Chapter # 2 Paragraph # 1 Study # 1
May 14, 2019
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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Thesis:   The "stage" is set for the "critical truth".

Introduction:   When we wound up our study of the last paragraph in chapter one last week, I made the argument that the leper's disobedience was crucial because it kept the religious establishment in Jerusalem from being able to consider what the cleansing of a leper signified regarding Jesus of Nazareth without the "distracting buzz" of an explosion of His "popularity". Mark records of Pilate, in the context of Jesus' arrest and the Jews' demand that He be crucified, that he "knew" that the bottom line in the demand was the "envy" of the Jews (15:10). Thus, from the beginning, to the end, the problem of the "pride of life" is sitting in the driver's seat.

Now, as we begin the next paragraph, we find Mark "setting the stage" for the critical truth that will serve to provide the excuse the Jews need for their hatred to result in His death. Alternatively, we also find Mark "setting the stage" for the critical truth that will provide the foundation for sinners to be reconciled to God and, thus, have an eternal future of indescribable good.

• I. The Place of the "Stage".
  • A. Mark's references to Capernaum are only three.
    • 1. The first and second are in our immediate context (1:21 and 2:1).
    • 2. The third is 9:33 and it is highly significant that its focus is upon the disciples' argument over "Who is the Greatest?"
  • B. Mark's current reference to Capernaum is a deliberate "recall" to the "issues".
    • 1. The nearest "issue" is the fact that because of the leper's disobedience Jesus could no longer press His calling to "preach" in the synagogues where the doctrinal conflict was predominant.
      • a. Literarily, this is put in focus in by the close proximity of 1:39, the fact that the leper's disobedience forced Him out of the synagogues in 1:45, and the selective use of the verb that is at the root of the noun "synagogue" in 2:2 in the passive voice (they were "synagogued") along with the reality that the "synagogue" setting of having "certain scribes" in attendance was effectively created though they were "in a house".
      • b. This "synagogue" type of setting was initially critical because...
        • 1) There was a recognition that He "spoke" with "authority", not like the scribes.
        • 2) There was a demonstration of that "authority" in the form of an exorcism that had His identity in focus ("I know Who You are...have You come to torment us before the time?).
      • c. This "synagogue" type of setting continued to be the dominating issue because everything that followed was in the pattern of "authority demonstrated" with the addition of the physical healing side of that issue.
    • 2. The larger context keeps "issues" alive.
      • a. Is His perceived "authority" legitimate?
      • b. Does He cast out demons by the power of God (3:22)?
      • c. Do His healings signify His identity as from God? (Matthew 11:3-6).
• II. The Cause of the "Stage".
  • A. The translators' pretty universal "mistake" (in my view).
    • 1. The Authorized Version, ASB, NASB, NIV, etc. all assume that Mark wants us to think that this "return to Capernaum" was "days after His sojourn in the wilderness with everyone resorting to Him".
    • 2. However, the question is this:
      • a. Is the phrase "through days" (technically not "after" days) tied to the participle that is used to tell us that Jesus "again entered" Capernaum, or is it tied to the main verb, "it was heard"?
      • b. And the answer has to be determined by the close context.
        • 1) The "close context" is Mark's "direct quote" of what "was heard".
          • a) Again, the translators miss the point.
          • b) The Greeks had a way of indicating that they were "quoting" (oti plus the direct quote).
            • 1) Oti is present.
            • 2) The words are a "direct quote" in the form: "He is in house".
        • 2) Thus, because of 1:45 we know that Jesus did not return to Capernaum "openly".
        • 3) Therefore, "He is in house" was "heard" as soon as He was discovered.
        • 4) The strong implication is that it was "through days" that He came to be discovered (in other words, the passage of a few days had events take place that made hiding Jesus' presence no longer possible).
          • a) This scenario actually fits the grammar to a "T" and explains the "apparent" awkwardness of it.
          • b) "Through" with a genitive following it typically indicates "agency" according to Robertson, and it was the events of the days as they passed that became the "agency" of the revelation of His presence "in house".
  • B. Thus, the "stage is set" as soon as "He is in house" was heard throughout Capernaum because it was that announcement was made that the people were "synagogued" at the house.
    • 1. That it was a "synagogue" setting is declared by the verb.
    • 2. That it was a "synagogue" setting is described by His action: "He spoke (laleo) to them The Word".
    • 3. That it was a "synagogue" setting is indicated also by the front row seats being taken up by "certain of the scribes".
• III. The Issue of The "Stage".
  • A. There were so many seeking to see and hear Jesus that there was no room even "toward the door".
  • B. Thus, the issue, as is always the case with Mark, was again "popularity".

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This is article #074.
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