Pastor Joe Burnham and a Reconstructed Abundant Life
After covering the blind man’s eyes with mud, the one who God sent to continue the divine creative work sends the man to a pool that means “sent” to wash.
When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent).
John 9:6-7, NRSV
The Gospel According to Mark is famously quick paced. Yet, when it comes time for Holy Week, the author slams on the breaks. Mark takes ten chapters to get to Holy Week, and then spends five chapters covering Palm Sunday to Good Friday.
This fact alone should invite us to ask, “How does Mark understand those days?” Yet, all too often churches bunch everything form Palm Sunday to Good Friday into one Sunday service. Then they pick up the next week with Easter and the Resurrection.
At the risk of hyperbole, I am going to open with the bold statement. I recommend Binding the Strong Man for every Western Christian of European dissent who wants to take the Bible seriously. Why? Because Myers‘ commentary on the Gospel According to Mark, if read carefully, will teach you how to read the Bible.