Christology and Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark

by Suzanne Watts Henderson

• ISBN13: 9780521859066
• ISBN10: 0521859069
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-03-27
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Exploring the interrelated topics of Christology and discipleship within the apocalyptic context of Mark's Gospel, Henderson focuses on six passages: Mark 1:16-20; 3:13--15; 4:1-34; 6:7-13; 6:32-44; 6:45-52. Together, these passages indicate that the disciples failed to understand not just Jesus' messianic identity per se but the apocalyptic nature of his messiahship, as well as its implications for their own participation in God's coming reign. The implications of this for Mark's gospel as a whole are to situate Mark's Christological claims within the broader context of the apocalyptic 'gospel of God'. This lends coherence to Mark's bifocal interest in miracle and passion. It also illuminates the relationship between Mark's Jesus and his followers as those who carry forward his own mission: to demonstrate the coming kingdom of God, which is fully assured if not yet fully in view.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
List of abbreviations	xiii
Part I Introduction
1 Jesus' mission and theirs: Christology and discipleship in light of Mark's apocalyptic gospel	3	(28)
State of the question	5	(4)
Splitting Mark open: the problem of false dichotomies	9	(6)
A way forward	15	(16)
Part II Patterns of discipleship
2 The calling of the fishers in Mark 1:16-20	31	(35)
Introduction	31	(1)
Narrative context	32	(16)
The initial call: Mark 1:16-20	48	(16)
Conclusion	64	(2)
3 The commissioning of the Twelve in Mark 3:13-15	66	(31)
Introduction	66	(1)
Narrative context	67	(11)
The making of the Twelve: Mark 3:13-15	78	(15)
Conclusion	93	(4)
Part III Discipleship in action
4 Discipleship as presence in Mark 4:1-34	97	(39)
Introduction	97	(1)
Narrative context	98	(3)
Jesus' kingdom-of-God teaching: Mark 4:1-34	101	(33)
Conclusion	134	(2)
5 Discipleship as practice: Jesus' sending out of the Twelve in Mark 6:7-13	136	(33)
Introduction	136	(1)
Narrative context	137	(7)
The calling and sending out of the Twelve: Mark 6:7-13	144	(23)
Conclusion	167	(2)
6 Discipleship as (transforming) presence: the wilderness feeding in Mark 6:30-44	169	(35)
Introduction	169	(1)
Narrative context	170	(5)
The wilderness feeding: discipleship as presence	175	(26)
Conclusion	201	(3)
7 Discipleship as (foiled) practice: the motif of incomprehension in Mark 6:45-52	204	(37)
Introduction	204	(1)
The incomprehension motif	205	(4)
Narrative context	209	(3)
The second sea crossing as failed discipleship	212	(24)
Conclusion	236	(5)
Part IV Conclusion
8 Further thoughts "on the way"	241	(21)
Summary of findings	241	(4)
Impact of findings	245	(15)
Final thoughts	260	(2)
Bibliography	262	(12)
Index of passages cited	274	(11)
Index of modern authors	285