A method for learning to understand & present “Mark” in THE park, or wherever God has parked you...

I recall that “Mark’s Gospel”, is actually one  of “many”* writings, let alone tellings, tellings of “the Gospel” (of God, who was in (Jesus -) the Christ of God.. reconciling the world to himself)• and we have four of these preserved for us at the start of the New Testament, and each is titled in the Greek Language it was written in, “according to … Matthew, or Mark, or Luke, or John”. Together these four act as a repository of over 350 pericope (small storylet's or sayings maintained in the Christian Church, “the body of Christ” by being told (“handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word”) and then retold orally- sometimes to draw out different meanings, and for different purposes in different sequences), and we have modelled for us 4 different ways to put them together for different times, and for different audiences. We, the followers of this same Jesus, are thereby invited to take in each of these four distinct tellings separately, then to compare, contrast, and for our generation, our 21st Century evangelists (gospel-ers) may even seek the spirit’s help to present, in the tradition of Jesus, “the gospel according to … Fred, Mary, Bob, Paul, etc..” replete with a rewording of the central pithy evangel/ jingle, and modern-day working parables to help our generation to come under the kind (of) rule of the kind (of) God Jesus embodied and taught about.

In an attempt (as suggested by Rebecca Manley-Pippert#) to “get this gospel straight, let this gospel in, and take this gospel out”, I am inviting you to follow me, as I follow Christ, in a learning community, to  do the work to learn Jesus. (Note: All the primary source documents on his life and teachings are in ancient Koine Greek, not the Literary Greek of the Greek philosophers, so to seriously understand him)…

1. Learn the letters of the Greek alphabet, to vocalise the language of the primary source of the New Testament Koine [= (Ancient) Common] Greek.

2. So that you can read it, so that a person who knew (or learned) Greek could know and understand it more, and you could at least learn to look up Greek words in a dictionary/ lexicon.

3. Read in a dozen English translations each pericope (spoken-word story passed on for years by word of mouth, by spokesmen & women) you intend to learn. Then, as part of a learning participatory group, choose (for your assigned chapter at least) or translate/ edit the text which will become that learning community’s script. 

4. Together with your learning community, learn to perform it in a flexible way, involving a variety of any number of participants. [e.g. as the learning community trains, they could  roll a “dice” with the number of options matching the number of participants present; the number indicated by the dice is then taken to be the number of presenters (which the lead presenter then chooses to present  that chapter/pericope to “others” who become the audience].

5. Mark seems to lend itself most easily to a spoken word oral story-telling event, but there are three other “tellings”, and those whom God is calling as evangelists to our generation may be wanting to transpose/ compose further editions of tellings of THE GOSPEL (OF GOD, IN this CHRIST - who is “in us”) reconciling this world to himself•! 

6. Let's ACT it out! (The first Act, after “making” or “being made”, is to SEE (or hear/ notice). Seven times in Genesis it says “”And God saw that it was … good/ very good, and in chapter 6 we read  “The Lord saw that the wickedness of humans was great in the earth and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.” And he let it affect him emotionally, for then it says “the Lord was sorry that he had made humans on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.” (Genesis 6:5-6 NRSVUE) and with similar frequency in Jesus’ days as prophet to Israel he says “if you have ears to hear, then hear” and similarly he asks his disciples “Do you have ears but not hear? Do you have eyes, but not see?”(Mark 8)  

7. Then tell it out, as part of, & to be interpreted in the light of, our larger actions/deeds! - where-ever & when-ever God gives us the chance…

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Short-term objectives along the way might be to Form a small group of Anyone up to learning Mark's rendition of the Gospel with me over the next three-5 years? (By 2030AD)... Then preSENT it wherever whenever we can for the next 3-5 years???

After that there are the other records of 3 First Century Evangelists (Matthew, Luke, John, and records of Paul’s Visits & Letters, and the letter to the Hebrew followers of Jesus being tempted to “go back”, & reneg. on Christ, and the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures… especially Proverbs 1-9, various Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

Then also there are present day lives and letters (& lives as letters) needed within the family, and enacted/spoken/written-word events called for by providence itself.

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Footnotes

*   Luke tells Theophilus that by the time he is writing (almost certainly before John):”Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,” (Luke 1:1) NRSVU

• For Paul’s First Century understanding see passages like 2 Cor 5:16-21 (esp v.19)

#  Out of the Salt Shaker -”, by Rebecca Manley-Pippert,  IVP,  This book is so good, that I am looking to read/hear her second book “Stay Salt” soon.

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Marching through this country* turns into Marking time!

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I am seeing the Gospel “according to Mark”  as a First Century Spoken-Word Presentation which Peter gave across the Empire using John Mark as his (better quality Greek?) interpreter, then finally Mark became the one who wrote down the script for the Christians in Rome when Peter was imprisoned there.

Though I am an ammateur, I have found it to be profound. It has acted in my life as salt and light. It has become a  life-changing, life-healing, unsettling, life-giving, story of God’s chosen Leader Of Humanity. Its protagonist  stands above me as a god. I will gladly learn from him. And so I must learn through Mark (& the other late first Century/ early Second Century renditions of this same gospel by other people to other audiences helps a lot with this too). 

I have a hunch that was ratified the other day by a mate at a BBQ, who told me what an amazing experience it was for him to hear a letter from Christ’s Apostle (think Ambassador) Paul simply said, from memory, to a group; instead of read and “taught on”.  

I want to test out my hunch now…  My hunch is that (in the tradition we have from Jesus himself, who told many many stories to highlight, elucidate, and clarify what the reign of God was really like), if the hundred or so stories put together by (Peter &) Mark were once again

• presented orally 

• as a (or a series of) spoken-word presentation(s), 

• by a committed, sent, rag-tag group similar to Peter, that fisherman from Galilee, and his younger associate Mark (whom Peter came to see as family), 

• to a similar audience to Mark’s First Century Roman audience (powerful &  pragmatic. Which in my view, is country Australian people) 

then it might affect us all as it did when that first Century group of Jesus followers experimented with giving their lives to something (someone) worth living (& dying) for… 

I have committed myself to doing this in the next 3-5 years (by 2030). I have made a significant start, translating Mark chapters 1-5 into English verse that could be sung, chanted, dramatized as a spoken-word “thing-o”.  And, with Jordan the Magnificent, memorised chapter one (& since lost it again). 

Now I am scared that the job is actually too big for me alone, but I’m willing to die trying it. I have a community around me who support me in many ways in following Jesus as the cornerstone to a new approach to life. 

Along with God’s personal help, I am on the look-out for people who might team up with me (& whom I might team up with) in helpful ways, to contribute to this specific experiment. It may mean  getting to know the text of this First Century, ancient Greek, occasional document:  reading various English translations, learning to wrestle with the Greek text, trying to translate it, interpretting it to our setting, & presenting it in a spoken word format in this country.. etc… 

Paul *(de) Walker

0461258293

Orange NSW, Australia.

Serendipities

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There’s (little) things that show responses to

requests that we have made, of you, our God.

I just thought how the kind of things you do

might be adjusted by the things we’ve got,

which might, in turn, affect our very view

of how we see, relating you to what

does happen round about us here with who

the God within our head thinks of us lot.

We might think (for we have propensities

to do this - ’less we listen to your word

to us, and choose to look up, (from our knees)

that is, from asking self: “What have you heard?

How do you understand this? What’s the point?

And how have you responded, once anoint-

ed by the “judge & ruler” of this joint? -

The One to whom you must soon give account.)..

We might think that you are a bit like us,

and that could be a fact, and say what’s true.

But still we have the trouble & the fuss

of working out which bits? And what to do?

And we we ask such small things, from small minds,

not caring to see how the whole she-bang

is meant to work together, then we’ll find

small answers to requests from where we hang

about, and learn to learn from you instead

of getting you to listen up to me.

Your love leads you to help me: lift my head,

& note each case of serendipity.

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God’s word to Israel, through his prophets: “You thought I was like you!” 

…

so you made me like you.”

Jeremiah regarding making a god from a tree in the forest, (or from bits of mineral, vegetable, or …)” 

(You shrunk me down to your level, and used the likeness that was supposed to be there between you and me, not to help you grow up to be like your Father in heaven, but to shrink me down to be like you. You’re so peevish, you thought I was peevish. You’re so legalistic, you thought I was legalistic. You’re so controlling, you thought I must be controlling. You’re so task oriented and loveless, you thought I must be like you. Shrinking this whole Universe of amazing possibilities down to the small task that can fit in your small mind at the moment. Instead of using the scriptures to get a sense of the themes and motives that get God going, and learning to adopt those for yourself, you use the scriptures to find a record of the themes and motives that get you going, and shrink the Grand Narrative to a self serving story to gain and maintain your power structures, and give you a sense of importance & comfort.)

Jesus: “You teachers of the Lore of God, and you Pharisees, who honour the Lore of God, you do the minutae, like tithing your garden herbs, but miss the large themes of the Grand Narrative. Go and learn what is meant by the Justice and Mercy/Love of God”.

commanded in the Torah: 2Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments….10You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you.” Deuteronomy 8:2,10 NRSVUE) paraphrased: “When you enter your own land, you must bless the Lord, else you will start to think that you have got here by yourself, and become arrogant and self righteous.”

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Gloriously going forth..

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We see that God's at work amazingly.

Dear Father, please help us see how we can

join in with what you're doing that we see.

It's fun for ev'ry woman, ev'ry man..

who comes to  know acceptance of what we

have offered up to you, because of love,

(and not man-ip-u-la-tion so we’ll be 

more loved by heaven), it’s all from above.

Then there are times when we seem quite mechan-

ic-al, with roles to play and when we do

from love, instead of lesser motives, Man,

we find we’re growing up to be like you..

Oh what a wondrous thing to know your goal -

that we would grow up to be like your Christ -

and that one day, we really will be whole,

because we're joined to him whose life surficed

to make the changes from creative love

that put this world together at the first.

It fun and games are seeded from above,

its griefs (with rains of tears) both best, & worst!

Love asks not “What do I feel like, & want? 

But focusses on truth, more than desire.

It’s OTHER centred, chooses dif’rent fonts, 

and focuses on what’s deeper, or higher.

“What do ‘THEY’ feel like, - and thus want, - & NEED?

And how can I affect and serve this one?

Their needs, their feelings, & their wants - are seed…

they’re seed considerations, start the fun

and games, and bring the spice of life to bear

on all our choices, and experience too.

It sets the scene and helps us focus where

we’re likely to find out, see how, & who.

Oh God, you’re good. Your plans the  best I’ve seen!

They’re deeper, better, longer-lasting too.

Your hesed* love’s a way of life, its dream

enlightens life, so waking hours renew.

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*  hesed the Hebrew word for committed altruism, born of honouring one’s word, and one's neighbour as one’s self.

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LIFE beats strife

LIFE beats Strife..

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He knew what he must do, and how, and why.

He owned his feelings and desires but yet

would not let them just rule him - rather die

than miss the path that Goodness truly set.

He knew his Father’s will, and too, what way

could help him to live under Fatherhood,

and asked his friends to help him stay awake

and knew the hearts of men weren’t always good,

or else were plain ol’ weak, and lacked the will -

pow’r which derived from love’s creativeness.

So he would have to open up until

no secrets were retained. God would be blessed

by his determined open-ness and truth -

through (under/ “over”)- statements, and “denials”.

But plain ol’ choice to honour any who

through constant choosing to act all the while

such that all glory, honour, and im-mor-

tal-ness, would then come his way just because

he knew creative love & life had more -

excess, and overflowing. There are laws,

or understandings of a person’s ways

which can be quite depended on to grow

us up in bold adventure, we display

some fam’ly style or manner, ’coz we know

within our bones (and DNA), the stuff

of life that is essential to God’s own -

bequeathed to us as gift that is enough

& all that’s necessary. LOVE is HOME!

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Background

As his herald later put it:

“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated. 38Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” 39And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.” 40Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Now the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”  

47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51Suddenly one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will die by the sword. 53Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” 55At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:36-56 NRSVUE)

As his Ambassador (later) explained:

“Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others, for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. 2We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth. 3Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? 4Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6He will repay according to each one’s deeds: 7to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life, 8while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but injustice, there will be wrath and fury. 9There will be affliction and distress for everyone who does evil, both the Jew first and the Greek, 10but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, both THE JEW first and the Greek. 11For God shows no partiality. (Romans 2:1-11)

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Darkness can’t reject the light.

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Oh God please help us to shine in this space, 

& also to communicate from you

the flavour of your reign within this place, 

like Jesus did - whose spirit still wants to..

We love the way you work within your world -

your partnering with us to help us grow

and learn to lead like him who was so hurled

out to deserted places, so we’d know

how to depend on you yourself - our Dad,

and see that he could truly lead us well.

You made a great choice - & it’s not so bad

as all our options - taking us to hell..

So, thanks to you. And too, I’d like to start 

and follow in all actions, life, and thought,

your choice of who’s to lead, who’s set apart.

He’s very good. And I know that I ought.

I say this, and I mean it as I do,

but there are parts of me that aren’t in line..

I do not love some consequences, you

would know which ones. I’ll trust you still to shine

your light of goodness, even when things seem

quite horrible, and hateful to my self…

We’ll learn commitment from him, and to team

with you, as he did, showing human  health!

And too internal fortitude, to hold,

to what we know is true, yet dain't appear.

Your breath, your animating spirit, bold,

will help us to live like you’re really near.

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[36] Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” [37] He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated. [38] Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” [39] And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.” [40] Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? [41] Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [42] Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” [43] Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. [44] So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. [45] Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Now the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. [46] Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”  [47] 

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. [48] Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” [49] At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. [50] Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. [51] Suddenly one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. [52] Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will die by the sword. [53] Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? [54] But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” [55] At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a rebel? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. [56] But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:36-56 NRSVUE)

1-2The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one. 3-5Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out. (John 1:1-5 MSG)

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