13-16 what a truly romantic notion..

Unseen faith is like the "Unknown God". I'm taking a Medieval Mysticism class and Apophatic Theology is of interest to me, it speaks of the fact we as humans are incapable of perceiving the fullness of God, especially through our senses. Though Paul may not be directly referring to this concept, I notice a connection between faith and reliance on the unknown.

I'm not sure if this is a stretch, but she doesn't seem to want to come to the well for 'water' anymore. I wonder if Christ is also performing some kind of therapy regarding her romantic life? In addition to the well being a meet-up spot, water is often used as a symbol for sexuality in the arts.

I wonder if this is similar to the old wine/new wineskins from the synoptics. In this case it may be implying the unbelieving 'Jews' are the inferior wine?

Though a little insulting towards the Samaritan, finally a kind word for the Jews.

All three stories maintain the narrative of being in the wilderness for forty days and nights which seems to be a reference to Exodus story. It is interesting that the Jews were cast there due to their unbelief as a kind of punishment but Christ undergoes this testing after being baptized and approved of. It makes me think that whether in blessing or weakness we must be emptied and learn to rely on God alone.

This phrase reminds me of the creation story when God saw that all He had made was good. It is interesting to think of God as one who admires and experiences pleasure from Their creations.

I find the poetry of the various accounts of sleeping in Mark to be really powerful. It's crushing when Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane and is stunned that peter fell asleep on him. It kills me! He says the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Humans are so simple in many ways. Our desire for sleep is one of those markers of our frame.

It's interesting to think Mark is possibly writing this shortly after the temple destruction, during the Jewish wars. I found Ehrman's idea that Mark might include Jesus' foretelling to prove his prophetic powers to be skeptical but definitely interesting.