. The Pharisees have no love so they are filthy on the inside. The disciples ask Jesus about the parable. Jesus explains it again to them. 

7:24-30

Jesus goes to Tyre and Sidon; Lebanon; Gentile area. He goes secretly to a Gentile's house but He cannot hide. A Greek woman's daughter had an unclean spirit and she begged for His help. She believes Jesus can heal her and is not a fan of the pagan practices. She is obviously a God-fearer. Some Greco-Romans were fascinated with Judaism. Jesus talks to her and gives her a response that she'd expect to get from a Jewish rabbi. Jesus sees how she will respond to her when he calls her a dog, asking why He should give food for Israel to the dogs? She responds smartly and with humility that she wants merely the crumbs and whatever He is willing to give to her. She shows her humility and her true faithfulness here and Jesus then gives her compassion. She knows He will have compassion because He does care and love them both. The demon then leaves the child when she returns home. She, the Gentile, is clean while the Pharisees are filthy. This "dog" is clean while these rulers of Israel amount to a pile of feces. 

7:31-37 

Departing Tyre and Sidon, Jesus goes through Decapolis to Galilee. Jesus cures a deaf man with an impediment of speech by breathing on him and by Word saying "Be opened". Jesus here refers back to Genesis and creation. He is recreating by speaking a Word on this man, giving him a new voice and new ears. Jesus astounds the people who hear of this.

Chapter 8

Mark presents Christ as King taking His throne. This gospel is eyewitness testimony from Peter's sermons. The reason it lists things obscurely at times like this with Simon of Cyrene for example is because they were still alive and could tell you, the reader, that this had really happened and was true.

St. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, the Marys' are all named here because they were still alive. It happened and people saw and reported it. This became important with the Church Fathers as well when certain heretics were spreading heresies. St. Irenaeus for example (3rd Generation Christian) would recall that he was taught by St. Polycarp (2nd Generation Christian) who had been taught by St. John, Jesus' Disciple. THIS IS APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION; THE CONTINUITY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. 

8:1-3 

Jesus feeds 4000 people. They're all hungry and have followed Jesus for 3 days. 

8:4-10 

They fed them and then got into the boat and headed to Dalmanatha. Jesus initiates this one, not the Apostles. Bread from heaven. The disciples complain like Moses dealt with Israel when God fed them heavenly manna. 

8:11-12 

The Pharisees come to test Jesus and ask for a sign from heaven. Jesus sighs and says "no sign shall be given to this generation". Their question is dishonest as they have seen Him do plenty of signs and still deny Him. 

Jesus also doesn't do these healings and miracles to get people to believe. Because they believe, He does it. 

8:13-21 

They get into the boat again and forget the bread and only left with one loaf. Jesus warns them of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. Yeast can poison you. It can fill you up but it can and will hurt and not feed you. The disciples however do not get what Jesus is saying here. 

Jesus responds to them, almost like a "C'mon guys! How do you not get this?!?" 

We should depend on God, not the world. What the enemy tries to give you is poison and false even if they sound good. God will handle it and take care of them ultimately. 

8:22-26

In Bethsaida, they bring a man who is blind (they believe Jesus can heal him). Jesus spits on his eyes (recreating the man's eyes). The Pharisees can't see at all and the disciples' eyes are fuzzy yet. This man begins to see things fuzzily until Jesus heals him fully with the next action that He makes. The blind man is an image of the Pharisees first, and then an image of the disciples' current spiritual condition.

8:27-30

Jesus at Caesarea Philippi asks "Who do they say that I am"? 

The apostles answer: "Some say Elijah, others a prophet". 

Peter says Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus then tells them strictly to tell no one. It is humility is why He says this. It is also not time yet to fulfill it all. 

8:31-38

Jesus tells them He will die and resurrect and Peter goes and tries to rebuke Jesus for it because he doesn't like hearing this message. Peter still at this time expected the Messiah to live and defeat Rome, not be killed. 

Jesus then rebukes Peter: "Get behind Me, Satan!" and then tells them all a lesson here. Follow Me and take your Cross. Die for Me. You will be publicly executed for Me and My sake for following Me.