Journal: Southeastern Theological Review
Volume: STR 15:2 (Fall 2024)
Article: Eyes To See And Ears To Hear: Discipleship And The Senses In Mark’s Gospel
Author: Wendel Sun

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Eyes To See And Ears To Hear: Discipleship And The Senses In Mark’s Gospel

Wendel Sun

Southeast Asia

Abstract: Mark uses many narrative techniques and word pictures to illuminate the meaning of true discipleship. The senses of seeing, hearing, and touch are particularly striking elements of Mark’s story throughout the narrative as people see and hear Jesus with varying responses. Indeed, Mark’s characterizations often hinge on how people see and hear. This essay will argue that a central piece of discipleship in Mark is listening to and obeying the words of Jesus with the effect that the senses, especially the aural and the visual, produce embodied portraits of discipleship. Accordingly, Mark uses the tangible reality of the senses to capture the imagination of readers and invite them on the journey with Jesus.

Key Words: discipleship, faith, hearing, senses, sight, touch, wonder

“Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear?” Drawing on Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Jesus asks these penetrating questions to his disciples when they failed to understand his words.1 Clearly, Jesus is not referring to the functionality of the disciples’ eyes and ears; rather, Jesus moves metaphorically from the physical act of sensation (seeing and hearing) to the spiritual act of understanding. Mark uses many narrative techniques and word pictures to illuminate the meaning of true discipleship.2 The senses of seeing, hearing, and touch are particularly striking elements of Mark’s story throughout the narrative as people see and hear Jesus with varying responses. Indeed, Mark’s characterizations often hinge on how people see and hear. The two major teaching discourses are marked by calls to “listen” (Mark 4) and “watch” (Mark 13).3 This essay will argue

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that a central piece of discipleship in Mark is listening to and obeying the words of Jesus with the effect that the senses, especially the aural and the visual, produce embodied portraits of discipleship. Accordingly, Mark uses the tangible reality of the senses to capture the imagination of readers and invite them on the journey with Jesus.

Recent studies have shown that the senses are important teaching tools within biblical narratives.4 While the human senses are common to life, and therefore, common to narrative in general, this essay will argue that they pla...