Jezus wychowuje swoich uczniów w Mk 1,35-39

Abstract

The article focuses on the issue of Jesus as the master educator of his disciples in Mark 1:35-39. The study provided is based on the principles of narrative and contextual analysis. The article consists of three parts: (1) Analysis of Mark 1:35-39; (2) Mk 1:35-39 in the context of 1:14-20; (3) Jesus master educator in 1:35-39 in the context of the Gospel of Mark. The pericope shows a certain tension between what Jesus must accomplish in terms of his mission given by the Father and what his disciples expect from him. The attitude of Simon and his companions (Andrew, Jacob and John) is expressed in Peter’s actions (“pursued him [Jesus]”) and in the apostles’ common words: “Everyone is looking for you” (1:37). He shows that they have not yet reached the ideal personality as proposed by Jesus, which should be expressed in the attitude of repentance and faith (cf. 1:15). Their attempt to limit Jesus’ mission to Capernaum shows also that they are not yet ready to meet the goal of their vocation i.e. become fishers of men. In such context, through his command “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for” (1:38), Jesus corrects their attitude and invites them to strengthen their bond with him in the perspective of a universal mission. In this way Jesus reveals himself as an educator, who encourages his disciples by his own example and his own words (encouragement, commands, reproaches, prohibitions and questions) to absolute clinging to him.