The Gospel of Mark

The following is part of a series of papers about the Gospels that I have written for my Jesus Through The Ages class at Capital University.

Jesse Harmon

RELIG 210

January 18, 2011

The Gospel of Mark

            Jesus was having a bad day when Mark chapter 3 was read.  First, a fig tree didn’t bear any fruit for Jesus to consume, so he cursed it.  Then, he went to the temple and cleared it of all vendors. 

12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it. 15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves; 16 and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 He was teaching and saying, "Is it not written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." (Mark 11:12-17 NRSV)

The Gospel of Mark is the shortest Gospel in the canon.  Mark was written like a journalist would release a story.  It was written to get the basic information out quickly, skipping over small details that didn’t need time spent.  The story of Jesus clearing the temple is obviously important.  Up until this time, we really only saw Jesus as a caring and compassionate teacher.  This story shows that, although Jesus was fully God, he was also fully human, able to experience the feelings that humans have.

            The images in the stain glass windows at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, where I attend church, show Jesus as loving and caring.  In one window, he’s holding a small child, possibly after healing the child of some sort of ailment.  There aren’t any windows that show Jesus turning over tables and smashing stuff that I know of in the church.  A theory on why Jesus cleansed the temple was to provoke his own execution.  He knew he had to die for our sins, and he was trying to give the Pharisees an excuse to execute him.  The temple authorities knew they were stealing from the poor.  Jesus states in Mark 10:21, “21 “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  The temple authorities were doing the exact opposite.  This must have angered Jesus greatly. 

            I selected this story because it focuses on the human element of Jesus.  As I mentioned before, Jesus was fully God, and fully man.  Jesus experienced temptation, (Mark 1:13).  Jesus felt compassion, (Mark 5).  Jesus thought about death, (Mark 8-9).  He discussed divorce, (Mark 10).  He was good with kids, (Mark 10).  Jesus felt anger.  These are all things that are unique to humans.  I’m always tempted by chocolate.  I like volunteering.  I’ve thought about death.  I’ve discussed divorce.  I love kids.  I have been angry at times, (just ask my roommate!).  These qualities make me human. 

            What surprised me the most was how Jesus acted out.  He could have just walked up to the authorities and calmly said what they were doing was not right.  He could have stood on a podium and give another parable about how the temple needs to be cleansed.  Instead, he did what would grab people’s attention.  I’m kind of glad he did what he did.