Discover the Gospel of Mark in 3 WeeksSample

Hearing, Understanding (somewhat), and Responding to Jesus - Part 1 of 2 (Mark 3:13-4:34)

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” [Jesus] asked. Mark 3:33 (NIV)

Context:

The readings for Days 5 and 6 form a unified section exploring how people encounter and respond to Jesus (review Day 1 for Mark's overall book structure). This passage is divided into two parts:

1. Mark contrasts those who truly "hear" and "respond" to Jesus versus those who don't (Mark 3:13-35)
2. Jesus uses parables to invite listeners to “hear” his message, to “understand” it, and to “respond” to him in faith (Mark 4:1-34)

We will discuss how to interpret parables as a type of literature on Day 6. Today, however, we will simply suggest that much of what Jesus says affects his audience like the parables did:

• Like the parables, his words and actions were difficult for his listeners to understand and often caused offense
• Like the parables, people needed Jesus to explain the significance of his words and actions
• Like the parables, some responded to his deeds and teachings with faith, while others walked away

Observation:

The stories in today’s reading contrast those who truly “hear” the message of Jesus and “respond” with those who don’t. Notice how Mark layers these stories about Jesus’s disciples, Jesus’s family, and Jesus’s accusers:

• Mark begins with Jesus appointing the 12 disciples to be with him and to share his authority (Mark 3:13-19)
  • He then reports Jesus’s family coming to him and attempting to take charge of him (Mark 3:20-21)
    • The report of his family’s intervention is “interrupted” by the religious leaders from Jerusalem accusing Jesus of deriving his authority from demons (Mark 3:22-30)
  • Then, Mark returns to Jesus’s family, who have arrived at the place he is.
• Finally (and surprisingly), Jesus identifies his true family as those around him, who do the will of God (that is, his disciples) (Mark 3:31-35).

Interpretation:

You could interpret at least three categories of “responses” to Jesus in today’s reading. See chart below:

Application:

What stood out to you from today’s reading? What did you hear?

Do you feel like you understand what you heard? How could you pursue greater understanding of it?

How is the Spirit inviting you to respond to this word in a practical way?