Intimacy with God is Dangerous

The lectionary readings for these past couple of weeks have started to feel like a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino - without the excessive violence; we started out in linear narrative fashion, reading straight forward through the pericopes of the first chapter, but then last week, without warning, we jumped forward to the transfiguration event in chapter nine.  And now this week, were flashing back to the baptism and temptation of Jesus from the opening of Mark’s gospel.  It can be a little confusing.

But reading the story in this nonlinear way can highlight some things that might otherwise be missed, can highlight similarities and connections that might not be noticed in stories separated by several chapters.

At the baptism of Jesus, Mark tells us that, “at the moment when Jesus was coming up out of the waters, he saw heaven being torn apart and the Spirit like a dove descending to him.  A voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved One.  On you my favor rests.”[i]

We’re not able to determine from Mark’s telling of this story whether or not this event was witnessed by others that day.  It seems to have been a personal experience for Jesus, a visionary experience to confirm for Jesus his intimate relationship with God in heaven. 

But this isn’t a calm and blissful spiritual experience.  There aren’t many of those in the gospel of Mark.  No, the overwhelming emotional experience of Mark seems to be one of Fear and Wonder.  In Matthew and Luke’s account the heavens “were opened,”[ii] but in Mark’s the heavens were “torn apart”- violently and dramatically (even if it were only seen by Jesus.)   And then, immediately, Jesus was “driven” - forced - into the desert by the Spirit to confront the temptations of Satan and the threatening presence of wild beasts.

Just last week we read about Jesus’ Transfiguration[iii] – but even this “mountain-top experience” is one overwhelmed with fear.  Three of Jesus’ disciples (Peter, James, and John) saw him enveloped by a cloud, and then changed.  His clothes and face became dazzling white.  And that voice from heaven spoke again, “This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.”

Again, the voice from the cloud speaks to confirm Jesus’ relationship with God in heaven – and, this time, to confirm for his followers his authority.  And again Jesus is driven not immediately into the desert this time, but towards Jerusalem where he would be surrounded by wild beasts of another sort, where he would be delivered into the hands of men and killed.

Reading these stories together, out of order, allows us to notice something we might not have seen otherwise: Confirmation of Jesus’ intimate relation with God was in both events preliminary to danger.  Mark seems to be telling us that intimacy with God may not leave us feeling warm and fuzzy all over.  We shouldn’t expect unicorns and strawberry-scented rainbows.  We should expect temptation and threats and wild animals. 

We can also expect victory, and comfort, and resurrection, but that may be jumping ahead in the story…

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[i]  Mark 1: 10 – 11 Mark Anchor Bible Vol. 27 Translation and Commentary by C. S. Mann

[ii] Matthew 3: 16, Luke 3: 21

[iii] Mark 9: 2 - 9