a crowd

September 21, 2018

Jesus traveled to the other side (Mk 8:13-8:13)

“Jesus left them.

He got into

The boat again.

He went across

To the other side.”

 

καὶ ἀφεὶς αὐτοὺς πάλιν ἐμβὰς ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸ πέραν.

 

This a unique but yet common phrase of Mark.  Jesus left an ambiguous them (καὶ ἀφεὶς αὐτοὺς), without indicating that it was the Pharisees or a crowd.  Then he embarked on the boat again (πάλιν ἐμβὰς).  He went across to the other side (ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸ πέραν).  Jesus leaving by way of a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee was a predominant theme of Mark.  Quite often, it was with an unclear destination, just across the sea, or the other side as here.

May 18, 2018

Take up your cross (Mt 16:24-16:24)

“Then Jesus told

His disciples.

‘If anyone wanted

To become my followers

Let them deny themselves!

Let them take up their cross!

Then follow me!’”

 

Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι.

 

Jesus told his disciples that they would have to deny themselves if they wanted to follow him.  Something similar can be found in all 3 synoptic gospels, Mark, chapter 8:34, Luke, chapter 9:23, and here, almost word for word.  Then Jesus told his disciples (Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ).  Mark also mentioned a crowd, but that is not here.  If anyone desired or wanted to become a follower of Jesus or come after him (Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν), they would have to deny themselves (ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν).  They would have to take up their cross (καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ) in order to accompany him or follow him (καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι).  Following Jesus was not going to be easy.

May 14, 2018

Where will they get food? (Mt 15:33-15:33)

“The disciples said

To Jesus.

‘Where are we to get

Enough bread

In the desert

To feed

So great a crowd?’”

 

καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταί Πόθεν ἡμῖν ἐν ἐρημίᾳ ἄρτοι τοσοῦτοι ὥστε χορτάσαι ὄχλον τοσοῦτον;

 

Mark, chapter 8:4, has a similar statement about the disciples questioning Jesus.  The disciples of Jesus asked him (καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταί) where they would get enough loaves of bread (Πόθεν ἡμῖν ἄρτοι τοσοῦτοι) to feed or satisfy such a great crowd (ὥστε χορτάσαι ὄχλον τοσοῦτον) in the desert (ἐν ἐρημίᾳ).  In the earlier feeding of the 5,000, the place was deserted, while here it is a desert or uninhabited place also.