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0 The teachings of Jesus (Mark 9-13)

Episode 253: The teachings of Jesus

Mark 9-13

What's up with Elijah?

9 11 The disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

12 Jesus answered, “Elijah must come first and restore everything.

13 He’s already come and they did to him what was prophesied.”

Who's for Jesus?

38 John said to Jesus,

We saw someone casting out devils in your name.

We told him to stop, since he doesn't follow us.

39 Jesus said,

Don't tell him to stop.

Whoever does a miracle in my name, won't say bad things about me.

Whoever isn't against us, is for us.

And whoever gives you a cup of water in my name will be rewarded.

Everyone will be salted with fire (salt is good)

49 Everyone will be salted with fire.

50 Salt is good. But if it loses it's flavor, what will it be seasoned with?

Divorce

10 2 The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

3 Jesus replied, “What did Moses say?”

4 The Pharisees said, “Write a bill of divorcement and send her away.”

5 Jesus said,

He did that because your hearts are so hard.

6 But from the beginning of creation, God made male and female.

7 That's why a man leaves his parents and gets married.

8 And the two become one flesh.

9 No one should separate what God has joined together.

10 Back at the house, the disciples asked Jesus about it.

11 Jesus said to them,

Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her.

12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery

James and John ask Jesus for a favor (special seats in heaven)

35-37 James and John came to Jesus and said,

We'd like to sit on your right and left hand when you are in your glory.

39 Jesus said, “I don't get to choose who will sit on my right or left hand.”

41 The other disciples weren't happy about it when they heard about James and John's request.

42 Jesus said to them,

Among the gentiles, one person rules over others.

43 But it won't be like that with you.

44 Whoever wants to be great among you must be the servant of all.

45 The Son of man came to serve, not to be served by others. And to give his life as a ransom for many.

Blind Bartimaeus

46 Jesus and his disciples were followed by a large crowd as they entered Jericho, while blind Bartimaeus sat on the side of road begging.

47 He cried out, saying, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.”

51 Jesus said, “What would you like me to do?”

He said, “Help me see.”

52 Jesus said, “Go on your way. Your faith has healed you.”

And immediately he could see and followed Jesus.

Jesus rides into Jerusalem

11 1 When Jesus and his disciples neared Jerusalem, he sent two of them ahead with these instructions:

2 When you enter the village, you'll find a colt tied, upon whom no one has ever sat. Bring him to me. If anyone says, "What are you doing?" say, "The Lord needs him."

4 So they found the colt, draped their clothes on it and Jesus sat on it.

8-10 The people spread clothes and branches in front of Jesus, and said, "Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest."

Jesus curses a fig tree

12 The next day, when they were coming from Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

13 They came upon a fig tree, but it had nothing but leaves. (Because it wasn't the season for figs.)

14 Jesus said to the fig tree, “No one will eat fruit from you forever.” And his disciples heard it.

The cursed fig tree dies

20 The next morning, as Jesus and his disciples passed by, they saw that the cursed fig tree had died.

21 Peter said to Jesus, “The fig tree that you cursed is dead.“

22 Jesus replied,

If you believe in your heart and have no doubt, you can say to a mountain, "Move!" and it will be cast into the sea. Whatever you believe will happen, will happen. You'll get whatever you want if you pray for it and believe that you'll get it.

The great commandments

12 28 One of the scribes asked Jesus, “What is the first commandment?”

29-30 Jesus said,

Love God will all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the first commandment.

31 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. There are no greater commandments than these.

32-34 The scribe agreed, and Jesus said, “You're not far from the kingdom of God.”

Beware of scribes (they'll get the worst damnation)

38-40 Jesus said,

Beware of the scribes who love to wear long clothing, get the best seats, devour widows' houses, and make long prayers.

They'll get the worst damnation.

The widow's mite

41 Jesus sat and watched as people put money in the treasury.

Many were rich, and gave much.

42 A poor widow threw in two mites.

43 Jesus gathered his disciples and said to them,

This poor widow gave more than everyone else put together.

44 Because they gave from their abundance, but she gave all that she had.

A few more words about this episode

What's up with Elijah? (9:11-13)
In the gospel of Matthew (11:7-14, Episode 238), Jesus states explicitly that John the Baptist was Elijah (and that John the Baptist was the greatest person to ever live). But in Mark, he only hints at it, saying that Elijah has already come and they did to him what was prophesied - implying (I guess) that John the Baptist was Elijah. But he says nothing about how great he was.
Everyone will be salted with fire. (9:49-50)
Jesus said something similar in the Sermon on the Mount:
"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." Matthew 5:13
Divorce (10:2-12)
Jesus expressed similar views about divorce in the Sermon on the Mount in the gospel of Matthew, except that there he allowed divorce when the wife had committed fornication.
"Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." (Matthew 5:32)
James and John ask Jesus for a favor. (10:35-45)
In the story in Matthew, the mother of James and John ask Jesus for the favor. (Matthew 20:20-28, Episode 244)
Blind Bartimaeus (10:46-52)
In the story in Matthew, two blind men were healed, and neither were named. (Matthew 20:29-34, Episode 244)
Jesus rides into Jerusalem (11:1-10)
In Matthew's version of this story, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on two animals, a donkey and a colt. (Matthew 21:1-7, Episode 244)
The cursed fig tree (12:12-22)
In the story in Matthew, the fig tree dies immediately. (Matthew 21:18-22, Episode 244)
The great commandments (12:)
In Matthew's version, Jesus says that everything in the laws of Moses is derived from these two commandments. Mark makes no such claim. He simply has Jesus say that these are the greatest commandments. When the scribe agrees with him, Jesus tells him that he is not far from the kingdom of God. (Matthew 22:34-40, Episode 245)

Some things that I left out that are nearly identical to stories already told in previous podcasts from the gospel of Matthew:
Mark 9:1 | The last generation (Matthew 24:34, Episode 246))
Mark 9:2-10 | The transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9, #242)
Mark 9:11-13 | What's up with Elijah? (Mt 17:10-13, #242)
Mark 9:14-30 | A boy with a dumb and deaf spirit (Mt 17:7-19, #242)
Mark 9:31-23 | Jesus foretells his death (again) (Mt 17:22-23, #242)
Mark 9:33-37 | Who's the greatest? (Mt 18:1-5, #243)
Mark 9:42-48 | Cut off your hand or foot and pluck out your eye (if they offend you) (Mt 18:6-9, #243)
Mark 10:13-16 | Little children (Mt 19:13-15, #243)
Mark 10:17-27 | The rich man (Mt 19:16-26, #243)
Mark 10:28-31 | Abandon your family for Jesus (Mt 19:27-30, #243)
Mark 10:32-34 | Jesus foretells his death (for the third time) (Mt 20:17-19, #244)
Mark 11:15-18 | Jesus's temple tantrum (Mt 21:12-13, #244)
Mark 11:27-33 | Jesus stumps the chief priests and elders (Mt 21:12-13, #244)
Mark 12:1-9 | A parable about a vineyard (Mt 21:33-46, #244)
Mark 12:13-17 | Pay your taxes (Mt 22:15-22, #245)
Mark 12:18-24 | There are no marriages in heaven (Mt 22:23-33, #245)
Mark 12:35-37 | Jesus is not the son of David (Mt 22:41-46, #245)
Mark 12:38-40 | Beware of scribes (they'll get the worst damnation) (Mt 23:1-35, #245)
Mark 13:1-37 | The end of the world (Mt 24:1-51, #246)
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