Past articles in this series: Part 1 Part 2 I have been arguing that a major part of Mark's project included writing something to sustain Judaism in the context of Roman brutality and, at the same time, to try to avoid the charge of sedition with its almost certain...
David Lambourn returned to the topic of Re-imagining the Gospel of Mark that he had proposed in May 2023, now asking the question: ‘Reading Mark as I had suggested, what follows?’
In the second part of his analysis of Mark’s gospel, David argues that Mark conveys themes of Jewish resistance to Roman occupation through coded stories. The narrative of Jesus encountering a possessed man symbolizes the struggle against the Roman empire, reminding Jewish readers of their resilience across history. Ultimately, it advocates living a life rooted in Jewish tradition as a form of resistance.
David explores the context of Mark’s gospel, suggesting it addresses the challenges of life during the Roman occupation following the destruction of the Jerusalem temple. Mark’s narrative aims to heal societal fractures through acts of resistance, emphasizing Jewish identity and community morale, ultimately serving as a personal act of resistance to oppression.
David Lambourn presents Re-Imagining the Gospel of Mark
David Lambourn reviews Unknowing God: Toward a Post-Abusive Theology by Nicholas Peter Harvey & Linda WoodheadCascade Books, (Eugene, OR, 2022). Pbk. 150 pages. £18 ‘I maintain that thought itself absolutely depends on a three-way relationship between at least two...