Blogging Through the Book of Mormon

Jesus and his disciples leave the gentiles and come back to the sea of Galilee, “through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.” With the mention of Decapolis, as well as the naming of Tyre and Sidon in the previous account related, it makes me wonder why Mark goes out of his way to give these gentile names when the other writers do not. It seems that Mark is trying to give his audience a reference point that they understand with landmarks and places that they would already know. From this I deduce that Mark’s primary audience isn’t Jews, but gentiles. In fact, the IM says, “The Gospel of Mark contains textual details- such as translated Aramaic quotations, Latin expressions, and explanations of Jewish customs- that seem intended for an audience made up primarily of Romans and people from other gentile nations, we well as those who were converted to Christianity, most likely in Rome and throughout the Roman empire.” While passing through Decapolis, ...

While journeying away from the Pharisees and into Tyre and Sidon, Jesus went into a house “and would that no man should come unto him. But he could not deny them; for he had compassion upon all men.” There are times when he is ready to teach, but the other times he wants to rest and perhaps teach his disciples privately, but he still loves everyone, and wants to help them. A “certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet, and their exchange is very strange and it seems at first reading that Jesus is incredibly rude to her, but we know Jesus and that’s not who he is, so with some digging hopefully we can see the deeper meaning of their interaction. This woman came to Jesus while he was in gentile cities and Mark tells us that she “was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.” We know that Jesus has healed gentiles before, a...

Interestingly, Jesus quotes Esaias saying, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in can they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Jesus quotes the Jehovah of the Old Testament, and infers that he is this same Jehovah. This must be a new concept to me because I’m just now picking up on these types of references. Jesus turns away from the Pharisees and addresses the people saying, as given by the JST, “There is nothing from without, that entering into a man, can defile him, which is food; but the things which come out of him; those are they that defile the man, that proceedeth forth out of the heart.” This must have been a new teaching, because we know that Jews are forbidden to eat pork  The JST version of this teaching is important because it clarifies a few points. First, it differentia...

The doctrine that Jesus is preaching is becoming more and more controversial, and become even more offensive to the Pharisees, particularly one that came from Jerusalem to question Him, “and when they saw some of this disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed, hands, they found fault… Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?” It is important here to point out that the washing referred to was not the kind that we use today with soap and water, but a ceremonial washing. Forsaking the ritualistic washing didn’t mean that their hands were dirty because eating with hands free from dirt was very important for health. The Pharisees are asking why Jesus allowed his disciples to eat without making them first participate in a ceremonial cleansing of the hands. Jesus’ response must have come across as quite the rebuke, “why do ye also t...

 It’s interesting that these people who are rejecting Jesus loved him when he was giving them free food, but now that he’s asking them to trade in the fulfilled law of Moses for his higher law of spirituality, they aren’t interested. The only like him when he can do something for them, but not when they can do something for him, that’s a very superficial relationship. We find that after Jesus teaches the people without food, “many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” Jesus turns to the twelve and asks, “Will ye also go away?” And Peter gives an answer that has echoed through centuries and still speaks to me today. He says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life?” This is so powerful to me because of all of it’s implications. If I were to leave the church, where would I go? It really comes down to is there a God or isn’t there? Do I choose religion or atheism? The w...

Ironically, the people whom Jesus just miraculously fed the night before are demanding a sign from him before they will believe what he’s saying, and Jesus tells them, “Ye also have seen me, and believe not.” They’ve already seen the signs and miracles, but if those weren’t enough to convince them of Jesus’ divinity, then nothing else will, because again, miracles don’t convert. I feel like there are many parts of this discourse that don’t flow together, so I’m going to try to make it so that the whole thing makes sense in my mind, maybe at the end, I’ll do a recap in my own words. Jesus continues, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, ...

After the storm is calmed when Jesus reaches the boat, He continues traveling on with his disciples toward Gennesaret, which is near Capernaum, where most of the disciples live, and where Jesus has adopted to be his home. When the little group lands and the people there realized who He was, “they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.” I find it interesting that the people were so excited to see Jesus, that they went and got their sick for him to heal. It wasn’t just that they were interested in Him healing the people they loved, but these people also wanted Jesus to heal everyone who was sick. There was definitely a sense of community among many of these people, and the healing touch of Jesus was felt by more people because of their neighbors concern for their well being. I just thought about myself in...