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.
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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.
"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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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