8.2 Faced with suffering, two questions: is God willing to intervene, and is God able to intervene? We tend to question God’s ability or power; Jews tended to question his willingness.
8.4 This secrecy is often said to be a feature of Mark’s Gospel, but it appears in the others also. Notice, Jesus exhorts the man to obey the Law.
8.6 A centurion would address Caesar (and nobody else) as “Lord”: this word in itself was astonishing.
8.10 Is this the only time we hear that Jesus was astonished? Usually he knows what is in the heart of man.
8.11 Many Gentiles will come in, many Jews be thrown out. Will we be stunned if there are vast numbers in heaven from Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, and few from Britain?
8.15 A very useful healing!
8.17 Christ died on the Cross for our sicknesses, as well as for our sins.
8.21 Was this a commonplace excuse, like “the dog ate your invoice” or “the cheque’s in the post”? This is not a story, but a real disciple, apparently sincere, and the most urgent and moving reason. Yet Jesus tells him that following Jesus is still more urgent.
8.24 The Sea of Galilee is notorious for sudden changes; but might the suddenness and fury even be demonic, stimulated by Jesus’ presence? This would mean he is rebuking evil spirits as well as wind and waves. In v28 the spirits cannot get away from him. But even this he does as a man (27), not using special privileges as the Creator; otherwise it would have been unfair to chide them (26). See also Mark 4.35-41.
I love Tom Wright’s comment: “Who does he think he is?” turns into “Who IS he?”
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