Jesus is our special invitation into this journey. “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, and the very imprint of his being.” (Heb 1:1-3)
In the Gospel of Mark, we have an outstanding example of the Word of God as an invitation to self-knowledge. This selection begins with the healing of a blind man. (Mk 8:22) and ends with healing of a blind man. (Mk 10 52) In between, Jesus announces his forthcoming Passion, Death and Resurrection three times.
Each declaration is followed by an event that shows that the disciples just do not understand. They are caught in a false self-knowledge. Jesus then offers a teaching of enlightenment that calls them out of their false consciousness. The first incident takes place in Mk 8:31-38. In this case, Peter denies the need for the passion and death. Jesus declares emphatically, “Get behind me Satan!
You are thinking not as God does but as human beings do.” (Mk 8:33) Jesus then proceeds with his teaching against the false consciousness of the disciples and us. True discipleship demands that we take up the cross and have true self-denial.
“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever dies to his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” (Mk 8:35) This is a straightforward attack by Jesus of the false self-knowledge of the disciples’ desire for worldly success, power, prestige and wealth.
In chapter nine the pattern is repeated. Jesus’ second declaration of the Passion Death and Resurrection is followed by this announcement. “But they did not understand the statement and were afraid to question him.” (Mk 9:30)
Jesus’ teaching here begins with a question: “What were you arguing about on the way?” (Mk 9:33) With deep embarrassment, they admit their heated conversation was about who among them was the greatest. Jesus then pronounces, “If anyone wishes to be first, he should be last of all and the servant of all.” (Mk 9:35) Here again, we have Jesus attacking the disciples’ ambition rooted in worldly values.
Finally, in the third foretelling of the Passion, Death and Resurrection, the pattern repeats itself. James and John step forward expressing their ambitious resolve to be recognized as leaders. Jesus responds: “Whoever wishes to great among you will be the slave of all.” (Mk 10:34) The climax is in the healing of the second blind man. Here we have a true manifestation of discipleship. The text says, “He threw away his cloak…and he followed him on the way.” (Mk 10:50-52) His cloak symbolized all his possessions.
This freed him in total generosity to follow Jesus on “the road to Jerusalem!” In these passages from the Gospel of Mark we have a sparkling and clear presentation of how Jesus is attacking the distorted consciousness of his followers. At the same time, he is inviting them to see in his journey to Jerusalem, the true self-knowledge that leads to life and freedom. This repetitive pattern fills the Bible with the call to conversion away from self-centeredness to placing God at the center.
