agri.church

Back in middle school I remember learning the basic elements of any good story: relatedable characters who get caught up in escalating conflict, which finally reaches its climax and is followed by a resolution. Sorry to bring you back to the awkward middle school years, but is this ringing a bell? (Can you believe our parents paid to have our school pictures taken then?) Anyway…these elements, when put together well, create drama - drama that moves us. Drama that changes us.

Notice what is going on in the beginning of the book of Mark (we’re in chapter three this week). Right away we’re introduced to the most riveting and relatable person - Jesus - who calls the most ordinary people to follow him. Immediately after this, the conflict begins. People - all sorts of people - begin to challenge Jesus: John the Baptist’s disciples, the Pharisees, even Jesus’ family.

Now, when you think about it Mark didn’t have to tell us about these little skirmishes. He could have focused soley on the miracles - or on the conversations Jesus had with his disciples. But Mark makes sure we’re aware - from the beginning - that Jesus is being challenged. Why does Mark do this? There are lots of reasons, I suppose. But one, I think, is that Mark is trying to tell us a story. He’s not just writing a list of rules or teachings. He’s not even writing history for history’s sake. He’s writing a story - a story about real people, who walked on real dirt, who faced real challenges and struggles - and he wants us to feel this. To be moved. Ultimately, to be changed.

So my encouragement to you as we read through Mark together is to enter fully into the story. Don’t read it from a distance, but feel what is going on. Smell the smells. Hear the voices. Take on the emotions. If we do this, the Scriptures will come alive and change us.

Anticipating that change -

Chris