Many flocked to Jesus as his ministry began, but a growing number found him hard to understand. That’s what Mark’s Gospel indicates in our lectionary readings this week.

Scribes from Jerusalem say he has a demon, the Pharisees begin to plot with the Herodians, the followers of Herod Antipas, about putting him to death. (Wednesday) When they hear about him in Nazareth, his relatives say, “No, he doesn’t have a demon. He may be out of his mind,” They come to bring him home. (Saturday. 2nd week)

Besides leaders and people from his hometown, ordinary people begin to distance themselves too. They may be people we hear in Mark’s Gospel, (Monday) who question him “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” (Mark 2, 18-22) Jewish leaders, his own family and ordinary people of Galilee found his message, especially his message of the Cross, hard to understand.

They weren’t ready for new wine, they preferred the old. Nor were they ready for the death he would meet.

Commentators see Mark’s gospel as a Passion Narrative with a prelude. Mark’s early stories predict the Passion of Jesus who will die alone, forsaken by many who flocked to him at first. Forsaken even by his friends.

The Passion of Jesus is a mystery beyond human understanding, Mark’s gospel teaches. Mark wrote his gospel, commentators say, to help the Christians of Rome caught in an unexpected, brutal persecution by Nero in the mid 60s.. A senseless, arbitrary persecution left Rome’s Christians confused and wondering what it all meant. Many abandoned their faith or, like the three small figures in our illustration above, seem lost before the one hanging before them. They were shocked by the tragic suffering they did not see coming. Why? They couldn’t understand.

It was so before you, Mark teaches the Romans then. It was so before you, Mark teaches us today.