In today’s lesson, we explore the literary progression found in the Gospel of Mark that concerns “seeing” and “hearing” as the disciples ascend on their journey toward the Transfiguration.
The rabbis taught that the kingdom of God comes through “seeing” and “hearing.” Through the prophet Isaiah, God chastises Israel for having “eyes” but not being able to see and having “ears” but the inability to hear.
This is the same question Jesus is going to ask the disciples after the Feeding of the 4000 (Mark 8:18).
The progression in Mark shows us the opening of ears and eyes that prepares the disciples for the Transfiguration event.
At the Transfiguration event, the disciple’s eyes and ears are opened, allowing them to see into the mystical and observe Jesus' true nature.
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www.figtreeteaching.com
Blog Post: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/faith-lessons/eyes-to-see-and-ears-to-hear#/
Class handout: https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_transfiguration_week_5_see_and_hear.pdf
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mh4v8e7FDwOoPhQd7bz7Y
YouTube: https://youtu.be/I282Sx0J14E
References:
Daniel Boyarin - Logos, a Jewish Word
https://www.academia.edu/36254597/Daniel_Boyarin_Logos_a_Jewish_Word_John_s_Prologue_as_Midrash_in_Amy-Jill_Levine_and_Marc_Zvi_Brettler_eds._The_Jewish_Annotated_New_Testament_New_York_Oxford_University_Press_2011_546_549
Daniel Boyarin - The Gospel of the Memra
https://melc.berkeley.edu/Web_Boyarin/BoyarinArticles/108%20Gospel%20of%20the%20Memra%20(2001).pdf
Amy-Jill Levine - The Jewish Annotated New Testament
https://smile.amazon.com/Jewish-Annotated-New-Testament/dp/0190461853/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CROOHNZE3QIC&keywords=jewish+annotated+new+testament+2nd+edition&qid=1660412766&sprefix=jewish+ann%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1
Byron Sherwin - Kabbalah: An Introduction to Jewish Mysticism https://smile.amazon.com/Kabbalah-Introduction-Mysticism-Byron-Sherwin/dp/0742543641/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2QTVTY5QIVYUN&keywords=kabbalah+sherwin&qid=1660412524&sprefix=%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1
Eduard Shyfrom - From Infinity to Man
https://smile.amazon.com/Infinity-Man-Fundamental-Framework-Information/dp/1911195840/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2EPOULOG7HPCO&keywords=from+infinity+to+man&qid=1660412851&sprefix=from+infi%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-2
Lawrence Kushner - Honey From the Rock
https://smile.amazon.com/Honey-Special-Anniversary-Lawrence-Kushner/dp/1580230733/ref=sr_1_6?crid=GTSDI6SDYJEE&keywords=lawrence+kushner&qid=1660412610&sprefix=lawrence+kushner%2Caps%2C102&sr=8-6
John Paul Heil - The Transfiguration of Jesus - https://www.amazon.com/Transfiguration-Jesus-Narrative-Function-Dissertationes/dp/8876531440/ref=sr_1_1?crid=AZJURDJ2Q3DO&keywords=john+paul+heil+transfiguration&qid=1657986836&s=books&sprefix=john+paul+heil+transfiguration%2Cstripbooks%2C91&sr=1-1
David Stern - Jewish New Testament Commentary -
https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-New-Testament-Commentary-Companion/dp/9653590081/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3IRPTZU2LY7BK&keywords=jewish+new+testament+commentary+by+david+stern&qid=1657987058&s=books&sprefix=david+stern+new+%2Cstripbooks%2C103&sr=1-1
Great Website for Second Temple Period Writings:
www.earlyjewishwritings.com
Rabbinic Writings - archive.org (you will need to sign up for a free account)
- Midrash on Psalm 43 - https://archive.org/details/midrashonpsalms0000unse/page/442/mode/2up (Page 442 and 443)
- Genesis Rabbah - https://archive.org/details/RabbaGenesis/page/n231/mode/2up
- Exodus Rabbah - https://archive.org/details/midrashrabbah0002unse
- Leviticus Rabbah - https://archive.org/details/midrashrabbah0000unse/page/384/mode/2up
- Numbers Rabbah - https://archive.org/details/midrashrabbah0000unse_o7k3
- Deuteronomy Rabbah - https://archive.org/details/midrashrabbah0000unse_o6q1
