The suspicion of
apologetics in action is when the editors insist implicitly in describing the Jesus of
Mcn as not so different from the Jesus of the Judaizers. For example, in the following quote, apart the part in
blue (remember who
"Bar-Abbas" is really), I have pointed out in
black the passages where they describe the Jesus of
Mcn as if he was a pious adorer of the creator:
The Jesus of Mcn is not very different from that of Lk. He works essentially in a Jewish environment and preaches in the synagogues and in the Temple, but he also addresses a Gentile audience. He is seen by his countrymen as a physician, healer, thaumaturge, and prophet; he may never have explicitly given himself the title of messiah, preferring to identify himself as a "son of man" and addressing God as a father. He chose some followers who consider him as their teacher and to whom he promises powers to fight diseases and every enemy force. In general, he addresses people to listen to him and put his teachings into practice, as God himself, appearing during the transfiguration, invites them to do. It seems that Jesus plays some role in the judgment of men, and will return with power to free those who follow him. After the resurrection from the dead, there will be no more family ties.
Jesus and his followers do not follow a particular ascetic conduct and break some social conventions. They avoid riches, incompatible with the service of God. Jesus frequently clashes with the Pharisees, but also, to a lesser extent, with the doctors of the law and the Jewish authorities. The condemnation of Jesus is desired by these authorities but executed by Pilate and the Roman soldiers.
Jesus and his followers believe in one God, creator and responsible for what happens on earth; he is called father and lord of heaven; he is compassionate, justifier, savior; the approach of his kingdom is the subject of Jesus' preaching, and his plan is inscrutable except to Jesus himself and the little ones of the earth. He sends his spirit to those who call upon him, spirit who has not to be opposed. Impure demons, on the other hand, oppose themselves to God's plan, although Mcn leaves little room for them compared to what they have in the canonized gospels.
(p. CX-CXI, my translation)
