Thunder and Angels: Preaching Between Two

Gospels

Spirit in the Desert Retreat CenterFebruary 16, 2012

Lent 1 (Mark 1:9-

15) Lent 2 (Mark 8:31-

38) Lent 3 and 4 (John

2:13-22; John 3:14-21)

Lent 5 (John 12:20-33)

Lent, Year B

Immediacy and three-year ministry Gospel and Word Suffering Christ and the Jesus in

control Active Jesus and reflective Jesus

Two Entirely Different Gospels

Matthew: “An account of the genealogy of Jesus

the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

Luke: “Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us…”

Beginnings

“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Not “story,” “information,” or “doctrine” Continuity and newness

Isaiah 40:9-11; Isaiah 52:7-10

present participle; the one who brings good news Exile; sentinel; news

from the front; God is here, God is victorious

Romans 1:1-6; 1 Thess 2:1-2; 3:2

At the heart ofwho God is

The Gospel of God

In the wilderness Decentering of God’s good news

Found on the edge and also belongs there Goes beyond the boundaries of where we thought

God was supposed to be

Cosmic: separating humanity from God Religious or Ceremonial: separating

unacceptable from acceptable Political: separating oppressed from powerful Ethnic and Geographic: separating peoples Ultimate or Existential: separating life and

death

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word

was with God, and the Word was God. Origin Relationship Identity

The Word of God

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

Endings

They said nothing to anyone for they were afraid…

Additional Endings A new beginning? Not tidy, no tying up

loose ends

25 But there are

also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Grace upon grace…

Immediacy and three-year ministry Gospel and Word Suffering Christ and the Jesus in

control Active Jesus and reflective Jesus

Two Entirely Different Gospels

The suffering Christ

Absolute “I AM” – without a predicate nominative: 4:26; 6:20; 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19; 18:5, 7

“I AM” with a predicate nominative:6:35; 6:51; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7, 9, 11, 14; 11:25-26; 14:6; 15:1, 5

The “I AM” Statements in John

Immediacy and three-year ministry Gospel and Word Suffering Christ and the Jesus in

control Active Jesus and reflective Jesus

Two Entirely Different Gospels

What is Jesus’ First Public Act in Each

Gospel?

Matthew 5-7: Sermon on the Mount

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.  ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Beatitudes

Luke 4:16-30: The Rejection in Nazareth

Good News to the PoorWhen he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,   because he has anointed me     to bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives   and recovery of sight to the blind,     to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’

John 2:1-11: The Wedding at Cana

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

A Sign of Abundance

Mark 1:21-27 The Man with an Unclean Spirit

21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ 26And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Crossing Boundaries

Lenten Themes

The Boundary Crossing God

Where is God?

What Jesus do you need and when?

Who do you say that I am?

Lent 1

Typically temptation of Jesus

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." 12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

KJV Mark 1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. NAS Mark 1:10 And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him.NRS Mark 1:10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. NIV Mark 1:10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. NKJ Mark 1:10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.

Mark 1:10

Mark 1:10 kai. euvqu.j avnabai,nwn

evk tou/ u[datoj ei=den scizome,nouj tou.j ouvranou.j kai. to. pneu/ma w`j peristera.n katabai/non eivj auvto,n\

Mark 15:38NRS Mark 15:38 And the

curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Kai. to. katape,tasma tou/ naou/ evsci,sqh eivj du,o avpV a;nwqen e[wj ka,twÅ

The Transfiguration

7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!"

The Lonely Places

12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

Mark 14:50

All of them deserted him and fled.

Mark 1:40-45

40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." 41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. 43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. (Mar 1:40-45 NIV)

Kingdom of God is Near

13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they

entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.

31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mar 10:45 NRS)

Service as Mark of Discipleship