Why is the prologue of Mark (Mk1:1-13) considered to be important for the interpretation of the gospel of Mark? What sort of information does it give to the reader that is known to the characters in the gospel story? How do we see the gradual revelation of Jesus’ identity in the gospel of Mark as a whole?
a) Importance of the prologue for the interpretation of Mark’s Gospel
Generally the function of the prologue is to inform the reader about who the hero is, what he does, but the reader must enter the story that follows to discover how the hero manifests what has been said in the prologue.
Right from the beginning we have Mark’s thesis statement laud and clear: “The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (1:1). In relation to Mark’s Gospel, the title introduces the Gospel and tells what it is about. As such, it is summary of the gospel.
The opening statement fulfils two functions: it is a title for the Gospel and a preface to the reader.
As a title, it defines and summarizes mark’s gospel as “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God].” as a title for the gospel, the opening verse introduces the entire gospel of mark, in doing that, it presents the theme, the general scope, and the purpose of the gospel.
As a preface, it proclaims “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God]” to Christian readers who thought it was the end of the gospel with the death of Jesus.
The “beginning” refers to the beginning of the gospel and the era of salvation in Jesus Christ. “The beginning” includes what Jesus did and taught, his passion and resurrection, and what his followers did and taught, and their participation in Jesus’ passion and resurrection.
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ” opens with the mission of JB who appeared in the desert in fulfilment of prophecy. It is in this context, as a follower of John, that the mission of Jesus was conceived, at least from a historical point of view (1:9). Ultimately, however, the mission of Jesus was conceived of the spirit as Jesus emerged from the water of John’s baptism (1:10-11).
“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ ends after Jesus’ burial with the visit of women to his tomb, with a young man’s proclamation of his resurrection, and with the flight of the women from the tomb, saying nothing to anyone because they were afraid (16:1-8).
“Jesus Christ the Son of God”: this means that it is a Christological and ecclesiological narrative, and Christological and ecclesiological concerns determine its structure and development.
Conflict between Jesus and Satan in the prologue is dramatized in the gospel in the battle between Jesus and the demoniacs and Jesus and his human opponents (the scribes). The service of angels foreshadows the service of women.
Themes introduced in the prologue are: proclamation, repentance, baptism, the way of the lord, the desert, Jesus’ divinity, testing, Isaiah (he has a special place in mark’s gospel).
Summary: The prologue of Mark (1.1-13) sets the scene carefully. It falls into three sections: the testimony of tradition, the baptism and the testing of Jesus. But before that comes the heading, which is itself highly significant; 'the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, son of God'. These last three words are missing in some manuscripts, but are supremely apt. With the declaration of the centurion at the foot of the Cross, 'Truly this was son of God', they bracket the gospel. In accordance with the ancient literary (and the modern mathematical) convention, this is a way of showing that everything within the bracket is defined and characterised by the bracket itself. In this case, therefore, that means the gospel is characterised as the gospel of the son of God. This expression arches over the gospel, which consists in showing that and how Jesus is son of God. Besides being a story in itself, it announces the major themes that are developed in the gospel. It is a narrative synthesis of the entire gospel.
b) What sort of information does it give to the reader that is known to the characters in the gospel story?
It discloses to the reader the critical information that Jesus – the protagonist of the story which follows – is both Christ/ Messiah and Son of God. Later on Peter will acknowledge of the messiahship of Jesus in 8:29; the Centurion also in 15:39 confesses that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus also knows that he is the Christ, the Son of God, one who is baptized with the Holy Spirit (1:8) and God is well pleased with him (1:11). This understanding of Jesus is, however, the product of centuries of deepening of understanding.
A prologue will generally inform the reader who is the hero and what he actually does. Mark’s prologue is about the news of Jesus. It has 4 parts:
· The title: gospel of Jesus Christ Son of God
· The testimony of JBap
· The baptism of Jesus
· The temptation of Jesus
Detail Analysis
I. Title: Jesus Christ Son of God
Christ
Jesus
Son of God
Jesus is the historical person given name by the angel of the Lord. He is the historical person coming from Nazareth. Christ and Son of God are the two titles given to him; the full name or combined name “Jesus Christ” occurs only here. He is the messenger, the mighty one.
Meaning:
A. Jesus comes from Greek (Insous) which in turn comes from Yeshua (Jewish word) which means Yahweh saves or Yahweh is salvation. This name is given by the Angel.
B. Christ comes from (Xpistos) and the Hebrew word is Messiah which means “anointed one”.
C. Son of God: This is the important title in the gospel of Mark because found at the beginning as well as at the end. It is therefore the special designation of Jesus because he bears special mission. Like in Genesis, about the temptation in the Garden of Eden, Jesus is tempted and overcome the temptations. In fact, he conquered Satan and established the kingdom of God. In this aspect his mission is already given in the prologue. It is the true identity at the opening of the gospel. This identity remains a mystery to the other characters of the gospel story. He will be understood as the mediator Hb 8:6; as the saving presence of God among men Jn 20”31.
II. Testimony of JBap
JBap is the one to prepare the way of the Messiah (vv2-8). Mk quotes the fulfillment of the OT in Jesus.
Interpretation:
Vv2-3 repeat three times the word Way. Therefore Jesus is the way to be prepared by whom? The response is in v 4. JBap is the preparer of the way. Mk10:32 that way leads to his death on the cross. According to Mk10:32 Jesus’ journey is a journey to death. Mark gives the mission of JBap: baptism of repentance for a radical return to God (Hos14:1).
Vv7-8= the one who comes is the mightier one and JBap is inferior to him. The baptism of Jesus is superior. JBap characterized himself with extreme humility. (Joel2:28-29; Is44:3)
III. Baptism of Jesus (vv9-11):
Why the baptism? To sympathize with humanity. It is also a self identification with the sinners.
More other events:
· Opening of Heaven
· Descending of the Spirit
· A voice from heaven; divine communication.
At the baptism we get Jesus confirmed as Son of God. It is a testimony to Jesus’ sonship of God. Heb5:1-10= you are my son this day I begotten you. Gen22:2= Isaac, beloved son to be slaughtered. Even for Jesus, though beloved son, he will undergo suffering. Mk10:38= Jesus original baptism anticipates his true baptism through death.
IV. The temptation of Jesus (vv12-23):
In his narration of the temptation, Mark omits some details. Jesus has the temptations all the 40 days. Why does Mark omit some details? May be the community knew what temptation is and Mark is only interesting the victory over temptation. Mk1:12= God (Spirit) is the one who sends Jesus in the wilderness for the battle. 40 days means sufficient time for preparation. Jesus was with the wild beast to show harmony at the presence of the Messiah (Is11:6-9).
Knowing the gospel of Mark as the Messianic secret gospel, his prologue is considered to be important for the interpretation of the whole gospel because, though the full revelation of Jesus will be only at the end with his death and resurrection, here Mark introduces Jesus to the audience showing already his full identity. Jesus is the one coming from God heralded by JBap. He is the mightier one filled with the Holy Spirit. He is the victor over existing power of evil and inaugurator of the Messianic age.
This prologue gives to the reader the information that Jesus’ mission is a destiny to the cross. And JBap is the one not only to prepare the way for Jesus, but also the destiny of of death. The reader will understand that it is after John had been arrested that the principal character of the gospel story will enter into action. Mark unites John, Jesus and the disciples even the reader in the common suffering or martyrdom.
Gradual revelation of Jesus:
1:1JC presented as son of God
1:2He is a messenger
1:3He is the Lord
1:7He is mighty
1:11He is the beloved one, Son of God
The full vision and understanding of the identity of Jesus is still hidden. It comes gradually with the healing of the blind man of Betsaida (8:22-28), the confession of Peter (8:27-30) and the full revelation of Jesus’ identity through suffering , death on the cross (8:31-16:20).
c) How do we see the gradual revelation of Jesus’ identity in the gospel of mark as a whole?
The secret of Jesus' identity- the 'messianic secret'. This refers to how Jesus did not assert His messiahship nor allow others to during the initial half of Mark's gospel. This long and gradual revelation of Jesus' identity is referred to as the extended introduction. Cole has reasoned that the Messianic secret was a deliberate strategic move on Jesus’ behalf as it was his desire for the disciples to witness his words and actions till they saw with unavoidable clarity who he was. He explains the secret thus: the Jewish people had anticipated a conquering Messiah who would lead Israel to victory. An awareness then of Jesus’ Mesiahship would only lead to nationalistic uprisings and false expectations of Jesus mission. He knew that his Messiahship actually characterised by suffering and sacrifice.
This secret arises very quickly in Mark's narrative as Jesus drives an evil spirit out of a man. The spirit acknowledges Him as “the Holy one of God!”, (1:24) and Jesus commands him to silence, “be quiet!”, (1:25). He went on to exorcise many more demons but would not let them proclaim His identity (Mark 1:34). Also in 3:11 it states that demoniacs continuously hailed Him ‘Son of God’ and Jesus continuously replied with orders to silence. Jesus also commanded silence of those He healed. He strongly warned the lepers, “don’t tell this to anyone...”’ (Mark 1:43-4), Jairus' daughter (5:43) and the deaf and mute man (7:36).
The Markan Jesus also explores secrecy through parables (4:1-8, 26-29 and 30-32), as opposed to explicitly teaching of the Kingdom of heaven. This relates to His intentions in these teachings as according to Cole, words such as King, Kingdom and Messiah were politically explosive at that time- they would have distorted and undermined Jesus' mission. Jesus also refers to Himself as the 'Son of man' (first in 2:10) which also makes His identity uncertain to those around Him. He also states He can forgive sins. This added to the sacrificial element of passion hints at His mission.
We have so far looked at how Mark's gospel is constructed as a passion narrative and we have also analysed its extended introduction. At 8:29 Mark ends this extended introduction as Peter answers Jesus question, “Who do you say I am?”, with “You are the Christ”. Jesus identity as Messiah is no longer implicit but explicit, if only to the disciples. This is in stark contrast to Jesus' response of the attribution of Messiah to Him from the first half of Mark. From here onwards, Jesus teaches the disciples what His messiahship means- and therefore, what it will mean for those who follow Him.
Jesus begins this teaching with the first of three predictions of His passion. 'the Son of man must suffer...be killed and after three days rise again', (8:31). This is far from the ambiguous parables the Markan Jesus had used during the extended introduction that comprised the gospels first half. Jesus states that any follower of His must “deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”, (8:34). Now we have a precise prophecy of what is in store for Jesus- the cross. Mark also alludes to sacrifice again as in Christ denying Himself, He knowingly approaches the cross and becomes a sacrifice.
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