Question

Identifiy the overarching theme that links the episodes in the Gospel of Mark 2:1-3:6 together and how the main theme links the episodes together. (200 words)

Answer 1

In a reading of the different episodes of the Gospel, it is striking to note there exists a larger narrative pattern which goes beyond the bounds of the individual episodes. There are instances of consistent characteristerixpzation such as that between Peter and Nicodemus in John. An analysis of the larger underlying theme helps to interpret the individual episodes in the context of other episodes. For instance, in the Gospel of Mark, there are five episodes: about the healing of a paralysed man, the calling of Levi, a question about fasting, an incident about some of the disciples of Jesus picking a grain on Sabbath and the man with a shriveled hand. However rather than appearing as discrete and disjointed stories, these episodes are linked by an underlying theme of Jesus’s encounter with criticism of his religious beliefs. As Jesus faces sharp criticism on religious grounds, some of these episodes are found to be linked by the idea of spiritual restoration through forgiveness and the working of a miracle performed by Jesus such as that found in the episode of Levi and the healing of the paralysed man .