We have been reading the gospel of Mark for our Bible Study. (A quick commercial: if you are available at 9:30 am on Thursdays, we would love to have you there.) It is good to be together and seek a more profound understanding as we read, research, and bounce ideas off one another.
I have been reflecting a good bit on Mark's first and ninth chapters, which were the subject of our conversation a couple of weeks ago. In Mark 1:11, following Jesus' baptism, God says, "You are my son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased." In Mark 9:7, during the Transfiguration story, we hear the following from God, "This is my son, the Beloved, listen to him."
In the baptism story, it is unclear whether anyone has heard God's proclamation. The words from heaven are for Jesus himself. God addresses Jesus directly, and then, "Immediately," as the story goes, Jesus goes into the wilderness to be tempted. I wonder if this was the Wisdom from which Jesus drew his strength to survive the wilderness. Jesus heard God's Wisdom and affirmation, "You are my son. You are beloved. I am so pleased with you."
Later, using similar language, God addresses three disciples. Peter, James, and John, "THIS is my son. He is beloved. Listen to him." This proclamation comes amid miracle stories the disciples are seeing but still not understanding. They continue to wonder who Jesus is, why he keeps speaking of his death, and how he can heal. God's affirmation of who Jesus is, followed by a command to listen, seems to be what the disciples needed to hear. Soon after the transfiguration, the disciples try their hand at healing a boy but cannot do so. Jesus heals the boy instead, and when the disciples ask him how he was able to do this when they were not, Jesus explains to them that this healing was different from the others. This healing required prayer. Having heard the voice of God, they listen, they learn, and later in the book of Acts, we begin to see the fruit of their education.
These are two separate and powerful stories. When considered together, they speak of God's call to us. Like the disciples, we are to carry on the work and ministry of Jesus Christ. We read the stories that affirm who Jesus was and who Christ is. We are reminded that when Jesus was ridiculed, tempted, praised, challenged, supported, leaned upon, crucified, and resurrected, God was present, Jesus was beloved, and God was pleased with whom Jesus had grown to be. To know that this is our Messiah can strengthen our faith. To hear that God desired the disciples to listen and learn so they could represent Christ to the world, is a call to us to do the same.
As you consider how you represent the Messiah, know that you are supported, loved, and taught through Jesus' story. May your reflection upon this story give you strength for your journey. May you be reminded that you are beloved and God is certainly pleased with you.