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We focus on the geography and history of Israel. We also cover Mark 1:14-45.
GEOGRAPHY OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
To understand the world of Jesus we need to come to understand the history of Israel. To understand the history of Israel we need to understand the geography of the Ancient Near East. The Ancient Near East is the area surrounding Israel, including Greece, Egypt and Persia (modern day Iraq). On a map of the Ancient World locate the following nations: Israel, Egypt, Greece, Babylonia, Assyria, Persia and the Romans.
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This map is reconstructed from Hecataeus's Map. An early Greek Cartographer. You should be able to easily place the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Perians and Israel. Babylon is where the Babylonians are from. The Assyrians are around where the Taurus mountains meet the Euphrates river. That covers all the major ANE (Ancient Near East) empires. Hekateaus7m.jpg (author Dariusz Ciach {cc-by-sa-2.5|Dariusz Ciach, 2003}http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hekateaus7m.jpg) |
Each of these powers had a time when they were great. Each either made treaties with each other, or battled it out. There were many smaller powers. There were city-states. A single city had it's own king! Some grouped together and formed alliances. At times a particular nation grew in power, which meant it took over surrounding nations. Some had better success than others. When they took over, some were nicer than others. At all times larger powers sought to make treaties with smaller powers. Another name for treaty was covenant. In those days the covenant made between a larger power such as Egypt and a smaller power meant that the smaller power had to pay the large power money, produce etc.. If they did not pay up, the larger power came along with it's army and destroyed the smaller power. If they did pay up, then if someone attacked them, the larger power would send it's army to defend them. There was give and take, but overall there was take.
This was always risky since if you gave your alliegence to the wrong power, than the dominant power would destroy you. This indeed happended to Israel in 587 when a set of bad political mistakes led to Israel being crushed and Jerusalem and it's temple being destroyed and it's people being exiled to Babylon by the Babylonians.
If you ever play a game like civilisation or risk, you will get a good idea about how different nations have their hay-day.
Usually Egypt was the great power in the south, and there was a great power in the north. Israel was stuck in between. When these great powers fought each other, it was often on Israelite soil and particularly in the valley of Megiddo. Today nations 'fight' it out in soccer. Back then, there was only the battle field. It was normal for armies to go out to war every year during the 'battle' season. Since Israel was in between, it had to be very careful who it made treaties with. Generally the battles were over border regions. But there were times when particular powers were strong enough to dominate most of the Ancient Near East.
Israel's history is shaped by these powers.
HISTORY OF ISRAEL
The first point to make is that the history up to David as a line of kings is considered reliable. After that the history as archealogically confirmed is scant and conjecture. This does not mean the events didn't happen. What is important to realise is that the Bible as we have it, is guided by God as true author to teach us about Him, his plan and his love for us.
| Date (BC) | Events | Dominant Power over Israel |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | Abraham | self rule |
| 1250 | Moses and Exodus | Egyptians leading to self rule |
| 1210-1000 | Period of the Judges | self rule |
| 1000 | David and the United Kingdom | self rule |
| 950 | Soloman. 1st Temple Built | self rule |
| 920 | Northern and Southern Kingdom splits | self rule 2 kingdoms |
| 721 | Northern Kingdom falls to the Assyrians. Intermarriage leads to the Samaritans. | Assyrians rule the North. |
| 587 | Babylonians exile the Israelites. 1st Temple destroyed. | Babylonians |
| 537 | Persians free Israelites. Most return and build 2nd Temple | Persians |
| 333 | Greeks control Israel | Greeks |
| 167 | Maccabees rule Israel | self rule |
| 64 | Romans control Israel | Romans |
The fundamental beginning of Israel is God's call to Abraham around 1850BC. Abraham moved from his country to eventually settle in what we know today as Israel. He was the father of Isaac, who was the father of Jacob who had 12 sons. These sons bear the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. One of them is Joseph (of technicolor dream coat renown). Joseph settled with his brothers in Egypt. Eventually the Egyptians turned them into slaves.
When Israel was freed from Egypt, and was in the desert, God made a covenant with Israel in much the same way as a world power made a covenant with a lesser power. God would protect Israel and care for it, provided Israel lived as God wanted them to, ie according to the 10 commandments. Israel agreed. This was during the exodus in 1250BC. The Israelites entered the promised land and gradually took over it. Israel was led by a number of 'judges'. Eventually King David took control and united the nation and captured Jerusalem and made it it's capital in 1000BC.
Israel did live up to the covenant for sometime. Israel became a great nation under king David and king Soloman. But after Soloman, the nation was split into two, the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom. But over time Israel did not live up to the covenant with God. Eventually the northern kingdom fell to the Assyrians in 721. This was a great blow to the people. The people of the North began to marry Assyrians and their children were of mixed blood. These were eventually known as the Samaritans and were looked down upon by the people of the south who considered themselves pure blooded Israelites, and thus better.
Eventually the southern kingdom fell to the Babylonians who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 587 and exiled the Israelites to Babylonia.
Fifty years later the Persians came to power and defeated the Babylonians and allowed the Isrealites to return to Israel in 537. They returned and built the second temple - this is the temple that Jesus knew. It was also at this time that most of the Old Testament took it's final shape. From this experience of exile the Israelites realised what really caused the exile was their lack of faithfulness to God.
In 333 Alexander the great leader of the Greeks took over most of the Ancient Near East and brought Greek culture with him. This had a lasting effect with Greek being the major common language from then on.
There was a lull in the strength of the major powers which allowed the Israelites to have autonomy under the Maccabees in 167BC.
In 63BC the Romans came to dominate and took over Israel. They occupied Israel, but allowed the Israelites to have their own religion, provided it did not interfere with Roman control. Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor while Jesus was active in ministry. The Jewish king was king Herod who was interested in power and not religious practice.
As we explore Mark's gospel, it is important to be aware of Israel's history.
"The time is fulfilled" The greek word, kairos, means 'the right time" or "the fulfilled time". God has his own timing. Have you had an experience of sometime happening at 'the right time"?
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"The Kingdom of God is at hand" What is this kingdom? Jesus is the Kingdom. Jesus perfectly follows God's will. A king-dom is where a king rules. Jesus perfectly follows the 'rules' of his father. He represents the father's kingdom to us in action. If you want to become part of this loving kingdom, then follow Jesus. Make Jesus your king and you will be in his kingdom. How do you think you could make Jesus your king?
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Repent comes from the greek word which means to 'turn around'. We must turn around from doing wrong and seek to do good. For the Jewish person of the time, it was enough incentive to believe God's blessing had come. This meant many things to a Jewish person, peace (no war), prosperity (no famine, lots of good food and wine), freedom (no control from external powers). This was the promise from the covenant - if you obey the voice of God good things will happen, but if you do not obey the voice of God bad things will happen. Read Deuteronomy 28:1-6, 15-19 for an example of this. For the Jewish person of the time, this was exciting enough, but God has much more in store for everyone. God intends a deep inner transformation, rather than just external properity. The inner change leads to all the blessings anyway. Rather than just obey, we are invited to be God's friends founded on love. But we must change our ways. The first thing we are to 'work' on is to keep up our prayer life. To pray each day.
Day 2 Call of the First Disciples Mk:1:16-20
"Come follow me" Are you ready to follow Jesus?
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At times we might become aware of God's presence inviting us to go and pray. Generally, we should respond and spend that time in prayer. Sometimes some one wants our attention and we might be busy with something. This is like Jesus calling us to be with him. If we are aware of Jesus in others we will respond like the disciples and give the person our time, since in a way, we are actually giving Jesus our time.
Today, try and be aware that if someone asks for help, it is Jesus asking and give your help straight away. You have then followed Jesus today.
Day 3 The Demoniac Mk:1:21-28
Do you believe in Demons?
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Demons and devils are fallen angels. The Catechism states "414 Satan or the devil and the other demons are fallen angels who have freely refused to serve God and his plan. Their choice against God is definitive. They try to associate man in their revolt against God."
Devils have a limited power as stated in the Catechism. "395 The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God's reign. Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries - of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature- to each man and to society, the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human and cosmic history. It is a great mystery that providence should permit diabolical activity, but "we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him."275"
Clearly we see in this passage of Mark, the limit to Satan's power. Satan is no match for Jesus. Through Jesus Satan is no match for us. Through Jesus we have the victory over Satan. God can even bring good out of Satan's work if we let God.
The modern media has popularised demonic possession. The truth is, it can happen, but exorcisms are essentially about bring someone closer to Christ. To renew a person in the normal practices of Catholic life. By seeking to follow Jesus we are doing the same and building God's kingdom which castes out Satan as a result. It is far better to be proactive, ie build God's kingdom, than to be reactive and try to destroy Satan's kingdom. It is like giving someone a compliment, you increase their selfesteem and thus may get rid of some negativity they have. If you just say to someone, "Don't be so negative." You have not helped them improve.
Can you think of someone you should encourage today?
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Day 4 A Group of Miracles Mk:1:29-34
In verse 30 we have the word 'immediately'. Mark often uses this word. It gives pace to the gospel. A sense of urgency and of excitment. Imagine if Jesus visited you and all the sick people you know were healed. Picture it. How would you feel, what would it be like?
There are many miracles throughout the centuries. You cannot be declared a saint without 2 miracles. God is still healing and casting out demons. Jesus wants to heal. Jesus wants to take suffering away. We should always pray for healing. We should always seek to alleviate suffering. Take a moment to pray for healing for those you know who need it.
Day 5
Jesus in Solitude Mk:1:35-39
Have you ever had to get up early for something? Jesus would have had a long day and night before getting up early. We may think that we need a sleep in. But Jesus works differently. He draws strength from God. His first point of finding rest, is in God alone. This is his first desire.
We should also have this attitude. It takes time to develop. By praying each day and becoming more mindful of God throughout the day, we will gradually start to seek His will in all we do.
Day 6 The Leper Mk:1:40-45
Why do you think Jesus asks the leper to not tell anyone?
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This is actually an important point, and all sorts of scholars have read interesting things into Jesus request for secrecy. Essentially, Jesus wants to go by the book, ie the Law of Moses. He wants to win over the Pharisees by showing he is obedient to the Law of Moses. But it did not work. Jesus will always do good, even if it is misunderstood, because it is good to do good. Has there been a time when you have done something good and it has had a bad effect?
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But something good can still come from it, even much later.
Day 7 The Leper Mk 1:40-45
We have repeated this passage since it is so rich in lessons.
When someone gives you a present, are you more in love with the present or with the person who gave it?
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God gives us many gifts. Are we more in love with the gifts he gives us, rather than him?
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A good measure of this is time. How much time do we give to God? God gives us all of our waking hours to use. How much do we share with God? That is why prayer is so important. It gives a chance to spend some time in building relationship with God, and thus demonstrates our love of God.
