Search The Scriptures —Study 19 — Mark 9:30-50

Study 19 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 9:30-50

With this study we will stop with the book of Mark, to be continued at a later time, then delve into the book of Deuteronomy.

1.      Verses 33-37. How does Jesus explain the way to become spiritually great?  What especially ought we to learn from the example of a little child? Cf. Mt. 18:4.

2.     Verses 38-41.  What three reasons does Jesus give here why the disciples should not have acted as they did? Why did they fail to gain similar understanding about His teaching concerning what was going to happen to Him (verses 30-32)?

3.     Verses 43-48.  What spiritual truth is Jesus seeking to convey here? In what sense are we to cut off a foot, or pluck out an eye? Why may it be necessary to apply such drastic measures?

Notes

1.      Verses 44, 46, 48. ‘Gehenna’ (Greek) is a conference to the Valley of Himmon outside Jerusalem where the refuse of the city was cast and burnt.  It had become a synonym for ‘hell’ i.e., the place of final ruin and destruction.

2.     Verse 49. ‘Salted with fire’: subjected to a fiery process of discipline to purge out corruption.  Cf. 1 Pet. 4:17; Heb. 12:11.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 18 — Mark 9:1-29

Study 18 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 9:1-29

1. Verses 1-8. What should be the significance for the three disciples of the appearance of Moses and Elijah and also of the voice out of the cloud? Cf. Jn. 1:45; Lk. 24:27. How would this new experience be likely to help and encourage them?
2. Verses 11-13.  What question did the scene on the mountain raise in the minds of the disciples, and how did Jesus reply? Consider how closely john the Baptist resembled Elijah.
3. Why was Jesus so disappointed at what He found on His return to the rest of the disciples? What does this incident teach us about the chief causes of failure in our Christian witness and service (see verses 23 and 29)?

Note.  Verse 24. ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ This implies, ‘help me just as I am, a doubter who wants to believe.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 17 — Mark 8:27-38

Study 17 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 8:27-38

1. Verses 27-29. What did the disciples need to understand first of all, before Jesus could begin to explain to them about His death? Why was this so important, and why were most people so slow to understand it? Cf. Lk. 10:21, 22.
2. Why was Peter unable to accept Christ’s teaching about His death? What is the meaning of Christ’s rebuke? In this matter of a right attitude to Christ’s death, on whose side are you?
3. Verses 34-38.  What two alternative courses are presented to us in these verses?  Why is it so important to make the right choice? What does this involve and what does Jesus say will be the final result of a wrong choice?

Notes

1. Verse 33. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’  Jesus was faced with a similar temptation in the wilderness to avoid the cross. Cf. Mt. 4:8-10.
2. Verse 34.  For the meaning of the word ‘deny’, see Lk. 12:9; 22:34. Here it means to disown self, to refuse to recognize the claims of self as against those of Christ.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 16 — Mark 8:1-26

Study 16 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 8: 1-26

1. What characteristic features in the Lord Jesus stand out in the miracle of 8:1-9? Cf. Mt. 6:33. Of what was His provision a sign?
2. Why did Christ warn the disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod (verse 15)? Why did He question them about the miracles that had recently taken place?  How do thought and reflection of this kind help us to grow spiritually?
3. Verses 22-26.  What may we learn from this incident about the way and the cost of leading someone in need to experience the saving power of Christ?

Note.  Verse 15.  The word ‘leaven’ used here symbolically refers to the unseen pervasive influence of sin.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 15 — Mark 7: 24-37

Study 15 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 7: 24-37

1. Why did Jesus at first seem to refuse the woman’s request (cf. Mt. 15:24), and why did He use such harsh words? What can we learn from her response, and from the Lord’s answer to her further plea?
2. Assuming that the deaf and dumb man knew little or nothing about Jesus due to his limitation, what would the strange actions of Jesus mean to him? How would they help him to respond in faith?
3. Is there anything we can learn here about personal witness from the example of those who brought their deaf and dumb friend to Jesus?

Note.  Verse 27.  The ‘dogs’ is an expression of contempt and disgust. In many parts of the East the dog is still basically a scavenger and by its very nature unclean and a potential carrier of disease.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 14 — Mark 7:1-23

Study 14 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 7:1-23

1. No-one would dispute the earnestness of the Pharisees in observing genuine historical traditions, aimed at the honouring of God.  Why then should Christ use such strong language in condemning then (verse 6), and how does He show up their inconsistency?
2. Notice in verses 21-23 that Christ makes no distinction between sins of thought and sins of deed; they all alike defile a man.  Cf. Mt. 5:28. Are we seeking deliverance from the uncleanness of an evil heart? Or, like the Pharisees, are we content with a fair appearance outwardly?
3. Verses 17, 18a.  Why do you think the discipleship were so slow to understand some of Christ’s simplest teaching? Are we perhaps also at fault here? If so, what ought we to do about it? Cf. Jn. 14:26.

Notes

1. Verse 3. ‘The tradition of the elders’: i.e., rules and regulations drawn up by past generations of scribes to guide people how to act.  The Pharisees were those who made it their aim to walk strictly according to this ‘tradition’. They regarded themselves, and were regarded by others, as ‘the righteous’.
2. Verse 6. ‘The Lord here both quotes Scripture and adds to it, thereby interpreting it’ and establishing His own authority.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 13 — Mark 6:30-56

Study 13 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 6:30-56

1. What lesson did the disciples need to learn before Christ could use them in feeding the crowd? Are there similar lessons we need to learn before we can be of use to Him?
2. Verses 45-53. It seems from the situation described here that the disciples got into difficulty as a result of obedience to Christ’s command.  What light does this throw upon the life of discipleship with its trials and deliverances? Why does it say in verse 48 ‘He meant to pass by them’? Cf. Lk. 24:28, 29.

Note.  Verse 48. ‘The fourth watch’: i.e., the last watch, beginning about 3: a.m.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 12 — Mark 6:6b-30

Study 12 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 6:6b-30

1. What can we learn (a) from our Lord’s method of preparing His disciples for the work which He intended them later more fully to do, and (b) from such details as ‘two by two’, to take nothing for their journey’ (cf. Mt. 10:10) ‘enter a house’ and ‘stay there’ ‘if… they refuse to hear you’, ‘they…preached that men should repent’?
2. How would you sum up Herod’s character? What were the cause of this failure?

Note. 6:7, 30.  Another new beginning—the first mission of the Twelve; and so, when they return to report, they are temporarily called ‘apostles’ or ‘missioners’.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 11 — Mark 5:21 – 6:6a

Study 11 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 5:21 – 6:6a

1. These three incidents all emphasize the same necessity for any who would enjoy the experience of Christ’s saving power.  What is it? Why is it sometimes lacking? What must it resist?
2. Why were the disciples puzzled by the question of Jesus (5:30, 31)? Why did Jesus wait for a trembling woman to speak in public before a crowd? What had she to give which no-one else there possessed? Do you possess it, and are you giving it—particularly before people who think that contact with Christ makes no difference?

Note. 5:30, 31. ‘Who?’: this word is in the singular, i.e., ‘What one person?’

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Search The Scriptures —Study 9 — Mark 4:21-34

Study 9 From The Book of Mark is: Mark 4:21-34

1. 4: 35-41. What were the disciples surprised at in Jesus, and what was He surprised at in them? What was He both testing and teaching by leading them into such an experience? Why did this miracle mean more to them than anything which they had yet seen Jesus do?
2. 5:1-20. Contrast men’s way of treating the demoniac with what Jesus did for him.  In which way is the power of evil active in my life being dealt with?
3. Why did the people ‘beg Jesus to depart’ (5:17) and why did Jesus leave the healed demoniac behind? What may be the best form of witness in a home or neighbourhood that seems not to want Christ?

Notes

1. 4:40. It is significant that Jesus did not rebuke men used to sailing on the Sea of Galilee for their failure to bring Him safely through the storm.
2. 5:1-20.  This happened in Decapolis, on the south-east side of the lake, in Gentile territory.  The use of the title ‘Most High God’ (verse 7) and the local keeping of swine (verse 11) confirm this.

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