Yesterday, as I had opportunity to ponder afresh Mark 8:22 – 10:50, I noted that Mark consistently depicted Jesus (and His disciples) as moving from one site or locale to another, but inexorably toward Jerusalem. From northern Decapolis to Caesarea Philippi; from Mt. Tabor to Capernaum; from Galilee to regions south, Mark regularly used the word, ἔρχομαι, “to go, “ to come,” or even “to travel.”[1] Admittedly, this word is not particularly colorful and therefore had great utility: Mark employed the word 87 times in his Gospel, and in Mark 8-10, approximately every 8 verses.
Not to under-whelm you with statistics, but because of the frequency of ἔρχομαι, and because I was focused upon Mark 8-10 (so that I might lead pastors and church leaders in two Romanian settings: Giurgiu, on the Danube south of Bucharest, and Cluj Napoca, near the heart of Transylvania), “travel” was near the forefront of my thinking.
A week today, March 14, I will fly from Indianapolis to Dulles, from Dulles to Munich, and from Munich to Bucharest. In Bucharest I will join others from Zionsville Presbyterian Church, some of whom will then travel to Sinaia in the Carpathians, in order to lead the first MOPS conference (Mothers of Preschoolers) to be held in Romania. While they travel north, others of us will travel (ἔρχομαι) to Giurgiu.
While in Giurgui, at a mini-retreat for pastors, I will encourage a thoughtful consideration of Jesus’ leadership, as based upon Mark 8-10. Within these chapters, three times He foretold His death, and upon each occasion the disciples reacted. Their reactions are telling, particularly if we desire to emulate Jesus’ leadership.
While in Giurgui I have also been invited to relate to and teach the Bethel Church’s youth, and preach at the church’s morning worship, and later at an evening outreach event.
On March 19, I will travel (ἔρχομαι) to Sinaia, where, following the MOPS conference, I will encourage approximately 50 pastors in 2Timothy. Together we will study, think, discuss, pray, sing, worship, and encourage one another vis-à-vis the themes of 2Timothy: suffering, perseverance, and triumph, all with a view to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
At the conclusion of the pastors’ conference, Thursday, March 22, I will travel to Cluj Napoca, where I will also have the opportunity to relate to and teach pastors, preach on Sunday morning, and then teach within a school settings. I return home on March 29, Maundy Thursday.
“Travel” (ἔρχομαι): so characteristic of our lives. More of this later.
Hopefully,
Stan
[1] Cf. The Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000), p. 391-392.