What does Mark say concerning Faith? First the ‘Healing Of The Paralytic’— when four men carrying a paralytic see their ‘impossible mission’ of getting through this crowd to Jesus. The measure, the measure of faith— removing the roof! Not even for self!
“And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.” Jesus saw their faith. The paralytic rose and ‘immediately’ took up his pallet. The response of those gathered— “we never saw anything like this!” In the tradition of Jesus’ sayings, faith is always linked with power and miracle. Key to re-defining faith here is the fact that in the synoptic use of faith it is ‘already there’! Faith is a prerequisite to healing!
Second, ‘The Stilling of The Storm‘— where the disciples woke Jesus saying, “do you not care if we perish?” In a ‘fresh awakening’, Jesus speaks first to nature saying “Peace. Be still!” Then he speaks to the Disciples saying, “Have you no faith?” A test of faith— with the fearful and doubting mood of the disciples. They believe in Jesus’ ‘power to know’ of the perils… even ‘in his sleep’; but, does He Care?
Third, ‘A Woman’s Faith’— when Jesus perceiving that power had gone forth from him; says “daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace, and be healed of your disease”. Jesus knew that an insignificant, unnamed women came, interrupting, intruding, interfering, intervening in his business with the ruler of the synagogue… with faith to access healing power!
Fourth, ‘The Healing of Bartimaeus’— when, still again, faith and healing are one. Jesus sends followers to call Bartimaeus; “and throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus.” He says to Bartimaeus, “go your way…” The massive forms of oppression and poverty; this systemic downtrodding of the backs upon which this country was built. “You can’t hit what you can’t see?” (Muhammad Ali). Throw off the ‘cloak’, and ‘spring up’. Assume the boxing position with both fists up. Faith— to See!
The 5th and final, ‘The Meaning Of The Withered Fig Tree’— when Peter questions Jesus, “…the tree which you cursed…” as it invokes a response of command— “Have faith in God!”. Prayer, believing, receiving and forgiveness are all used here by Jesus to give meaning to the withered fig tree. ‘Prophetic consciousness’ where the sovereignty of God, the absoluteness of His will, determines man’s relativity, relationship and decisions about his world. Prophetic consciousness, Jesus HAS… without identifiable correlation — only the command, “Have faith in God!”.
Mark, then, on Faith. All uses of ‘pistis/faith’ are by Jesus. He sees faith in persons— by what is said and what is done. A ‘selfless’ magnanimous act: to take the roof off! I recall times when I have been ‘so bold’ to get to something that ‘I wanted’, Selfhood, self-willed, self-righteousness, self-serving, self-centered, self-concern, self-directed. Self-indulgent, self-possessed, self-destruction. But such brazen boldness for ‘someone else’s life’? Jesus saw THIS as faith! For Mark, faith is peace and stillness in the mist of storms. Trusting that Jesus is present and ‘He cares’, even while sleeping. For Mark, faith is healing; and IT IS IN God! It’s praying, believing, receiving and forgiveness.
One final thought: why did the Church choose “Hebrews” as the definition for “Faith”; when Jesus does all this ‘being’ and ‘seeing’ and ‘saying’ and ‘DOING —FAITH in “Mark”?
The foundations are shaking as a result of nature’s furry, and in never before places. Can somebody please wake Jesus up? I’m cursing, fig trees, the loses of The Church, the war in Palestine, the (in)justice system, the ever rising price (Greed, Sin) of… EVERYTHING! This is ‘no country for old preachers!’
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