Day Seventy-One -- This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him!
Matthew 26:57 to Mark 9:13
To finish reading Matthew and to jump into Mark on the same day is like listening to two people describe the same events. The accounts they give are close enough, sometimes even word-for-word the same, and yet they are giving their testimony from different perspectives. Matthew gives a lot more detail and background in trying to explain who Jesus is and how this affects his dealings with the people and his opponents. Mark on the other hand charges right through, almost like he's rushing to get to the end. If I were one of these two evangelists I would probably be Matthew, which would not surprise my children who think my answers to their questions are too long. My response to them is always the same: how are they going to learn unless they understand the background or context of their inquiry? I have yet to convince them of my ways and they would much prefer that I was more like Mark.
That aside, I noted that we read the account of the transfiguration of Jesus at the beginning of yesterday's reading in Matthew and at the end of today's reading in Mark. True to form, Matthew provides a few more details, such as the face of Jesus 'shone like the sun' in addition to his clothing, and that when the disciples heard the voice from the cloud "they fell facedown to the ground, terrified" and that "Jesus came and touched them" telling them to "Get up" and "Don't be afraid." Despite these small differences the accounts witness to the same truth and glory about Jesus. The essential truth of our two witnesses is in agreement. Jesus is indeed the Son of God, and what he has to say has the power to change our lives.
To finish reading Matthew and to jump into Mark on the same day is like listening to two people describe the same events. The accounts they give are close enough, sometimes even word-for-word the same, and yet they are giving their testimony from different perspectives. Matthew gives a lot more detail and background in trying to explain who Jesus is and how this affects his dealings with the people and his opponents. Mark on the other hand charges right through, almost like he's rushing to get to the end. If I were one of these two evangelists I would probably be Matthew, which would not surprise my children who think my answers to their questions are too long. My response to them is always the same: how are they going to learn unless they understand the background or context of their inquiry? I have yet to convince them of my ways and they would much prefer that I was more like Mark.
That aside, I noted that we read the account of the transfiguration of Jesus at the beginning of yesterday's reading in Matthew and at the end of today's reading in Mark. True to form, Matthew provides a few more details, such as the face of Jesus 'shone like the sun' in addition to his clothing, and that when the disciples heard the voice from the cloud "they fell facedown to the ground, terrified" and that "Jesus came and touched them" telling them to "Get up" and "Don't be afraid." Despite these small differences the accounts witness to the same truth and glory about Jesus. The essential truth of our two witnesses is in agreement. Jesus is indeed the Son of God, and what he has to say has the power to change our lives.
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