Jesus in a World of Colliding Empires, Volume One

At the time of Christ, world politics was an ebb and flow of colliding empires and forces. The world knew only dynastic succession and rule by force. Israel was swept up in this world. Her expectations of deliverance, while diverse, had in common the anticipation of violent liberation by an alliance of God, the expected one (Theo), and Israel's forces. Her vision included the subjugation of the world to Yahweh. Any messianic claimant would be expected to fulfill this hope. Mark's story of Jesus must be read against such expectations of military power. Mark knows that Jesus' plan of salvation differed radically from this. Rather than liberation through revolution, it involved deliverance through humble, loving service, and cross-bearing. However, the disciples follow Jesus but do not understand Jesus' purpose. They constantly expect war. So, the Gospel is then read from Mark's full understanding and the disciples' flawed perspective. In volume two of Jesus in a World of Colliding Empires, Keown continues to unpack Mark's Gospel (8:30-16:8), in which Jesus teaches the disciples what it means to be a Servant Messiah rather than a military conqueror. The then draws a range of conclusions and applications from Mark for life today.
""Mark Keown has provided one of the most thorough and tantalizing explorations of the theme of 'empire' in relation to the Gospel of Mark. Keown provides a massive survey of empires and uses them as the backdrop for the counter-empire message of Jesus who ushers in the reign of God. A significant volume for anyone interested in Jesus's kingship and the reign of God according to Mark.""
--Michael F. Bird, Lecturer, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia
""Power is a tricky thing and so is how God dealt with it in Jesus. Taking a full and careful look at the backdrop for Mark's gospel, Keown masterfully takes us on a journey to consider how we normally deal with power versus how God dealt with it. There is much to learn here from both scripture and Keown's skillful telling of its story.""
-- Darrell L. Bock, Senior Research Professor, Dallas Theological Seminary
""In this highly engaging book, Mark Keown shows how the story of the world and the story of Israel have both been characterized by conflict and by contested power. . . . Keown expertly contrasts the way of empire and the way of the cross, human power verses the weakness of the crucified one, and in doing so shines much light on Mark's Gospel. Highly recommended!""
--Professor Paul Trebilco, Department of Theology and Religion, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
""Jesus in a World of Colliding Empires takes the reader on a journey through the world of the Graeco-Roman Empire and Mark's Gospel. It is readable in style, accessible in language, while full of historical and cultural detail. This first of a two-part series by Mark Keown will engage pastors, laypeople, and students alike.""
--Sarah Harris, Lecturer, Carey Baptist College, Auckland, New Zealand
Mark J. Keown is Senior Lecturer of Theology (NT) at Laidlaw College in Auckland, New Zealand, and a Presbyterian Minister. He is author of Congregational Evangelism in Philippians (2008), What's God Up To on Planet Earth (Wipf and Stock, 2011), the EEC Commentary on Philippians (2017), and a three-volume New Testament Introduction (2017-18).