Christ's Healing and Call To Follow

Already in the first chapter of Mark's Gospel, Jesus is healing many people.  Three healing miracles are described in detail: Jesus cures the demoniac, Jesus raises up Peter's mother-in-law, and Jesus cleanses the leper.    These three seemed to be grouped together because, in the narrative style, they seem to happen in quick succession, and because they are all given w/in chapter one.  However, we know there is another healing to be described in chapter two: the healing of the paralytic.  So I'm not sure why the first three are considered a grouping of three more than all four are considered a group of four.  (Given that we know the chapter divisions were added after the original writing.)

What I think is interesting is that before these accounts of healing, we are given an account of the calling of the first disciples.  Then, immediately following the healing stories, we are given an account of the calling of Levi.
I'll have to think on this (grouping and order of stories) further after I have digested each of these accounts.

Meanwhile, I want to note that I am very glad and grateful to know that Jesus retreated to "deserted places" for prayer and refreshment.  Even Jesus needed to keep Himself in close, constant, vital relationship w/ His Father in order to do God's Will.  The Father ministers to the Son so the Son can serve.  Any service I hope to do must be fruit of my life and sustenance in Christ.

Reading Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, Made into a Picture Book by Robert Lawson, With Text Retold and Shortened for Modern Reader, by Mary Godolphin.  I haven't read this since I was a young child!  Reading it again now makes me what to find the longer version and read it too.

I Was Found Of Thee

In Sabin's "The Gospel According To Mark" (New Collegeville Bible Commentary), she notes that in Jesus' day, it wasn't customary for teachers to seek out their disciples; normally, teachers attracted disciples.  She furthers compares Jesus to "Wisdom" who "calls those who are in need of her -- 'the simple ones' (Proverbs 1:22)"

How exciting and wondrous it must have been to be sought out by Jesus.  I can imagine how thoroughly compelling His call would have been.

And as I write that, I realize I do know how exciting and wondrous it is to be sought out by Jesus!  My Lord is truly compelling!  (Praise You, Jesus-Christ!)

My all-time favorite hymn describes this experience of being sought by the Lord Who Is Love:

I Sought The Lord

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew 
 he moved my soul to seek him, seeking me. 
 It was not I that found, O Savior true; 
 no, I was found of thee. 

Thou didst reach forth thy hand and mine enfold; 
 I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea. 
 'Twas not so much that I on thee took hold, 
 as thou, dear Lord, on me. 

I find, I walk, I love, but oh, the whole 
 of love is but my answer, Lord, to thee! 
 For thou wert long beforehand with my soul; 
 always thou lovedst me. 

~Anonymous

My favorite setting for this text is that by J. Harold Moyer, as found in The Mennonite Hymnal, published in 1969

Straightaway

Notes:
The Good-News of Jesus-Christ is the Beginning of the New Creation.  (See, I like to use lots of capitals!!!)
Elijah & Elisha and John The Baptist & Jesus parallels: except the greater of each pair is reversed. (Much like the New Creation fulfills and surpasses the First Creation ~ ML's comment)

Now that I know Mark's use of the word we have translated as "at once" is actually "straightaway" and is a pun in both Greek and English, I'm thrilled to read (Mark 1:12) "Straightaway the Spirit drove [Jesus] out into the desert..."  Yes!  Even (especially?) Christ's being tempted (much as each of us are) is part of God's making His Way straight!  God can make things right even through temptation!  Each temptation can be viewed as a hardship, but even if it is, it can also be received as an invitation to join w/ God in making things right.

When we are initially aware of a temptation, we can think we are being given an invitation or opportunity to sin.  It is at least equally true that we are being given an invitation and opportunity to become (w/ the Spirit's help) more Christ-like.

Praise be to Jesus!
Holy are You, Lord-God of all creation!
:)

Commentaries on Mark's Gospel

I'm reading books w/ commentaries on the Gospel according to Mark.  One I find especially exciting is Marie Noonan Sabin's commentary of The Gospel According To Mark, which is part of the New Collegeville Bible Commentary series.  I'm just into the introductory section, but I'm already digging into the Scripture more.  I love learning more of God, especially through the stories and accounts He Himself has given us through inspired Word.  Thanks be to God!  Praise be to Jesus!

I just finished the intro.  SO excited!  I especially value Rabin's remarks re Mark's relating the New to the Old Testament, his use of keywords, and his over-all design using patterns of two's and three's.  How Rabin does/ n't use capitals is explained but is not completely clear to me.  I hope as I read and make my own lists comparing what other translations capitalize and she doesn't, or vice a versa, along w/ what I would like to capitalize and why, maybe what's being high-lighted or not will help make the text clearer and richer for me.  We'll see.  But I'm so excited to dig in!  Here we go! :)