Peter Kirby's Jesus is Not the Christ: A Reading of Mark
The "Christ" Passages
Mark 1:1
- Text: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."
- Interpretation: The phrase "Jesus Christ" could be a later addition, intended as a title rather than an original part of the text. This opens the possibility that the original Gospel of Mark did not present Jesus as the Christ.
Mark 8:29
- Text: "Peter answered him, 'You are the Christ.'"
- Analysis: While Peter's declaration is significant, Jesus does not affirm it. Instead, he refers to himself as the "Son of Man," creating ambiguity. Jesus's subsequent rebuke of Peter ("Get behind me, Satan!") could imply Peter's misunderstanding, suggesting that Jesus is not the Christ.
Mark 9:41
- Text: "For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward."
- Variants: Different manuscripts offer variations, some lacking any reference to Christ, which supports the idea that the association of Jesus with Christ could be a textual addition.
Mark 12:35-37
- Text: "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?"
- Interpretation: Jesus questions the scribes' interpretation of the Messiah as the son of David, potentially distancing himself from this Messianic expectation. This could be seen as Jesus rejecting the title of Christ as commonly understood.
Mark 13:21-22
- Text: "And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise."
- Interpretation: Jesus warns against false Christs, which could imply that he does not see himself as the Christ or that he is rejecting the contemporary Messianic expectations.
Mark 14:61-62
- Text: "Again the high priest asked him, 'Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?' And Jesus said, 'I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'"
- Analysis: Jesus's response focuses on his identity as the "Son of Man" rather than affirming he is the Christ, adding to the ambiguity.
Mark 15:26-32
- Text: "The inscription of the charge against him read, 'The King of the Jews.'"
- Interpretation: The charge of being "The King of the Jews" and the mocking of Jesus as "the Christ" suggest a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of Jesus's identity, furthering the argument that he is not the Christ as traditionally conceived.
The "Son of David" Passage
- Mark 10:46-52
- Text: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
- Analysis: This cry from Bartimaeus, a blind man, is not directly affirmed by Jesus. His response focuses on faith rather than Messianic identity, leaving room for interpretation.
The "Son of God" Passages
- Key Passages:
- Mark 1:11: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
- Mark 3:11: "You are the Son of God."
- Mark 5:7: "Jesus, Son of the Most High God."
- Mark 9:7: "This is my beloved Son; listen to him."
- Mark 15:39: "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
- Interpretation: These passages consistently identify Jesus as the Son of God, distinct from the title of Christ. This distinction supports the reading that Jesus may not be the Christ but is identified as the Son of God.
Conclusion
The Gospel of Mark presents a complex picture of Jesus's identity. While the traditional reading sees Jesus as the Christ, an alternative interpretation suggests that Mark's Jesus might not embrace this title. Instead, he focuses on his role as the Son of Man and the Son of God, challenging contemporary Messianic expectations and inviting readers to reconsider their understanding of Jesus's mission and identity. This exploration underscores the richness of biblical texts and the diverse ways they can be understood and interpreted.
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