Week 8, Tyranny, Boundary, and Might: Colonial Mimicry in Mark’s Gospel, Tat-siong Benny Liew, (Sugiritharajah)

Though there are undertones of empire within the picture Jesus depicts of his own authority, such as exclusive boundaries, and absolute power, I would suggest that Jesus also reveals a counter-cultural approach to power in that God not humankind is the basis of his authority. This obedience leads Christ downward to the marginalized in society who have little access to influence and power. Thus, Jesus does not gain his authority from his associations with the powerful in society, but with His intimacy with Christ.