Mark 14:28

Yet, after I have risen, I will go before you into Galilee.”


when metamorphed one more time
sneaky in the way I’ll show up
in your everyday goings-on
it will be old home week

from Galilee we have come
to Galilee we shall return
in Galilee through Galilee
we’ll go beyond Galilee

olive to oil
Galilee to Galilee
illusions drop away
grow suffer die


After showing kindness to those with little to no control over their condition, the powers that be (religious and secular) have plotted suffering and death for Jesus. His addition to the usual state of affairs is a “rising”.

Added to the actions of Temple and State, we have heard that the disciples will betray Jesus in proactive and reactive ways.

This verse is word of hope in the face of all-too-usual realities in everyday life. After merciful acts, suffering, betrayal, and death—Jesus will be raised [note that “raised” is different from “rise”] and precede the disciples to Galilee to call them again. Galilee is where calls are responded to, amazing healings occur two-by-two, and feedings and storm-stillings and teachings go on. This will also lead Mark’s narrative back to its beginning of good news.

It is this circularity that indicates to Sabin1214 that a key to understanding Mark is to view it as “a Wisdom riddle or mashal.”

Aichele54 finds his narrative approach to Mark grounded in this same second visit to Galilee that is never spoken of. Thus Aichele raises the importance of how we engage Mark as Readers. Readers become part of the story.

Waetjen244 notes that what is important in Mark is not predictions of rising but the experience of it:

Hearing the good news of the resurrection is not enough. They must experience the reality of the risen Jesus for themselves, and that will not happen in Jerusalem. There will be no post-Easter appearances in the canceled architectonic center of Judaism, because a new exodus has occurred.

The beginning of good news is always beginning. There is a dynamism in Creation that does not end in stasis, but presence.

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