Recap

So far in Mark we've read the prologue and started Jesus' early ministry in Galilee. Mark's gospel open with the assertion that Jesus is the son of God and king that the Old Testament had been looking forward to. We read as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus just as the messenger and prophet prepared the way for God in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3.

Jesus declared the start of his new reign by fighting spiritual warfare in the desert, just as many kings would fight battles to assert their reign. Then Jesus went out and began preaching that the kingdom of God is near, and we started to get examples of what that meant. The kingdom of God has authority and power over the forces of darkness, as Jesus cast evil spirits. It has authority and power over sicknesses and disease, as Jesus healed many. It makes unclean things clean as Jesus reached out and touched a leper.

The one group the kingdom of God doesn't control is people as we saw different people reject or ignore Jesus. Then Jesus taught how the kingdom of God doesn't work like the people expected it to. It is a new thing that doesn't fit into old ways of thinking. It is a kingdom focused on those in need and cares more about people than laws. 

Mark 3-4

These themes continue as Jesus meets a man with a withered hand in the temple. It is the Sabbath, and the law was that you couldn't work on the Sabbath. The religious leaders were so obsessed with the law they added extra rules on top to make sure that no one ever broke the law, so their 'law' was that even healing someone on the Sabbath was wrong.

Jesus is angry at the religious leaders and challenges them that surely it's right to do good on the Sabbath. He heals the man's hand and the religious leaders are furious. They begin to plot how to kill him. Again, we see the contrast between Jesus' authority to control disease and sickness, but humans are not under his control. These religious leaders want to kill him.

And then we see how the crowds are a risk to Jesus. They don't wish him harm, but there's a chance they might crush him in their desperation to bring him their sick. The point is that all things come under the authority of Jesus, apart from humans who have free choice.

This brings us to the end of the first section of Mark. This section was focused on introducing the kingdom of God and establishing that this is something new that doesn't fit into old ways of thinking. In this second section, the focus begins to be more on the disciples and followers of Jesus, and on the mystery that is the kingdom of God. It doesn't always make sense.

So Jesus begins to call his disciples and train them up to carry on the ministry he has started, preaching the good news and demonstrating its power by casting out demons.

But at the same time that Jesus is gathering disciples to himself, his own family is beginning to reject him, and the religious leaders are openly attacking him. They accuse him of being in cahoots with Satan himself. That's how he casts out demons. Jesus points out how the logic of this is flawed. Why would Satan want to cast out his own minions?

Jesus also warns them that they are starting to go too far. They are accusing him of having an evil spirit, but he is filled with the Holy Spirit. If they are determined to reject such clear evidence of the Spirit of God, they risk separating themselves from God forever. Then Jesus' family comes to get him. They presumably want to take him home as they think he is insane. But Jesus points out that his new family is his followers and disciples.

Then Jesus begins to share some teaching on how the kingdom of God is shrouded in mystery. He uses the parable of the Sower, and shares how these parables are there to discourage people who would reject Jesus anyway, and force those who are interested to dig deep and find the answers for themselves.

Jesus asks those listening if a lamp is meant to be hidden away where people couldn't see it? The answer is obviously no. A lamp is meant to shine for all to see. In the same way, while it may seem like Jesus is intentionally covering and hiding the kingdom of God so the people can't see it or understand it, it is only hidden so that someone might search for it and find it.

The kingdom of God is like crops of a harvest. To us modern readers, we understand how plants use photosynthesis and water. They germinate, put down roots, and grow. But to an audience that doesn't have the same understanding of science, plants are a bit of a mystery.

The seed is planted and watered, and somehow it grows out of the ground. The farmer doesn't need to understand all the details of how plants grow to plant and harvest his crop, and you don't need to understand the kingdom of God completely to accept it and become part of it.

In some ways, the kingdom of God is like a mustard see, the tiniest of all the seeds. At some times, it might seem insignificant, but it grows into something big that provides shade for others. Don't ever dismiss the kingdom of God of being too small or ineffective.

We then get more stories of Jesus' authority and power. Jesus is with his disciples out on the Sea of Galilee, and he is having a nap. But the boat is hit by a storm and the disciples begin to panic they might drown. Eventually, they wake Jesus and he stands up and rebukes the storm. Immediately, everything calms down.

This Jesus can control the forces of nature with just his voice. Jesus looks at them, perplexed. Have they not learnt yet that the kingdom of God is greater than any storm? Have they not got their head round that mystery yet?

Psalm 80

This psalm attributed to Asaph, one of king David’s musicians. It is ‘according to Lilies’ which was like the melody of another song that this psalm was to be sung to. It falls into the category of lament psalm.

Like the other laments of this third book of the psalm (Psalm 73-89) it’s a communal lament, most likely after the Israelites have been sacked by their enemies going by the reference to broken-down walls.

Psalm 80:1-3 - Request

Psalm 80:4-6 - Complaint

Psalm 80:7 - Request

Psalm 80:8-11 - Confidence in God

Psalm 80:12-13 - Complaint

Psalm 80:14-19 - Request

The psalmist calls to God to hear. He is described as the shepherd of Israel, enthroned on cherubim. The psalmist asked that God head and save them. Then comes the line that is repeated three times in this psalm, “Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” When God’s face shines, it’s a sign of his blessing and favour (see Number 6:25).

Then comes the complaint. God has been angry with his people and has ceased to provide for them as he has done in the past. Now it’s like all they have to drink or eat is their own tears. They are surrounded by their own neighbours who mock them. So the psalmist brings the same request. “Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!”

Next, the psalmist looks back at Israel’s history, describing Israel like a vine. God brought them out of Egypt. He created space for them and cleared it of their enemies so they could settle there. There in God’s support they were well established, protected by mountains, support by large trees, and watered by the sea and rivers.

Contrast that with where they are now. God had once established them in security. Why has he now allowed the security of their walls to be destroyed so that anyone could come and harm them? It’s like the vine that God has planted is now being uprooted by wild animals.

So the psalmist calls to God and makes his final requests. Turn O God and look up on the vine that you plant. The plant that God had grown strong has been burned down by enemies, so may God destroy them. May he support ‘the man of you right hand’ and ‘the son of man’, which are likely both reference to both a king and Israel itself.

If God restores his people, they will not turn from him again, and will instead call on him. And so the psalmist ends with that same request, “Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!”

While it’s not said explicitly, the psalmist recognises that God’s people are in this state because of their own poor choices. This is why they ‘then we shall not turn back from you’ (Psalm 80:18). Realising the mistake, the psalmist is turning back to God, asking him once again to have mercy on them and restore them, because he is a good shepherd.