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<\/a><\/p>\nBEN: Granting the limited role that disciples and others play in a biography of Jesus, nevertheless, we could at least say that sometimes some of these figures do provide a glimpse of positive discipleship for the audience to follow, so while Jesus is overwhelmingly the main paradigm in this Gospel, we should not neglect the others. Is this a fair reading on your view? I ask because, as you say, Jesus cannot be entirely followed as an example. He\u2019s the only one providing a ransom for the many, for example. And in any case, he\u2019s not an example of discipleship\u2014 he\u2019s not a disciple of anyone. A paradigm in some respect yes, but Mark is calling for limited imitation of Jesus, not identification in toto. Is this a fair reading of Mark?<\/p>\n
HELEN:<\/p>\n
Yes, that\u2019s fair. Other figures often provide glimpses of positive traits that one would associate with discipleship \u2013 faith, perseverance, self-denial. And Peter and Judas present negative examples of followers who betray and deny their master. So Jesus isn\u2019t the only paradigm, but I\u2019d say that his cross-bearing way of life is the ultimate model for believers.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BEN: Granting the limited role that disciples and others play in a biography of Jesus, nevertheless, we could at least say that sometimes some of these figures do provide a glimpse of positive discipleship for the audience to follow, so while Jesus is overwhelmingly the main paradigm in this Gospel, we should not neglect the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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