Gospel of MARK: Two banquets

Two “banquets”

Text: Mark 6

Outline:

A. 6:1-6, Jesus is rejected at Nazareth

  B. 6:7-13, Jesus sends out His disciples

    C. 6:14-29, Banquet of Herod

    C’. 6:30-44, Banquet of 5000

  B’. 6:45-52, Jesus comes to His disciples by water

A’. 6:53-56, Jesus is accepted at Gennesaret

Comments: Let’s begin with the structure. A and A’ talk about Jesus reaching out to people in two different places (no other stories name the places), mentioning also “villages” (v. 6b, 56). B and B’ talks about Jesus sending out and coming to His disciples. C and C’ have stories of two banquets – one is Herod’s birthday, the second one where Jesus feeds 5000.

FOOD and FAITH

Food and Faith - June 2024 Newsletter

20 years ago, a very small production company released a movie that changed the food industry. Written, produced, and directed by Morgan Spurlock, “Super-Size Me” featured him as the main character. Morgan undertook an attempt to stick to a 30-days McDonald’s diet. If you’ve seen the movie – you are familiar with the story. If you have NOT seen the movie – I would recommend reading Wikipedia page, takes less time with the same result.

I watched the movie about 15 years ago back in Russia. A friend of mine brought a DVD with him from his trip to the US. My point is not to fight with fast food industry. I can enjoy a fast-food meal from time to time. I would not bring it up, but something happened recently – Morgan Spurlock died being 53 years old. I am not sure that his death is related to his dietary experiments during the filming (it should be noted that on day 21 his doctor advised him to stop the experiment due to possible unreversible health/body changes). The news about Morgan’s death recovered some memories about the movie and got me thinking about the food.

One particular story that we find in the Bible in relationship of food and faith is found in the Book of Daniel in chapter 5. That’s where “king” Belshazzar has a great feast (literally – Bread, it is important). The reason for the gathering was an attempt to perform some kind of religious ceremony to appeal to any deity that would listen to be rescued from the Persians. Since there is only one God who listens, speaks, and acts this Babylonian gathering would’ve been a failure, but Belshazzar ordered to bring furniture from the Temple of Jerusalem that his grandfather – Nebuchadnezzar – brought together with the exiled Israelites. Now think about it: they had the furniture from the Temple, they had a special dedicated bread, they appeal to God. To their surprise, He answered… We know the answer: you are weighted and found light (without glory), and your kingdom will be given to the Persians. So, was Belshazzar doomed?

As a ruler – yes (the Persians took over the very same night), as a human on the brink of death whose eternal fate will be decided soon – I am not sure… for the very subtle reason – at the end of the story godly prophet Daniel (who did not authorize that “feast”) decided to receive the gifts of the ruler. This might indicate that God at the last moment saw he contrite heart, similar to the thief of the cross who died next to Jesus the Savior of all people, including Belshazzar, criminals, and us.

As we enter the second part of the Church year, we will more and more talk about God’s work in our hearts – this work will continue till the very last day on earth from all of us (everyone who has at least a little garden knows that the weeds should be pulled regularly, never ending process). As we come to the Lord’s table to partake consecrated bread and wine, let us think of a great sacrifice of the Lord for our freedom, which gives us ability to be consecrated too. Partaking this blessed feast leaves us with Christ living in us (Gal. 2:20). God who listens, speaks, and acts now works through us. May the food of Christ transform and empower us for listening to the troubled heart, sharing the wisdom of the Word with a lost one, and helping the trapped to overcome the obstacles in their life. 

Overview of the Bible: Daniel

 

Daniel  

Title: Book of Daniel – personal dairy and visions of a single prophet.   

Date of writing and narrative: From 605 BC – first group of Judeans arrived to Babylon – to the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia (10:1). 533 BC (TLBS has 536 BC as the final vision), when the book was completed. Also, cp. Ch. 1:1, 21.

Structure:

A. Hebrew, ch. 1 – sons of the Kingdom

    B. Aramaic, ch. 2-7

            a. Nebuchadnezzar dreams of 4 kingdoms, ch. 2

              b. test of faith – deadly threat: three servants, ch. 3

                c. judgment and conversion of Nebuchadnezzar, ch. 4

                c’. judgement and conversion of Belshazzar, ch. 5

              b’. test of faith – deadly threat: Daniel, ch. 6

            a’. Daniel’s vision of 4 kingdoms, ch. 7    

A’. Hebrew, ch. 8-12 – establishment of the kingdom

            i. vision of 3 kingdoms in animal form, ch. 8  

              ii. prophecy of judgment of “your city” (the capital), ch. 9

            i'. vision of 3 kingdoms in human terms, ch. 10-12

Main themes:

Faithfulness and submission in the foreign land.

Kingdom development.

Main Characters:

Daniel – God has judged – renamed to Belteshazzar (cp. to Belshazzar) 

Hananiah – YHWH is gracious – Shadrach

Mishael – Who is what God is? – Meshach

Azariah – YHWH has helped – Abednego

Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius – Cyrus

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

Third day (year, period etc.) idea is important to the Book (1:1; 8:1; 10:1). A preliminary judgement and a course on the future restoration. 

Daniel is a faithful disciple of Jeremiah – he followed the LORD’S command through the teacher to settle in Babylon (29:4-7) and waited for completion of 70 exile period (cp. Jer. 29:10 and Dan. 9:1-2).

The Book of Ezekiel refers to Daniel (14:14, 20: 28:3)

Lutheran teaching:

Sermon of Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar (4:24-27) is often used as an argument between the theology of faith and the theology of works. “Faith is required… For Daniel did not mean that the king should only give alms. He includes repentance… He converts the king not only to give alms, but much more, to have faith.” [Ap. V (III): 133/254;140/261].

The discussion on theology of worship [Mass] is heavily based on a proper understanding of Daniel ch. 8, 11, 12 – Ap. XXIV (XII):35-57.

Daniel 7:14 is one of the foundational passages for an understanding of the person of Christ – FC, SD VIII:55.     

Lutheran hymnody:

931 – All You Works of the Lord – Song of Three Young Men (deuterocanonical).  

Relevancy of the Book:

The Book of Daniel is important on two levels: personal/devotional and historical. In the book we can see a single person (or a very small group of people) who can resist the outer pressure of godless powers and authorities. The book gives us page after page examples of faithful ones who were ready to risk their lives presenting the Gospel to the hostile society.

At the same time, we see the global picture of development of God’s kingdom using the power of human empires: Persia, Greece, Rome. And how they – empires – will be replaced by true worshiping kingdom of God.       

Memory verses:  

12:2-3 – Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and to everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever.