Peter Kirby wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 9:32 am
... I know that modern Christians
sometimes interpret Mark's "I am" here as a reference to the divine name, YHWH, claiming identity and equality with God. I think that's a little nutty, but that's how they read it.
I don't think the suggestion is nutty. Once again, I don’t have the time to adequately develop the idea now, but I want to throw this into the mix. My apologies if I repeat something without attribution that has already been stated --- I haven’t read every post here.
As already discussed, I think there is reasonable agreement that claiming to be a “Christ” --- an anointed messianic claimant --- would not have been a blasphemy worthy of death in a Jewish context. Only a political crime in a Roman context.
Claiming to be a son of God would not by itself be seen as blasphemous --- (Deuteronomy 14:1, 38:18; Philo, Confusion of Tongues, 145). But I suppose claiming to be a son of God that will sit at the right hand of power could tip the scale to a charge of capitol blasphemy (as discussed in the OP).
I think the Paulinist author of GMark may have been expressing a much more significant claim. Did Jesus actually answer in the affirmative, or was Jesus giving a different answer? Revealing his true nature.
Again the high priest was questioning Him, and says to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
And Jesus said, “I am (ἐγώ εἰμι). And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:61-62)
Was Jesus at once denying the mundane title of a “Christ” --- a common anointed king, priest, or prophet --- while also claiming a much higher status?
He was way more than any of those things. He was the Lord and creator of the entire universe. He was the Paulinist suffering savior. He was the one having existed in the form of God and having equality with God before incarnation in the form of a man. He was the one who will, in the end, join all-in-all with God.
When Jesus answered, “I am (εγώ ειμι)”, the author of GMark may have been referring to ---
I am (εγώ ειμι). I am (εγώ ειμι) he. The one wiping away your lawless deeds because of me. And your sins in no way shall I remember. (Isaiah 43:25, LXX)
In Paul’s letters, Jesus will once again be restored all-in-all with God in the future (1 Corinthians 15:28). The drawing on Isaiah 43:25 would render the following verse applicable, and could very well trigger an accusation of blasphemy in Mark ---
What is the name given to him? What shall I say to them? And God said to Moses, I am (εγώ ειμι) the one being. (Exodus 3:14, LXX)
And Jesus said, “I am (ἐγώ εἰμι). (Mark 14:62)
I am (εγώ ειμι) he. The one wiping away your lawless deeds … (Isaiah 43:25, LXX)
I am (εγώ ειμι) the one being. (Exodus 3:14, LXX)
… you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power (Mark 14:62)
The Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, until whenever I should make your enemies a footstool. (Psalm 110:1, LXX)
… then the end, when He shall hand over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He shall have annulled all dominion, and all authority and power. For it behooves Him to reign until He shall have put all the enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death. (1 Corinthians 15:24-26)
Prior to his incarnation in the form of a man, the JC figure in Paul’s letters existed in the “form of God” and had “equality with God” (Philippians 2:6). And at the end (1 Corinthians 15:24), the JC figure will once again become “all-in-all” with God ---
… also the Son Himself will be put in subjection to the One having put in subjection all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:28)
I see the author of GMark as a very clever writer with a devious sense of humor drier than the sands of Arabia --- and a Paulinist. And at least some passages are like icebergs --- with 90 percent of the message below the surface.