Jesus came to train his disciples so they could continue his work on earth. We analyze his teaching methods and the content of his message. The love of God can only be ignited when it is understood. To understand means to weigh or consider. The mind must weigh whether the information it receives is true or not, based on the need that drives it. We take a closer look at how the process of receiving information works and why it is so crucial to know the standard by which we choose to believe new information.
Many people reject Jesus' teachings because they do not align with their prior knowledge. This is why people who are not religious and thus have less preconceived knowledge often find it easier to recognize the truth – that it is the inner being that must change, not the external. We do not need to change the church or behavior, but rather the heart. The learned preconceptions of the people made it very difficult for Jesus to teach them.
He conveyed to his disciples a conscious, unchanging standard that is not dependent on prior knowledge. This is the law – the condition of man, his functions, and the means of his functions which is love. This is the key to consciously counteracting the error in the heart. He showed them the truth about themselves. We believe we can see, but we are all born blind. Jesus uses everyday images and events to illustrate this. Through the healing of a blind man in Mark 8, he demonstrates how important it is to recognize our own blindness.
Following Jesus requires self-denial and the abandonment of a false identity. Many people seek solutions in Jesus without realizing that true freedom lies in recognizing their own need. Suffering is often necessary to lead us to self-awareness. Ultimately, everyone will be grateful for the challenges and suffering in their lives, as they help us to recognize our hearts. The seventh part of the series “The Gospel of Mark” delves deeper into this.
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