Reflecting on Philippians - Philippians 1:3-5

Paul greatly values his link with the Philippian Christians. It is strong and reflected in his prayers with an emphasis on the commitment that represents. As Ben Witherington III (Paul’s Letter to the Philippians) points out: “He could hardly be more emphatic about how often he prays for his audience (always), how many of them he prays for (all of them), and in how many of his petitions they are mentioned (all).”

They mean a lot to Paul. They are a source of gratitude. I wonder who it is who mean a lot to us. I wonder for whom we would want to give thanks to God because of the good things we experience from how they relate to us. They are a source of joy to Paul. Who can we think of who gives us joy, and do we make as much of that as we could?

Paul refers to his praying for the Philippians, but the clear impression is of a mutuality. They ‘share’ in the gospel. The idea of sharing is significant. It represents a commonality of aim, motive and engagement. The gospel is something to which they are all committed. I wonder if we can see our unity in the gospel as overriding those things that divide us from other Christians. This is an expression of partnership, and it seems likely that this partnership is both theological and practical. They share a common understanding of God and the importance of the gospel, but it also seems likely that there is a practical, presumably financial, element to the partnership support that the Philippians offer to Paul. There is little point in saying the right things if our actions fail to match up to our words. People are far more likely to judge us on what we do. I wonder if there are times when what we say is undermined by what we do?

Reflecting on Philippians - Philippians 1:1-2

Paul’s letter to the Christians at Philippi begins with a greeting. I wonder whether we greet folk how and when we should or whether, sometimes, we choose to ignore that positive approach.

Paul begins by identifying himself, as would normally happen in a letter of the times. He aligns himself with Timothy and they are named as ‘servants’ of Jesus. I wonder by what designation we choose to introduce ourselves in various contexts. It might, for example, be by means of our work, through a family relationship, or linking ourselves to a particular activity. The question ‘who am I?’ is a big one, and deserves a more careful answer than we sometimes offer.

 

Paul goes on to name those to whom he is writing. They are the ‘saints’ of Philippi. We do well to remember that all God’s people are saints. It’s a description that we sometimes reserve for those whom we want to ringfence as special. But we are all special. We are all God’s people, God’s saints. He also makes reference to ‘bishops and deacons’ – or that could be translated as ‘overseers and helpers’. Everyone has a part to play in the church, but the role of leadership is an important one. Clearly, the Philippian church was sufficiently developed to have people in positions of leadership by the time Paul wrote. I wonder, for each of us, just what part God is calling us to play in the church right now.

 

Paul expresses his greeting in terms of a wish for ‘grace’ and ‘peace’ to be the experience of those to whom he is writing. Those are gifts from God. As Howard Marshall (The Epistle to the Philippians) puts it: “Grace is the loving favour of God, especially shown towards sinful people, and peace is the positive relationship between (God) and pardoned sinners in which they richly enjoy (God’s) blessings.”

 

So, Paul writes to the whole church, but recognising the importance of its leadership but, more especially, of the reliance of the people on God and God’s gifts. I wonder how aware we are, ordinarily, of the blessings, or gifts, we receive from God.

Reflecting on Mark's Gospel - Mark 16:19-20

The alternative, longer, ending to Mark mentions the Ascension of Jesus and then states that the disciples went out and proclaimed the good news. Their words were accompanied by confirmatory signs sent by God. I wonder in what ways we go out and proclaim the good news. I wonder what we have to say about God. I wonder to what, if anything, we point as indicative of God at work.

The critical point is that the story goes on. I wonder how we see it continuing in our day. I wonder what we do to tell it. This is the sheer wonder of gospel, that God participates with us. Whoever wrote this was not trying to eliminate the questions that we might see as being left at the end of verse 8, but is expressing confidence in the continuing presence of Jesus and of the story moving forward as his followers do his work and tell his good news, As Bonnie Bowman Thurston (Preaching Mark) says – “The reality of the risen Jesus and his continued involvement with his disciples provides both continuity with the resurrection account in v. 1-8 and a word of hope for today’s disciples, The Gospel continues to spread and the Lord continues to work with us (v. 20), and that is very good news indeed.”

Reflecting on Mark's Gospel - Mark 16:14-18

The story is brought towards its next stage as the alternative, longer, ending continues. Jesus now appears to the whole disciple group, perhaps significantly as they are “at table”. It is certainly true that sharing meals is an important element in Jesus’ earthly life and ministry. Possibly the surprising thing is that there continues to be a substantial degree of doubt to the extent that Jesus challenges them on the matter. I wonder if our faith is as strong as it ought to be.

However, despite their lack of belief, they are commissioned to go and be the church, spreading the good news and doing little bits of kingdom work. They will be able to do all sorts of incredible things and that will demonstrate that God is with them. As Nelson Rivera (in Feasting on the Gospels – Mark) points out – “Unbelief is responded to here with a list of signs and wonders that would follow the disciples as they engage the proclamation in continuity with the mission of Jesus.” They may not really need to do some of what is mentioned here. I am not sure why they would pick up snakes or drink poison just to prove they could. I rather think that Mark, or, more probably, whoever wrote this additional ending to Mark’s Gospel, is adopting the technique sometimes used by Jesus of over-stating things in order to make a point with greater force, and ensure that the comment, and the concept, gets noted. Essentially, as Rivera adds, it is that – “a ministry of healing will be part of their mission.” I wonder how we bring healing to those whom we encounter. I wonder what we are doing, and what more we might do, to proclaim the good news of the risen Christ.

Reflecting on Mark's Gospel - Mark 16:9-13

 

The risen Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene. This encounter is reported at much greater length in John’s gospel – 20:11-18. Mary is one of those who has greatly benefited from Jesus’ ministry. No wonder she wants to pay her last respects and is there at the tomb. Her loyalty is repaid by her meeting Jesus in these amazing circumstances. She goes to share the news, but the rest of them will not believe her. I wonder if there are times when we are unwilling to believe reports of the great things that God has done. 

This is followed by a reference to two disciples wearily walking home, presumably a brief reporting of Luke’s much longer account of the two disciples who met Jesus while they were walking to Emmaus – Luke 24:13-35.

The important thing here, despite the elements of disbelief, is the sharing of news. Mary and the two travellers had experiences that they were surely desperate to share. How frustrating that they were not believed. Perhaps the message of these added stories is something about the importance of building the community of faith. As Mary Luti (in Feasting on the Gospels – Mark) points out – “believing is not a private accomplishment, but a shared project of trust and mutual traditioning in the fellowship of believers of all times and places who, by the power of the Spirit, edify one another in strength and supply one another in lack.” I wonder how we contribute to the community of faith. I wonder about the impact of our encounters with the risen Christ.

Reflecting on Mark's Gospel - Mark 16:8b

Mark 16:8b

Mark has two possible endings. Almost certainly, what is now commonly called the shorter ending, and which I have here termed verse 8b, is the original. It leaves things up in the air, and maybe rightly so. However, it would seem that the relatively early church felt that a bit more needed to be said, and so verses 9 to 20 were assembled and added, giving a little more detail to the Easter event.

However, perhaps it should have been enough to leave things with the message just beginning to get out.

The women were told to tell the disciples, with Peter given a special mention, what they had experienced. They do so and, through this embryonic Christian community, Jesus sends out the wonderful message of salvation. I wonder whether Jesus is able to work through us as readily as ought to be the case. I wonder how we would have responded on the first Easter Day.

So, as Leith Fisher (Will you follow me?) points out – “the gospel ends with this final clash between the announcement of the Jesus who goes before into Galilee, which fills us with hope, and the portrayal of the women’s consternation and fear. To the end there is an unresolved ambiguity. …. Mark typically leaves us with a question, a question which will send us back to the gospel to read more carefully between the lines. More significantly, he leaves us with a question requiring an answer in our lives now.”

It is certainly an unfinished story. 

Reflecting on Mark's Gospel - Mark 16:1-8

Once again the women are centre stage, and deservedly so. They have bothered to go to the tomb, taking spices so that they might anoint the body. They have ignored the fact that they might be seen and so linked to this trouble-maker. They have ignored that they might fall because of a massive stone across the tomb’s entrance. Three are named, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. The Sabbath is now over and so they are free to go about this business.

In a sense there is nothing that they can do, but they are desperate to complete these last offices of love. Thus, it is very early on Sunday morning that they set out. The conversation as they walk down the road is about the stone. They realised that their journey might be futile, but still they went, not knowing how they would deal with the stone issue. I wonder if we are ever willing to disregard seemingly impossible barriers because there is something we simply must do.

On arrival they were astounded to discover that the stone had already been moved. This was not what they had expected, and they certainly did not work out its implications. However, rather than a body to anoint, they discover a young man dressed in white who has amazing news. They do not need to be frightened, but they are not going to find Jesus there. Jesus is risen! They are instructed to go and tell the disciples, especially Peter, that they will meet Jesus back in Galilee. It is not surprising that the women left the tomb with a mixture of terror and amazement. This was too much to understand. What was going on? They kept it to themselves because they were scared.

We are inevitably looking round the corner and recognising the immensity of the moment. As José Cárdenas Pallares (A Poor Man Called Jesus: Reflections on the Gospel of Mark) comments – “To posit the factual reality of Jesus’ Resurrection is not to take refuge in daydreams. It is simply to wonder about a force that will generate an irreversible and unlimited liberation process.”

I wonder whether we would have got it. I wonder whether the Easter message excites us as much as it should.