Monday, April 20, 2009

CYCLE B: THE YEAR OF THE GOSPEL OF MARK: THE MIRACLE STORIES

By John R. Donahue, S.J., "Mark," Harper's Bible Commentary [Harper & Row, Publishers, San Francisco], pg. 987

Miracle stories occupy roughly a third of the gospel (more than the passion narrative). Mark describes the miracles of Jesus as "mighty works," not "signs" that authenticate the ministry of Jesus. From our perspective they are better called "symbols" of the power of God manifest in Jesus. This power is stronger than the forces of evil and illnes and respond to the needs of suffering people. They comprise four groups: healings, exorcisms, nature miracles and one resuscitation.

Mark also refers to them in summaries of Jesus' ministry. The different groups have similar formal characteristics which argue for oral retelling prior to Mark. Similar tales of extraordinary deeds of Old Testament prophets, Jewish rabbis, and Hellenistic heroes were common.

Mark incorporates these stories for a variety of reasons: to show Jesus as prophet mighty in word and deed, to exalt him above other claimants to divine power, and to evoke wonder and awe in God's power. By placing most of them prior to the first passion prediction (8:31-32) and the beginning of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, Mark subjects them to the narrative paradox of his gospel. Jesus the powerful one submits to God's will in becoming the powerless victim who is raised up by God. The resurrection is the ultimate work of power in Mark.

No comments:

Post a Comment