Portraits of the spiritual Seeing in Mark's Gospel. Origen ... - Redalyc

Jesus and the Demons:...
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the action of descending is dove-like 26 . The notion of a «dove» can
have multiple interpretations; it has been considered the symbol of
all kinds of virtues, particularly by cause of its gentleness, innocence,
and goodness that inspired this position 27 . But according to the Old
Testament tradition, the rabbinic interpretation gives to the reader a
conception that is closer to the biblical mindset manifested in Mark.
Rashi commenting on Gen 1:2 affirms: «The Spirit of God was moving:
the Throne of Glory was standing in the air and moving on the face of
the waters by the Spirit of the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be he,
and by his Word like a dove that broods on the nest» 28 . In the Midrash
Rabbah, Rabbi Simeon ben Zoma expresses regarding the same text of
Genesis the following idea: «For it is not written here, and the Spirit of
God blew, but hovered, like a bird flying and flapping with its wings» 29 .
The connection is strong with the Gospel since the Spirit of God is
portrayed as a bird or dove, and it is framed in a context of creation
hovering upon the waters. These elements illuminate the notion of Mark
indicating in the Baptism a new creation in Christ where the Trinitarian
perception is explicit and exclusive of Jesus. The celestial voice in Mark
1:11 re-affirms the relationship of love between Father and Son in the
new state that assumes the human condition.
The passages of the calling of the first disciples demonstrate the
special seeing of Jesus, which manifests the manner how God sees. In
the context of vocation, Jesus’ seeing is the first step in his method of
choosing the prospective disciples. Mark indicates Jesus’ seeing with the
aorist eiden: «he saw» in three significant passages 30 :
– Mark 1:16: «And as He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw
(eiden) Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the
sea; for they were fishermen».
26
Cf. R. T. France, «The Gospel of Mark. A commentary on the Greek Text», in
New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI /Cambridge,
UK 2002) 78.
27
Cf. W. Hendriksen, «The Gospel of Mark» (Grand Rapids 1975) 43-44.
28
I. Abrahams, «Studies in Pharisaism and the Gospels» (New York 1967) 49.
29
H. Freedman - M. Simon, eds., «Midrash Rabbah, Genesis» (London 1961) 18.
30
The passages are quotations from the New American Standard Bible (1977).