Mark was written for the Greek-speaking Christians who were living under threat of persecution by the Jews. In Mark's depiction of Jesus' ministry, he focuses on eliminating any political connotations connected with the title "Christ" and the crucifixion. Mark stresses that Jesus was not an anti-Roman rebel who intended to assume political power over an earthly Israel.
The purpose of his gospel is simply an announcement of the words and works of Jesus. It is the shortest of all the gospels, with a simple, straightforward approach which was common among work that was read by Romans of that day. In his work, Mark gives reference to the Old Testament only once, again this would have suited his readership knowing that they had little or no knowledge of the Old Testament.
John is one of three disciples- Peter, James, and John, privileged to be with Jesus on several special occasions, such as the transfiguration (9:2). However, the Gospels also present
Pentz 2
these privileged three as quick to say the wrong thing. Peter protested when Jesus told the disciples about his upcoming cross. Elsewhere, James and John show too much ambition. Here John is again guilty.
The passage 9:38-41 presents some great ironies. In the verse just before it, Jesus had just said, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." Now John is trying to stop, and not welcome, someone who is acting in Jesus' name. The only other context where this word - "try to stop" is used is 10:14 where the disciples "try to stop" little children from coming to Jesus. In response to this, Jesus declares: "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it."
Another irony is that this unnamed man is casting out demons in Jesus' name -- something that earlier in this chapter, the disciples were unable to do (9:18, 28). (Although the twelve were casting out many demons in 6:13.) The picture these present is that this guy kept on casting out demons while the disciples kept trying to stop him. It wasn't a one-time event. Jesus blamed the apostles, reminding them that this man who performed miracles in His name would not be likely to hurt His cause.
Works Cited:
Douglas, J.D. ed. The New International Bible Dictionary, Zondervan 1987
John Donahue, , Liturgical Press, 2002
