This passage may be used...
Illustration
This passage may be used as an interpretative lens for reading, teaching, and preaching
the entire Gospel of Mark. It is Jesus' mission in a nutshell in Mark's Gospel. W. R.
Telford suggests that Mark places the misunderstanding of the Son of Man as a political
victor on the lips of James and John as well as other disciples. Did Mark bring together
the "suffering servant" (Isaiah 53) teachings with the "Son of Man" (Daniel 7)
expectations? Telford suggests that Christology in Mark is fully defined by Jesus'
suffering death. The disciples hold the populist view that Christians should reap the glory
of a political victor (W. R. Telford, New Testament Theology: The Theology of the
Gospel of Mark [Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1999], pp. 105-115).
Telford has a little problem with Mark's use of Isaiah 53 and Daniel 7 here.
The question many churches have to consider is what are they willing to sacrifice for the spreading of the gospel in changing times in an increasingly secular culture? One Lutheran church was having problems with junior high catechism ministry as sports and school activities became the choice of many parents over church. The school officials replied that they were merely responding to parent demands. Did this mean the end of catechism ministry?
A new pastor was called to the church and began catechism ministry in the late elementary years of Christian education. It was difficult for the old guard to let go of the idea that catechism was no longer done on the junior high level, but the elementary students were not as much of a discipline problem as the junior high students were. What hard choices of death are congregations willing to make in order for new life to occur? The disciples in Jesus' day wanted to have it all. Jesus insists that hard choices must be made. Serving others and dying is the way for this new Christ and his kingdom.
The question many churches have to consider is what are they willing to sacrifice for the spreading of the gospel in changing times in an increasingly secular culture? One Lutheran church was having problems with junior high catechism ministry as sports and school activities became the choice of many parents over church. The school officials replied that they were merely responding to parent demands. Did this mean the end of catechism ministry?
A new pastor was called to the church and began catechism ministry in the late elementary years of Christian education. It was difficult for the old guard to let go of the idea that catechism was no longer done on the junior high level, but the elementary students were not as much of a discipline problem as the junior high students were. What hard choices of death are congregations willing to make in order for new life to occur? The disciples in Jesus' day wanted to have it all. Jesus insists that hard choices must be made. Serving others and dying is the way for this new Christ and his kingdom.
