"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (20)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (20)

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.(15:37)

So far we have had the 19th meditation on “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” We have studied enough meditations on this particular subject that we could stop here. I am convinced that it would be a better idea if we conclude this particular subject with Paul’s confession that I quoted in the last part of the foregoing meditation.

The phrases “height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation” reflect all the trials and suffering that we have to go through in this world. In most cases, money and power enslave us and eventually destroy our lives. How often do we encounter with unwholesome incidents in our daily life. When we face such unavoidable stark realities of life, we are bound to get discouragement and disappointment that lead us to unstoppable despair. To worsen, we even begin to lose our trust in God.

However, Paul says in any case, nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God. We can find and experience this love in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is not a romantic love. Love is basically the power of life. It is the power of creation and the power of completion of creation. It is also the resource of resurrection.

Is the utterance of Jesus on the cross a cry of his love? Is it not incredible? His cry is impossible without an absolute trust in God. Based on this trust, Jesus could accept his death on the cross. Jesus obeyed God even to the point of throwing himself into the desperate situation of being forsaken by God. That cross is the mark love. It is so paradoxical but the capability of enduring the pain of abandonment from God is the power of love. Because of Jesus’ unfathomable love, we could experience God’s love even when living in this futile world. Because of his love we can praise God in the midst of this life process. Amen.

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (19)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (19)
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.(15:37)

Earlier we have discussed about the death of God in the modern theological and philosophical viewpoint. The report of the gospel writer who points out how the son of God cried out, “Why are you forsaken me?” perplexes us. It sounds nonsense and incredible that the Son of God is forsaken by God. Christian faith begins from such position of nonsense. Jesus’ resurrection is nonsense as we are bound to this worldly experimentalism.

Being nonsense does not mean that Christian faith is founded on an illogical and irrational base. It basically premises the fundamental situation that the creature cannot completely comprehend the total activity of the creator. It also means the existence of God is mystery to us. We who are bound to a point of history cannot positively cognize God who will completely reveal himself at the end of the world. God’s salvation incident can be nonsense in our epistemological level.

However, we can find out God’s deeper grace of salvation in his desperate cry, “Why have you forsaken me?” The God whom we believe and wait is the forsaken one. He is the one who went down to the lowest position of the world. If the resurrection life starts from there, then everyone in the world can be saved.

This cry also points out for us an important fact. God’s salvation takes place in the situation where there is complete forsakenness. God demonstrates his power of salvation in the desperate situation of man’s eyes. This utmost inhuman torture and nightmare has actually happened in the life of Jesus. Then what are we to be afraid of? Listen to the confession of Paul who says, “…neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Rom. 8:39)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (18)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (18)

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.(15:37)

Bonhoeffe’s statement, “Without God before God!” is similar to the aphorism of Nietzsche who says, “God is dead”. Many Christians accept Bonhoeffe but regard Nietzsche as an atheist and the head of anti-Christianity. In my opinion, we do not need to him that way. If his word is an eye-opener for us to see our fault, we should be rather thankful to him.

Nietzsche’s “God is dead” or “The will to nothing” does not demolish the entire foundation rather pursue much more positive side of the world through such nihilism. He made an affirmation of life a superman rather than God, eternal recurrence instead of immortality, the will to power instead of good and truth. Nietzsche’s nihilism promoted a downfall of pre-existing order and contains a positive momentum to overcome it through the will to power. At this point, his ‘nihility’ has an ambivalent meaning. Negative meaning is to dissect a moral system of Christianity and the other positive meaning is to initiate a new life. Listen to Pannenberg’s explanation for this.

“The fact of Nietzsche’s inclination toward atheism suggests his abhorrence to Protestant’s penitential tendency and when we look the fact, we can understand his mysterious phenomena that he never uses his intellect to prove modern atheism or did not try those social conditions. The virtue of honesty he had been so proud of was, in fact, pursued one-sidedly and also partially. Such fact is necessary to be explained as I hinted earlier. Despite this, Christianity should give thank to be broken of mirror for which Nietzsche used to criticize Christianity. Christianity should not overlook the advice that religious piety of Christianity could lead to wrong direction.”(Theology and philosophy, 385)

The parable of the tenants (3)

The parable of the tenants (3)

But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. (Mark 12:3)

The kingdom of God is the dominant theme in most of parables narrated by Jesus. Some of the parables are: The parable of mustard (Mark 4:30-32), the parable of the wedding banquet (Matt. 22:1-10), the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7), the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32) etc.

Jesus teaches us the kingdom of heaven through parables because we cannot easily understand its meaning. The kingdom of heaven indicates God. God exists as the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of heaven indicates the rule of God. God, the kingdom of heaven and the rule of God have the same concept. Just as we cannot look at the sun directly so we cannot also understand the kingdom of God directly.

The word we cannot recognize God or the kingdom heaven and his rule imply two meanings at the same time. First, God is not a definite object of existence. It means God is opened in eschatological. Second, God is a perfect being as he is. It means God includes the entire history including the end when the universal history will decide. How can we describe such almighty God with our limited word?

The parable of the tenants in this text explains not only about the kingdom of heaven but also points out the disobedience of the high priest, the scribes and the elders, representative of Israel. So there is a detailed description and anyone can easily understand the content of the parable. It may be compared with people’s unawareness of the parable of the kingdom of God.

However, verse 3 says that the tenants seize him, beat him and send him away empty-handed. It is a serious violence against an innocent. It is not important to discuss on this matter at length because such things often happened in the history of humankind. It is a question for us to ask, “What duration of revolution is required for human to give up violence?”

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (17)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (17)

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.(15:37)

For better assimilation and understanding, it would be good to add something to Bonhoeffe’s theology of de-religionization which is related to the theology of the death of God. We can overcome the orthodox of theism through this and, we can also accept the doctrine of trinity of Christianity and undermine the teaching of monotheism followed by Judaism.

The motive behind the attempt to reform Bonhoeffe’s theology of de-religionization lies in the fact that the very foundation of his theology is de-religionization of Christianity. According to him, Christianity does not stand on general religious request. Religious request is a phenomenon in which a person seeks and wishes for a supernatural death, loneliness and anxiety. Such religious desire is quite uncommon and out of normal. Rather Christianity is directly connected to the practical field of politics, economics, culture and education.

Religious request is a desire of psychologically immature people. In Bonhoeffe’s view, the people who ask such religious request are less in the matured modern era. Christian faith is not the religion which merely responds to such request. In our modern world, people do not have a religion to play the role of a disciplinarian father. They feel they should have more freedom rather than staying in a God-controlled atmosphere. So Bonhoeffe says “Without God before God!” It is a yearning for an escape from an orthodox theism.

There is no room of material comfort and personal gratification for one who is orthodox in his theism. It does not mean God’s nature is changing but modern people who should recognize and experience God are standing still even in the face of new changing world. It is worth considering Ott’s observation which says, “Today when we proclaim the gospel we should not take it for granted that listeners clearly understand and accept the existence of God.”(H. Ott, Theology bibliography, 97) How can we proclaim Jesus, the son of God who breathed on cross as Messiah?

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (16)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (16)
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.(15:37)

The theology of the death of God is connected with other two theologies. One is Harvey Cox’s Secularization theology and the other is Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s de-religionization. Secularization theology basically teaches the repudiation of dualism of sacred-secular which holds the view that God belongs to a sacred domain whereas man belongs to a secular domain of life. Cox claimed that a true faith is to stand firm in his honesty with God.
Bonhoeffer’s de-religionization raises much more fundamental problem than Harvey Cox’s Secularization theology. Cox’s theology stood out for a while because of its strong social analytical character while Bonhoefer’s theology still gives a great influence to humanity even today because of its theological character. An interesting fact is that Bonhoefer’s theology is accepted to both evangelical and ecumenical parties. In fact, his theology is very radical. It greatly influenced the theology of the death of God. He wrote a letter named ‘resistance and obedience’ while he was imprisoned by Nazi Hitler.
Working on hypothesis, now human is able to solve all important questions by themselves without the help of God. Questions relating to science, art or ethics became the glaring examples. So people hardly take risk to argue the pros and cons about this matter. However, this attitude showed the same response to a religious question that was asked by people who lived a hundred years ago. It turns out that everything is going well without God as it has ever been before. The same is the case in the field of science; God is driven out from the human world and to have finally lost his own foundation.”(D. Bonnhoeffer, resistance and obedience, August 6, 1944)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (15)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (15)

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.(15:37)

The Author of the gospel simply called Jesus’ death as, “Jesus breathed his last.” The Son of God, the Messiah was dead. In other words, this could mean God is dead. However, in this a question can be raised, as to how can God be dead? Death is caused by the separation of one from God. Though there cannot be death in the life of God, the gospel seems to have opened the possibility of this occurrence.

In 1960, theology on the death of God spread throughout the Northern American theological society. There was some underlying truth in their opinion. They said a traditional metaphysical God does not have any place to stand in a secular world today. The God is the absolute, omnipotence and the Almighty one. The modern people dropped the idea that God and man could exist together in this evil world. According to them such role of God disappeared after Auschwitz. The other important point in their claim is their conviction that the entire problem that man is facing today can be solved by man himself.

Of course the theology of the death of God is not an orthodox one. It is not necessary for Christians to repudiate such theology. They only criticized an aspect of Christian faith. Such aspect should be criticized. There is a theistic metaphysics in such aspect. It is the image of God who rules this world with the almighty power sitting on the throne in the highest place regardless of human pain.

However, the author of gospel says another level, different from an orthodox theistic metaphysics. The author says Jesus breathed his last on the cross. God revealed himself from the very place. God is the God who is able to die; God is the God who went down to the place of the dead. Now we are all free from death through Jesus’ death.

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (14)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (14)

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. (15:37)

The last moment of Jesus’ earthly life mentioned in Mark 15:33-37 is a description of total submission. The Lord was hung on the cross only for six hours. In those days a strong man was usually hanged on the cross for one week. It rarely took two weeks. Crucifixion itself is not very much critical. A practical threat is the blood oozed out of the nail mark on the palm. The severity varies according to physical constitution of the victim. In some, blood gashes out quickly while in some, blood flows out slowly and normally. Crucifixion is painful for one to bear as it takes a long time to die. It is considered abnormal that Jesus could die within only six hours of suffering on the cross.

It is assumed that Jesus became so weak physically and mentally. Perhaps he had fasted for a week after entering to Jerusalem. Jesus foresaw what would happen in Jerusalem. So he was perhaps mentally and emotionally prepared to face the agony of death. Peter stopped Jesus from entering to Jerusalem. For this Jesus rebuked him and called him Satan. It means Peter’s word might be sounded for Jesus as an alluring temptation of Satan. It is the same that three forms of temptations Jesus had gone through in his early public life, that are seductive to the entire mankind. However, Jesus was completely exhausted in a week after his entry to Jerusalem. His sweat of intense pain was like the pain of bleeding as he spent time in prayer in the Gethsemane. His tortured body could not endure more than six hours on the cross and finally he had to give in.

The author of the gospel shows the picture of the last moment of Jesus in a calm atmosphere. There is no empathy and embellishment. It could not but do like that for an unacceptable thing- dying of a son of God- has happened. He only could deliver us the true relationship that Jesus died with loud cry. Others are nothing but a something superfluous

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (13)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (13)

One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said.(15:36)

A man filled a sponge with wine vinegar and offered it to Jesus. Psalm 69:21 which is the background of this verse says, “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” The wine mixed with myrrh mentioned in Mark 15:23 has the effect like a painkiller but the wine vinegar increases one’s thirst rather than quenching it. Contrary to Mark who exactly pointed out that Jesus did not take wine mixed with myrrh, he did not mention about how Jesus was made to drink the wine vinegar. John’s gospel says that Jesus received wine vinegar. (John 19:30)

The people who offered Jesus wine vinegar again said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.” That was a sheer mockery against Jesus. Such word does not only end with a personal utterance of a certain men standing near the cross. It is an issue rising toward Jesus and the entire early Christian community. According to them Jesus does not have any power to save. Rather he was placed in a helpless position that needs to be saved. Has not such logic ended already? No. Either with good or bad intention this world demands the proof that Jesus is the savior. The world demands the proof of God’s existence. They want to awake God by shaking him whether he is asleep or not? When they do not get a suitable answer they would either denounce Christian faith or condemn it.

We do not need to ignore their opinion unconditionally and should not do that. We have the responsibility for them to explain properly why Jesus whom we believe is the true Messiah. This explanation is not enough in word alone. Committed Christian life of today should be the visible explanation. Our unshakable fervent hope in the glorious return of Jesus should be revealed.

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (12)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (12)

When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah." (15:35)

Some of those who were standing near said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” Jesus’ word Eloi could be misunderstood with Elijah. However, according to the Bible scholars, it was difficult for them to get confused Eloi with Elijah in those days. Was it not a kind of deliberate pretension of the people to mock Jesus till the end of his life?

It could be slightly misinterpreted. Elijah was known to be a forerunner of the Messiah. (Mark 9:12). So they say Jesus asked Elijah’s help. Whatever it may say, in the word of crowd, “he’s calling Elijah’ implies their intention of mocking Jesus. It gives the clear notion that the one who is supposed to be the savior became a man who asks for other’s help.

The situation in which Jesus was facing was a picture of complete forsakenness. It was the place where Jesus was reduced to nothing from everything he pursued. All his disciples had deserted him. There is no one to remember his greatness. The one who performed the greatest thing has fallen down to the most powerless position. A poet named Hyeonseung Kim called this place as the end of loneliness.

Jesus is the God forsaken by God and thrown into the last corner. It is a paradox that the savior was fallen to the place of being saved. This is the mystery of salvation of Christianity. It is also the mystery of God’s existence. It is our faith that through the incarnation, God became a man and kenosis faith that he came to earth in the form of a servant abandoning the glory of heaven. We can see God in Jesus who was crying “Eloi Eloi…”.

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (11)

"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (11)

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(15:34)

Psalm 22 represents the suffering of innocent people. Jesus’ cry comes out from here which says, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.” (Psalm 22:1,2)

We can imagine the heart of the author of Psalm 22. He was in trouble that he thought he had been forsaken by God. God did not help him and nor listened to his groaning nor answered for his cry for help. He experienced the same intensity of suffering Jesus had on the cross.

The Psalmist further appeals saying, “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads： ‘He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.’” (Psalm 22:6-8)

People take pleasure in mocking the man who is placed in a miserable situation in which he looks like someone forsaken by God. They say, “Let the Lord recue him?” This is the statement which is unbearable for the Psalmist to hear. In a way, the psalmist would not mind if they mocked at him along. It could be considered as something normal for there has been no generation that recognized a true prophet. However, the situation in which God is mocked is absolutely unnatural and ironical.

On the cross, while he was being mocked at, did Jesus think that God was being mocked at rather than him? For those who believe in God, there is no other more desperate incident than such thing that had happened to Jesus which impelled him to utter, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (10)

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (10)

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(Mark 15:34)

Jesus’ cry for being forsaken by God represented the ‘suffering of the innocent people’. Jesus suffered as a representative of the innocent people. After the crucifixion of Jesus, no one has ever borne the magnitude of such a suffering. Jesus suffered for the sake of all the humanity once and for all. However, we should not be satisfied with the shallow understanding of religious teachings. There are some deeper and more crucial points which we should not avoid.

The state of suffering faced by the innocent people is, in theological term, called theodicy. Though we may be able to get some theological answers, it cannot be the ultimate and the suitable one. It is clear that human suffering and infirmities are rampant around the world. For example, there is congenital disorder. Who will be held responsible for the destiny of a permanently visually impaired person or die young? Can we believe in God in such situation? In such desperate situation, can we especially believe in God who is believed to have abundance of love and almighty power?

Jesus answered to his disciples who asked him as to whose sin it was that a man being born blind, saying that it is neither the sin of his nor his parents’ but it was done to reveal the glory of God. And he healed him. Is it not the task for us all to bear?

Even today there are people who cannot but cry out desperately, “Why have you forsaken me?” Only those who have the same experience of being forsaken can feel the pain of Jesus in their hearts. Jesus is the representative of all humanity. Jesus is the microcosm of suffering of all the people who have the feeling of being forsaken by God.

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (9)

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (9)
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(Mark 15:34)

What does it mean by the term “forsaken by God”? Why did Jesus cry out like this? The answer is simple. His death on the cross is the most visible evidence of being forsaken by God.

Christians today are suffering in approaching the reality of cross because they premise Jesus’ crucifixion as the way of salvation. We first have to know the reality in order to understand the salvation that is brought by the crucifixion of Jesus. I told you earlier about the method of executing on the cross. I have also mentioned that death on the cross is a curse. We now would like to experience the spiritual world in which Jesus lives and which drives him to boldly face the crucifixion. His determination and bold step to encounter gruesome crucifixion shows that he maintains his relationship with God that supersedes the pain of gruesome crucifixion and shame of the mockery of the world. Jesus was able to withstand all these hard tests as he fully depends on his relationship with God who gives him the living spirit.

We have to understand that if Jesus practically trusted the impending kingdom of God he would humbly accept the cross of crucifixion. Even if Jesus was convinced that though the death on the cross which is associated with the extreme physical suffering that he would be able to bring the glory of resurrection, wouldn’t he cry out, “Why have you forsaken me?” I am not sure but there were quite a lot of people who have been executed on the cross like Jesus accepted their deaths resolutely.

Here the most important key that provoked him to utter the particular statement is associated with his relationship with the Father. There is no one who can bear the pain of destroying the relationship. What is more, it is certain that if the one who absolutely trusted God loses his intimate relationship with God, he would be greatly shocked and would say, “If you are living, if you are my father, how can this thing happen to me?”

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (8)

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (8)

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(Mark 15:34)

I would like to add some more supplements to the meaning of the last sentence of the foregoing meditation. I have mentioned that Jesus experienced a deep sense of despair on the cross. In this we may ask, as the Messiah, would Jesus ever feel a sense of despair in public life on earth?

Surely people do not fully understand the nature of Jesus. They judged and evaluated Jesus based on their own viewpoints. People fervently supported Jesus when his activities and movements are in tune with their personal mood and intentions but if Jesus’ action is found to be contradictory with their intentions, then they outrageously reject him. Neither the Jewish religious leaders such as the Pharisees nor those sincere religious person like Nicodemus can understand Jesus. Not one of them can fully understand Jesus. Even Jesus’ disciples were not exception in this matter. Once Jesus replied to someone who would like to be one of his disciples saying, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Matt. 8:20)

Based on the above verse, we can say that Jesus’ life was a life with absolute solitude. It does not merely mean that there are not many people who understand Jesus. An absolute solitude does mean here the availability of people in relation to one’s close relationship with God. Jesus absolutely trusted the impending kingdom of God. However people thoroughly neglected the kingdom of God. Little by little Jesus was driven into a corner. Did he experience deep sense despair in such situation?

Jesus who proclaimed the impending kingdom of God was hung on the cross helplessly accomplishing nothing. Where is God’s kingly rule? What hope can one have, for the one who promised life is going to lose his own life? Where is God? Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani (7)

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani (7)

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(15:34)

If we are to define the statement, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani”, we would say that it is an expression in which Jesus himself accepted his death on the cross as a failure of his mission. Everybody judges that crucifixion is the epitome of failure. In fact, the proclamation of the imminent kingdom of God is Jesus’ real mission. He said, "The time has come," and "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15). Jesus dedicated his total life for the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is God’s kingly rule. It is the kingdom where justice and peace of God truly prevailed that everybody irrespective of the Jews or Gentiles enjoys living in the kingdom. Believing that the kingdom of God was near, Jesus proclaimed forgiveness and expelled evil spirit. With God’s heart he taught people and loved them. However, his mission and devotion for the kingdom of God came to an end with his brutal death on the cross.

Jesus’ ultimate destiny that ends up with the crucifixion on the cross could come under one of the following three conclusions: First, God does not exist. Second, God is helpless. Thirdly, God abandoned Jesus. We cannot deny the existence of God. If God is helpless God cannot do it. At this juncture, Jesus cried, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” We have to deeply understand Jesus’ spiritual, existential suffering he had undergone on his way to the cross or on the cross.

To see the deepest of his agony, we have to first for the time being push off the thought that Jesus was resurrected. If we see him with a dogma that he has already resurrected and ascended to heaven, we would lose the aspect of the critical situation Jesus had to face. When Jesus was hung on the cross, I would like to say, he was captured by despair albeit momentarily, that even God had forsaken him. Such kind of despair looming large in his heart might have prodded him to utter, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"

Eloi Eloi Lama Sabactani (6)

Eloi Eloi Lama Sabactani (6)

At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(15:34)

Think more of the factual dimension of the meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross. In relation to his death, one may ask, “Was Jesus crucified voluntarily?” No. It is impossible. The death on the cross was a curse. It was the culmination of total failure. Jesus knew this fact. Naturally, he did not want to die on the cross. If he would like to voluntarily die in this manner, he must be abnormal. We can confirm this fact through his prayer the night before his crucifixion on the Mount of Gethsemane, in which he prayed to his father that that the cup of suffering and his eventual death may be taken way if it was God’s will.

Many Christians think that through Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross, salvation of human kind has been accomplished. It is not wrong; but it has a clue of misunderstanding in this belief. The fact that Jesus’ crucifixion is the unique way of redemption is the interpretation of the disciples, long time after his death and resurrection. It is not certain as an assured content of belief from the beginning.

The big danger for Christians to misunderstand Christian faith is to follow the kind of chain of salvation that comes mechanically and deterministically. They firmly held the view that Jesus voluntarily died upon the cross for the sake of human salvation and he also knew the assurance of his resurrection. Think of it. If Jesus knowingly did it all, then what value does it have? As it is clear from Jesus’ statement saying, “Only the Father knows the day”, Jesus also lived in its epistemological limitation.

Jesus was crucified on the cross not voluntarily but inevitably. Jesus accepted it as God’s will and he obeyed it.

Eloi Eloi Lama Sabactani (5)

Eloi Eloi Lama Sabactani (5)

At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(15:34)

On the cross, Jesus experienced total abandonment from God. Does it have sense that the son of God felt that he been abandoned by God? It is not easy to fully understand the intricacy of the question. It is because this question is associated with the deepest faith of early Christian community. We shall go further wherever our thought reaches.

First question is that when and how well did Jesus clearly cognize his own identity? Did Jesus have confidence that he was the son of God and the Messiah? Did he have such proof? For example, once Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus answered, “"Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? These sorts of verses are found quite often in the Gospels.

However, we can not say that Jesus cognized himself as the Son of God and the Messiah based on such verses. Such verses are a religious confession of early Christianity. It is a religious confession of the early Christian community who talked about Jesus’ public life after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. I do not mean to say that Jesus did not have any cognition about self-identification but I mean that it is something that we cannot empirically confirm today.

We can catch a dim outline about the matter of Jesus’ self-identification when we explain ‘abandonment from God’. Why did Jesus cry out such word in such an important moment?

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (4)

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (4)
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(Mark 15:34)

We wonder that if Jesus is the son of God, the Messiah, why should he be thirsty and say ‘Eloi, Eloi…’ for he is the God whom we generally know exists by Himself? He has the eternal foundation of Existence in Himself. Omniscience and omnipotence are his unique attributes. The desperate cry of the Messiah, “Why have you forsaken me?” sounds quite unnatural against the traditional image of God.

If it is asked whether God is omnipotent? The natural answer would be, of course, positive. Even the Apostle Creed begins with “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.” The Lord God is the omnipotent Creator. He has the capability to create the heavens and the earth out of nothing. He can also completely wipe out this world beyond our imagination.

On the other hand, if we are asked to answer whether God is a helpless being in relation to other matter? The answer would be again “Yes”. God was not able to protect Jesus from being crucified. Such similar cases are generally happing surround us. God cannot protect innocent children’s death caused by Swine Flu.

As such God has the contradictory nature. Why does such contradiction exist? We can never clearly understand about God. As we partially experience the world, we partially understand God. It seems that God and his nature has its point of contradiction. There is a pathway through this contradiction. We may need keen eyes to see the path.

Jesus who was crucified on the cross was a helpless God. He cried out on the cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me? The very voice is the voice of God.

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (3)

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (3)
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(Mark 15:34)

In yesterday’s meditation, we discussed on the seven last words of Christ on the cross. The similar expression of Jesus’ word is found one word each in Matthew and Mark and three words each in Luke and John. Among the seven words, the most similar verse to ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani’ would be ‘I’m thirsty’. These two words are passive while other words are in positive expression. First of all, I would like to elucidate the expression ‘I’m thirsty’. It may guide us to understand ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani’ easier way.

Jesus’ appeal “I’m thirsty’ can be very practical. Blood slowly flows down from the palm of his nailed hand. It takes quite a long time to lose blood till the point of dead. Consciousness of a condemned criminal is dizzy. The entire liquid of the body sneaks away. Thirstiness reaches up to the extreme.

The implication of his thirst is not only related to physical aspect. Jesus was forsaken by all the people who surrounded him. Mocking in trial process and on the cross also would contribute to the aggravation of his thirst. Jesus who sighed in his public life saying, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He could not do anything but feels thirsty.

However, there is a paradoxical scene. Once Jesus said, “…but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”(Jn 4:14) And he also said, “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (Jn 7:37, 38) ‘Streams of living water’ here signifies the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of life. Jesus the source of quenching our spiritual thirst is God who cries “I’m thirsty.” He is our Christ.

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (2)

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (2)

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"--which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"(Mark 15:34)

At the ninth hour which is 3 p.m of today, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" The language used here is neither Greek nor Roman but Aramaic. Aramaic was the official language of Palestine those days. The author of Mark correctly translated its meaning as, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

We can find this word of Jesus only in Mark and Matthew’s gospels. Luke and John’s gospel have no comment on this. What could be the reason behind? One reason could be that by emphasizing on such matter the weakness of Jesus who is the son of God and Messiah could be exposed. It is very clear that such word of Jesus does not match with the messianic figure of Jesus based on the belief and tradition of the early Christian community who believed cross as the way of human salvation. Or the author of Luke’s gospel and John’s gospel might not know this passage. Inconsistency with the tradition, the authors of gospels secured is natural because Jesus’ teaching did not transmit in batches but through very complicated processing according to region and time.

Jesus’ utterance on the cross is so called ‘The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross. It means Jesus said seven words on the cross. The contents are as follows: 1) "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (Matt. 27:36, Mark 15:34) 2) Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) 3) Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." ((Lk 23:43) 4) [26]. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciples whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," [27] and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciples took her into his home. (John 19:26, 27) 5) Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." (Jn 19:28) 6) “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that word, he bowed down his head and gave up his spirit.” (Jn 19:30) 7)” Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46) The interpretation about it varies from one gospel to another.

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (1)

Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? (1)

At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. (Mark 15:33)

The most significant incident which is the finishing stroke in Jesus’ public life begins with the verse mentioned above. It is the moment of Jesus’ last breath on the cross. Though, of course, the report of his resurrection is more important in the theological aspects, we have to lay it aside for the time being, as it is not a part of his public life on earth. Later on, when dealing with Mark 16, I will explain the reason why the account of his resurrection is not directly related to his public life.

It was at the sixth hour which is equivalent to noon of today. Beginning from that time, the whole land was covered by darkness; and this phenomenon continued until the ninth hour which exactly 3 p.m. of today. It was an extraordinary phenomenon. What sort of phenomenon it was? If an ordinary people read it, he may think it could be an appearance of the solar eclipse or gathering of some dark thick cloud totally enveloping the whole region of Jerusalem. People would have such kind conclusion at the sight of this extraordinary inclement weather. Exodus also tells us a similar story. After the Exodus of Israelites from Egypt, while crossing over the wilderness they considered the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud emitted from volcanic eruptions, as God’s direct appearance and leading them.

The content today has a different dimension from that of Exodus. The appearance of the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud can be misunderstood by the ancient people who viewed the natural phenomenon as the divine appearance. However, the darkness mentioned in this particular passage is an apocalyptical interpretation. Mark 13:24 has already given us a hint saying, “But in those days, following that distress, 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.’” Such phenomenon was a sign of the advent of ‘son of God’ in order to judge this world by God’s sovereign power. The prophet Amos also declared such fact long time ago saying, "In that day," declares the Sovereign LORD, "I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.”

At the last moment of Jesus’ life, darkness came over the whole land for three hours. Humankind will be judged based on the cross. At the same time, it is also the way of salvation. Likewise cross is a judgment and at the same time a final sign of salvation.

Suspension of daily life (1)

Suspension of daily life (1)
Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. (13:15,16)

The above verses vividly describe how serious the last time will be. The roof was used for Jews to take rest quietly. They drink a cup of tea, have conversation and spend happy hour with family or with guests. If they do not enter into a house surely there will be something horrible incident happened. We can imagine the situation that enemy threatens them saying “Freeze!” besieging.

The field is a working place. They had to go to the field and work for survival. Those who are working in the field by sweating should take off their outer garment in a safe place. When they finish the work they go back to home wearing it. However, this person didn’t have time to look back to take the outer garment. What on earth, what had happened? I wonder the author of Mark’s Gospel brought this scene from Genesis that wife of Lot became a pillar of salt when she looked back.

The above two cases is not the case of ordinary daily life of people. As I told you earlier, it is the situation to experience in the war only. War and the end of the world was similar experience for the ancient people. It does not mean that the war itself is not the end of the world. It means the end of the world shows the same form of destruction like the experience in the war. It signifies the suspension of entire daily life.

The new heaven and new earth what Christians are expecting also begins with such suspension of daily life. Here new means not only the form of life but its essence itself changes. That is the eternal life as the Bible talks about and need of the identification with God. We can have such experience in this world partially and indirectly. Please suspend your daily life and give ear to the spirit.

Flee

Flee

"When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.(13:14)

As I mentioned earlier, Mark chapter 13 has a strong apocalyptical character. Against the background of the fall of Jerusalem, apocalypse literature genre was developed by Babylonians. Horrible war and destruction of homes deprived the people of their hope in this world. In this time of trials and hardship, people anxiously waited for some supernatural entities which would come down and completely destroy this world and establish a new world.

Early Christians viewed the Judean war as an apocalyptical sign. Further, Jerusalem was turned into ruins in A.D. 70. Jerusalem temple which was their psychological foundation was also destroyed. Prior to that incident, there was a trial to erect the statue of Roman Emperor in the temple. It was “the abomination that causes desolation”. There was no other more horrible thing than this in their age. It was a sign to portend the end of the world. Early Christians might have accepted such sign as the sign of Jesus’ second coming.

The author of Mark’s Gospel cries to the people in Jerusalem when the end of the world was signaled saying, “Flee to the mountains.” When the city is under siege by the enemies, people should escape to a secure place. Jerusalem was a holy city but it could not do anything to safe the life of man in such situation. In those days, escaping to the mountains was the safest choice. Going to the mountain does not have any hidden significance other than to make themselves secure from any untoward catastrophes. It may be mentioned that even Christians should escape when their lives are at stake.

It is clear that the history of the early Christian was the history of martyrdom but it was not proper us to risk ourselves when foreign invasion occurs. There is a time for everything; there is a time to escape and a time to defend. In the light of this fact, there is a necessity for us to use our wisdom to distinguish between the right time to confront a situation by faith and the time to escape when turbulence and confusion arises.

Going beyond poetic fiction

Going beyond poetic fiction

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (13:13)

Some of you might notice the little confusing portion of verses 9-13. Disaster and trials mentioned here were things the early Christian community had gone through. The author of Mark’s Gospel delivered this word based on that historical fact. Our question is; whether this word is directly spoken by Jesus or not? We have dealt with such kind of questions earlier. We consider that some words were not spoken by Jesus but it was accepted as Jesus’ word.

There is a story in “Written by heart and hand” written by a poet An Do-hyun. He prepared a literary contest in spring in his 4th year of college. His poem, ‘Jun Bong-jun walking to Seoul’, reads,
Walking across snowing Mankyung field
flowing a topknot with worn straw sandals
No longing person on footpath
Will you return when mung-beans bloom in fascination?
Walking with weeping and without weeping
Our dear Bong-jun
Toward North, leaves of trees shed their sparse hair

His series-poem begins like this snows till the end of the poem. Though there was no record of snowing in history book it recomposed as a snowing scene through a sensitivity of a poet. A poet An Do-hyun says, “a poetic fiction shows more vivid truth than historical fact.”

It is regarded that some of the analects of Jesus, written in the Gospels are rooted in historical fact and some are poetic fiction. Do not accept fiction literally. It means a literal device to reach to the reality beyond an ostensible fact. Yes. Jesus’ analects recomposed by the disciples and early Christian community is no less important than a real analects. It was because the only concern of the Gospel writer was to demonstrate the fact that Jesus is the son of God, that is, the Messiah.

Endure hatred

Endure hatred
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mk.13:13)

Early Christian community actually had to undergo trials, sufferings and persecutions as mentioned in verses 9-12. In verse 13 the author of Mark’s Gospel quoted Jesus’ word as saying, ‘all men will hate you because of me’.

Sometimes such word can be misused. Church accepts criticisms from others as the church is covetous with this word. When I shepherded a flock of many souls in Hyunpung, someone called me up. He complained against me for using megaphone of the church in singing hymns which disturbed his sleep. As he was working in a factory in three shifts, he replaced insufficient sleeping hours with early morning sleep or late afternoon. As a result he was disturbed by the loud sound of singing hymn from church. Since then our church did not turn on the megaphone while singing of hymns. Earlier we used to turn on the megaphone at 11 am for Sunday worship service but it did not take long. However, the churches on the hill without any hesitation turned on the megaphone loudly while singing hymns. It was a great disturbance even to me, a pastor. If the response of Christians applies this situation to the word, ‘All men will hate you because of me’ then it may distort the word of Jesus.

The author of Mark encourages enduring such trials till the end. There is no promise about the end of trials. Unless Roman Emperor’s worship stopped, the persecution for Christian would not stop. The only word the author of Mark’s gospel could tell to the community members was “he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Trial is a reality. Salvation is a promise. It is not necessary to mention which one comes stronger. Probably many Christians could not but be betrayed. Many also could not but be martyred. It was history of early Christianity.

Family discord and disassembly

Family discord and disassembly

"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. (13:12)

The disciples will have to undergo trials not only the prophesied trials mentioned in the preceding verse but also in other spheres of their fundamental life. This particular verse talks about the imminent family discord and dissention within. The serious trial that the disciples had to face outside the family and the trial they had to face within the family are a big blow to the peaceful life of the disciples.

Originally family dissention is an apocalyptical statement. Mica 7:6 says, “For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--a man's enemies are the members of his own household.” The author of Mark’s Gospel grafted such apocalyptical statement of the Old Testament about the trials that the disciples had to encounter with. In his point of view, to live as the disciple of Jesus has the possibility to be isolated from relatives and family members. Perhaps this implies that Christians should be prepared for such unpleasant situations.

Family community instinctively maintains intimate relationship. The proverb, “Blood is thicker than water” is not a senseless utterance. However, according to circumstances, this family community has the high risk of suffocating the souls of the family members. I do not explain the detailed case. Instead, I would like to say what the reason is. The fact is that family member has a risk not to recognize others as an independent personality. ‘Mama Boy’ is an extreme case. Erich Fromm expressed that situation as ‘symbiosis union’. This is not a love but merely a desire.

The trials that Christians had to undergo in the ancient time in the East and Greek region where Judaism, various ancient religion and Greek philosophy ruled and this could be compared with the apocalyptical disaster. It is miraculous incident that Christianity survives such tough situation.

Language and the Holy Spirit

Language and the Holy Spirit

Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. (13:11)

As verse 9 has already pointed out, the disciples would be tried in Sanhedrin and be severely persecuted by the Romans. Such account of Mark’s Gospel is based on the historical fact that early Christians had undergone. When someone wants to deal with trail properly he should collect evidence to proof his innocent. He also should find some witnesses who can speak in favor of him. However, according to the above verse such preparation is not needed. The Holy Spirit will be an advocate.

It will be an embarrassment if you misunderstand this word to be an act of the Holy Spirit which would appears like the angels and solve everything what we can not do. There is a well known joke regarding a seminary student. A seminary student prayed only in the end semester exam instead of studying hard. He had faith that the Holy Spirit will help him. When he received the exam paper, the answer sheet was totally blank. Then he said, “Even the Holy Spirit cannot do anything in matter of exam.”

Then what does it mean by “… for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” The aphorism is similar to Heidegger’. Heidegger says that man does not say but it is the language which says. It means, in other words, existence reveals as language. The experience of a poet that language accosts is the same.

The spiritual level of a person in which the Holy Spirit speaks is an experience when a man is fully absorbed by the Holy Spirit. This high spiritual status of a person is similar to a poet who is caught by a poetical inspiration. Being caught by the Holy Spirit means that the Spirit of life fully fills our enter existence while our self endlessly get minified. This thing cannot happen to those who are living thoughtlessly. Early Christianity experienced this while they concentrated on Jesus Christ.

Suffering and preaching the Gospel

Suffering and preaching the Gospel

And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. (13:10)

As the apocalyptic explanation such as the symptom of the last days was going on, suddenly the bounden missions interrupted in the middle as stated in the above mentioned verse. In the apocalyptic representation, destruction of this world and coming of new world, the preaching the Gospel is like the padding that comforts us.

The author of Mark Gospel seems to look at this matter from another angle. His position in life makes him have this view of life, the position of life that they suffered for the sake of the Gospel. Though the Gospel preaching does not always mean suffering, the Gospel is directly connected to suffering in the early Christian community.

What is the place of the gospel to which suffering follows? The Gospel means the good news of great joy of salvation through Jesus Christ. Everybody knows the meaning of such word. However, if we enter into the concept of the Gospel, we have to think it by comparing with the law the opposite concept. We can regard the Gospel as the opposite concept of the law. The law is basically a justification by works while the Gospel is a justification by faith. The order which regards achievement as supreme value cannot but argue with the order which anchors the entire weight of life in God’s grace.

Christianity today is the community of the Gospel, the community to concentrate on justification by faith emancipating from justification by works. However, we make the Gospel as achievement in our actual world. Our real condition is to insist expansion of Christianity as the work of Gospel preaching. These two should be distinguished. I do not mean expansion of Christianity is meaningless. Christianity should not be identified with the Gospel movement. The Gospel’s real meaning can be alive even as we make expansion of Christian community.

The relation between the law and the Gospel are applicable to the entire human life. The Gospel community should struggle to get rid off heavy burden to make a great achievement in life in the field of politic, economy, education etc.

The way of disciple

The way of disciple

"You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. (13:9)

The above verse actually predicted the situation that the early Christian community would be confronted with. They had to be tried in the Sanhedrin and had to be flogged in the synagogue. The intensity of their misery in the hands of the Roman Emperor was too horrible to be compared with any form of persecution meted out in the history of humankind.

The reason behind of the persecution of the Jesus’ disciples was that they did no bow to the demand of religious and political power. If the disciples had compromised and yielded to the demand of the people of the Roman Empire they might not have been persecuted severely. If you consider the people who persecuted the disciple as infamous people then you do not see the fact correctly. They are a people of high morality and good personality and their persecutions were legal.

This can be compared with the present context of Korean community. Many members of the ‘Jehovah Witness’ are averse to military service. They go on a trial and go to jail. Koreans who sends them to jail do this following the rule of law of the country. The Judges are men of novel character. It was a Christian group who give a suggestion that an alternative service be given. An organization named the Christian Council of Korea is a representative of this group. Most of big association belongs to this organization. They seem to lead the work of sending Jehovah Witness members to jail. Aren’t they taking a role of Sanhedrin that today’s content is talking about. In the long run, Jehovah Witness historian may bring a comparison between Korean history and today’s content.

We are living as the disciples of Jesus today and yet, we have not been persecuted at all. Even if we have been, it would be just one of two. We have to see if we are true disciples or if this generation has merely gotten out of barbarism.

Wars, earthquakes and famines

Wars, earthquakes and famines

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. (13:8)

The content Mark 13:8 describes is the most terrible disasters humankind experienced. As a war breaks out, the entire visible and invisible civilization that is directly or indirectly connected with human life is destroyed. Only the law of jungle rules over the world. A war as it signifies the culmination of survival game. War is a destruction caused by human while earthquake and famine are natural phenomena. Earthquake and famine have also the same devastating effect to human beings like war.

Mark’s community might think of war, earthquake and famine as the pointers to the end of the world. It is natural to think the end of the world before situation to maintain human-like life. However, today’s content says, such disaster is not the end; it is the beginning of birth pains. It suggests that a bigger disaster is imminent. As a matter of fact, the early Christians really trembled before such bigger disaster.

The life of the early Christians was not at peace as of today. Living in the midst of the Roman rule, Christianity was not accepted and as a result such Christianity was not firmly established. What was worse, wars, earthquakes and famines approached to them. The situation was too difficult to handle for a young Christianity.

If they had not endured such trials and weight of survival they would not have remain alive in the annals of history. There are many religions that temporarily appeared in human history and disappeared so soon. We have to appreciate the achievement of the young Christians who had endured such difficult situations in the past. The reason why we are now able to accept the gospel of Jesus is that the early Christians had endured trials and hardship holding the promise of Jesus.

RUMORS OF WARS

RUMORS OF WARS

When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. (13:7)

The sign of the end continues to be heard and seen. Rumors of wars are the signs of the end. The wars mentioned in the above verse perhaps referred to the Judean war in A.D. 60 which finally resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem. Christians in those days might have thought that the world would come to an end even before the occurrence of such wars. However, the end time did come as they expected. The content says, “Do not be alarmed.” It is because it was not the end yet.

Here we can accept the perception of the early Christianity about the end of time. They thought that the new world would not come in a forcible manner. They thought war and revolution were not directly related to the kingdom of God. Therefore, they did not consider the Judean war to be the end of time. Such stance of Christianity might be an important cause of their exclusion from Judaism.

If I explain such situation comparing to Korean history it can be described as follows: What if Christianity did not support an army for national independence who was doing an armed struggle under Japanese colonial rule. After the failure of public independence movement of 1919 led by Chosen, Christianity stepped back from politic and fell into apocalyptical faith. They thought the independence of Chosun could be possible only by God’s transcendent involvement.

The relationship between church and politic is obscure. Those who are standing in progressive position insist that church cannot ignore social problem while conservative party try to separate between social and religious life. It is difficult to find out the point of connecting between politics and Christianity. However, more important point is that Christianity in the New Testament era keeps a certain distance from war and forcible revelation.

Messiah pretention

Messiah pretention

Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. (13:6)

The statement on deception of man, briefly highlighted in verse 5, found its full expression of warning in verse 6. Jesus warned that many will come claiming, “I am he,” and deceive many. Here ‘he’ indicates the Messiah. There will be many claiming to be the Messiah at the last. According to the Bible scholars’ explanation, John the Kisala and Tutta were the representatives of those who pretend to be the Messiah. There would be many who would say “I am the Messiah. Follow me.” There are many religious leaders in Korea like them. Park Tae-sun of Jeondokwan and Mun Sun-myung of Tongilkyo (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification)

Messianic pretension occurs not only in religion but also in the spheres of politics and economy. Nazism of Hitler is a sort of Messianic disposition. German people believed Hitler as the savior of their nation. The ex-president of Korea, Park Jung-hee also wanted to play such an influential role. Many Koreans believed him to be the savior of the nation and their dogmatic beliefs have not died down even today. Modern capitalism is also not much different from the doctrine of Messiah. The conventional beliefs rest on the fact that money saves man.

The cause of the emergence of the Messianic pretension does not only rest on the intention of the person concern but it also rests on the interest of the people. In fact, it is the general publics who ignited the fire of this enthusiasm for one to be an influential public figure. As such, tendency of tyranny comes as the consequence of the support of the public. The public always have the strong desire to be in the Messianic rule. They diligently nurse the desire to give ceaseless support to such public figure. A false religious leader or a politician or entertainer or sports star can be the object of public adoration. They are all false Messiah.

It is not easy for one to escape from the grip of a false Messiah. It is a sort of addiction to gambling. The particular gambling enslaves one’s soul. Does Korean church pretend to be the Messiah today? In the same manner, does the church enslave its believers?

Danger of deceit

Danger of deceit

Jesus said to them： "Watch out that no one deceives you. (13:5)

Now Jesus’ long discourse begins from verse 5 to 37. It begins with the word of watching out people’s deceit. This warning of Jesus implies that many people will deceive you and many will be deceived in the end.

Why are people easily deceived? Are they too naive? Yes. Perhaps they are. However, it should not be the satisfactory answer. Think of the reason why Adam and Eve were deceived by the serpent? The first answer could be that their mind was shaky enough to be deceived. They had already had the knowledge of the fruit of knowing good and evil that God prohibited them to eat. Otherwise, they would not have been tempted by the serpent. Outwardly our concern does not reveal the whole things. Once we are deceived then our inner reality turns out.

The reason of frequent cases of deceit related to the end is not much different from that of the above case. Our consciousness and unconsciousness have already declined to the biased eschatology. This is the reason why men have become so vulnerable to deceit. It means people understand the end not as the new heaven and the new earth that God will create but they rather take it as a mere opportunity for pursuing religious desire. It is to be captured by religious selfishness. People often expect that they will be specially treated when the end comes. They are waiting for the end to join 144,000 in Revelation 7:4 says. Those who are inclined to such thing have higher risk of being deceived.

We the descendant of Adam and Eve are highly vulnerable to deceit. We can confirm this fact from the clear evidence of human history and our past life. Two things may be required. Passively we have to learn the right teachings and positively we have to pray that we may not be deceived. Watch out that no one deceives us.

The time and the sign of the end

The time and the sign of the end

"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?" (13:4)


The questions of the Disciples were of two parts; the time of the end and the sign of the end of time. This question is still applicable in our present generation. What is the end? Early Christian community thought the end would come quickly. According to the Acts, people lived a communal life after selling all their property. If the end comes in our own generation surely property is no longer required in this world. The followers of Dami missions which insisted on Jesus’ coming on October 1992 gave up their social life. Nobody knows the time of the end. Even Jesus also pointed that he did not know the time. Then why do people want to know the time? Why do they listen attentively to the opinion of deceptive cults? Firstly, we can say that they do so because they do not have the proper knowledge about the Bible and basic knowledge about Christian faith. However, a certain fundamental fact is hidden in it.

It is a misty fear for death. Death is a complete separation from this world which is operated by time and space. People are not competent to do it. Different from animal, men with a clear self-identity are fatally living in constant fear of losing self. If he knows the time of the end exactly, he may overcome such fears at a certain level.

The time of the end is connected to the sign of the end. People can prepare the end by watching the signs. In the gospel, Jesus pointed out that the decision to time of the end is with God but he mentioned about the sign of the end at a certain detailed level. Disaster is the answer. Is the destruction of Jerusalem temple the evidence of the disaster mentioned in the Bible?

On the Mount of Olives

On the Mount of Olives

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, (13:3)

The longest chapter in Mark’s gospel is chapter 4 and the second longest being chapter 13. The central theme of chapter 13 is the end of the world while the main theme of chapter 4 is the parables on land and seed. The end of the world is the most important teaching in Christianity. Christian faith is basically eschatological. Thinking of salvation it is learnt that we have not been completely saved yet. In other words, complete salvation has not come yet. As it had been, we still continue to have sickness and suffering and finally we die. Salvation and eternal life are of the domain of the end of time and not of the present time. Church is also an eschatological community of the Messiah. It means that the completion of everything absolutely depends on the end of time.

The end means the last. However, Christians say it is a new beginning. It is the end where the present life style comes to an end and a totally different life begins. I say it again that the end is not only the last but has a direct connection with the beginning.

To some people this statement sounds unacceptable. They think the life we enjoy now is everything. They regard eschatology as self-consolation which is derived from the fear of death. In fact, it is not so. Eschatology of Christianity is not a dualistic world view to pursue another world by denying this world. It is just the opposite. Eschatology is a unique world view to see the ultimate root of life at the end point of view which makes reality of this world possible. If someone is called Christian then he/she should not lose the question about eschatology.

Jesus’ disciples began to ask Jesus who was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple from where he could see the temple. Let us enter into that question like them.

The prophesy of temple destruction (2)

The prophesy of temple destruction (2)

"Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." (13:2)

One of the questions that often lingers in my mine is, “Is there any word in the gospel that isn’t spoken by Jesus?” This question poses a matter of serious concern to those who believe the Bible as holy word of God. If I say conclusion first, there are certain words which cannot be retroactive to Jesus in the gospel. The above verse also one of them.

The verse mentioned above is the prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem which truly fulfilled in A.D. 70. The Zealot of Israel under Roman’s colonial rule fought fervently. There were some Zealots even among Jesus’ disciples. Roman Empire was tolerant in culture and religious matter but they severely punished those who resisted. All captives were crucified. The prolonged resistance of Judea was consequently undermined by the Roman soldiers. Later on, the Jerusalem temple was completely devastated to such an extent that not one stone was left on another. This incidence of historical fact was clearly recorded in the book of Josephus, a renowned historian. The gospel of Mark was written in A.D. 70-73 right after the destruction of Jerusalem temple.

I hope you will not misunderstand. I neither mean the gospels are groundless make-up story nor fiction. The author of Mark’s gospel reinterpreted the incident that happened during the time of Jesus by communicating with the Spirit, Spirit of truth. In his public life, Jesus did not exercise as the absolute of the law of temple but could say such word. Considering the overall situation, we have to correctly interpret the gospel.

The prophesy of temple destruction

The prophesy of temple destruction (1)

"Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." (13:2)

Jesus’ prophesy about the destruction of the Jerusalem temple had already been mentioned in Jeremiah 26:6 which says, “…then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.” Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says： “Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.' (Jer. 26:18) The following verse that was referred to Absalom by Hushai is similar to the above mentioned verse. “If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a piece of it can be found." (2 Sam. 17:13)

Such prophesy of the prophets was disgusting to the king of Israel, noble and the public. The prophets did not hesitate to speak out even though their prophecy was harsh to the ear of public. Why the prophets prophesied boldly, though their prophecies were not at all pleasing to the public. The answer is very simple. It was because they have experienced God’s word. The false prophet also insisted that they also had experienced God’s word but practically it was not true at all. They will only create misunderstanding among the people or deceive the public. They only prophesied what the public like. A true prophet and a false prophet can be distinguished in this way. The former concentrates on God only while the latter on man. It is not easy to distinguish between these two. In those days, nobody could distinguish these two. The history would judge. The Old Testament is the true prophet survived in the history.

The statement of today uttered by Jesus’ mouth is also a word of embarrassment for Israelites to hear. It sounds even bitterer than that of the prophets’ prophesy. Jesus said that the building that his disciples marveled at would be thrown down and not one stone here would be left on another. It sounds just like a curse. If he is a considerate and compassionate person, his criticism against the temple leaders is right but he should not have waited for the destruction of the temple.