From France on Tyre, (p297)
Mark does not tell us that Jesus visited Tyre itself, merely its 'horia' (region), the administrative district for which it was responsible. Mark's Jesus (is this a comparison to John's Gospel and Jesus's trips to Jerusalem?) is not generally a frequenter of cities, still less pagan ones, but remains out in the countryside (cf. 8.27) Tyre, whose territory adjoined northern Galilee, had long been an important trading city. It had close links with Palestine, particularly under Herod the Great, and its coinage was widely circulated there; indeed, it exercised considerable economic dominance over the neighbouring area of Galilee (Stock 210- 13). But it was clearly foreign territory, and Josephus, Ap. 1.70, describes the Tyrians as 'notoriously our bitterest enemies'.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Isaiah interlude- 7
Isaiah 28: 9ff
“Who is it he is trying to teach?
To whom is he explaining this message?
To children weaned from their milk,
to those just taken from the breast?
For it is:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there.”
Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues
God will speak to this people,
to whom he said,
“This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;
and, “This is the place of repose”-
but they wouldn't listen.
So then, the word of the LORD to them will become:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a littler here, a little there-
so that they will go and fall backwards,
be injured and snared and captured.
Therefore hear the word of the LORD you scoffers
who rule this people in Jerusalem.
You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the grave we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
it cannot touch us,
for we have make a lie our refuge
and falsehood our hiding place.”
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie
and water will overflow your hiding place....
I thought that may have related to the pharisees- the do and do, do and do,- rule on rule, rule on rule. But I'm not sure.
The passage Jesus quotes is the chapter after- 28 has been to Ephraim and 29 is to Ariel – David's city ( I assume Jerusalem). The LORD says,
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honour me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is made up only of rules taught by men.
(the Septuagint has the form found in Mark- They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men)
“Who is it he is trying to teach?
To whom is he explaining this message?
To children weaned from their milk,
to those just taken from the breast?
For it is:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on, rule on rule;
a little here, a little there.”
Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues
God will speak to this people,
to whom he said,
“This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;
and, “This is the place of repose”-
but they wouldn't listen.
So then, the word of the LORD to them will become:
Do and do, do and do,
rule on rule, rule on rule;
a littler here, a little there-
so that they will go and fall backwards,
be injured and snared and captured.
Therefore hear the word of the LORD you scoffers
who rule this people in Jerusalem.
You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death,
with the grave we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
it cannot touch us,
for we have make a lie our refuge
and falsehood our hiding place.”
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who trusts will never be dismayed.
I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie
and water will overflow your hiding place....
I thought that may have related to the pharisees- the do and do, do and do,- rule on rule, rule on rule. But I'm not sure.
The passage Jesus quotes is the chapter after- 28 has been to Ephraim and 29 is to Ariel – David's city ( I assume Jerusalem). The LORD says,
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honour me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is made up only of rules taught by men.
(the Septuagint has the form found in Mark- They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men)
Jesus' faith unblind- 7:24
I just looked for the Glover quote about Jesus thoughts on goodness and evil- couldn't find it quickly- couldn't find the newer copy that Paul gave me.
NIV translates v24- Jesus left that place.. The greek is Ekeithen de anastas apelthen eis ta horia Turou
And he arose from there and went into the region of Tyre. I assume that's Capernaum to Tyre. By road perhaps 80km's at a rough guess from the atlas of the bible.. I'd think a three day journey- though they would have travelled pretty light. I wonder what time of year we are at. He enters into a house and wishes no one to know but is not able to escape notice. I wonder... He's just bluntly insulted the delegation from Jerusalem- they probably have their own three day journey back to give their report, and Jesus seems to feel the need for space between him and the Sanhedrin. As John would say- his time had not yet come- and that necessitated a geographical shift. If that is correct then it is interesting comment on faith, God's action and human action. Jesus has complete faith in the Father, but that does not mean at this stage that he walks into Jerusalem.
Remain in me- for apart from me you can do nothing/ The three men and the talents/ If you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
NIV translates v24- Jesus left that place.. The greek is Ekeithen de anastas apelthen eis ta horia Turou
And he arose from there and went into the region of Tyre. I assume that's Capernaum to Tyre. By road perhaps 80km's at a rough guess from the atlas of the bible.. I'd think a three day journey- though they would have travelled pretty light. I wonder what time of year we are at. He enters into a house and wishes no one to know but is not able to escape notice. I wonder... He's just bluntly insulted the delegation from Jerusalem- they probably have their own three day journey back to give their report, and Jesus seems to feel the need for space between him and the Sanhedrin. As John would say- his time had not yet come- and that necessitated a geographical shift. If that is correct then it is interesting comment on faith, God's action and human action. Jesus has complete faith in the Father, but that does not mean at this stage that he walks into Jerusalem.
Remain in me- for apart from me you can do nothing/ The three men and the talents/ If you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Cultural blindspots- 7:14-23
Back with the disciples and they cop a bit of plain speaking as well. Asunetoi- lacking in understanding dullwitted. BDAG- the noun sunesis (from suniemi) refers to bringing together of things or persons (juncture of two rivers, Hom. Od), then to inward organisation ('understanding'); one who lacks sunesis is void of understanding, senseless, foolish, implying also a lack of high moral quality.
So, in other words, the disciples haven't put two and two together very well at all here. And Jesus goes on to enunciate. It is interesting that the disciples didn't pick it up. The idea of ritual cleaness or uncleansess was very strong- the Jews had been (break of a day or two here) cured of their idolatorous ways by the exile- and the pharisees had replaced this with another form of idolatory- the traditions of men. Peter had to be given another post resurrection lesson about this- Surely not Lord, I have never eaten anything impure or unclean. It was a big issue for the early church- interesting at the council of Jerusalem you had believers who belonged to the party of the pharisees standing up and saying “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the laws of Moses”.
I wonder what my blindspots are? The things so strongly imbedded in your culture (particularly your faith tradition) that you take for granted that someone could point out to you and you still wouldn't get it.
“All these evils come from inside (eswthen) and make a man unclean'.” Here is 'a' answer for where evil comes from- from within. I just looked up the concordance for references on the devil and Satan. Jesus certainly mentions him- and is tempted by him in the Desert. But in the course of the Gospel accounts there are not that many references- the “Get behind me Satan”- to Peter- and Satan entering Judas- but on the whole it is certainly not a focus. “The from within” certainly is. I'm sure that is instructive for the way we live pray and teach. It wasn't as though Jesus didn't come up against the demonic either. He was often casting out demons and ordering them to be silent.
Come back to this..
So, in other words, the disciples haven't put two and two together very well at all here. And Jesus goes on to enunciate. It is interesting that the disciples didn't pick it up. The idea of ritual cleaness or uncleansess was very strong- the Jews had been (break of a day or two here) cured of their idolatorous ways by the exile- and the pharisees had replaced this with another form of idolatory- the traditions of men. Peter had to be given another post resurrection lesson about this- Surely not Lord, I have never eaten anything impure or unclean. It was a big issue for the early church- interesting at the council of Jerusalem you had believers who belonged to the party of the pharisees standing up and saying “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the laws of Moses”.
I wonder what my blindspots are? The things so strongly imbedded in your culture (particularly your faith tradition) that you take for granted that someone could point out to you and you still wouldn't get it.
“All these evils come from inside (eswthen) and make a man unclean'.” Here is 'a' answer for where evil comes from- from within. I just looked up the concordance for references on the devil and Satan. Jesus certainly mentions him- and is tempted by him in the Desert. But in the course of the Gospel accounts there are not that many references- the “Get behind me Satan”- to Peter- and Satan entering Judas- but on the whole it is certainly not a focus. “The from within” certainly is. I'm sure that is instructive for the way we live pray and teach. It wasn't as though Jesus didn't come up against the demonic either. He was often casting out demons and ordering them to be silent.
Come back to this..
Upokrites- 7:1-13
They knew he was in Galilee and would have known or been able to find out that his base was at Capernaum. I suppose the delegation would have had more time to accomplish their mission than if it had have happened in the modern world. A three day trip up? I wonder who they stayed with? Probably pharisees known to them. -where they would have caught up on what Jesus had been up to- discussed the subversiveness of it. And I imagine they could have filled them in on where they would be most likely to find him the next day. I imagine for awhile now Jesus has been a watched man- not just the people and disciples, but in the sense of 'covered' – reports are going back- and now we have the city agents coming out.
And Jesus lets rip. There is no holding back- 'I know the game you are playing, and if I don't play this right I could get myself killed.' He quotes Isaiah at them (immediately turning the table on their world) and says that they are on the outside- hypocrites- stage actors with a device in their mask for augmenting the force of the voice. (what a brilliant image for a hypocrite)- Vine. And then with forceful and direct insight- “You have let go of commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.
Then he gives them an example of this- and turns his attention to the crowd. And I bet there loving it- for they would know all about the pharisees political correctness- and I'm sure many Galileans would resent it.
And Jesus lets rip. There is no holding back- 'I know the game you are playing, and if I don't play this right I could get myself killed.' He quotes Isaiah at them (immediately turning the table on their world) and says that they are on the outside- hypocrites- stage actors with a device in their mask for augmenting the force of the voice. (what a brilliant image for a hypocrite)- Vine. And then with forceful and direct insight- “You have let go of commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.
Then he gives them an example of this- and turns his attention to the crowd. And I bet there loving it- for they would know all about the pharisees political correctness- and I'm sure many Galileans would resent it.
How good is self forgetfulness- Chapter 7
I wonder exactly where we are at chronologically at the moment. The opposition of the pharisees has grown to such an extant that they are sending up delegations from Jerusalem to check on him. Interesting that as well as the pharisees we have 'some of the scribes'. And then what follows is something that at times could be an issue for me. It's the other side of the coin to thinking Westlakes is not rigorous enough in their approach to the bible. I imagine I'd be on the pharisees and scribes side on this. There can be a pride that comes with a level of competence or mastery (for those that get there). And as Tozer was writing the other night, there can be that looking over the shoulder thing as well- hoping that people are noticing your competence. He took a similar incident to this one and commented how the pharisees were more concerned with the opinion of man than of pursuing God.
How good is self forgetfulness. Even with this blog, I can have that 'this is good stuff- they are some very good insights' type thing. -so it is fortunate that no-one is reading it. - and telling me that or the opposite. You can somehow live your life out there- with an eye on what other people think, and sometimes an awareness that you are talented in a particular area as well, so with your eye out to confirm that through others. I had a text from a couple at church telling me how they appreciated my wise comments on the panel at church. It was flattering. I think I've broached this before in this amazing blog- there are dangers there in that moment- of pride in a God given talent, or fear of the talent or the recognition it may bring. I wonder where Paul went with all of this? One thing is he probably didn't get too much time to do too much introspection. It may be a particularly 20/21st century phenomena, and he was busy in the task, not sitting in a monastry with a beautiful view. But he talks of coming to the Corinthians was it? In trembling with no flash message- just Christ crucified, no eloquent words, just the power of the gospel. Elsewhere he talks about having reasons to boast- and says he has more than most- and has seen glorious visions- talks about a man caught up to the third heaven (what's going on there?) - My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Treasures in jars of clay, that need to lose our lives so that we may find them. Like Edmund who seemed to forget himself even though he had stuffed up majorly and put everything in jeopardy- he just kept looking at Aslan. And the spirit of Luke 17- what else would a slave do? You are making a big deal out of the ordinary.
Mr Macdonald understood it...
“The love our neighbour is the only door out of the dungeon of self, where we mope and mow, striking sparks, and rubbing phosphorescences out of the walls, and blowing our own breath in our own nostrils, instead of issuing to the fair sunlight of God, the sweet winds of the universe.”
“...She was looking gloomy, and his father was silent; and indeed except Diamond had done all he possible could to keep out the misery that was trying to get in at doors and windows, he too would have grown miserable, and then they would have been miserable together. But to try and make others comfortable is the only way to get right comfortable ourselves, and that comes partly from not being able to think of ourselves when we are helping other people. For our Selves will always do pretty well if we don't pay them too much attention. Our Selves are like some children who will be happy enough so long as they are left to their own games, but when we begin to interfere with them, and make them presents of too nice play things, or too many sweets they begin at once to fret and spoil.”
How did this take place? In some public place, where the pharisees and scribes had opportunity to gather around him.
How good is self forgetfulness. Even with this blog, I can have that 'this is good stuff- they are some very good insights' type thing. -so it is fortunate that no-one is reading it. - and telling me that or the opposite. You can somehow live your life out there- with an eye on what other people think, and sometimes an awareness that you are talented in a particular area as well, so with your eye out to confirm that through others. I had a text from a couple at church telling me how they appreciated my wise comments on the panel at church. It was flattering. I think I've broached this before in this amazing blog- there are dangers there in that moment- of pride in a God given talent, or fear of the talent or the recognition it may bring. I wonder where Paul went with all of this? One thing is he probably didn't get too much time to do too much introspection. It may be a particularly 20/21st century phenomena, and he was busy in the task, not sitting in a monastry with a beautiful view. But he talks of coming to the Corinthians was it? In trembling with no flash message- just Christ crucified, no eloquent words, just the power of the gospel. Elsewhere he talks about having reasons to boast- and says he has more than most- and has seen glorious visions- talks about a man caught up to the third heaven (what's going on there?) - My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Treasures in jars of clay, that need to lose our lives so that we may find them. Like Edmund who seemed to forget himself even though he had stuffed up majorly and put everything in jeopardy- he just kept looking at Aslan. And the spirit of Luke 17- what else would a slave do? You are making a big deal out of the ordinary.
Mr Macdonald understood it...
“The love our neighbour is the only door out of the dungeon of self, where we mope and mow, striking sparks, and rubbing phosphorescences out of the walls, and blowing our own breath in our own nostrils, instead of issuing to the fair sunlight of God, the sweet winds of the universe.”
“...She was looking gloomy, and his father was silent; and indeed except Diamond had done all he possible could to keep out the misery that was trying to get in at doors and windows, he too would have grown miserable, and then they would have been miserable together. But to try and make others comfortable is the only way to get right comfortable ourselves, and that comes partly from not being able to think of ourselves when we are helping other people. For our Selves will always do pretty well if we don't pay them too much attention. Our Selves are like some children who will be happy enough so long as they are left to their own games, but when we begin to interfere with them, and make them presents of too nice play things, or too many sweets they begin at once to fret and spoil.”
How did this take place? In some public place, where the pharisees and scribes had opportunity to gather around him.
Something big in their midst- 6:53-56
They cross over the lake and land and anchor at Gennesaret. This doesn't add up- Jesus had told the disciples to go ahead of him to Bethsaida, and Bethsaida is on the other side of the lake to Gennesaret. (Capernaum in the middle and Bethsaida on the East and Gennesaret on the west- they're all in the Northern section of the lake).
Not surprisingly at this point in the story, people see him and run about spreading the news- and wherever he goes in the region this news system insures a steady stream of the sick being brought to him. This must be the height of his popularity. France points out in comparison to Nazareth, there were many healings.
At least 8000 would have been at the miraculous meal on the shores of the lake- that's a lot of people in that region with an amazing story to tell.
Mark gives us a little summary to conclude this section and finishes with- (NIV) They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
You have to be a little sympathetic to the people of Nazareth. They'd seen this man grow up- be among them – one of them- the Carpenter's son, for over 20 years. And there was no hint of any this. How could he be that, when he has been this all these years? Here is a prophet who is eclipsing the greatest prophets of old- Elijah and Elisha. Miracles of these dimensions had not been seen in Israel for hundreds of years. Just being able to brush his cloak as he walks past would heal you of ailments you'd had for years- It reads like some sort of fantasy- It's fantastic- and Mark puts it in a quick summary. Stuff like this can pretty easily obscure. For far too long in my life I have had an idea of Jesus being somehow less or more than a man, which diminishes the glory of the incarnation.
-
Where are we at here in terms of the pharisees and scribes opposition?
Not surprisingly at this point in the story, people see him and run about spreading the news- and wherever he goes in the region this news system insures a steady stream of the sick being brought to him. This must be the height of his popularity. France points out in comparison to Nazareth, there were many healings.
At least 8000 would have been at the miraculous meal on the shores of the lake- that's a lot of people in that region with an amazing story to tell.
Mark gives us a little summary to conclude this section and finishes with- (NIV) They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
You have to be a little sympathetic to the people of Nazareth. They'd seen this man grow up- be among them – one of them- the Carpenter's son, for over 20 years. And there was no hint of any this. How could he be that, when he has been this all these years? Here is a prophet who is eclipsing the greatest prophets of old- Elijah and Elisha. Miracles of these dimensions had not been seen in Israel for hundreds of years. Just being able to brush his cloak as he walks past would heal you of ailments you'd had for years- It reads like some sort of fantasy- It's fantastic- and Mark puts it in a quick summary. Stuff like this can pretty easily obscure. For far too long in my life I have had an idea of Jesus being somehow less or more than a man, which diminishes the glory of the incarnation.
-
Where are we at here in terms of the pharisees and scribes opposition?
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