Easter: Resurrection-Metamorphosis-Spirits: References from Mark

                                         


Let us look at what is said about resurrection in the gospels. This blogpost will be on Mark. Blogposts for input from Matthew, Luke and John will follow in separate posts.

 Christians are said to be "Easter People" or "Resurrection People". It seems realistic since Jesus' ministry focused heavily on resurrection and his life's story is resurrection. So, let us study what is said in the Gospels regarding resurrection. I have added "metamorphosis" in the title as you may see Jesus's examples of resurrection are not all exactly the same in each of the Gospels. Also, Jesus focuses on spiritual entities, and this seems critical in understanding resurrection. The purpose of this study is to encourage you to make up your own mind of what may have happened with Jesus.

Definitions:

Resurrection: Act of rising from the dead, returning to life, or revival of something forgotten, disused or declined.

Metamorphosis: A profound change in physical form, structure or substance. Often abrupt.

Spirit: A non-physical entity [or energy?].

Comments related to resurrection, starting with Mark--the accepted older book of the gospels:

Ch. 1: 10-11 "...and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased." [I include this event to show the importance of spirits.]

In Ch. 5: 40-43 "He took her by the hand and said to her, 'Talitha cum', which means 'Little girl get up! And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about..."

In Ch. 8:v4  "...the Son of Man...be killed...after 3 days rise again."

In Ch. 9: "The Transfiguration": Jesus is talking with Elijah and Moses, who 'suddenly' disappeared. [Are Elijah and Moses resurrected bodies or spirits? How did they know it was Elijah and Moses?]

Also in Ch. 9: "...The Son of Man...they will kill him...three days...he will rise again." "But they did not understand..."

In Ch. 10, A third time Jesus: "The Son of Man ....kill him....3 days he will rise again."

In Ch. 12: "...when they rise from the dead...they...are like angels in heaven."  [This is a tricky answer since I don't know who else knows what angels in heaven are like.] And "...He is God not of the dead, but of the living."

Finally in Ch. 16 v. 1-8: the accepted older and shorter version of the end of Mark's gospel: "...Mary Magdalene,...Mary the mother of Jesus, and Salome...went to the tomb."

"....they saw a young man...he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth...He has been raised; he is not here....he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him."

That concludes the older text of Mark's gospel. No additional resurrection stories. 

In the text that is considered added to Mark, verses 9-20, Jesus is said to appear to Mary Magdalene, but others didn't believe her. Jesus later "...appeared in another form to two of them.." However, they told others and were not believed. I added the italics to emphasize the issue.

Second finish from verse 19: "So then the Lord Jesus...was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God."

Next blogpost will summarize resurrection references in Matthew.







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Matthew Chapter 23: Required reading!

Image
  If you are seeking to learn what Jesus was/is doing, you MUST read Matthew Chapter 23. And you MUST read it with PASSION and practice your critical reading, thinking and reasoning. Look up the definition to each of those processes. In Matthew Chapter 23 Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees: --Hypocrites 6 times. --Blind guides 2 times. --Blind Pharisee. --Whitewashed tombs. --Snakes, brood of vipers. You should refresh your understanding of hypocrite and hypocrisy to better understand why Jesus felt so strongly to scream this curse at them 6 -7 times in one gathering. And Jesus accuses them: --They do not practice what they preach. --You burden others yet are unwilling to lift a finger. --You are not to be called rabbi. --"You make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves." -- You neglect the law of justice, mercy and faith. --"You are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." --"How can you escape being sentenced to hell?" Well, I guess we...
Read more

"I am...", "Son of Man"

Image
  Below is a brief listing of Jesus' "I am" statements. These statements show the brilliant insight and the ability for a teller of most complicated parables to be excessively brief.  John 6:35 "I am the bread of life." John 8:12 "I am the light of the world." John 10:7-9 "I am the door [or gate]." John 10:11,14 "I am the good shepherd." John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life." John 14:6 "I am the way, truth and the Life." John 15:1 "I am the true vine." Also, Jesus refers to himself as "The Son of Man" throughout the gospels. If fact, he uses the designation as "Son of Man" dozens of times. He almost never directly says he is the only son of God.  In fact, he argues with those called "Jews" by John 10:34-39 when Jesus states from Psalm 82:6 "I say, "You are gods, children of the most high, all of you." Study the "I am" statements and Jesus...
Read more

Recommended Reading for those who seek a better understanding of what Jesus said

Image
  Recommended  Reading: ...Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.   I suggest leaving all other parts of "The Bible" for reference and scholars or theologians. Pay attention to what "Jesus" said.   ...Richard Rohr:  "Falling Upward" and "Simplicity" ...Clarence Jordan:  "Essential Writings" ...Bart D. Ehrman:  "Misquoting Jesus" and "Peter, Paul & Mary Magdalene" ...Leslie D. Weatherhead:  "The Christian Agnostic" Dr. Weatherhead made a life changing suggestion: "...write out your own creed". ...Timothy Keller:  "The Prodigal God" ...Thom S. Rainer: "Autopsy of a Deceased Church" Follow the teaching offered by scholars like the authors listed.  Use your own mind to decide. I will post my comments on select passages from the Gospels and some thoughts on the books in the reading list and some thoughts on other spiritual issues.
Read more