Week 6

Mark's gospel is filled with messages about Jesus' work as a miracle worker, teacher, and healer. As discussed in class, Mark's is considered a dark gospel. His understanding of the Messiah, the theme of suffering, and the ending with an empty tomb help defend the darkness claim. The story that I thought went well with the gloomy weather was "Jesus stops a storm". Jesus and his followers were crossing a stormy lake, and the boat quickly began to get swamped by the crashing waves. The disciples were worried about drowning, and Jesus cleared alway the storm. Jesus asked them why they didn't have faith about being saved. The lesson from to be taken away from this passage is that no matter how difficult things can get, just have faith that everything will work out in the end. Jesus' messages are timeless and can be applied to different aspects multiple individuals' life experiences. Mark's portrayal of Jesus' empty tomb is also an interesting passage. Mary, Mary Magdalene, and James were the first to discover the empty tomb and the first to encounter the young man in the white robe who told them not to worry but to go and tell Jesus' disciples, especially Peter, to meet him in Galilee. Mary, Mary Magdalene, and James were too frighten that they did not end up telling anyone about what they saw. The passage of the empty tomb and Jesus stops the storm, are related in trusting in faith. Jesus told his follows to have faith that the storm would end and they would not drown. The angel told Mary, Mary Magdalene, and James not to be afraid and trust that Jesus is now with God and to go forward to spread the good news. To reiterate, I think the most important message Jesus has craved as timeless, is that we need to have faith to not worry because everything will work out. Jesus' teaching can be transcribed to different contexts, but it is faith in God, religion, friends, family, education, and much more that will help us through the difficult trials and tribulations.