Storytelling

Storytelling

Mark 10:17-34

            The gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are journey stories.  Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, travels around the area preaching, teaching, healing and casting out demons.  At a crucial point, Jesus turns his face toward Jerusalem.  Knowing his time has come, Jesus journeys to the place where everything will come to a head.  He may not know every detail of what the next few weeks will hold, but he knows what the end will be.

            And so he tries to prepare his disciples for his torture, execution, and resurrection.  Three times he tells them what lies ahead.  The first happens (Mark 8:27-39) after Peter confesses him as the Christ.  Peter gives a bold answer to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?”  Jesus counters with the announcement that he will suffer, be rejected by the religious leaders, and die.  Peter hears this, but not that Jesus says he will be raised in three days.  He rebukes Jesus, who rebukes him in return.

            The second time comes after Jesus heals a boy with epilepsy (Mark 9:14-32).  Peter, James and John have just witnessed the transfiguration—Jesus glorification and conversation with Moses and Elijah.  As they return to the foot of the mountain, a crowd surges toward them.  The disciples who remained behind have tried to cast a demon out of the boy and failed.  They can’t understand how this could happen, since Jesus had given them the power.

            Jesus heals the boy, then tells the disciples that this type of demon requires more prayer and faith than they are capable of at that moment.  Shortly after, he tells them a second time that he will be killed, and after three days will rise from the dead.  They still don’t understand.

            Farther along the road to Jerusalem Jesus encounters a man who wishes to assure his place in the age to come.  Jesus tells him he must divest himself of his considerable wealth and join him on the road to Jerusalem.  The man cannot bring himself to meet Jesus’ conditions, and sorrowfully turns away.

Jesus tells his followers once more what will happen when they reach Jerusalem.  It is clear from the following passage (Mark 10:35-45) they still don’t understand what Jesus means. 

We wonder, from our lofty vantage point 2,000 years on, how they could have been so blind.  Before we condemn them we must first recognize our own short-sightedness in following Jesus, and admit we wouldn’t have behaved any better.

            In each case Jesus ties the prediction of his death and resurrection to an event which, had the disciples been paying attention, would have served as an illustration. 

Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah.  Jesus connects that confession to Isaiah’s description of the anointed one as suffering servant.

Jesus casts out a demon, figuratively (at least) bringing the boy back to life.  Jesus connects his raising of the boy to his own resurrection.

A rich man will not give up his possessions to attain a higher reward.  Jesus tells his disciples he will follow his path to the end even though it means his death, because the final reward is worth it.

This is great storytelling.  Mark tells a tale illustrating Jesus’ power, then Jesus uses it as an object lesson to create a teachable moment for his followers.  It is less important that the disciples understand than that the lesson is presented, because we know, in the end, they will understand. 

And so will we.