Bible notes
Job 38:1-7,(34-41); Psalm 104:1-9,24,35c; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45
Job 38:1-7,(34-41)
As we read though the Bible an interesting question arises.
Does God change or do the writers’ understandings of God change? CS Rodd suggests that when reading Job, ‘We need to put away all thoughts of the rather sentimental “fatherhood” of God that have become common in modern Christianity. God in Job is the omnipotent and omniscient creator’(1). One could say God in Job is like the drill sergeant Emil Foley, played by Louis Gossett Jr in the classic film An Officer and a Gentleman. Foley’s sole mission seems to be to get new recruit Zack Mayo (played by Richard Gere) to ‘man up’ (cf ‘Gird up your loins like a man’, Job 38:3), putting him through an endless sequence of hellish physical and psychological tests. The whirlwind (38:1) emphasises the power and transcendence of God. The verses that follow form quite a contrast to chapter one, when God is celebrating Job. Here God addresses Job very harshly. One commentator describes it as the divine cross examination. In verses four to seven, we have a picture of creation in keeping with the religio-scientific thinking of the time. Pointing to the complexity of creation, God none too subtly lets Job know who is boss.
1. CS Rodd, The Book of Job, (Epworth), p.73.
Psalm 104:1-9,24,35c
This psalm celebrates the works of God in creation and providence. It could be seen as a very appropriate response to the questions that God asks in Job 38.
Hebrews 5:1-10
The writer clearly asserts the divine sonship of Jesus, his high priestly role and his identity as the ‘source of eternal salvation’ (Hebrews 5:9). But in so doing he also explains that in all of this, Jesus ‘did not glorify himself’ (5:5). He did not strut around saying, ‘Don’t you know who I am?’ Rather, he chose to subject himself to weakness and suffering even to the point of ‘loud cries and tears’ (5:7). This is a very moving passage, one that speaks gently but powerfully of the love of God the Father and God the Son for humanity and the lengths to which they were prepared to go to restore relationship with those (all of us) who have gone astray. There are interesting references to obedience in the text (vv.8 and 9). There is no cheap grace here. The son’s obedience to the Father is costly. And it is obedience to the God who loves that is the appropriate response to the gift of salvation. This passage has the first reference to Melchizedek in Hebrews. There is a much longer piece about the ancient priest king in Hebrews 7. Melchizedek first appears in the Bible in Genesis 14:17-20 when he blesses Abram. Intriguingly, he also serves Abram bread and wine.
Mark 10:35-45
‘You do not know what you are asking’ says Jesus to James and John (Mark 10:38). Misunderstanding is a recurrent theme in Mark. Despite their closeness to Jesus, the sons of Zebedee still didn’t fully understand who he is. There are clear links here to the story of Job, which is full of misunderstanding.
‘In your glory’ (10:37) could be a reference to the messianic banquet or the Parousia (Second Coming). It may be that John and James sat at the right- and left-hand side of Jesus at the meals they shared (see John 13:23-25) and were simply asking that this practice be continued. The reference to the cup of suffering (10:38) may bring to mind Jesus’ Gethsemane prayer (Mark 14:36). To share someone’s cup was a recognised expression for sharing their fate.
In popular Greek culture the vocabulary of baptism was used to speak of being overwhelmed by disaster or danger. But Jesus understood his baptism as expressing solidarity with sinful people and signified his willingness to accept the burden of God’s judgement upon human sin. So, his baptism on the cross is part of his fulfilment of his messianic vocation.
In verses 42-45, and in contrast to Job, we have servanthood, not wealth and power, as the mark of fidelity and faithfulness.
See also: