Mark's gospel account very quickly gets into the conflict that will eventually culminate in the death of Jesus. Despite, or because of, Jesus' works which aroused wonder and amazement in the multitudes, opposition also arose. Any activity so extraordinary upset the status quo. His popularity threatened the authority and leadership of the official religion. They had to try to put it down before it got out of hand. Even the friends and family of Jesus were concerned about him. How often do people try to restrict and constrain anyone who breaks with conventional ideas and practice? They like people to be religious in comfortable and conventional ways. They become alarmed or distressed if someone goes overboard and tries to live out religious commitment too fully or too radically. But a real i…