[Download] "Preaching the Mysteries of the Reign of God (Theology Studies)" by Currents in Theology and Mission * Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Preaching the Mysteries of the Reign of God (Theology Studies)
- Author : Currents in Theology and Mission
- Release Date : January 01, 2005
- Genre: Politics & Current Events,Books,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 312 KB
Description
To preach Christ from the Gospel of Mark is to preach paradox and mystery. If it is the case that the gospel creates a world through which we experience the reign of God, this Gospel's world is a strange one indeed: shocking, incongruous, even irrational. Announced by the proclamation of a wild man in the desert, Jesus bursts onto the scene without so much as a visiting wise man or shepherd, or even an angelic host singing glory to God. He is marked by the Spirit at his baptism, only to be set on course to his death. Jesus is called "Teacher," and yet his pedagogical preference for cryptic parables results more often in perplexity than in clarity. His demonstration of power--over nature, illness, and demons--prompts wonder and amazement among his followers but does not give the full story of his identity or his mission. He relieves the suffering of others yet teaches his followers that suffering will be their fate. Even after the crucifixion, instead of appearing at a post-resurrection reunion with his disciples, he is absent from the scene, leaving the women to flee his tomb in terror. (1) According to the Gospel of Mark, at almost every turn, Jesus' revelation of the reign of God is characterized by incongruity, mystery, and surprise. In this essay I outline some of the mysteries inherent in Mark's picture of Jesus and reflect upon how that picture impacts the task of preaching. Who is Jesus according to Mark, and how might the contours of this image help (or frustrate) those who preach Mark for the church? The sketch offered here assumes that Jesus' identity and purpose, as well as his demands on his followers, are reflected in his initial proclamation: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news" (1:15 NRSV). The challenges for preaching from Mark's Gospel are heightened with the realization that Jesus' ministry in this Gospel reveals the mystery of the eschatological reign of God but does not guarantee its reception. Examination of Jesus' proclamation and practices will show us how preaching that remains true to Mark's depiction of Jesus transforms distinctions between insiders and outsiders, reverses the status quo, and might leave many hearers mystified.