Mark and Psalm 2

Marcus notes that Mark’s attention to Psalm 2 is not exhausted by quoting the words from heaven at Jesus’ baptism: “the whole series of pericopes in 1:9-11, 12-13, 14-15 reflects the basic ‘plot’ of the psalm, and its influence may extend further into Mark’s story. The enemy forces, concretizations of primeval chaos, array themselves against the Lord and against his anointed, shouting in defiance, ‘What have you to do with us?’ (see Mark 1:24) and throwing against them all their hostile might (see Ps. 2:1-3). The one enthroned in heaven, however, shrugs off this display of impotent rage and majestically brings forth his earthly executive, an executive whose purpose and power are so deeply congruent with his own that he can be called his son, and that the revelation of his kingship can simultaneously represent the earthly manifestation of the kingly power of God (see Ps. 2:4-7). In the continuation of Mark’s story, and beyond its end, this figure will shatter God’s enemies and be given worldwide dominion, receiving the nations for his inheritance and setting them on the road toward trust in God (see Ps. 2:8-11). Of course, this plot will be given a typical Markan twist by the fact that the scene of messianic victory will be the cross.”