Mark’s Gospel Part 5, “A Known Associate of the Marginalised”, Mark 1:29-34

This week Sean, continues to look the opening stages of Mark’s account of Jesus’ ministry - as it begins to go public and crowds come searching for some hope from their misery.

After an initial amazement of the miraculous goings on, Sean points us towards something much deeper emerging, that give us a glimpse of all that will follow as Jesus demonstrates and invites people to a ‘radical new way’. Jesus points to being more than a miracle worker and exorcist - it’s who he hangs out with that will cause both the greatest unrest and prove to be the greatest demonstration of a scandalous new way of understanding God. Let's not forget too that Mark is writing initially to a community of early followers of Jesus now being brutally persecuted in Rome, where it must have seemed like miracles were in short supply, so the bigger picture would have been well understood and appreciated by them. Sean finishes up asking a series of questions, primarily as a challenge to those who claim to be followers of Christ today, but also in the hope those on the outside looking in, will find room to explore. The final question Sean asks is; “What crowds do we welcome at our door and into our lives? … and what crowds do we wish would go away?” He doesn’t think that’s a question we can ignore as we read this gospel. ————————————————————— You can read the bible passage, Mark 1:29-34 online at: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/... You can also subscribe to this series playlist on YouTube here:    • Marks Gospel Series   and also find 150+ additional bible reflections and stories, from various God’s Squad members around the world. _________________________________________ This presentation, and many of the previous and following ones in this series that Sean will present, includes references, quotes and research from the following sources; Meeting God in Mark, Rowan Williams, 2014. Binding the Strong Man, Ched Myers, 1998, (2008 edition) Mark, Paideia Commentary on the New Testament, Mary Ann Beavis, 2011. The Gospel of Mark, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, William L. Lane, 1974. The Gospel According to St. Mark, Black’s New Testament Commentaries, Morna D. Hooker, 1981, (2003 edition) Life on the Road, Athol Gill, 1992. Mark, New International Biblical Commentary, Larry W. Hurtado, 1983, (1998 edition).