Chip Shots

The sordid story of Salome’s sensual dance and John’s ignominious end sounds like an episode from a Netflix series or, sadly, a news headline. Why does Mark include it in the middle of his narrative about Jesus? Was it just for its shock effect? No. John’s execution serves to accentuate both the danger Jesus faced and the nature of his messianic mission as it moves toward its ultimate climax. The tenor of Jesus’ ministry changed following news of John’s death. The death of his cousin would have been deeply troubling to Jesus, for he already knew what was ahead for himself. Soon he will head toward his own showdown with political power as he makes his way toward Jerusalem. Perhaps this is one reason why he wanted some time alone with his disciples after hearing the news. In addition, Mark wants us to see the stark contrast between the kingdoms of this world — as represented by Herod, who craved to be called King of the Jews — and the kingdom of God, as represented by Jesus, who was in f...

Jairus was desperate. His 12 year old daughter was deathly ill. As a synagogue ruler, he’d heard of Jesus, the controversial Rabbi who was said to have healing powers. So putting aside his pride, and whatever doubts he had, he fell at Jesus’ feet and “implored him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her….’” Imagine his relief when Jesus agreed to go to his home. He would heal his daughter! A crowd was following them when suddenly Jesus stopped. “Who touched me?” he asked. After some confusion, a woman cautiously crept forward and said, “It was me.” What must Jairus have been thinking at this moment? His daughter is at the point of death, and Jesus stops to talk to a woman with a chronic illness! Can’t it wait? By the time Jesus finished with the woman whom he had healed, bad news came from the ruler’s home. It was too late; his daughter was dead. Of course, you’ve read the story, so you know how it turns out. Jesus brought the lit...

Jesus’ ministry grew rapidly as he toured the towns of Galilee. But as the crowds multiplied, so too did the conflict. We see both the conflict and the crowds in today’s reading, as well as Jesus’ response. Conflict had already been present in Mark’s gospel, but it reached a new (low) level when he healed a man’s withered hand in a synagogue on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6). When Jesus saw the man, he asked, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or kill?” His opponents were silent. However, when Jesus healed the man’s withered hand, they immediately “held counsel … how to destroy him.” The scene drips with irony: It is wrong to heal a man on the Sabbath, but it permissible to plot murder on the same day? Despite the brewing conflict, Jesus’ popularity continued to grow. Three times, Mark mentions the “great crowd” which followed him. In order to avoid their crush, Jesus had to teach from a boat! (Mark 3:7-12). In light of these developments, how did Jesus res...

If it’s a Friday night, you know where to find me. I’ll be hanging out at the Buffalo Chip Saloon along with my friends. I’ve been doing it for more than ten years, and I have no intention of quitting. I figure if Jesus partied with tax collectors and sinners, I ought to be doing the same. After all, that’s exactly what we see him doing in today’s text. Jesus calls a “sinner” to be his disciple, and the next thing you know, he’s hosting a party for him and his friends. The religious folk didn’t like it one bit, but Jesus didn’t care. It’s a rather scandalous story, if you think about it. Jesus had already called four fishermen to follow him. Next thing you know, he invited a tax collector named Levi to join the team. Chances are, they knew — and did not like — one another. (His tax booth was by the sea, so it is likely he collected their fish tax.) Now they are expected to live together like family? I wonder how they felt about that. Next, Jesus hosted a party at his home. Levi (also ...

After Mark introduces us to Jesus as a popular preacher, he quickly turns the tables on us by showing that can be extremely controversial. We see it in five successive events, beginning with today’s text: the healing of a paralyzed man in Mark 2:1-12. The story is familiar to many church people. When Jesus returned to Capernaum, crowds crammed into every nook and cranny of his home. They wanted to see and hear the local miracle worker. While he was teaching them about the kingdom, to everyone’s surprise, patches of mud and branches began to fall from the roof. Before long, a cot dropped down on ropes bearing a paralyzed man. His friends, unable to press through the crowd, and desperate for Jesus to heal him, had torn a hole in the roof of Jesus’ home! Jesus’ response was as startling as the hole in his roof: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” We might not find these words shocking, but the folks in the room most certainly did. The scr...

Ash Wednesday — Follow Me! Read Mark 1:1-20 When Jesus burst on the scene in the first century, he encountered a climate no less politically charged than what we find today. The people of God were living under the tyrannical rule of Rome. Freedoms were fading, taxes were exorbitant, and oppression was everywhere. Revolution was in the air. The Jewish response to this was fraught with division. Sadducees sought political power, but Pharisees preferred moral reform. Zealots promoted armed revolution, while Essenes chose to circle the wagons. Everyone wanted change, but no one could agree about what to do. (Sound familiar?) It was into this volatile setting that Jesus began his ministry. He came “proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15). During the weeks leading up to Easter, I invite you to join us as our community reads the Gospel of Mark together. Along the way, we will learn ...