The Gospel of Mark (vocab pgs. 73-89)

In what way does Mark's Gospel give purpose to suffering?

(In what way does Mark's Gospel give purpose to suffering?) Jesus was an innocent person who suffered, and his suffering did not end in death but in eternal life. Mark is encouraging his persecuted audience to follow Jesus through suffering and death so that they too may have eternal life.

To whom is Mark writing? What questions are on Mark's audience's mind?

(To whom is Mark writing? What questions are on Mark's audience's mind? Mark was writing to Christians in Rome who were facing persecution.They thought: "I don't think Jesus would really want me to die for him?" Or, "I am not denying him with my heart, Jesus knows that." Or, "I wasn't as hard for Jesus as it would be for me because Jesus was God."

What does Mark emphasize in his Passion narrative? How is this emphasis responsive to the needs of his audience?

(What does Mark emphasize in his Passion narrative? How is this emphasis responsive to the needs of his audience?) Mark teaches truths which are responsive to the needs of his audience, by the way he describes the Paschal Mystery of Jesus-- his Passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension.

What is sometimes misleading to interpret a a parable as an allegory?

(What is sometimes misleading to interpret a a parable as an allegory?) Because sometimes we use parables as an allegory to define God, this allegorical would be harmful to our understanding of God.

Why did Jesus perform miracles?

(Why did Jesus perform miracles?) Miracles were part and parcel of Jesus' preaching about the coming of the Kingdom of God. These miraculous acts of power gave authority to his words. Mark recounts of Jesus' miracles to center the audience's attention on the identity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. By performing miracles, Jesus has proven of his spiritual ability, authority, and power.

Why did the early Church repeat account of Jesus' performing miracles?

(Why did the early Church repeat account of Jesus' performing miracles?) To reinforce the idea that Jesus believed that preaching was the basis behind the miracles.

allegory

A literary form in which something is said to be like something else,in an attempts to communicate a hidden or symbolic meaning.

Son of Man

A messianic title from the book of Daniel, used to describe a figure who receives authority over other nations from God the only messianic title in the Gospels used by Jesus to describe himself.

parable

A story intended to call a particular audience to self- knowledge and conversion through an implicit comparison of the audience to someone or something in the story

Sanhedrin

An assembly of Jewish religious leaders-- chief priests, scribes, ad elders-- who functioned as the supreme council and tribunal during the time of Jesus.

Messiah

Hebrew word for "anointed one."

scribes

People associated with the Pharisees or Sadducees who were skilled copyists, professional letter writers, and interpreters and teachers of the law.

Christos

The equivalent Greek term for Messiah is...

parables

the use of ______________ as invitations to choose the Kingdom of God was a central feature of Jesus' teaching ministry.