Challenged at the boundaries: A conservative jesus in mark's tradition

Loader, W. (1997) Challenged at the boundaries: A conservative jesus in mark's tradition. Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 19 (63). pp. 45-61.

Abstract

The tradition preserved in Mk 7.24-31 reflects an understanding of Jesus which portrays him as beginning from a conservative stance in relation to issues of Law relating to boundaries. Other traditions preserved in Mark also appear to reflect a similar conservatism. Many acknowledge that Mk 1.39-45 reflects Torah faithful ness in the way it portrays Jesus' instruction that the leper present himself to the priests. The anger of Jesus in this pericope has baffled exegetes. The paper examines the possibility that Mark's tradition was assuming a conservative response on the part of Jesus to the leper's approach. Boundary issues are also present in Mk 5.1-20 and 21-43. The passages considered appear to preserve traces of conservativism which may reflect Jesus' background, although in each case he moves beyond its norms.