This dissertation is to explore the teachings of Jesus by first focusing on three so called “Voyage Story,”the texts that contain specific themes among the six voyage accounts. The study uses the interpretation method of the narrative and structur...
This dissertation is to explore the teachings of Jesus by first focusing on three so called “Voyage Story,”the texts that contain specific themes among the six voyage accounts. The study uses the interpretation method of the narrative and structural perspectives which must be applied into entire Gospel of Mark. So, the study digs out the theological meaning of the three voyage texts and tries to present a sermon model by using the outcome of this dissertation. Also, this is an attempt to connect biblical studies and homiletics. By doing so, it is intended to assert that biblical studies should not remain only as biblical studies, but also become a study that serves the field of ministry, and that homiletics should not be separated from biblical studies. The true meaning of the Bible will be delivered when biblical studies and homiletics are connected.
The Gospel of Mark is a divine work composed of six lake-travel stories. It is the story of the journey of Jesus from his hometown of Nazareth in Galilee (1:9) to the temple of Jerusalem (11:1). Two important motifs in Jesus' journey is 'sailing' and ‘the road'. The voyage story appears from 4:35 when Jesus crossed to the other side of the lake to 8:21 when he arrives at Bethsaida. On the other hand, the story of the road is concentrated from Mk8:22, the end of voyages to 10:52, the entering into Jerusalem.
In the voyage section (4:35-8:21), the disciples' misunderstandings and failures form the central theme. The research results of this dissertation are as follows. Mark's literary construction of this sea journey becomes a key literary element leading the plot of Mark's Gospel. The voyage story reveals the divine identity of Jesus Christ. Also, the voyage becomes a special teaching opportunity for ignorant disciples. A seashore exorcism and healing miracles follow the voyage stories (5:1-20; 6:53-56; 8:22-26). Jesus' intentions to go to foreign lands are repeatedly thwarted by the menace of the sea and the misunderstandings of his disciples. If the voyage is Jesus' persistent effort to go to the eastern side of the sea, the sea and the disciples' ignorance function as an obstacle that blocks it.
The voyages are closely and developmentally related to each other. The first voyage (4:35-41) serves as an example for the disciples' new journey (6:45-52). Mark 5:13 foreshadows how confusing and tiring the next voyage will be (6:48). The failure of the fourth voyage leads to a promise of a new journey (8:13-31). Mark spends the middle part of the Gospels as 'the Voyage' (4:35-41; 5:1, 21; 6:45-53; 8:10, 13-21) and 'the Discourse of the Bread' (5:21-43; 6 :34-44; 7:1-22, 23-20; 8:1-9, 13-21). In the fourth voyage (6:45-52), the two literary motifs show a parasol joining each other (especially v. 52). In the last voyage, the motif of the voyage is finally fully incorporated into the discourse of bread. Later, Mark closes the Gospel by completing the symbolism of the bread and the theology of the body (14:3-9, 17-25, 36).