Mark 8:22--10:52
Analysis Assignment
As stated in class, I read Mark 8:22—10:52 as “interpretative center” of Mark’s Gospel, where there is a transition from Jesus being powerful in word and deed to Jesus being the suffering Son of God/Messiah. As you read 8:22—10:52, what convinces me that there is
a transition from powerful wonder-worker to suffering messiah? [This is not a question to
answer for the assignment; we will discuss it in class.]
Mark 8:22-26.
What is strange about this healing story? [Interesting note: What makes this passage “strange” is unique to Mark’s Gospel; it is not found in any other canonical (or non-canonical) Gospel.] Given what precedes this passage (8:14-21) and follows (8:27-33), how might this healing story function metaphorically?
Mark 9:2-13
.
This passage is known as the Transfiguration. Can you identify some motifs and features in this story that we have seen thus far in Mark’s Gospel? How would you characterize the purpose of this story? Or to put it another way, is there anything about the context of this story (being part of this interpretative center; what precedes it; what follows it) that suggests its purpose or function?
Mark 10:46-52
.
Most interpreters read this healing story as the “bookend” to the healing story in 8:22-26. How are they similar and how do they differ? Does Bartimaeus become a disciple of Jesus? If 8:22-26 functions metaphorically, how might this passage also function metaphorically?
