Lesson # 25 | MARK 9:38-50 | THE KEY TO GREATNESS: ACCEPTING

I.   Greetings:

 

II.  Introduction:  Last week we spoke of what a made an individual great in the eyes of God.  It is not position or self-promotion but serving the least:  either servants or children.  What follows is four other ways to greatness and all of them are put in the context of "A Personal Conversation Between Jesus and His Key Men".

 

III.  Other Ways to Greatness:  Accepting.  Mark 9:38-50.

            Note:  We spoke of becoming great through receiving children.  Now we will see how accepting can make us great.  We are to accept others, responsibility, and suffering, we therefore accept loss of Control.

   A. The Second Way:  Accepting other Groups:  Mark 9:38-40.

            Note:  After Jesus announces His death in chapter 8, Peter was seen to be spiritually imperceptive.  He did not understand the program Jesus was teaching.  Now it is the apostle John's turn.  Sometimes Christians take turns in misunderstanding the will of God.  In chapter 10 it will be John and James'.  Remember, these are the three disciples closest to Jesus.  Take heart with your own behavior.  Even the apostles of our Lord had a hard time being like Jesus.  Even the apostles messed up for a while before they understand the program.  Death to self, death to our self-centeredness is a hard concept to see or to want to do.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:38-40.

            Q  What did John attempt to do? 

               An = A person was helping someone get free of demon-possession through the power of Jesus' Name.  They were doing exorcisms, and John stopped them

            Q  Why? 

               An = they were not part of their group.  John seems to have a very controlling view of the ministry of Jesus.  If John was a Baptist and they were Presbyterians (or use denominations that fit your group) then John would see those outside his group as all illegitimate.

            Q How does Jesus respond?  Is He happy?

               An = Jesus is not happy with our interference with the work of other sects.  "Do not hinder others doing good" is Jesus' basic answer and His reasons for saying so are quite interesting. 

            1)  In verse 39, Jesus, not the group or its beliefs or organization, is the issue.  Those others were doing good in Jesus' Name.  The power came from His Name, not the disciples' name.  He was the key issue.  Jesus says they will not soon speak evil of Him.  It does not matter what others think of us, our church, or denomination, etc.  What matters is the exaltation of Jesus Christ.  He saves the world from its sins, not us.  It is not us, who control the machinery and operation of the church which save souls.             

            2)  In verse 40, Jesus is saying:  "Do not look for enemies." 

            Note:  One key element of all the teaching of 9:33-50 is that of aggressive behavior.  Death to the worst part of us has to be done aggressively.  Thus we are not passive when we accept other groups we are aggressively deciding not to stop them in their good acts.

   B. The Third Way:  The Acceptance Of Mercy or Death to Ego.  Mark 9:41

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:41.

            Q  Is it hard to receive gifts sometimes?  How come?

            Note:  Jesus reminds us that others will be blessed for merely offering us a cup of cold water (A metaphor of performing an act of kindness).  We need to be humble enough to be able to receive, because others will be blessed as they attempt to bless us, for we belong to the Lord.

   C.  The Fourth Way:  The Acceptance of Responsibility.  Mark 9:42-48.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:42-48.

            Note:  The term "little ones" has been understood by nearly all scholars to mean either little children or young believers.  We are responsible before Almighty God to take good care of them.  If we hurt them in any manner we will be judged in Hell.  These are very frightening verses.

            Q  Do a lot of you want to eliminate the doctrine of Hell?

               An =  I do not blame you.  The concept of Hell terrifies me, yet Jesus says there is one.   If you do not like the concept of Hell, then take it up with Jesus.  He speaks over 8 times more about Hell than any other person in the New Testament. 

            Part of what motivates me to obey Jesus Christ, to be willing to die to self, is so that I can help others to Heaven thus helping keep them out of Hell.

            Note: Jesus says even the apostles can wind-up there if they do a certain type of action.

            Q  How many types of actions are mentioned that could bring condemnation? 

               An = If our hand, foot or eye causes you to sin.  Our sins can cause others, especially young children or young believers to sin.  Hypocrisy always does this.  Do you know how many people do not go to church because of the hypocrisy of those who do? 

            Q  Why does Jesus give three examples of how to avoid hurting "little ones"?  What do each of them represent?  (i.e.  the hand, the foot and the eye?)

               An = (See Lane, p. 348) The Old Testament forbade self mutilation.  Jesus does want all serious Christians to be possessed of one foot, one eye and one hand.  That is not what He is saying.  What He is saying, in the strongest terms possible, is even those things, good things which are valuable to us are not worth losing our souls.  We will lose our souls in Hell if we hurt the little ones.

            Q  Can you give an example of holding on to things that are not bad in themselves but keep us in a position where we hurt little ones?

            Note:  Perhaps the hand means:  "what we do", the foot means"  "where we go", and the eye means:  "what we see or desire".  Any of these, if they hurt a little one are to be disciplined, so as not to hurt another.

            Q  Is He addressing this threat of Hell to prostitutes and sinners or to the apostles of the Lord?

            Q  Is Jesus talking to atheists here or to the clergy?

               An =  His scariest messages often are to leaders, even Christian leaders.

            Note:  Jesus is saying discipline yourself for the sake of love.  We cut things out of lives not to be holy or more sacrificial than others.  That is the fuel of spiritual pride, the certain path of spiritual danger.  We discipline ourselves so that we do not hurt others.  We are disciplined for the sake of our love for the "babies".

            RQ What is it that needs to go?

               Note:  Remember, your own soul's welfare is at stake.

   D. The Fifth Way:  The Acceptance of Suffering.   Mark 9:49-50.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:49-50.

               Q What do you think these verses mean? 

               Q What does salt represent in verse 49?

               Q What does salt represent in verse 50?

               Q Does salt represent different things in each verse?

               Note:  Some scholars think verse 49 is referring to the salt that accompanied the sacrifices.  The allusion being that all of us will be salted with persecution or difficulty.  Only those who have not lived long enough are of the belief that suffering will not come to all.  Verse 49 appears to be saying, rough times are good.  Just as salt with sacrifices is proper, all of us will be seasoned with rough times.  I know some of you in this room are definitely struggling with rough times. 

            Q  Could rough times be good?

            Q  If we understand salt this way, as the seasoning of difficulty or persecution, what does "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another" mean?

               An = If we accept the Lord's dose of suffering or persecution, it can help bring peace with other Christians.

            Q  Have you experienced this?

>>>> Re-read Mark 9:50.

            Q  Could Jesus be saying you should not try, illegitimately to get out of suffering, or you will be useless?

               An = Some then think that the salt referred to in verse 50 is more concerned with the preservative and seasoning qualities of salt.  Once we are not like a true disciple, in that we die to our ego, accept children, others outside our group, the merciful acts of others, suffering and our responsibility to the little ones then we are no longer the salt of the earth. 

            If we do not act in these ways then we are useless.

               Note:  The last phrase of "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another" could very well mean in this context that the disputes about who is the greatest that opened this section (9:33-37) are ended when we are what we are supposed to be.  Instead of fighting for position and power we need to be serving, accepting others, accepting our responsibility for the little ones, etc.  We need to be too busy being servants and salt for the world to be bothered with our status with others.    

Lesson # 24 | MARK 9:30-37 | THE KEY TO GREATNESS: RECEIVING

I.   Greetings: 

 

II.  Introduction: 

            Q Have you ever gone to a special meeting?  Have you ever been on a privileged committee?  How did you feel? 

               An = Sometimes, it is fun to be in the inner circle and among the privileged few.  However, when you work for Jesus things can often be quite different than in other settings.  Lets see just how different.  Jesus called special a meeting in Mark 9:30-50.  It is the last episode before He enters back into His public ministry (beginning again in chapter 10), towards Jerusalem and therefore towards His death.

 

III.  Teaching the Key Truths Once Again:  Mark 9:30-32.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:30.

            Note:  He is traveling in familiar territory but not wanting to be known.

            Q What is His goal or intention for not wanting anyone to know?

               An = It appears He wanted to teach His disciples!  He did not want to do public ministry and deal with the crowds.  He wanted to deal specifically and specially with His disciples. 

            So today's lesson, as well as the next lesson, are not for the general public but those who consider themselves part of the leadership or part of the important people in a school, group, or church.

            RQ  Do you consider yourself an important part of the scheme? 

                        Then listen up, this lesson is for you.  You are now in the inner circle. 

            RQ  Do you think you are not part of the inner circle of the spiritually important?

                        Then listen up, so you could see what Jesus would say to you if you ever got into such a group or into a such a special relationship with Him.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:31-32.

            Q What three things did He want to teach?

               An = The Son of Man was going to delivered into the hands of men, they would kill Him, and three days later He would rise.

            Q How did the disciples respond? 

               An = They did not understand what Jesus was saying, and they were afraid to ask Him what He meant.  He had told them this exact truth before (8:31 and 9:9-10).

            Q Why did they react this way?

               An = (see Lane, p. 337).  In my opinion they were acting primarily in fear.  To explore further what He was saying or meaning was too painful for them.  There are times we do not want to understand because we are afraid to understand.  Sometimes we do not hear what those closest to us are saying because we unconsciously believe we cannot afford to really look at it. 

            The disciples were much like we are today.  They had selective hearing.  They heard what they wanted to hear.  They did not want to hear their leader was going to be given over to His enemies and killed.

            Q Does Jesus press them further at this time on this issue? 

               An = No.

            Note:   Key to the whole teaching today is this:  if you do not understand the cross then you will not understand the crown.  The disciple's refusal to deal with His death would stop them from understanding His real glory.  If they could not understand His "death", then they could not see the resurrection (9:31 d).  Similarly, they had to understand their own death (especially to their selfishness or selfish ambitions) if they were to understand their real role in the kingdom of God.

 

IV.  The Key to Greatness Is Receiving:  Mark 9:33-37.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:33-37.

            Q Did Jesus need to ask His question about their discussion topic?

               An = He seems to think this is an important issue to discuss.  So He raises the question because they are part of the inner circle. 

            Q Why didn't they answer?

               An = They were probably a bit embarrassed. 

            Have them turn back to Mark 9:31.

>>>> You read Mark 9:31.

            Note:  They will not face the truth of Mark 9:31.  They do not want to deal with this so Jesus tries another route with His men.  He now works off their agenda, their discussion topic which happens to be:  who will be the greatest.  They are going off on power trips.

            Note:  It was a sign of their culture to constantly ascertain their status in social situations.  Sounds familiar today does it not?  We often buy, eat, drive, (and even work at) certain things because it elevates our status, not because it is really good or even enjoyable (Lane, p 339). 

            Jesus' disciples probably thought they were all going to be high up in the coming Kingdom of God.  They would be Secretary of State, Head of Transportation, Vice President, etc.

            Q  What is Jesus' answer to greatness?

               An = See Mark 9:35, >>> Re-read Mark 9:35.

            Q  How does Jesus illustrate His answer of 9:35?

               An = He does so with an object lesson, He uses a vivid illustration, that of the child in 9:36.

>>>> Re-read Mark 9:36-37.

            Note: In Aramaic, the word "child" means "servant" too. (Lane, p. 340). 

            Note: If receiving a child or a servant is the key to greatness then how is such a thing done?

            Q  How do we receive a child or a servant in His Name?

               An = Let me give you four possible ways to apply this.

 

#1            Q  Is it important how we treat waitresses in a resturant?

            Q  Is it important how we treat any employee that is lower down on the totem pole of where we work?  Is it important to God how we perceive them?

               An = Our greatness is tied to this.  If we receive them graciously and politely and with respect then we receive Jesus, and thus we receive God. 

            Note:  Imagine a child that was extremely rude to the other children.  When questioned as to why they thought themselves superior to the other children they told us:  "I have three quarters in my pocket".  We would laugh, for we have a lot more quarters than that.  We see the value of all the children, and that how many quarters they have in their pockets is not really an essential issue.  Yet how many times do we look down on others because they do not have the money we have.  Jesus is not impressed!  He made the worlds.  All the cattle on a thousand hills are His.  He is not even impressed with Bill Gates.  He will judge Bill Gates not by how much money he gives to charity, but whether he treats his lowest employee well, the lowest servant, well.  

           

#2            Q  Do we receive children?  Are they important to us?

            Q  Are those who teach Sunday School the great ones in the church, those who work in the nursery, or with our youth?

               An =  It is not those who serve on boards or give money who are great in our church but those who receive the lowly and children.  It is where the heart of God is.

 

#3            Q  What children do we know of who are not presently received?  Who could Jesus possibly be talking about?

            Q  Are their children in your extended family that are not well received?

               An = It is the true Christian that will go out and aggressively seek to receive such a child, especially the child without a father or mother, or the child that comes from the weaker financial position of the extended family, or the child whose parents are not living the life of wisdom.

            Jesus is watching, hoping.  Remember if we receive them, we are receive Jesus Christ and therefore God.

 

#4            Q = What about the neighborhood children right here around our campus or church?

               An = I do not think we can say we are followers of Jesus Christ and not reach out to the children in our very neighborhood.  Their only chance of hearing the Christian gospel is us.  We cannot hide behind "that is not our ministry", because our very greatness depends on how we receive these very children.

            Note:  Many folks in this room secretly wish they were greater Christians.  The beginning may not be in getting some type of reputation, joining a mission team, or getting the correct doctrine, but in obeying Jesus Christ.

            What are we doing for children?  What about the outcasts in your own family?  What about helping out in a program that helps children?  What about the evangelism of lost children?

Lesson # 23 | MARK 9:14-29 | DEALING WITH FAILURE

I.   Greetings: 

II.  Introduction:  Last week we spoke of "religious experiences".  Such times are marvelous,  what we can learn there, if we listen, is tremendous.  However, there is another good thing about such Mountain-Top experiences:  we must come back down to the Valley.  That may not sound good to you, but maybe it is. 

            If we attend a great service, are in a deep time of prayer, go to an excellent retreat, or a wonderful camp experience, we always have to come home.  We learn a lot in those high occasions, but have you ever been like me and come home and met spiritual failure?  Lets see how this happened to the disciples.

 

III.  Coming Down to Defeated Disciples:  Mark 9:14-19

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:14-19

            Q  Who has failed here?

               An = The disciples that were left in the valley.  Three of the disciples were seeing glorious visions of Jesus, Moses and Elijah while the other nine were hard at work trying to help some demon possessed child.

            Q  How do you think the disciples felt?  How would you feel?

>>>> You re-read Mark 9:19.

            Q  Why is Jesus so rough?  Especially in front of the crowds?  Why does He do this?

               An = A lot of us would be mortified if our leader said this to us.  However, they know Jesus, and they were a little tougher than some of us today.  They also knew they had failed. 

            Notice the text does not tell us their feelings.  It quickly moves on to the unfolding drama before us.  Sometimes our feelings need to take back seat to what is happening around us.

 

IV.  Dealing With Dad:  Mark 9:20-24.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:20-24.

            Q  Why does Jesus ask the question of verse 21?  Doesn't He know all things?  Is it important?

               An = It is an easy question, it gets the dad talking so that soon he spills out his guts.  (As teachers, counselors, youth workers, parents talking with children, it is wise to start with easy questions sometimes, as it gets people into the act of thinking.  Then harder, more personal and delicate questions can follow.)

            Q  Is the dad panicking in the end of verse 22?

               An = It almost appears that as the father is describing the boys condition his sense of worry over the boy's needs heightens, and he breaks into a desperate plea for help.

            Q  How sensitive is Jesus' response in 9:23?

               An = It is OK to be puzzled by some of Jesus' behavior.  He is quite well aware of how His dealing with life puzzles us today.  It might help us to grow spiritually if we ponder what His actions meant, so as to learn how to understand them today.  The way Jesus acted then is how He acts now.  He does not change. 

            Note:  First, it is important to understand that love is demonstrated in different ways.  Here, Jesus is forceful and demanding, almost pushing this poor man over the edge.  In verse 23, you can almost hear Jesus scowling in a demanding tone.  The father has expressed his deep pain at his son's condition and asked for help, yet Jesus seems a bit offended and calls the wretched man on it.

            Q  What is the father's response?

               An = I do believe, but help me with my unbelief = He had faith but he lacked much as well.  He is a mixture.  This man is much like the disciples.  This man is where most of us are today.

            Q  What did Jesus do for this parent in a time of deep anxiety?

               An = He did not give him a spiritual formula or ask for money.  He drove the man to confess two things:  his faith and his lack of faith.  When we finally are driven to see ourselves, we become better people.  Most of us here are a mixture of belief and unbelief.

              

V.  Dealing With the Devil: Mark 9:25-27.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:25-27.

            Q  Did Jesus struggle hard to heal the boy?  Does Jesus struggle hard with the devil?

               An = No.  When Jesus and Devil meet heat-to-head there is never a struggle.  The Almighty One is unmitigated, undiluted, unbeatable power.  Jesus merely commands.  The key is to get Jesus into the picture.

            Q  Whose power healed?  Did the father help?

               An = It was Jesus and Jesus alone who healed the boy without any help from the father.  The only thing the father has done is realize that he lacks faith.

            Q  If it is all Jesus' power, why hassle the father when Jesus does all?

               An = Jesus knew He could easily heal the boy.  He knew the boy would then be going home, not only a demon-free boy, but a boy capable of living a good life.  To do that the child would need a spiritually strong father.  The boy needed a deeper and stronger dad.  God can heal our pains, or deliver us from the devil, but the Lord will also stress us, or else the gift would do us little good.  We would remain the same people as before.

            God always has more in mind than we do.

VI.  Dealing With Failure Among the Disciples:  Mark 9:28-29

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:28-29.

            Q  Do the disciples feel they can approach Him?

               An = Those of us in leadership positions may need to be tough and corrective at times, but those we correct should believe we are approachable after rebuke.  We should be approachable if they have the courage to do so.

            Note: The disciples screw up publicly and so get a public rebuke (9:19).  This is not a nice thing, it would be so much nicer if Jesus would have covered for them and then privately rebuked them.  We notice Jesus is tough, but good to the father.  Jesus is hard on the dad, but it helps the father gain awareness of his lack of faith.

            Q  How then is this public rebuke a good thing?  What possible good could it accomplish?

               An = Maybe, it is an example of fairness.  How often leaders get public praise for public successes, but do not want public rebuke for public failures.  Maybe, it brings them down to the level we all truly live on.  We all make mistakes and all need correction.  It does not  invalidate a leader if he makes mistakes.  He is invalid when he cannot learn from them.

            Q  What is the cure for failure in tough spiritual cases, like this exorcism?

               An = Prayer.  Something we as leaders need to invest much time in.  What is prayer? Nothing but spending time with the Lord and talking to Him?  What the father of the boy was doing was talking with Jesus and Jesus is God.  Talking to God = prayer.

            Note:  If the disciples dialogue and talk with Jesus (as the father did), they too will learn the lessons the father learned in 9:21-24.  They too, will learn they also have faith, and yet need to realize they need more.  It is the facing of our mixture or lack of faith that begins the growth of our spiritual power so we can help others.  To refuse to face our lack of faith keeps us an "unbelieving generation" (9:19).

 

VII.  Conclusion:

            Note:  As we close in prayer, let me ask you two questions.

            Q  Is there mixture in you?  Would you admit to Christ you have faith but need so much more to face the tough situations that confront you?

            Q  Would you be willing to let Christ deal with you in your daily life in the coming days that could reveal your "mixture"?

                        Note:  Remember if you pray this latter prayer, He will listen.  

Lesson # 22 | MARK 9:2-13 | RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES

I.   Greetings: 

 

II.  Introduction:  We're going to read about an unusual spiritual experience today.  It is one of the classic ones described in the Gospels.  We often hear about religious experiences, but... 

            Q  What are religious experiences? 

            Q  Do you know others who have sought after them?

            Q  Do some seek them to authenticate or validate their spirituality? 

            Lets see how one such experience is viewed in Mark.

 

III.  The Transfiguration:      Mark 9:2-8

   A.  The Event as a whole.

            Q  What are religious experiences for?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:2-8.

            Note:  This must have been an amazing experience.

            Q  Who goes up?  All or just a few?

            Q  Do all good Christians have religious experiences of this stunning magnitude?

               An = We hear of such events but here not everybody experiences what the three disciples experienced.

            B.  The Event Itself.  

>>>> Have someone re-read Mark 9:2-4.

            Q  What actually happened?

               An = 1) Jesus changes.  The greek word used here is "metamorphoses".  Something outwardly visible happened.  It was a theophany.  Literally a visible (phany) appearance caused by God (theos).           

                         2) Two ancient people appear:  Moses (the giver of the Law) and Elijah (the great prophet who never died).

            C.  The Aftermath of the Event. 

>>>> Have someone re-read Mark 9:5-8.

            Q  What was Peter's response?  Do you like it?

               An = His answer is a Title of Address (Rabbi or teacher) that basically lets us know that when in a panic he sees Jesus just as a teacher, not the divine messiah.  He then makes two assertions about how good it was to be there and something about building monuments to all three. 

            Q  Why does Peter want to build these tabernacles or monuments?

            I think mankind would rather build monuments to great happenings or experiences than actually learn something from them. The religious world is full of monuments, but has few people who understand what the Lord would really have them know.

            Q  What does the voice of 9:7 say to Peter?

               An = "This is my Son, whom I love.  Listen to him!"  In other words, this is the One most close to Me, you will never hear a more important speaker.  Listen to Him.  Do not do anything religious, just listen.  Remember, also, the word "listen" in Hebrew is the same word for "obey".

            Q  Why are the disciples terrified?

               An = When we really see God is it a tremendous experience, and we sense the majesty and Lordship of God.  It is terrifying.  Perhaps, Peter is running off at the mouth about monuments or shrines because he is a verbal person and is just talking in an attempt to keep control of his fear.

            Q  Why do Elijah and Moses appear?

               An = 1) It could be that this was to help Peter understand that he was right not to confuse them with Jesus six days ago when he confessed that Jesus was not Elijah but the Messiah (8:28-29).    2)  These two men honor Jesus and are in league with Him.  Jesus is not at odds with the Law or the Prophets (in other words:  the entire Old Testament), and this is proved by their appearing.   Jesus is at one with the Old Testament witness. 

            Note:  Be careful of those who throw out the authority of the Old Testament.  To do so, is to be at odds with our Lord.

 

IV.  The Discussion On the Way Down the Mountain.   Mark 9:9-13.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 9:9-13.

   A.  The Trigger of Discussion.

            Q  Who is it that the voice from the cloud wanted them to listen to?

               An = God does not want you to build a monument, but to listen to His Son. 

            Q What does His Son say on the way down from the mountain, that startled them?

               An = That Jesus mentions rising from the dead.  To rise from the dead means you first have to be dead and die.

            Q  Why do they ask a question about Elijah?

               An = Popular opinion believed Elijah would announce the Messiah.  They expected the coming to be glorious, so rising from the dead did not fit their understanding of the future, especially Jesus' future.  If Elijah was to come first, then why this rising from the dead?  This could imply Jesus would need to rise from the dead.  They did not like that.  Since to rise, meant one had to first die, it must of disturbed them to think Jesus was going to die.

            Note:  In chapter 8:31-38 Jesus spoke about the necessity of His death and of our dying to ourselves.  When I have mentioned this I have often met with strong opposition.  Usually from other religious persons who want nothing to do with such "negative" language.  Those who have found a "comfortable religion" they can control want nothing to do with a faith that demands God is in control.

   B.  The Place and Role of Elijah.

            Q  How many times is Elijah mentioned in 9:2-13?

               An = Five times:  4,5,6,12, and 13.  Have everyone turn to Malachi 3:1,2 and 4:5,6.  >>>> Have someone read Malachi 3:1,2.

>>>> Have someone read Malachi 4:5,6.

            Q  Who does Jesus understand the coming Elijah to be?

               An = John the Baptist.  Not that Jesus believed John was a reincarnation of Elijah, but that John fulfilled the mission of Elijah:  especially Malachi 4:5,6 and John's great preaching of repentance.  Until there is repentance and change, religious experiences, even seeing the Messiah, are of no value.

            Note:  Repentance is not just for drug addicts and prostitutes but good upstanding, strong Christians as well.  If our group wishes to see the Lord and derive any good from it they must repent.

            Note:  John says that children and parents must have their hearts turned towards one another.  Parents need to deeply love and forgive their children and children must forgive their parents and begin to love them.  If spiritual perception, not just experiences, is to take place then dealing with our parents or children is key.  We must obey (or listen) to the Son.

>>>> Have someone read 9:13.

            Q What did they do to John the Baptist?

>>>> You read Mark 6:27,28

               An = Those in power killed John and those who did not repent did not see the Glory of the Son of God when He was right there in their midst.  We will not see God here in this group no matter what good and positive things are done if we do not repent.

            Note:  The disciples still do not want Jesus to die. They want glory, but Jesus reminds them that as the authorities did to John, they would do to Jesus.  Mark 9:9-12 is the second announcement (of five) by Jesus that He must die.

 

V.  Conclusion:

            Q  So what is the purpose of true religious experiences?

               An = They are to help us listen!  This experience reveals that glory only comes after humiliation.  Jesus spoke of His humiliation.  John the Baptist says our humiliation of repentance must be there if we are to truly see and understand Jesus Christ. 

            Peter soon forgot what God had showed him.  God graciously tried to show him the proper perspective on the way down the mountain.  God continues to try to tell us also, if we will listen.

            Note:  Let me share with you two quotes in closing.  One from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest,  July 29, says,

            "In the Bible clouds are always associated with God.  Clouds are the sorrows, sufferings, or providential circumstances, within or without our personal lives which actually seem to contradict the sovereignty of God.  Yet it is through these very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith.  If there were never any clouds in our lives, we would have no faith....  They are a sign that God is there.  What a revelation it is to know that sorrow, bereavement, and suffering are actually the clouds that come along with God!  God cannot come near us without clouds...."

            Note:  He cannot always come near us with clear shining brightness, for we would never see what He wants us to see, and what we so desperately need to see.  If we have clouds today, we can try to get away from them, but if we are disciples like Peter of old, Jesus will repeatedly bring us back to the necessity of the cross.

 

            The second comes from the movie "Princess Bride".  There is a great quote in it towards the end:  "If someone tells you there is no pain, they are either lying or trying to sell you something." 

            Jesus Christ does not want our money.  He wants to give us the key to eternal life, and so He tells us the truth about pain.  Maybe the pain we need to face is the pain of repentance, finally admitting that we could be wrong, no matter how bad we may look in the community.

Lesson # 21 | MARK 8:34-9:1 | THE CALL TO GLORY

I.   Greetings: 

 

II.  Introduction:

            Note:  Last week we spoke of the key aspect of Jesus' life.  Let me refresh your memory. >>>> Read to the audience Mark 8:31.

            Q  Did Peter like it?  Why not?

            Q  How many of you know people who do not like certain things about the Christian faith and so stay away?  Raise your hands if you know such people.

            Q  Are there things about Christianity you do not like?  Can one or two of you share, like Peter did, some things you either do not like now or did not like before?

               An =  In Peter's case, he was against the cross and the rejection Jesus spoke of.  Peter really loved Jesus.  He might have had other selfish reasons, but he also did not want to lose the Person he loved most in this world.  What our lesson for today will show us is what Jesus' suffering, rejection, death and rising again would mean for his disciples.

 

III.  The Call:  Mark 8:34.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:34.

            Q  What does this mean?  What does it mean to you?

               An =  Maybe even have someone take notes or write on a board their answers. 

            Note:  Let me add or repeat a few of your ideas in different words. 

            1)  Notice the word "if".  Jesus does not compel, but asks.  A person must freely choose.             

            2)  Notice Jesus is honest - He challenges us with the fact that following Him will entail death, He does not deceive us, but speaks the truth of the terrible cost of being a Christian.

            3)  Notice verbal confession is not enough.  Remember Peter was willing to say Jesus is the Messiah (see Mark 8:29), but Jesus says there is much more involved. 

            4)  Notice, we are to come after Him, He asks nothing He Himself is not going to do. 

            Note:  William Barclay reminds in this regard that there was a famous Roman general, Quintus Fabius Cunctator, who was discussing with his staff how to take a difficult position.  Someone suggested a certain course of action to capture it, "It will only cost the lives of a few men," this counsellor said.  Fabius looked at him, "Are you," he said, "willing to be one of the few?"  Jesus was not the kind of leader who sat safely in a remote position from the heat of the battle and played with the lives of men like expendable pawns (Barclay, p. 207).

            Q  All of us would agree that Jesus is fair, but why does He make it so hard?

               An =  1) God could have hindered His men from suffering any trials.  They could have always been sheltered from difficulty and pain, but He lets us have the "glory of participation".  2)  The cost involved forces us to shift the center of gravity from self to reckless abandonment to God.  3)  Our faith becomes real only when what Jesus is talking about in 8:34 is acted out in our actual lives.  It cannot remain in our minds. 

            Q  What does it mean to live in the mystery of hiddenness?

               An =  We are to become the great ones of heaven but such greatness will be hidden from most people now on earth.  Jesus was Almighty God, yet He was asked to suffer pain, death and rejection.  Few people figured out Who Jesus was! 

            Note:  I think if we are honest we would agree that it seems hard to pay such great costs to follow God without a lot of praise and acclaim from others.

            Q  Who does Jesus allow to hear such strong demands?  Who was allowed to know the real truth?

               An = Notice Jesus calls the crowd to himself along with the disciples.  Everybody was allowed to hear what He had to say.  Jesus lets all hear such a call and all such a call entails.  He is not like a cult leader who hides part of their agenda from the public.  All can hear, Jesus hides nothing.

            Q  What are the three conditions?

               An =

            1)  One must deny oneself. 

                        What would happen if every mother refused to take the risk of bearing a child?  What would happen if men spent all they had upon themselves?  The very essence of life is in risking and spending it, not in storing and hoarding it.  True, it is the way of weariness, of exhaustion, of giving to the uttermost---but it is better to burn out than to rust out, for denying oneself is the way to happiness and the way to God.

                        Unless we deny a part of our lives, we cannot follow Him.

            Q  Here is a difficult question:  will we be happy if we do?

               An = I have struggled long with this question.  However, the second condition clearly states (2) one must take up one's cross.  One must be prepared to sacrifice and that sacrifice will be painful at times.  Following Jesus always entails more than words on our part.

            3)  One must follow Him. 

            Q  Is self-denial the goal?

               An = No, the goal to is to follow Him, not just deny oneself.  It is not just trials, but trials for Him, not just dying, but obeying His commands.  The goal is not to suffer, but to add His virtues, to follow Him, to be like Him.  Some in religious pride will suffer, but it takes love and humility to follow as well.

 

IV.  The Reasons for the Call:  Mark 8:35-37.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:35-37.

            Q  What do most people fear?  Is it Death, or losing something we value?

               An = Let them give their answers without comment.  Then add, Jesus says you must fear the correct things.  Notice the reasons He gives for denying, taking up our cross, and following Him.  He gives a Threat (35 a), a Promise (35 b);  and then He follows with two rhetorical questions (36,37).

            Q  What is the threat in the first half of 8:35?

               An = If you try and save your life you will lose anyway.           

            Q  What is the promise in the last half of 8:35?

               An = Jesus promises that if we will risk our lives for His and the Gospel's sake we will save our lives.  The whole promise centers on loyalty to Jesus Himself.  Jesus says:  "Be loyal to me and you will win!"

            Note:  Jesus then asks two very searching questions.  He asks them because He wants us to think out why we do things.

            RQ  Can we afford to gain the world's approval and still be loyal to Jesus? 

            Note:  It looks so very risky to follow Christ, but it is the very best investment in the world.  I have noticed that those who really give all to Christ are those who really live and not just in the life to come but in this life.

 

V.  Choosing What to Fear:  Mark 8:38-9:1.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:38-9:1

            Q  What is the threat in 8:38?

               An = If we deny Jesus, then He will deny us.  You cannot live a hidden Christian life in this world and expect Jesus to publicly acknowledge you in the life to come.  That will not happen.

            Q  What is the promise in 9:1?

               An = The "now" sets the future.  Our now must contain loyalty, loyalty to His future glory.  Death in this life is not to scare us.  To see His glory is to loose the fear of death on this side of the grave.  To live in His glory and His absolute freedom from death.

            Note:  There are many interpretations on what Jesus means concerning some will not taste death until they see His glory.   Let me give just one this week.  If we are willing to follow Jesus, and die to ourselves, then we will see, on this side of the grave, the glory of His Kingdom, the glory of His Person.

            Q  Why did Jesus say "some" who are standing here will see the Kingdom of God come with power?

               An = Not all were going to see it.  Maybe our experience of the Christian life is anything but one of power.  The reason is we have yet to really follow Jesus.

            Q  Who have we not forgiven? 

               Note:  Maybe there are people in our lives that it would kill us to forgive.  Go ahead, die.  If we die in that way, we will live. 

                        It is the beginning of seeing the kingdom of God come with power.

            Q  Are there people we are always judging?

               Note:  Maybe there are people we put down, despise and gossip about.  If we do, we are not following Jesus (see Matthew 7:1-5).  Maybe it would kill us not to gossip or despise that person? 

                        But you say:   "I have to gossip!  Someone has to spread the news!!!!!   All  justice in the world will collapse if I do not gossip and put that person down." 

            What will really collapse is our own soul if we continue.

            Until we stop, we will be dead.

            Note:  Jesus' words seem so hard tonight, but the Apostle Paul understood them and believed the same truths.  Lets close with some of his words....

>>>> Have someone read Romans 12:1,2

Lesson # 20 | MARK 8:27-33 | THE TURNING POINT: THE SECRET TO THE SECRET REVEALED

I.              Greetings: 

 

II.  Introduction: 

   A.  We come to what most scholars think is the halfway point, as well as the turning point in Mark's Gospel.  The turning point is the secret of why Jesus seems to want to keep His disciples and those He often heals from speaking about His work.  We have noted Jesus was deliberately trying to conceal His power and never was open about what He believed His mission was, or Who He was. 

   B.  The Mystery of Who He Is Has Deepened.

            Note:  William Lane (p. 288) points out that in Mark 1:1 Jesus is called the Messiah, but this is not mentioned again until our verse here in 8:29.  The word Messiah has not been used by Jesus Himself though He has certainly provoked questions. 

            1) His power has aroused the questioning of His authority:  1:27; 2:7; 6:2. 

Re-read:  Mark 6:2

            2) His association with sinners provokes charges that He is demonic:  2:15-20; 3:22-30.  

            3) His disciples themselves are hard pressed to find categories to describe Him:  4:41; 6:51-52. 

Re-read:  Mark 4:41

            4)  Mark creates a tension that is only solved in what we are going to read next.  When this passages arrives, a whole new tone comes over the book of Mark.

            Note:  Watch what Jesus is going to do with the issue of what others think.  Watch how He handles the need to look good.  He is going to show us Who He is, and who we are to be.

 

III.  The View of Men:  What They Thought of Jesus, Mark 8:27-30.

   A.  Jesus Listens to How Men Define Him.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:27-30.

            Q  What did people say about Jesus? 

               An = Re-read Mark 8:28.  All of these answers speak about very prominent people.  John the Baptist was a contemporary religious success,  Elijah or one of the prophets was to be equated with greatness from the past.

            Q  What did their answer mean?

               An = Of course, it meant they were impressed with Jesus' abilities.  However, when they answered John, Elijah, or one of the past prophets they failed to see Jesus' distinctiveness.  He is like the great men of the past but yet so much more.

            Q  When Peter calls Him Messiah, what does the term Messiah (or the Christ) mean?

               An = Actually, it is a title, not a name.  It means one who is anointed by God:  royalty, priest, or prophet.  He is the "anointed one", and people were anointed for a purpose.

            Q  Is Jesus happy with Peter's insights in 8:29?

               An = Notice His next action in 8:30.  He tells them to tell no man about Him.

            Q  Why?  What is the secret to the secret of hiding Jesus' powers, or now His proper title? 

               An = For the first time Mark tells us why.  So it should be the key to all other times He said, " Tell no man".  Peter's words are correct in themselves but so were the confessions of demons (1:25; 3:12).  Jesus silenced those other voices, and He silences His disciples now.

            Note:  Jesus has a reason for keeping things quiet, He wants them to truly understand.

   B. Helping Us to Properly Define Ourselves.

            Note:  We have been watching what He was doing.  Now He will tell us what the Mission is and articulate Who He is.  Jesus starts this process by first asking the disciples to state what men think of Him.

            Q  Jesus is going to define His purpose and goal in life, but why does He want to know what men think of Him?

               An = There could be two other options here.  1) Humans put a great deal of stock in what people think of them.  Jesus was human, and I know it is so easy to pursue a good name, or to desire to impress people with my accomplishments or hoped for accomplishments.  Often our self esteem is dependent on what others think of us.  Part of the answer could be Jesus is showing His humanity.

            2) It could also be He wanted them to think, and He draws out their thinking by His question.  Perhaps, the Gospel is only understood when we participate in this way.

 

IV.  The View of God:  How God Sees Jesus' Mission and Purpose.   Mark 8:31-33

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:31-33.

   A.  The Rejection of the Answer.

            Q  How does Peter respond?

               An = Peter, one of Jesus' most trusted friends and followers does not like the answer.  In fact, Peter had the audacity to rebuke Jesus for His statements in verse 31.

            Q  How does Jesus respond to Peter's reaction?

               An = Peter is called the tool of Satan.  William Barclay says (Mark, p. 205) "It is a strange thing, and sometimes a terrible thing, that the tempter speaks to us in the voice of a well-meaning friend."

            Note: = The greek term used here for "get behind" best means "return to your rank", not "get away" (see Mark 1:17,20).  Jesus is saying Peter is now in the ranks of Satan and not in the ranks of God's army or cause.

            Jesus is calling Peter to get behind the right leader and into the right ranks.  So often we Christians are serving in the wrong army and need to be corrected.

   B.  The Secret Revealed.

            Q  What then is the secret of the secret? 

               An = See 8:31 again, because here the veil is taken off.  The Secret is that Jesus must suffer, be rejected, and killed.  Confession of Jesus as the Christ (8:29) must include the cross.

   C.  What we learn of Ourselves and Our Mission From the Secret.

            RQ  This is Mark's secret, is it ours?  Is it mine?

               An = Do I want to be a success in the eyes of men or do I want to be like Jesus "the Christ".  Am I willing to be uncomfortable, to suffer, to follow God so that key people in my life will reject me and cause me harm?

            Q  Do most Christians you know want to be a success or to follow God?

               An = Whatever most others do, it helps me to remember that to accomplish all that God really wants to do in me will cost me my life, and cause rejection by key leaders in my community.  It helps me to also remember, it is Jesus who is now shown reverence, and not those leaders.  Jesus took the way of the Cross and unto Him:  "every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord".

            Note:  If we only think about spiritual truths, but do not act on them, we will remain dead and captive to what men think.  We will remain a slave to our surroundings, not the man or woman God wants us to be.  We have to act.

            Q  What comfort zone would the Holy Spirit want you to step out of?  What humiliation will you risk so Jesus Christ and others will benefit?

               An = Write in your notes or Bible's margins the comfort zone you fear most to lose.

            Note:  But how do you get the courage to do these things? 

   D.  What We Learn of Jesus from the Secret.

            Note:  Ask everyone to turn to Isaiah 53:1-9.

>>>> Have someone read Isaiah 53:1-9. 

            Q  Can you understand Jesus Christ apart from suffering?

               An = Suffering must be there to understand Jesus, any other way is wrong. 

>>>> Have someone read Isaiah 53:10-13.

            Q  To what is Jesus' greatness tied to?

            Q  To what will our greatness be tied to if we are like our Lord?

               An = Our greatness, like Jesus', is tied to how we help others.  Not how successful we are, how many financial goals we accomplish, or how many titles and awards we gather.  Our greatness is tied to how much we help others.  Helping others can be a costly thing.  If we are like Jesus we must bear the cross.  However it will result in blessing the world, our community, families and friends.

            Note:  W. Lane, p. 296 quotes Minette de Tillesse,

            "If Jesus had allowed his glory as Son of God to shine everywhere, if he had permitted to the crowds their delirious enthusiasm, it he had allowed the demons to howl their servile confession, if he had permitted the apostles to divulge everywhere their sensational discovery, the passion would have been rendered impossible and the destiny of Jesus would have issued in triumph, but a triumph which would have been wholly human (8:33) and which would not have accomplished the divine plan of salvation."

            If Jesus would have allowed his glory as Son of God to shine to the crowds, the demons, the religious authorities, or the apostles in the way they wanted, we would not be here tonight.

            There would have been no cross, salvation, freedom from sin, fellowship of the Spirit, and hope of eternal life in heaven.

            The sufferings, rejection, death and then resurrection of Jesus are absolutely necessary.  The secret to the secret is "Jesus suffered, died and rose again for our sins".  He slowed down any other confession or understanding of Him that did not center on that fact.

Lesson # 19 | MARK 8:11-26 | SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS AND A LOAF OF BREAD

I.  Greetings.

 

II. Introduction:

            Q  Have you recently watched a teacher, parent, or supervisor at work suffer with being misunderstood?  If so, raise your hands?

            Q  How many of you have been misunderstood recently?  If so, raise your hands?

            Q  How did you feel, would anyone like to share?

            Q  Have you ever been deliberately misunderstood by your enemies?

                        Note:  Today's lesson centers around the issue of being misunderstood.  We believe Jesus was fully God, we also believe He was fully human.  He was tempted in all ways like we are says the Book of Hebrews.  He is our "high priest".  He prays for us with great empathy because He understands what we face. 

            We face being misunderstood, Jesus faced the same thing.  Lets see what He experienced, and how He handled it.

 

III.  Spiritually Blind Religious Enemies:  Mark 8:11-13.

            Note:   Life is hard when we are misunderstood, but it is even more frustrating to be misunderstood by those who refuse to see the truth.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:11-13.

      Note:  The seeking of a sign culminates what seems to have been the end of the Pharisees questioning of Him.  They wanted proof Jesus was right in what He was telling them.  What they talked about we are not told, only that they now wanted proof in the form of a sign from Heaven (i.e. from God).

            Q  How does Jesus answer them?

            Q  What does this mean for us today?

            Q  Why does Jesus refuse?  What do you think is the reason for His refusal?

               An = 1)  He would be subjected to their system of determining truth.  A system of religion He has rejected in chapter 7:1-23.

                         2)  They already had seen many miracles and wonders in His healing.  Previously, we learned in chapter 3:22 that they called such miraculous powers satanic.

                         3)  They would not believe him even if He did play their game.  Look up Psalm 95

>>>> Have someone read Psalm 95:8-11.

            Q  Did the Israelites see miracles and signs?  Did it help them believe.

               An = No, it did not.  The Israelites saw the great miracles recorded in the book of Exodus and still chose not to believe.

            Q  Does religious education always help us see the truth?

               An = Religious education is no guarantee of spiritual perception.  The Pharisees knew their theology, much of it was even first class thinking.

            Q  Are some of us seeking a sign today? 

            Q  Are we waiting for some kind of confirmation when we already know what is true and what we need to do? 

               An = If we are, we may begin to encounter the silence of God (>>> You read Mark 8:12-13).  He might refuse to give us a sign, because we already know better.

 

 

III.  Spiritually Blind Disciples:  Mark 8:14-21

            Note:  Jesus has been misunderstood by his enemies, those His teachings and presence has threatened.  We see how He handled that, but now things get even more frustrating.

            Q  Have you ever been misunderstood by your friends?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:14-15.

            Q  What had the disciples forgot?

            Q  Why did the Disciples misunderstand 8:15?

               An = Selective hearing:  we often did this to our parents as kids.  We can also do this to God.  An example of this should be supplied by you.  Instead of hearing what really was said, you merely focused on a key word because of guilt.

            Q What is leaven? 

               An = (yeast) 

            Q So, what is yeast?

               An = Actually it is the rotting of something, but to make bread or yogurt you need to add a catalyst from a starter.  Yeast or leaven is that starter for bread. 

            Note:  Because yeast is the starting of something rotting or breaking down, leaven in the ancient world often stood for corruption.

            Q What does 8:15 mean?

               An = Beware of the corruptive influence of religious leaders and politicians.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:16

            Q  Do the disciples understand the warning?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:17-21

            Q  Why does Jesus say to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Herod by using a bread metaphor?

               An = He could be tieing back to their disbelief concerning the miracles of the two feedings (7:30-44 and 8:1-10).  They had yet to understand (8:17-20).  Perhaps He poses the question in terms of bread because it was concerning the episodes of bread they were still most in the dark about.  Besides, Jesus did not need many loaves to feed a mere twelve men (See, 8:17-20).  He was rather good with bread!

            Q  Finally, what disturbs Jesus?  What causes Him to "sigh" in 8:12?                         

               An = >>> Re-read Mark 7:34.   Perhaps, He sees in the deaf man the deafness of His people, even His own disciples.  It is our physical needs (7:34) and our spiritual blindness (8:12) that cause God to be disturbed, because He cares for both of these areas of our lives.

           

IV.  Physically Blind Member of the Crowd:  Mark 8:22-26

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:22-26.

            Q  Why take the man out of town?

               An = 1)  He does not seek notoriety for Himself.  This fits the pattern of 1:44, 5:43,                                     7:36, 8:26.

                         2)  It could be concern for the man himself.

            Q  Why does He spit?  

               An = Again, perhaps to deeply identify with the man and his needs.

            Q  Why was the healing gradual?   Before you answer that, note this is the only gradual physical healing in all of the Gospel accounts.

            Q  Why does Mark record a healing of sight right after two episodes of spiritually blind groups:  religious leaders and His disciples?  What is Mark saying?

               An = Spiritual insight often comes gradually.  Do not be discouraged.  Jesus did not get new disciples, despite their great capacity to be blockheads.  He will keep you if you truly want to see.  It may take stages, but Psalm 146:8 will come true of you. 

>>>> Have someone read Psalm 146:8 to the group.  (Psalm 146:6-10)                 

Lesson # 18 | MARK 7:31-8:10 | THE COMPASSION OF GOD

I.  Greetings:           

 

II. Introduction:  Today in America it is politically correct to be nice.  If we are not harsh, speak kindly, and can be easily moved to say words that express our feelings of pity then we are considered "nice" people.  In the Gospels Jesus is not always nice, but He is compassionate.  His compassion is more than words, feelings, or a commitment to never hurting someone's feelings, but something is much more needful in our world.  It is much deeper, much greater. 

            It is the amazing and yet practical compassion we are to have as His followers.  Let me explain.

 

III.  Compassion with An Individual and Its Affects:  Mark 7:31-37.

            Note:.  Jesus was probably in Gentile territory in the passages above and seemingly seeking rest for Himself and His men.  Now He makes His way back near Jewish territory but not quite in complete Jewish areas.  He is in the Decapolis, probably a mixed area containing both Jews and Gentiles.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:31-35.

            Q  How is Jesus compassionate in His action?

               An = Jesus shows compassion on this individual by taking him aside privately:  1)  Perhaps not to embarrass him because he was deaf.  2)  Also, perhaps it allows Jesus to identify more personally with the man by getting him out of the glare of the crowd.  It might have been hard for this man to focus with all the people looking at him.

            RQ  Do we have friends we want Jesus to bless?

            Q  What could we do that is similar to the people in this situation?  How would you get one of your friends in the presence of Jesus?

               An = We can begin to pray for them.  We can bring them to someone we believe has the presence of Jesus more powerfully in them such as a godly relative, church friend, or religious leader.

            Note:  What is fairly certain is Jesus takes time to truly identify with the person.  This deaf person is a human, not a case.  He puts His fingers in the man's ears perhaps to show him by a symbol He is going to deal with (heal) the man's ears.  Then He puts His spit in this man's mouth to symbolize, no doubt, the same thing.  Spittle was understood both in Jewish and Hellenistic culture to be an important curative force.  (Before you laugh at their ideas in the ancient world, remember what happened the last time you hit your finger with a hammer, burned it on a stove:  where did you put your finger?) 

            The important issue is Jesus is talking in this man's language, He is using symbolic language the man can understand.  He is identifying with this man on his own level.  Love must be practical, and it often must be physically demonstrated. 

            Notice Jesus never tells the man that He loves him.

            Q  If you truly got your friend in His presence what would He do with them?  

            Q  Are not Jesus' actions in these verses hints of what He will do today?              

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:36.

            Note:  By now these are familiar words:  "Tell no one".  Ever notice how much we want recognition for the money we give or the things we do.  Jesus is different.  Jesus' motives are often not our motives.  We want and often crave affirmation for our ministry, while Jesus has other goals.  >>>> Read to them Matthew 6:1-4.  Do not let church convention rob you of eternal glory!!  Give and say nothing.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:37.

            Note:  The people were astonished.  Perhaps they expected Jesus to only bless, not heal (Lane, p. 266) - but maybe Jesus will do more than we expect today!

            Note:  They praise Him.  Have two different people read the following texts to the audience: 

>>>> Have someone read Genesis 1:31

>>>> Have someone read Isaiah 35:5,6,10

            Note:  Many good men, and some not so-good men, will tell you Jesus is only a man.  Constantly, through out the Gospel as we have seen, allusions to Jesus point to His deity.  Jesus is acting quite like His Father!

 

*********************************************************************************            You can decide if time allows use of this section or you can just skip it.

            Note:  We are finishing a unit (chapters 6-7) in Mark's gospel.  Perhaps since miracles are signs, the phrase spoken by Jesus "Be opened" may be tied back to the words,  "If any man has ears to hear let him hear"  (6:52, 7:16, 7:18).

               Note:  Also, most scholars see a pattern to 6:31-7:37 that is repeated in chapter 8.

            6:31-44              Feeding of the Multitude                                      8:1-9

            6:45-56              Crossing of the Sea and Landing                         8:10

            7:1-23            Conflict with the Pharisees                                    8:11-13

            7:24-30            Conversation about Bread                                    8:14-21

            7:31-36            Healing                                                                        8:22-26

            7:37                        Confession of Faith                                                8:27-30[i]

*********************************************************************************

 

IV.  Compassion on the Multitude:  Mark 8:1-10.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:1-3.

            Q  Why does Jesus decide to feed them?

               An = Because He had compassion on them.  They were fasting to stay with Him.  Maybe some of them had run out of provisions and did without food so enthralled were they to be around Jesus.  Notice how practical His compassion is.

               Note:  Jesus is often so different from us in His consideration of a crowd or an audience.  He thinks of His audience.  So often we are so happy we have an audience or enchanted with the fact they are enchanted with us, we do not think to consider their practical needs after they leave the meeting. 

            Q  What are the needs of our community that stir the compassion of Jesus Christ? 

               An = List some things they have done.  Maybe point to others they are not aware of.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 8:4-10.

            Q  With what tone of voice do you think the disciples ask their question in 8:4?

               An = It could have been one of sarcasm but most likely one of frustration.  Jesus was always pushing them beyond where they wanted to go.

            Q  Why does Jesus ask the question in verse 5?

               An = To make them get involved.  We are not to be merely exasperated with what we do not have, but help with what ever we have (seven measly loaves in this case).  You will be surprised what God will do with our pitiful resources.  Think of the needs of our community and our measly resources, but if we start with what we have....

            Note:  They pass out the food.  You and I are to feed a hungary and spiritually needy world.  It is not the disciples' miracle working power though that actually feeds the crowd.  It is Jesus and Jesus only!

            Note:  Remember, as we go today, He wants to love you individually, and love those you love individually.  We need to bring those we love who are in need to Jesus.  He has not changed.  He is the same today, yesterday and forever.

            Note:  Lastly, He wants you involved, even though it is really His power that will truly minister to the needs of the crowds, of our greater community.

 

V.  Conclusion:  >> Read Isaiah 29:18-19.

---

[i].   See William Lane,  The Gospel According to Mark, 1974, p. 269.  You may or may not want to use this in your presentation.  I did not when I taught this lesson.  However, it could be helpful to know how structured and purposeful Mark is in his presentation of His Lord.  In addition, you could draw out the point that in our own ministries we often go through patterns.  Similar victories, similar problems, similar blindness of those we seek to reveal the truth, similar travels, etc.  Of course the patterns will eventually change as we follow on to His path.  In 8:31 you have Jesus quite aware that events will be changing.  He will not longer skirmish with His detractors but be harshly persecuted by them.

Lesson # 17 | MARK 7:24-30 | OUR PERCEIVED OBSTACLES TO REACHING GOD

I.  Greetings: 

 

II. Introduction:  Many people in church today feel like the Gentiles of Jesus' day.  They feel they are not part of the elect people of God.  They have gone one step further though, and they have bought into the misunderstanding that their lack of status, or their sinful behavior, makes them unwanted by God. 

            Q  Do some of you feel like you may be a christian but really do not have any faith.  If you pray, well....so what?

               An = You may feel like a "spiritual pygmy". 

            Q  Do others of you here today feel alienated from God? 

               An = You are honest enough to know you and God are not on good terms.  I have a word for both of you today, it is not my word, but the word of almighty God. 

III.  Seeking to Get Away:  Mark 7:24.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:24.

            Q What is the reason for Jesus leaving Jewish territory?

               An = See 6:30-31, 6:54.  He is probably seeking rest, to escape notice.

            Note:  Joint reference to Tyre and Sidon is commonly used to designate the pagan world,  see Mark 3:8.  Serious Jews would not even enter the home, or building, of a Gentile.

            Today, many serious Christians will often not even darken the doors of some places.  It means they take their faith seriously, and that is good.  However, it also conveys to people in those places that they are judged as inferior.

            Note:  Jesus says He has a different view of defilement (7:19) than the religious leaders and so goes among a perceived unclean people.

            Q  Do most ministers go into a bar?  Why or why not?  Why would they?

               An = As shocking as that would be, it was that shocking that Jesus would enter gentile, pagan territory.

            Q  What else could Jesus be modeling for us here by His change of location?

               An = We need rest sometimes, we need to be aggressive in seeking it, ie. a change of location.  It would be a form of taking a Sabbath.

 

IV.  Seeking God Despite Obstacles:  Mark 7:25-28

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:25-26.

            Q Was Jesus able to keep hidden?

               An = No, it seems there was something about what He had to offer that was so powerful He was aggressively sought out.  Is that true of us?  Do people seek us out because the power of God is greatly upon us?  She sought Jesus out.

            Q  What type of woman is she, what is her nationality?

               An = Her Gentile character is stressed:  a Gentile, of the Syrophoenian race (7:26). 

            Q  What is driving her to seek out a jewish rabbi?

               An = She no doubt has heard about His healing power.  Her daughter is terribly oppressed and she has heard this man of God can bring help.  A mother recently told me the needs of children drive us to God.  Loving our children (youth workers included) will cause us to struggle to get to God.  Love for family can lead us to God.

            Q  Does she ask for herself or for her daughter?

               An = Her love for another has driven her to speak with Jesus.  To talk to a pious Jew, a member of a race that felt itself superior to other peoples was no doubt a humbling experience.              Q  Did the Jews have a name for those who were not of their race?

               An = They called them the "goiim" or Gentiles.   But she is talking to more than a Jew, she is talking to Jesus.  Indeed, Jesus is Jewish, thus He is a human being (as all humans have a racial designation), but also fully divine. 

            Q  In a way, is talking to Jesus the same as talking to God?

               An = Yes, therefore this is an example of prayer, called Intercession, meaning praying for others.

            Q  How much do you think the average person's prayer life is taken up with this type of prayer?  What percentage? How much of our prayer life is taken up with praying for others?

               An = Some Christians today, spend little time praying for others.  That could mean one of two things:  they do not love those around them, they do not love as much as this pagan woman, or it could mean they do not think praying would help.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:27

            Q  What is Jesus saying to her?  Has He agreed to heal her daughter in 7:27?

               An = Comparison to household dogs amounts to a refusal.  Children stood for the disciples and dogs stood for her and her child.  He was saying no.

            Note:  Jesus acknowledges the privileges of Israel and that the Gentile's time had not yet come!  >>>> Have someone read Romans 1:16;  2:9,11.    All races are welcome to God, all peoples are welcome to God, even the unclean.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:28

            Note:  The woman may not have understood this, but His refusal was intended to spark a renewed appeal (see Matthew 15 which shows her making four appeals).  However, her continued effort displays her real heart.  Instead of being insulted or discouraged she persists. 

            Q  Can you fall off a log and get to God?

               An = It seems, at least in this case, you have to want it badly.  You will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart.

            Q  Why does she persist with this seemingly arrogant Jew?

               An = She loves her child.  She persists with wit.  Chrysostom says she practices "high self command" and His refusal reveals the treasure within her - namely her faith (Chrysostom, pp. 322-323).  She is witty and aggressive.  Notice, His response to her aggressive behavior....

 

V.  Faith Overcomes Obstacles:  Mark 7:29-30.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:29-30.

   A.  What this reveals about Jesus and therefore God.

            Q  Does Jesus mind being pushed?

               An = No, He does not.  Notice, however, she does it with wit and humility.

            Q  Is Jesus a legalist?  Is God?  Will God change His world wide plans to accommodate an exception? 

            Q  How can we be like Jesus in this regard?           

               An = >>> Turn with me to Romans chapter 1:16.  Romans 1:16 shows us His stated policy.  It was not His time to deal with the Gentiles yet.  His plan was to deal with the Jews first, and then and there He and His men needed rest.  It was not His plan to disrupt their rest, or His agenda, with some pestering non-Jewish woman.  It was not her time yet. 

            Q  Is the heart of God greater than His policies?  Is Jesus a legalist?

               An = He knows when to make exceptions and how to do it without losing sight of the policy and the reason behind the policy.  Many times we in religious organizations get set on a policy, even a good policy, and it becomes the enemy of theology, real theology. 

            Q  What is theology? 

               An = Theology is thinking about God and real theology is thinking correctly about God. 

            Q  Can our policies, and our perceived need to stay in control by means of our policies, force us to act towards people in a manner that is contradictory to God's own nature?

               An = In the name of God we violate the heart of God.  God is not a legalist.  He is the One who loves the world, and His policies are designed to do just that.  He never lets the policies get ahead of the goal.

   B.  The Contrast Between the Unclean and the Clean.

            Q  Is the woman's faith remarkably different than both the religious authorities and the disciples?

               An = Lets turn to Mark 6:52 for the disciples and Mark 7:8 for the religious leaders.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:8. 

            Note:  The religious leaders often let go of the commands of God to do the self-contrived traditions of men.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:52.

            Note:  The disciples often get too tired and pushed and harden their hearts.  Their faith often goes cold.

   C.  The Intentionality of God.

            Q  Did the woman get to Jesus.  Did she get Jesus to answer her prayer?

               An = She saw her child healed.  There are obstacles to finding God.  Many times they are racial or social obstacles but if we really want to push through to Him, Jesus can be found.  However, once the woman got an audience with Jesus...

            Q  Did Jesus seem to be the biggest obstacle?  Does it almost seem as if Jesus Himself, made it hard?

               An = It appears the obstacle was in Jesus' attitude.  Jesus deliberately refused at first to help this woman. 

            Q  Why did Jesus Christ act this way?

               An = I believe it was to develop her faith, and her love, obstacles are often given from God.  God's intention for us is to come to Him, but we must come by faith and with effort.  Therefore on His terms or it will not do much good. 

            This woman was from the wrong side of the tracks.  She was an unclean Gentile, but she loved her daughter and persisted with God until she got her wish.  Jesus said she had faith.  She seems to be a quicker learner than the disciples in Mark 4:35-41.

 

Lesson # 16 | MARK 7:1-23 | IS GOD A LEGALIST?

I.  Greetings.  

 

II. Introduction: 

            Q  Theologically, what is a liberal?

               An = Some of you are aware the American Protestant Church split in the early part of this century along "Liberal" and "Conservative" lines. 

            Some Liberals claim Jesus was all love, kindness and tolerance, and thus true Christians are known conclusively by their tolerance.  Some conservatives claim to desire to go back to a stricter morality and claim true allegiance to God is returning to the fundamentals of the Bible.             

Q  Where would Jesus stand today?  Would Jesus be judged a harsh conservative reactionary or a tolerant liberal? 

               An = Maybe He is neither?  Lets listen to Him.  Let Him declare what is important in our faith in God and walk in life before Him.

            Q  Do any of you think your parents were too conservative?

               An = There are exceptions to this, but generally this was the case.  Our parents seemed to be always clamping down on us with rules. 

            Q  Would our parents see it otherwise?  Why?

               An = Parents probably would see it otherwise.  They would claim that if you do not hold to rules and a semblance of order, your life could be harmed.  We have probably grown to see that such is the case, or if you are too young to have experienced this yet, give it some time, your perspective will change as you take up responsibility for others.

            Q  Do you know some who have experienced not just a conservative approach but a negative, constantly critical faultfinding attitude?

            Q  Is such an attitude paralyzing?

               An = Such an attitude can paralyze our initiative and made us feel continuously put-down. 

            Q  Did Jesus hold to rules?

               An = He did hold to rules, especially teaching that helped bless and give order and concentration to our lives.  Yet He also had to deal not with a "conservativism", but a negative, critical, faultfinding, punitive attitude, and it was dressed up in religious language.  These people said they represented God.  Jesus disagreed.  Lets see how...

 

III.  Jesus Under Attack from the Religious Authorities. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:1-5

            Q What is the real question here?

               An =  It was not about hygiene, rather Jesus' men were eating without going through a prescribed religious action with their hands.  Therefore, they were defiled.

            Note:  Washing hands in the O.T. itself was only for priests entering the Temple:  Exodus 30:19 and 40:13. 

>>>> Have someone turn to Exodus 30:19 and 40:13 and read them.

                        It seems in later times these rules were applied to the congregation as a whole.  It also had developed into a large complicated set of rules.  None of these complex rules are in the Bible itself.

            Q  If something good happens, is there going to be criticism?

               An = I think if one is going to really do aggressive service, or gathering of disciples (people to train and lead), there is going to be criticism from those who are not in control of that process.  If you are doing some positive good, there will be those who find fault, especially if they do not authorize or control it.  This is a common trait of human nature. 

            Q  Is jealousy always present in the hearts of men?

 

III.  Jesus' Response.   

   A. Initial Response: A Hard Blast from Isaiah. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:6-8.

            Q Why does Jesus call them hypocrites?

               An = The key issue is they speak the right words but do not do the right actions from their hearts.  Bornkamm reminds us that such behavior separates God's glorious Law from God and becomes man's authority".[i]  It no longer led to a meeting with God but frustrated it.  People were using religion to set aside the very truths of God's commandments.  Therefore, religious rituals and prescriptions helped lead them in vain worship. 

            This is Jesus' main accusation, now He will illustrate what He means.

   B. An Illustration from Their Practice of What They Did. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:9-13.

            Note:  Some Jews knew Jesus was right here.  What was being done was indeed a fine (but corrupt) manipulation of religion.  Just like today, many people sense something is not right.

            Q  Does anyone know what this "Corban" was?

               An = It literally meant gift.  It seemed that certain Jews were dedicating property or valuables that made them unusable for the support of their parents.  They did not actually give the money to the temple it was just set aside.  They were doing something religious but disobeying God, i.e. providing help for their parents in their old age as the parents had fully supported them in their infancy.

            Q Is this fundamentalism?

            Q What is fundamentalism?  What is its real definition?

            Q Are all fundamentalists the same?

               An = Actually the original definition is the holding to the "fundamentals" of the faith:  authority of Scripture, Jesus' deity, the Virgin birth, the Trinity, etc.  Fundamentalism is now used as a pejorative term meaning someone who is conservative, unthinking, and cruel.  However, historical fundamentalism is a good thing, it means holding to the fundamental truths of the Christian religion.

            Q What in the religion of His day is Jesus against?

               An = Phoniness!  Using religion to not do the will of God.

            Q Is Jesus a conservative?

               An =  In the true sense, yes.  Jesus thinks we should take care of our parents in their old age, and quotes the Old Testament.  Jesus believes in the actual meaning of the Scriptures, not a contorted meaning.   Both liberals and conservatives can be guilty of this.  When this is done, the Scriptures are no longer the Word of God but our own.

   C.  True Religion and True Defilement Defined by Metaphor. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:14-19

            Q What is Jesus' point?

               An = >> Read Jeremiah 17:9.  Then have the whole group turn with you to

 >>>> Have someone read Proverbs 6:16-19.

            Q What is the emphasis in the O.T? 

               An = Is not Jesus a true conservative?  One who actually goes back to the true riches and truth of the past?

            Q  Look at Mark 7:17-19, do the disciples understand?

               An = Even God's closest followers do not always catch the agenda (7:17-19).  Even those right next to Jesus failed to see the real agenda.  We are always so quick to criticize and often so slow to really see what the Lord wants us to see.  Notice He does explain further....

   D.  Jesus Further Explains and Spells Out His Metaphor of True Defilement. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:20-23.

            Q What is His point here?  What defiles a man?

               An = Only persons can be defiled.  What defiles a person is their own actions.  Our actions are a product of our hearts.  Jesus does not want us outwardly religious and inwardly phony.

 

IV.  Conclusion:  Two Points or possible applications:

            1.  Jesus did not come to teach freedom from rules or religion as outward show.  Jesus came to heal our minds and hearts.  He is not anti-rule, but wants to go deep down into our subconscious and alter our disposition (our actual approach to all of life, Himself and others).  This work takes time - remember the disciples were slow learners - but it is possible.  If you want to be a true believer, it is possible.

            2.  Jesus does believe in true doctrine, but the heart is the key.  Even crucial issues must be handled with an eye to converting the heart. 

            Note:  For the leaders own reading and perspective, or if at another time.  See Acts 18:24-28 on how to correct someone else's faulty theology when it is not intentional.  If we wish to harshly correct just to show ourselves right we miss the whole intention of theology:  (i.e. thinking about God).

            A.  18:24-25 = First honest appraisal and therefore praise for the good such a person does, even though their truth is incomplete.

            B.  18:26 = Then private correction and further instruction.  Notice he seems to gladly accept the additional truth.  He did not know, now he does.

            C.  18:27-28 = Observe the fruits such an approach to faulty theology:  help in the ministry and great service toward the furtherance of the Gospel.

---

[i].  G. Bornkamm, Jesus of Nazareth (New York, 1960), p. 104:  "What does this conception of the law reveal?  Evidently this:  the law has become separated from God has become man's real authority.  It no longer leads to a meeting with God, but rather frustrates it.  Correspondingly man has retreated behind his deeds and achievements-as well as behind his guilt.  God is concealed behind the law and man behind his achievements and works.  Law and performance are the two sides of the protecting wall, behind which man takes up his own position and asserts himself before God."  Quoted in Lane, p. 248.

Lesson # 15 | MARK 6:45-56 | STRESSING CLOSED MINDS

I.  Greetings. 

            Q  Did you ever notice how easy it is to get side-tracked off your real goal?

            Q  What was Jesus' real goal?

               An = Jesus came to earth not to be successful, popular, or found a new religion, but to save the world.  Men needed to be saved from sin and ungodliness.  They needed to know they needed to repent so that God would begin to redeem them making them fully human again, ready for all eternity. 

            Q  Is it hard to keep on track?

               An = Keeping on the true track is hard for humans and the disciples were no exception.  We often get off base, but lest we get angry at others who do, or discouraged with ourselves when it is us, Jesus has a word for us. 

            The message is not spoken but acted out in this section of Scripture.

 

II.  The Preparation of Prayer:  Mark 6:45-47.    

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:45-47.

            Note:  Jesus had just performed an amazing miracle.  He feed five thousand people.  If you remember, the miracle seemed to be more for the benefit of the disciples than the people.  It appears only the disciples knew it was a miracle, a miracle primarily to teach them to have faith in the midst of the tension of ministry or life.  Now that the miraculous feeding is over....

            Q  What is the stated reason for Jesus' sending off the disciples and the crowd?

               An = It is for the reason of prayer.

            Q  Why is it important to get alone to pray?  Is it more important to get alone after a tremendous experience of success? 

               An = Jesus seems to think so!  This is the second time we find this pattern in Mark (see 1:35-39).  If something goes extremely well for you in a ministry situation, playing,  speaking, or doing a service for the church, and if we do not want to get caught up in the illusion of pride, we can begin by talking to the Lord. 

            Certainly one cannot remain in the stupidity of pride for long in the true presence of the Almighty.

            Note:  I want to suggest a couple things to pray when alone.

            1) Perhaps pray using Scripture as a guide.  Philippians 1:9-11, or a Psalm.  Let me give you an example from Psalm 38: 13-22, a prayer made by someone in great anxiety and then a another example from a practice of Jesus and Paul.

>>>> Have someone read Psalm 38:13-22:

            When over whelmed:

express your confusion or pain (13-14),

express your hope in God in the midst of your trouble due to enemies (15-17),

ask for forgiveness of our own sin (18),

but do not take justice into your own hands

but rather ask God Himself to intervene (19-22). 

            In other words, pray, do not fume.  It is OK to be anxious and ask God in the midst of anxiety for help.  It is called faith.  It takes faith to pray and not fume.

            2)  Pray for those with whom you are annoyed.

            3)  Pray for those you love, remember the "Greek" woman.  She was heard in behalf of those she cared for.

           

III.   The Power Over Raging:  Mark 6:48-49.  

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:48-49.

            Note:   See in 6:48 that our Lord is watching - God is always watching, even though He seems to be gone.

            Q  Why does He let the disciples get in trouble and struggle?

               An =  Back in Mark 4:35-41, the last time the disciples encountered difficulties in a boat, Jesus was sleeping.  Now He is not even in the boat, He is further away, He is on the land.  He seems to deliberately allow them to get into situations that stress them out. 

            Q  Is God's goal to make our lives easy?

               An = Mark tells us God's goal is to build and bless us.  He often allows us to get into storms, as His best blessings come in disguises.            

            Q  Whenever the master is absent did the disciples find themselves in distress?

               An = I know I always find myself so!  When I know God is near there is nothing that can rattle me.

            Note:   The phrase "passing by" in verse 48 is seemingly an odd one.  However, lets see this phrase in other biblical texts:  have someone look up and

>>>> Read Exodus 33:19,22

>>>> Read I Kings 19:11 

            Mark is deliberately using language that hints of theophany (the appearance of God to men).  One familiar with the O.T. language would no doubt have noticed this subtle allusion to deity.  This is one more hint that Mark saw Jesus as the same God who founded Israel and created the entire world.  Mark sees Jesus in the same language as the Lord God Almighty.

 

IV.  The Disciple's Hardened Hearts:  Mark 6:50-52.  

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:50-52

            Q  What does Jesus say to them in the midst of their fear?

               An = "Take courage!  It is I.  Don't be afraid."  When Christ is in our presence, we can be courageous and fear not for He is present!  Notice He then climbs into the boat.  He climbs into our circumstances, and they sort themselves out!

            Give an example of this from your own or someone everybody else knows life.  You could have someone set up to do this before the meeting.

            Q  What does 6:52 mean?

               An = Perhaps this helps us see another reason why Jesus let them get so stressed?  If we are stressed, maybe it is because we have hardened our hearts.  We did not learn from the previous situation what was possible to learn.

            Q  Did they immediately learn from the previous situation of Jesus making bread for 5,000 people from 5 loaves and 2 fishes?

               An = At times Jesus does things in our lives, for us or in our midst, even a miracle, and we do not learn what He so plainly wants us to learn.  God does something for us, but often we are not drawn closer to God.

            Q  If we harden our hearts, and do not learn, does Jesus still love us?

               An = Surprisingly, yes.  We can go through periods of incredible stupidity, and yet He still loves us.

            Note:   Understanding the ways of life, and the actions of God, are often not a matter of intellectual ability, but an existential matter, a matter of living faith.  A matter of being open to seeing what God is trying to say and do in our lives.

            We are often very dense.

V.  The Crowds Too:  Healing They Want But Not Teaching, Mark 6:53-56.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:53-56.

            Q  In the midst of such acts of healing, what is missing?

               An = There is no teaching.  Remember Mark is always pointing out that Jesus' real desire is to teach the people, not merely give them temporal blessing.  Some of us here today know we need help in a temporal way, but that is really all we want from God.  We want blessing, but not what He wants to teach us.

            People often do not want the Lord's Word that will heal their souls but only physical healing.

            Q  Does Jesus heal anyway?

               An = Yes, He does.  The disciples did not understand what they should have understood, but Jesus saved them in the boat anyway.  The people wanted healing, and Jesus gave it to them. 

            Jesus does not presently teach here, but He will teach.  Next week watch what He does.  He will creatively get the truth to the people. 

Lesson # 14 | MARK 6:30-44 | A WORD TO TIRED WORKERS

I.  Greetings:

 

II. Dealing With Tired Workers:  Mark 6:30-44

   A.  Debriefing Tired Workers:  Mark 6:30-32

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:30-32.

  Note:  Jesus gave direction to His men.  They needed something because of the hustle and bustle of their lives. 

  Q  Why does He suggest a solitary or quiet place?

     An = 1)  Jesus said it was to get some rest.  Sometimes we are tired and need rest.  Some people never work hard, but others are driven, hard working people, and at times rest is needed.

          2)  Sometimes we need a time to debrief:  to talk out and verbalize all that is happening to us.  They needed to be alone with each other.

  Q  Have you ever felt this way? 

  Q  Do you feel this way today?

   B. Interruption:  The Crowd Gathers, Mark 6:33-34. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:33-34.

  Q  What does the crowd do to their plans?

     An = They ruined their rest.  Just when the disciples thought they had a chance to relax and talk, more people.  The very thing they sought rest from followed them to their solitary place. 

  Note:   1) It was the work of the disciples that drew the crowd, note the plural in 6:33.   The crowds not only recognized Jesus but also the disciples.

          2) This is the only time the disciples are called apostles in the book of Mark (6:30).  They were "sent ones", missionaries.  Perhaps they had done their work too well. 

  RQ  Is it not true that the reason some of you are tired this morning is because you have done good work and it has created more for you.  Also, you have been "sent", been "commissioned".  You have accepted important and demanding positions.  Like the apostles, God has given you important work.  You are a parent, a provider, a care-given, an office holder at church, or in a valid and valuable organization.

  Q  What Jesus' reaction to the interrupting crowds?

     An = It was one of compassion.

  Q  Why did He feel compassion? 

     An = Jesus says they were like, "sheep without a shepherd"? 

  Q  Why did He do what He did in the last phrase of 6:34.

     An = Numbers 27:16-18, people need leaders.  Jesus' compassion is based on the fact they do not know the direction and guidance that is needed.  They need to be taught.  So He does not merely feel but He acts.  He gives them the best!  He teaches them.

  Q  Long ago, Israel was in the wilderness, in the dessert, what did God give Israel in the wilderness of Sinai?

     An = the Law, the instruction of God on how to love God and your neighbor.

  Note:  There are many wilderness motifs[i] present in this story.

   C.  Jesus adds stress:  Mark 6:35-38. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:35-38

  Q  What did the disciples want Jesus to do with the crowd?

     An = The disciples get practical.  They want Jesus to lose the crowd.  However, Jesus challenges them to do more.

  Q  Is there a note of complaint in their request?  Are they tired of people?

  RQ  Do you get tired of people?

    Note: They had done healings, i.e. medical miracles, and now Jesus wants them to feed people, to do cafeteria miracles.  Jesus was asking them to do something they had never done before.  He will do the same to us today.  He pushes us out of our comfort zones, beyond what we want to give.   Be prepared, Jesus was this way then, and He is that way now.

  Q  Has He done that to you?  Can you give an example?

  Q  Are they a bit exasperated in 6:37?  Do you ever get that way?

     An = Notice that Jesus does not kill them, right then and there.  He is patient.  He plys them with another question about actual provisions.

  Q  How many provisions did they have?

     An = Five loaves of bread and two fishes.

  Q  Why did He ask them such a simple question?  Why does He ask them this question?

    Note:  He asks them to do something that is feasible first, something physical, something they were capable of doing:  i.e. check supplies. 

    Note:  God often starts with us assessing our resources, counting our hours, our finances, our abilities.  It is a physical, simple task. 

    Note:  It also lets us know just how limited our actual resources are.

   D.  The Miracle:  Mark 6:39-44.  

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:39-40.

  Q  When were large amounts of Israelite people in the desert or remote areas of the wilderness?

     An = It was when Israel was traveling from Egypt to the Promised Land.

    Note:   One of the distinquishing marks of their time in the desert was the elaborate and concise way they camped.  They camped in an organized and orderly manner.  So see now what the Lord is doing.  He orders and organizes the people into groups of 50.  This is a wilderness motif, i.e. they dealt with people in an organized manner.

  The God who led Israel out of bondage and gave them identity was now again in their presence.  It was the same God.

    Note:  It does not take a miracle to organize the people, but it is work that takes physical effort.  The beginning of a miracle seems to be when we do our part.  Then His power takes over.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:41-44.

  Q  Who actually fed the people?  Who literally handed out the bread?

     An = See 6:41, it was the disciples.

  Q  Who knew about the miracle, the crowds or the disciples?  Why?

     An = It appears that only the disciples know how much bread they started with and that it was not enough.  They started out with only five loaves and two fishes, they ended up with twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

  Q  Does Jesus care about tired workers?

     An = Yes He does.  He does not take away the problem or throw out people.  But in the midst of the burn-out situation, He teaches.  He does care about us.  He is willing to only let us see a miracle.  So we can understand the source of power to meet needs.

  Note:  This is the second banquet or meal in the chapter.  In the meal provided by Jesus there is no waste, a simple meal in contrast to Herod's feast and immorality.

  Note:  Notice another wilderness motif:  bread from heaven. 

>> Turn to Numbers 11:13,22,23. 

  RQ Who gave Moses bread? 

  RQ Who gave the disciples bread? 

  Note:  In both cases it was God.  Mark is subtly saying God is here!

  Note:  Jesus is the true shepherd, both of the sheep and the disciples.

 

IV.  Application:

   A.  When stressed, Jesus may push beyond your views of what is reasonable. 

  Q  So what do we do?

     An = Vent, tell Him you think that it is too much (see 6:37),

     Obey, see what tangible things you should do (see 6:38), and then

     Watch Him work.

   B.  We can learn some things best only when we come to the end of our resources.  If we have come to them this season, take heart.  He may be getting ready to teach you much about Himself, your limitations, and His greatness.

   C.  The disciples fed the poor, but Jesus, in a real way, was feeding His men.

   Note:  He does understand our weariness, but it is in that weariness that He often shows us His greatest power.  The disciples began to see He was willing to show them His true nature,   like His Father in the time of Moses.  He was willing to do miracles that only the disciples saw because the disciples were more important to Him, than letting the world see His miraculous power.

   D.  Whether medical or cafeteria miracles, there is a greater miracle yet.  The Desert Fathers remind us, it is a bigger miracle to eject passion from yourself than demons from another and to control anger than to control demons.  It is a bigger miracle to get out of depression than rid disease from the body of another.  The power which heals your soul is greater than that which heals a body.

  Some of us need our souls healed this today?  He is willing right now to go to work.  As I pray tell Him how frustrated you are. 

  He will not kill you, or get angry. 

  He will start asking you to do some very practical things.

  If you obey, He may start working way beyond anything you thought possible.

    You pray, as I pray....

 

---

[i].  What is meant by motif, is theme.  Mark will use recurring theme that would make his readers think of similar motifs or thematic elements which are also present in the Pentateuch.  The recurring theme in this portion of Mark is the wilderness motif or theme that every good Jew would have quickly recognized.

Lesson # 13 | MARK 6:14-29 | THE DEATH OF FALSE KINGS

I.  Greetings:

 

II. Introduction:

            Q What happens when you cross powerful authorities?  Have you ever done so in your life:  a strong bully, a boss, a teacher, a strong parent, or even the police?

              An = The Proverbs have some insight in this regard:  Have three different people look up and...

>>>> Have someone read Proverbs 16:14, 19:12, and 20:2.

            Q What is the message here?

               An =  The message of the Proverbs is that if you anger the "king" or the powerful one then expect to get hurt.

              Lets look at someone who crossed an authority in Jesus' day.  This man corrected the morals of a king.

 

III.  The Setting:  The Uneasy Prince.  Mark 6:14-16.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:14-16.

            Q Who does King Herod think Jesus Christ is?

               An = He thinks Jesus is a man that was raised from the dead:  namely John the Baptist.

            Q Is such a viewpoint a bit unusual for a king?  Is not Herod a bit uneasy?

               An =  Most kings do not think that new popular leaders are recently risen from the dead.  This is even unusual for Herod.  Let me show you why. 

            Herod was known to be unsensitive and therefore disobedient to Jewish law:  for example, he built a city on a graveyard, so that all Jews who entered his city of Tiberias became unclean. 

>>>> See Leviticus 18:16 and 20:21. (perhaps have one person read out loud to the group both texts).  Herodias' husband was still alive.  John the Baptist was a truly righteous man, and Herod was clearly aware that he himself was not.

 

IV.  The Cost of Speaking the Truth:  Mark 6:17-20.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:17-20.

            Q Why was John arrested?

               An = John had been making comments on the immoral and illegitimate marriage of Herod to his brother Philip's wife:  Herodias.

            Q Why did John speak out against an obviously non-religious king?

               An = He took a stand for public morality, for loyalty to God's Word..

            Note:   What is interesting is that John seemed to have been arrested both for his own protection (probably from the angry Herodias) and to silence his preaching.

            Q What does 6:20 mean?  Why did Herod enjoy listening to the prophet?

               An =  William Lane notes that he was more weak than cruel.  Herod was open to the Lord, open to the truth.  Seldom do governors go to the jails to listen to prisoners.  Ask our own governor, it is seldom done.  There was no doubt something that drew Herod to John.  Something deep inside Herod's soul longed for the truth from this courageous and sincere man of God.

            Q Why did John's disciples not fight to protect him?

               An = True prophets do not have power, except that of holiness and righteousness.  John dies alone.  Jesus dies alone.   When Jesus was arrested He did not allow his disciples to be arrested with Him.  He was arrested and taken into custody alone.

            >> Have someone read John 18:7-9.

            Then quote Mark 14:50:  "Then everyone deserted Him and fled."

            The O.T. prophets did the same.  Their followers did not die with them.  Contrast David Koresh, Jim Jones, etc.  If you are going to lead in the great biblical tradition you cannot be like most modern leaders.  When you lead, do not acquire power, rather acquire influence. 

            Arthur Lynip once said:  "The `teacher-leader' should die for the student, or parishioner, but never the student for the teacher". 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 10:45.

            Note:  John is seen in his actions to prefigure the Lord. 

            Q Did Jesus' disciples get arrested and crucified with Jesus when they arrested Him?

               An = No they did not.  Jesus saw that they got away.  It sure would have been more comfortable to have been arrested with friends and admirers.  It would have been easier to not be sent to that unfair court scene alone.  It would have been easier to be crucified with friends who respected you instead of between thieves who began by throwing insults at Him.  Jesus was truly a man's man.  If you let Him influence you, you will become a different sort of person. 

            I am not impressed with religious jargon.  I am impressed with someone who has the courage and love to actually do what the Bible tells them to do.  Those type of people are impressive.

            Note: For some of you today, this dying alone may not seem relevant to most of you right now, but merely wait.  You will be in a position of authority and when you are threatened it will be shown who you really are by "who dies" figuratively when you are under attack.  When you are in charge you will be surprised at the amount of attacks.

            Real leaders speak out for the truth and are willing to pay the consequences.  They have true courage because they speak with authenticity and loyalty to what is right.  They know it may cost them.  They are not going to let others die or pay the price for their leadership.  They will pay their own bills.

            Phony leaders, religious or otherwise, will act and speak courageously but let others take the blame or will get others to speak up for them, etc.  They will let others get all worked up and do the "dirty work". 

            Give an example of a good leader here if you can. 

 

V.  Sensuality and the Murder of the Soul. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:21-29.

            Q Did Herod want to kill John?  Why then did Herod kill him?

            Q What led him to kill a holy man?

               An = Peer Pressure and Sensuality - 1) To be sure Herod was a weak man.  He lets his glands lead his life.   Sexual sensuality can lead us further down and away from God.  It can cloud our thinking and ability to see reality.   It will not lead us down to stupidity, even death. 2) Some people will give into peer pressure.  They will allow the circumstances of public acceptability make them do things completely against what they want and know to be right.   Give an example of a cave-in you know.

            Herod killed more than John that day. 

            Q Who really died the day of the banquet?

               An = He killed his openness to God.  Herod killed his own soul during that banquet.

>>>> End with reading II Timothy 2:9-13.

Lesson # 12 | MARK 6:1-13 | DEALING WITH REJECTION

I.  Greetings:

 

II. Introduction:

            All of us face rejection in one form or another in our lives.  It seems to be a part of life.  We need one another and get dependent on one another, and yet not everyone is very faithful or understanding.  Some of you today have even been rejected by the very people you would have least expected it from.

            Q  Who are the people who can hurt us the most if they reject us? 

               An = It is often those most close to us.

            Note:  We often feel horrible when we are rejected.  We usually become angry or we begin to blame ourselves.  We often think, if we were just somehow better, we would not be rejected.

            Q  Do you think Jesus, the perfect man, ever faced rejection? 

               An = Remember, Jesus was fully human as well as fully God, and so like all humans He too faced such things.  He too, experienced and faced rejection.

 

III.  Jesus is Rejected:  Mark 6:1-6.

   A.  The Stigma of Ordinariness:  An Excuse for Unbelief.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:1-3.

            Q  Why did they reject Jesus? 

               An =  See Mark 6:3 and >> re-read Mark 6:3 for them.  They did not recognize Jesus for who He was.  What seemed to throw them off was Jesus' ordinariness.  They failed to penetrate the "veil of ordinariness".  Jesus was a blue-collar worker. 

            Funny, some things never change.  People still look down on blue-collar workers, as simple ordinary folks.

            Q  Do you ever feel ordinary?  Is it wrong to feel so?

            Note:  In Jesus' time manual labor in the Greco-Roman world invited scorn. 

            In addition, "son of Mary" could possibly refer to charges of born out of wedlock. 

            Whether that was implied or not, it is certain His parents were not special.  They knew His family.  He could make no claim to fame from His humble, blue-collar worker, home.

            Note:  It is OK to be ordinary.  It is OK to be just you. 

            Note:  One more thought from these verses:  Do not be ashamed of humble beginnings.  Do not be ashamed of ordinariness.  Almighty God had ordinary, blue-collar, parents.  It seems to me that God could have given His Son any parents in the world, but He chose Mary and Joseph.

            Notice that Jesus will not be ashamed or embarrassed.  Let us see what He will say.

   B.  Jesus' Response:  Mark 6:4

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:4

            Q  What is Jesus saying here?  What does He mean?

               An = The prophet is not heard at times because he is too familiar.  Jesus says the problem is not Him, but the hearers.

            RQ Do we do that today?  Do we miss the voice of God because it comes through a person or method too familiar to us?

               Note:  Do we fail to listen to what God really wants of us because the mouth piece is our parents, a relative, a person we know well, or even our children?  We need to be able to see the truth because it is the truth, not because the messenger is someone special, mysterious, fashionable, or politically correct.

            Truth is truth whether on the lips of Moses or Balaam' s donkey.

            Some of you are fighting the will of God and you invalidate the message because you can charge the messenger with ordinariness.

   C.  The Results of Their Rejection:  Ministry Hindered.  Mark 6:5-6

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:5-6.

            Q  What does Mark 6:5 mean?  Why were there few miracles?

               An =  Why couldn't Jesus do more miracles there?  Let me suggest a few reasons. 

            1)  Miracles without faith would reduce Jesus to a "pagan" miracle worker, not a redeemer.  He would be like a Santa Claus, not the One who was there to bring them to a whole new standard of living, a whole new conception of life, a higher value system.

            2)  There were no limits to His power, but the privation was due to their unbelief, it excluded them from the full dynamic disclosure of God's grace.  Miracles are not here to impress us but lead us to faith in the Son of God.

            Q  Is God's full disclosure of grace blocked here?  Is it blocked in us? 

            Q  Is there blessing from God that others can receive but not us?

            Q  Is our church or nation rejecting Jesus?  How? 

               An = Again, see Mark 6:3.

   D.  Jesus' Rejection Is Forewarning of Our Own.

            Note:  Even Jesus was rejected, we must expect the same where the gospel advances.

            Q  Did Jesus stop?

               An = No, and the proof is in 6:6b and 6:7. 

            1)  He kept preaching, Jesus did not quit His ministry at this point.  He kept on preaching, kept on teaching.  He did not give up on those who rejected Him.

            2)  He sent out the twelve.  He starts a whole new strategy and multiplies and expands the work.

 

IV.  Sending Others:  A Response to Rejection.  Mark 6:7-13.

   A. The Sender Gives Authority. 

            Note:  When Jesus was rejected He did not give up.  He kept preaching, and He began a new tactic:  He sent others besides Himself to preach.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:7.

            Q  In Mark 6:7 what did Jesus give the disciples?

               An = He gave them authority over demonic powers.

            Q  Did it really happen?

               An = It did and the proof of their received authority is in 6:12-13.

>>>> Read Mark 6:12-13.  They preached repentance, cast out demons, and healed the sick.

            Q  Do we do this today?  Do we see miracles and even want to preach repentance?

            Note:  Remember He who sends has power.  If it is truly Him that sends us, then we need to remember that He can give such authority.

   B. The Manner of the Sending:  Mark 6:8-11

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:8-9.

            Q  What does this mean?  List the things He says to do.

               An = Take nothing for the journey except a staff:  no bread, bag, money, or extra clothes.  In other words travel light.  Go expecting God to provide for you.

               Note:  They were to have light resources.  Perhaps our willingness to be vulnerable leads to power. 

            Q  Are all modern missions today to be like this one?

            Note: According to verse 7, they were sent out in twos.

            Q  Why do you suppose He did this?            

               An = I would think it would be easier to have someone with you on such a risky adventure.  It is easier to handle tough times with a good friend or a good spouse.  Perhaps another part of the answer is found in Deuteronomy 17:6. 

>>>> You read to them Deuteronomy 17:6.  There were two of them witnessing to them.  Maybe they would be heard or listened to better because there was two of them.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:10-11

            Q What does 6:10 mean?

               An = Perhaps it refers to stability?  See how the disciples too were going to experience rejection, see 6:11.  However, they were to be:  1)  above suspicion and therefore not out for money, 2)  free of all care, 3) to understand they needed not resources, but His power.              Jesus had told them that all they needed was Jesus' commissioning, and they had lacked nothing.  What this also could imply is that we error when we commission ourselves or think the commissioning of man can be more important than the true commissioning and authority from Jesus Himself.

            Q How are we not vulnerable today? 

               An = Do we feel like we have to have all the resources lined up and under our control before we do what God has called us to do?  I know I am very often like this.  I want some measure of control over the future of my efforts at ministry.

            Q What is the Lord saying to us today?

            Q Do we want His authority?

            Note:  If we do we must also accept His vulnerability.

Lesson # 11 | MARK 5:21-43 | DEALING WITH THE UNCLEAN

I.  Greetings:

 

II.  Introduction:

            Note:  The rest of chapter 5 is basically narrative stories about Jesus. 

            Note:  I think most of us have learned by now that you do not really know a person by their words, only by their deeds.  Some of you in the next few weeks and months will be making some crucial decisions in your life whether you are aware of that now or not.  Many of you know what God would want in those situations.  But to follow God.... 

            Can I be happy and do God's will?  If I let God control my life, if I really ask Him to be "Lord" what will He do with me?

            RQ  What is God really like?

            Note:  The answer is most clearly found in Jesus.  Watch Jesus and if you like Jesus, you will like God.

            Q  What is the best way to know what someone is really like?

               An = Watch them in action.  Actions speak louder than words.

            That is what we are going to do today:  WATCH JESUS.

 

III.  The Chance of Success:  Mark 5:21-24. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:21-24.

            Q  What does verse 21 and verse 24 report about the crowds?

               An = Jesus has drawn large crowds.  Jesus has a measure of success at least in numbers of people being interested in what He is doing.  He is popular.

            However, Jesus is not popular with one part of the society....

               Q  How many of you have done youth work, or been in charge of a ministry?

            Q  How important is it to please powerful parents?

            Note: Jesus is already in trouble with some of the scribes from Jerusalem (3:22).  They are already against Him, to heal a synagogue official's child would help Jesus.  Jesus has crowds but He does not have the approval of a part of the leadership class of His society.

            Note: In the Middle East, and in some parts of the West, children are their parent's life.  To help the child is to bless the parent.

 

IV.  Interrupted by Losers:  Mark 5:25-34

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:25-28

   A.  Jesus' Curious Speech:  A Crazy Question, Mark 5:25-30.           

            Note:  We know Jesus was in a crowd.  In 5:24, we know there was a large crowd and it was pressing in on Him.

            Q  How did the disciples react to Jesus' wanting to know who touched Him?

               An =  It is truly ridiculous to ask, "who touched me," when people are completely thronging You.

            Note:  She was considered in a continual period and therefore unclean for the past 12 years. 

>>>> Turn to Leviticus 15:25-28 and have someone read these verses.

            Q  How do you think she felt about herself?

            Q  How do you think her standing was in the community?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:29-30

            Q  Why did she touch Him? 

               An = See Mark 3:10, 6:56

>>>> Read to them Mark 3:10 and 6:56.  She wanted to be healed and she believed that if she touched Him she would be.

   B.  The Motives For the Curious Speech:  Mark 5:31-34.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:31-34

            Q  Why did Jesus ask who touched Him?  What was He after? 

               An = It seems rather ridiculous that He asked such a question.  Look at 5:31! 

>>>> Have someone re-read 5:31.  They certainly did not think Jesus's question was a good one.

            RQ  Did bringing to the public's attention that He was defiled work to His advantage?

            Note:  This public exposure must have terrified the woman.  From a certain point of view, what He did was unkind.  Imagine being forced to confess you defiled a popular rabbi?  Imagine the condemnation He could be calling down on her to further erode her already low standing in the community.

            Jesus is not always, to outward appearances, a nice man.

            Note:  Perhaps He called her out to further bless her, not immediately to please her.

            1.  She had reached out in faith to God.  He let her know that is what the touching really was for her.  He interpreted her action for her, to inform her, to teach her.

>> Re-read 5:34.

            2.  In His speech of verse 34 she was informed how to find God again.  What had saved her was faith, not magic.  It is faith the Lord wanted, not groupies thronging leaders for miracles. 

            3. She would have many more needs in her days to come, and now she knew how to get a hold of the Lord again.  She now knew how to establish a relationship with Him.  Jesus was giving her God's phone number:  faith.

            4.  He called her daughter and told her to go in peace.  He let her know He was not angry.  His parting phrase surely communicated that He was not mad she had defiled Him. 

            Q  Is it important to let people know we are not angry? 

            Q  Why? 

               An = Think of the times when you wondered if an authority important to you was angry with you.  It is important to let people know what will hurt them, but it is also important to let people know when you are not angry.  Give some examples from your own life?

            Note:  The words "go in peace", literally mean "go in shalom".  "Shalom" or "Peace" in Hebrew means more than just absence of conflict, it means completeness, harmony.  He tells her:  "All is well, you are not only at peace, but in harmony with Me, with God."

            Note:  In the Old Testament the "Peace" offering is called in Hebrew the "Shalomim".  The offering symbolizes that you, your neighbor, and God are in harmony, at peace with one another, in sync with reality.  It is often called the "Communion Offering".

 

V.  Back to Jarius and the Chance of Success:  Mark 5:35-43. 

   A. The Proposal of Sleep:  The Hiding of Power

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:35-36.

            Note:  Notice, the parents are no doubt starting to panic and go into terrible grief.  Jesus authoritatively tells them not to panic, to not fear, to "just believe".

            Note:  He has a problem with the parents because of the defiling woman's interuption.  Being kind to a humble woman cost Him time that could have gone to important societal people.  Jesus seems to be willing to get into trouble with the powerful to take time for what the world considers as unimportant poor people.  This is consistently who Jesus is.  If you want God to deal only with your kind you will be disappointed with the Lord.  If you are not part of the important classes in your society, this is good news.  You matter to Him no matter what your social standing is. 

            If you are going to be in ministry, in the manner Jesus was in ministry, if you are going to be a Christian, "like Christ", then this needs to be a practice you should be involved with.  This should be the practice your church or group is involved with.  This is the price you should be willing to pay.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:36-40

            Q  Notice Jesus said the dead girl was asleep, why did Jesus say that? 

               An = Sleep was a metaphor for death in Hebrew society.   For example, let me give you a quote from Paul, who was a Jew, and naturally used this metaphor for death in one of his writings.  >> Have someone read I Thessalonians 5:10.  So when Jesus said she was asleep it could have been taken literally, which could mean she was sleeping, or it could be taken metaphorically, that she was dead.  Jesus was deliberately ambiguous.  He had a reason.  It is tied to something else he did.  Jesus could be implying that the girl is not dead but rather that the girl was just in a comma.  Strange.

            Q  Notice, in verse 40, He allowed in only the parents and three disciples, why did He do this?

               An = He seems to be deliberately trying to hide what He is about to do.  He only let five people into the room where the dead girl lay.  He wanted no one else to see what would happen.  Why He is doing this will become clearer as we read on.

   B. The Display of Power:  Resurrection from the Dead.  Mark 5:41-43.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:41-43.

            Note:  Jesus touches her.  Again Jesus has seemingly become defiled.  However, Jesus takes her by the hand.  Jesus is more interested in ministry than being picky about certain rules.

            Note:   He gave her something to eat!  Jesus is a practically loving person. 

            He certainly showed that He was carefully concerned for the child's welfare and not merely interested in using her as a tool for His displays of power. 

            Note:  This could be also the reason He let it seem that the girl was just in a comma, just asleep and not dead.  This could also be the reason He allows only the parents and His closest disciples to see what He did.  He forbids the girl's healing to get noised about.  He does not use this girl as a publicity piece.  He lets others assume she was merely in comma.  He refuses to let the crowds make a spectacle of this little child.

Lesson # 10 | MARK 5:1-20 | POWER CONFRONTATION

I.  Greetings: 

 

II.  Introduction:  I ate lunch with a gentleman who has just returned from Malaysia.  He ministered to, and was ministered to, by the Christians among the Ebond tribe there.  He spoke about how young missionaries would go into a "long-house" and before they could witness, there would often be a power confrontation between them and the tribal Shaman.  The power of Jesus had to be seen as superior to the power in the Shamans before those present.  After such a power confrontation, they would then listen to the Christians.

            Q  When the issue of demonic possession of someone today comes up, what do you think?  What runs through your mind?

               An =  For some of you discussion of demonic power may seem a bit unusual, but it is discussed as a real condition in the Gospels, and it is a real condition encountered by and daily dealt with, in the third world and here in America. 

            Lets see what the Gospels have to say about such powers and their relationship to Jesus Christ.

           

III.  The Condition:  Misery and Sorrow.  Mark 5:1-5.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:1-5

            Note:  The description portrays the function of demonic possession:  "to distort and destroy the image of God".

            Q  Is more space given to this description than to the actual exorcism or healing itself?

            Q  What are the actual things done to this man?

               An = He had to be constrained and he often cut himself with stones.  The description clearly stresses that this man was miserable, ostracized from society, and willing to inflict harm upon himself.  It is not a pretty picture.

            Q  What does Satan do to a human being?

               An =  He gets human beings to hurt themselves.  That is the devil's trade mark, his M.O.  Remember this is a dramatic illustration of what the devil can do, but he can get us to hurt ourselves in less dramatic ways.  It is obvious in the drug addict, but just as true in the gossiper or an anoretic.

 

IV.  Healing/Encounter:  Mark 5:6-9.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:6-9.

            Note:  "Most High" is not a messianic title, but a divine title.  Through out the Scriptures this particular title is often found in the mouth of Gentiles.  In Mark the title is often an indication of syncretistic (all religions can be mixed) understanding.  The Bible is famous for being monotheistic, there is only "ONE" Lord.  Maybe that is why Jesus does not want testimony from demonic forces.  They tell the truth, He is the "Most High", but subtlety lie by indicating He is one power among many.

            Q  Does Jesus struggle?

               An =  Despite the strong adjuration (word of power countering Jesus' command) of the demons, they must leave. 

            Q  Is this a manual on how to do an exorcism?  How quickly is it described?

              An = Jesus merely said, "come out".  The emphasis is not on how to do this but on the amazing power of Jesus Christ to free someone of possession.

            Q  Are there other, not so obvious, ways to be in the grip of the devil?

               An = You may not be so obviously bound with demonic possession, but if you are bound by sin, you are in the grip of the devil.

            Q  How about the possession of materialism, is that being in the grip of Satan? 

               An = Perhaps, the false god of material well-being, of being an American success!  I believe more people in America are diverted from the things of God by materialism than by anything else.

            Q  To say being caught with money is being in the grip of Satan, is this too strong? 

            Q  What story did Jesus tell about Hell?  What put that man in hell?

               An = In Hell the man described there in Luke 16 was a rich man.  >>>> Turn to Luke 16:19-31.

 

V.  The Aftermath.    Mark 5:10-17.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:10-17.

            Q  What strikes you most here?

            Note:  The fate of the swine demonstrates what would have been the eventual fate of the man, destruction.

            Q  Why the death of the pigs?

               An = 1. the demon's time had not yet come.  They can be destructive, but not to this man.  2.  Jesus does not worry about pigs or economic ramifications that are entailed with this man's release, it is him he cares about.  Another example of this is in Acts 16:16-24, financial gain (especially from pigs or spiritualism) does not take precedence over a human's need.

            Q  What did the people see in 5:15? 

               An = The demon possessed man was seated, clothed, and in his right mind.   A possible point from some scholars is that in the ancient world, clothing a man was a sign of adoption.  A more secure conclusion is that the man's humanity was restored.

            Note:  Can Christians be possessed?  The text does not answer that question here.  What we do know for certain is this:  suffering and distortion of humanity comes from demonic possession.  Jesus' power stops both.  No matter the depth of the oppression or depression we know Jesus can heal.

 

VI.  The Commission of a Task:  Mark 5:18-20.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 5:18-20.

   A. The Role of Fear. 

            Note:   The text presents a sharp contrast between the man and the crowds.  He was no longer afraid, but they are.  The man is delivered from fear.   Often when someone is delivered it brings fear, unless you are the direct recipient of the touch of Jesus.  It may seem overwhelming to you as it did to these people who saw this crazy, oppressed man set free.

   B. The Role of Limits.

            Q  Why did Jesus refuse to take him?

               An =  My heart always goes out to this guy.  To be around Jesus, or one who is powerfully filled with Him, is where I always want to be.  However, the commentators point out that we must be able to hear God's "No", and then we can do His work.  Often the great characteristic of seriously mentally ill people is they cannot not hear a "no".  They may not be possessed, but they cannot accept limits. 

            The exorcism is only the beginning.  The beginning of true healing, after the exorcism, is to be freed from the grip of sin.  We need to stop being our own god.  We must be able to accept a no to our plans and desires and obey God's plans, for He is the true God, not us.  When we can accept a "no" from God we are beginning to reverse the Fall of mankind.  We begin to actualize our salvation.  Notice though that Jesus does not just say no....

   C. The Role of Tasks:

            Q  What does Jesus give this man?

               An = He says no but gives a task.   Part of the dignity of being a human is having a task to do. 

>>>> Have someone read Genesis 2:15.

            Q  Can the command go "to your people" mean family?

               An = We need to witness to our own when we receive mercy.

            Q  Is it easier to witness to "others" or our own?

               An =  Whether hard or easy when we receive mercy, we need to witness.

            Q  Did the man obey?  Did he learn to not get his way, and still be free?

               An = >>>> Re-read Mark 5:20.

"So the man went away and began to tell in the Decaplis how much Jesus had done for him.  And all the people were amazed."

Lesson # 9 | MARK 4:35-41 | IS GOD ASLEEP, WHY IS HE SLEEPING?

I.  Greetings: 

 

II. Introduction:

   A.  In the Palestinian region there is a mountain formation surrounding the Sea of Galilee.  The winds come off the mountains in such a way that at anytime this calm lake can turn into a raging body of water.  Good and terrible men have drown in that lake.  The Sea of Galilee is not such that only bad men drown in it.  It seems to be able to drown anyone at anytime.  Some have wondered if good Christians can die in natural disasters?  Would God be in control?  We would like to deal with a little of that this evening as we look at the book of Mark.  I would like to do this by showing you a little movie.  However, it will be a mental movie;  it will play on the screen of your mind.  So get ready to imagine and see in your mind's eye a short motion picture.

   B.  Close your eyes, imagine a seashore, its towards evening.

   C.  >>>> Have someone read Mark 4:35-41.

   D.  Open your eyes, this is how believers received the Scriptures for centuries, not everyone could read.  They heard the Bible.  Now think back over what you saw:

            Q  What are the two major emotions the disciples had?

               An = fear and amazement.

            Q  Why did spending time with Jesus Christ produce such an affect on them?  Is this what you would expect from spending time with Jesus?

 

II.  The Sleeping God:  Storms in our lives. 

>>>> Have someone re-read Mark 4:35-37

            Q  Who is left behind and who is goes with Jesus?

            Q  Do you think it would be great to be part of the special group?

>>>> Have someone re-read Mark 4:38

            Q  If asked, how would you answer the question, "Why does God seem so far away in our trials?"

               An = Let me share a few thoughts from a 4th Century AD believer, John of Antioch or John Chrysostom (Chrysostom pp. 189-191.): 

            Q  Whose idea was it that the disciples get into the boat?

               An = It was Jesus' idea in verse 35 that they travel across the lake.  The crowds were allowed to see the miracles, but the disciples got their boat rocked.  If you are a disciple you will get different treatment than the crowds.

            Q  Is it the treatment you would have expected? 

            Q  Do you really want to be a true disciple, or just one who enjoys going with the crowd?

            RQ  Have you met Christians that only like to see God do great things?

            Q  Why is Jesus allowing their boat to be rocked, and sleeping while they are in peril?

               An = If you are a disciple you will discover that Jesus Christ is an excellent trainer.  Chrysostom says, in the boat Jesus was aiming at two things:  strength in the midst of trials and to be modest in honor.  They were kept and the multitudes sent away.  Therefore, lest they be high minded, they got their boat rocked.  When facing trials and terrors He takes none but the "champions of the world, whom He was to discipline" (Chrysostom, pp. 189-191).  He wanted them to be strong, and He wanted to keep them humble.

            Q  Had Jesus not slept would they have feared?  Why did He sleep?

               An =  He sleeps to give them occasion to doubt.  We learn to call out to Him in trials like no other time in our lives.  The apostle Paul did:  see II Corinthians 1:8-10.

>>>> Have someone read II Corinthians 1:8-10.

            Note:  I spoke with a co-ed who was struggling with some issues, and she asked for prayer, but as she turned to leave, she said, "Make no mistake, I have never been closer to God then right now".

            Q  Must Jesus place us in hard places (storms) so we see how others view His power to deliver?

               An = Remember, the disciples had not been healed.  They had lived pretty healthy lives.  They could not relate to the pain and fear those who needed healing lived with.  They did not know the suffering of demon-possession, serious deformation, leprosy, or the pain of the various diseases others dealt with.

            EXAMPLE  Give an example from your own life.  (For me it was the root canal done recently that gave me a better understanding of what was faced by the many people I visited in the hospital as they recovered from their operations.)

 

IV.  His Awakening: 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 4:39-40.

   A. The Cause of our fear.

            Q  What causes our fear?

               An = Chrysostom would say fear comes not through trials but the weakness of our minds. 

            Q  Remember the things you feared when you were young but no longer fear?  Why do you no longer fear them?

            Q  Would someone like to share something that really scared them when they were young but no longer has that affect on them? 

            Q  For those who shared, why are you are no longer afraid?

            Q  What is the principle that could apply to the things we are afraid of right now?

               An = Ask them to write down one they presently fear.  Then to write down next to it something they used to fear and no longer fear.

   B. Learning to believe.  It takes awhile to fully believe. 

>>>> Re-read Mark 4:11 and Mark 4:34. 

            Note:  It might encourage you to note that even for Jesus' disciples, truly learning about the Kingdom of God was not automatic.  They were on the inside track.  The disciples were "seminary students" of the day.  They had access to the teachings of Jesus. 

            Q  Can learning what faith really is about be learned in books?

            RQ  Is not faith often best learned in a boat?

               An =   I believe the Holy Spirit carefully placed this story in chapter four.  We learn how the disciples were being given special intellectual instruction, and now they are being given a special lesson in faith.

            RQ  If we want to learn from the real master teacher, will not some of our education take the form of stress or trials (storms in a boat with God seemingly not awake)?

 

V.  Who Is In The Boat. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 4:41.

            Q Who is in the boat?

               An = Jesus!  The key to our lives with Him is to realize just who is in the boat with us.  Let me share three observations about Jesus from this story....

            1. Jesus is active.  He is a Person, not an intellectual abstraction.

            2. Jesus is the Lord, not a servant of God.  Moses had a rod with which to control water, Elijah and Elisha had to strike the water with a mantle, Jesus merely spoke.  He is unbridled, unmitigated, undiluted power.

            3. This shows us Jesus' Dual Nature:  a man with normal outward appearance, and He needed sleep, = He was a man;  However, He speaks and nature obeys = He was God.

               Note:  We also are "in the boat" so let me remind you of three thoughts about disciples in closing:

            1. If you are His disciple, it is important to remember that He is in the boat with us!  This is true despite what appearances are or how you feel right now.  For those of you who have flown on a foggy day you may not see the sun if you are on the ground, but if you get above the ground cover you can see that above the fog it is a beautiful sunny day.  If we are experiencing a dreary day we may not feel there is a sun, but that does not change the fact that there is one.  The sun is there whether we feel it or not.

            2. We live forever and He is developing and strengthening us, because what He is training will live forever.  He rocks the boat because He has other events in mind.  He wants to teach us faith.  Our present "boat rockings" are deliberate things He allows because we are in His hands, and He has plans on how to use our lives.

            3.  The proof that He has plans for us is that He has rocked our boat.  God will not make life easy for His disciples.  If you think Christianity will be easy you are wrong.  He wants to make something of you that will be beautiful and powerful all through your life into eternity.  Jesus Christ is not our personal "Jeanne" to make our lives pleasant and easy. 

            If you want an easy life then do not get into the boat with Jesus.

            If you want to be with Jesus, then get in.  He knows exactly what He is doing.

Lesson # 8 | MARK 4:21-33 | THE LIGHT COMES AND WILL EVENTUALLY SHINE

I. Greetings: 

 

II.  Introduction:  

            When I was in my early thirties I seriously injured my knee playing touch football with college kids.  I was in a cast for four weeks and I walked with a slight limp for nearly a year.  One day my grand mother told me that if I did not exercise my knee now, it would bother me the rest of my life.  I took her advice and tried to go jogging.  I went only 4 tenths of a mile and was completely out of breath.  Then I went a little further, and a little further, until I was able to run in a 10 K race.  My grand mother was right;  the limp went away.  The principle was use it or lose it.  (You might want to put your own example in here.)

            If you do not use the physical capacities you have they will dry up.  A lot of folks here have gone through operations, and as soon as they were able they were up and walking.  If one delays too long, what they have they will lose.

            Note:  This is how God made our physical life.  Lets see how Jesus applies this truth to the spiritual life.

 

III.  Parable of the Lamp: 

   A.  The Parable Itself. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 4:21-23.

            Note:  These are familiar verses but before we discuss them it might help our discussion by looking at the Greek behind our English translation.

            1) Verse 21, in most of our English translations, behind the English word "brought" or "bring" is the word "comes" in Greek.  In other words the light or lamp comes. 

            2) In verses 21 and 22 are four occurrences of the word hina = "in order that".  Four times in these verses the "Light comes in order that", thus light comes for a purpose.

            Q  Who is the Lamp?

               An = It is the truth about Jesus Christ.  It is Jesus Christ Himself.

            Q  What did that mean for the disciples of that day?  Why did Jesus come?

               An =  Not to be hid (21 a), but to be displayed (21 b), to be revealed (22 a), to come to light (22 b).

            Note:   If the light has come to you, praise God, you are saved!  But there is some things we are to do with the light?  We are meant to be revealers.  Not to merely do religious things, like pass out Bible phrases, be on committees, or attend church, but actually let the light shine through us.  Many pass out Bible phrases but do not reveal the heart of God. 

            Q  What does that mean for you and me? 

   B.  Warning:  Jesus Believes People are Responsible. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 4:24-25

            Q  What does the phrase mean, "how much we measure"?

               An = How much we appropriate.  How much we take on and make our own.  If we take a lot on we will be given more. 

            Q  What if we only make our own only a little bit of faith here at church or this study? 

            Q  Do some people leave this group gathering with just a little faith?

            QQ  What will happen to them according to 4:25?

               An = What they have will be taken from them.  Take care what you are hearing.  There will be a time when measuring ends.  If we have not appropriated faith, how can we be in line with Jesus.  Jesus came in order to be revealed and brought to light.  If we do not have the Light sufficiently in us, how can we give Him away?  Matthew Henry says,  "We are taught that we might teach".  Or, you only keep what you give away!

            RQ  Do some of us have anything to give away?

            Note:   Many times in my own life it became apparent I had a weak testimony among friends or relatives because my own belief and walk were so weak.  I was not willing to share the light because I did not think I had much to give.  My life with Him seemed so small. 

            I have two suggestions for you: 

            1)  Be open and honest about your lack of faith.  We must admit, not hide, our weaknesses. 

            2)  Be willing and open to receive from Him so you will be able to give.  Jesus will touch on this point in His own way.  Lets read on!

 

IV.  Two More Parables:  Courage, You Are Not Alone!    Mark 4:26-32.

   A.  Parable of the Growing Seed:  Mark 4:26-29.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 4:26-29.

             Q  What point is made about the kingdom?

               An = God's Word will accomplish its work!  Let the Word fall on you and a mysterious power beyond you will go to work. 

            Note:  For some of you, it is not yet obvious right now, but power is working.  We do not know how the Spirit works or how the kingdom grows.  I have tried to figure it out to no avail all my adult life.  I may not know how my food is chemically digested in my stomach, but I keep eating.  May the Kingdom keep growing! 

            Note:  My job is to keep in the Word myself.  To keep preaching and teaching God's Word.

   B.  Parable of the Mustard Seed:  Mark 4:30-32.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 4:30-32.

            Q Why is the kingdom of God like a mustard seed?

               An =  People will be surprised by our lives' end considering its beginning.  Our faith, or power now on earth seems small now, but look out!  Jesus was a man, despised and not accepted by the powerful of His day, but now He is the most significant person on earth.  Our calendars revolve around His birth and there are near 1 and 1/2 billion who, at least nominally, call Jesus God.

            Note:  There is a power beyond us at work.  We are not alone.  Remember, He is the light, not us, that will shine!

 

V.  The World and the Disciples:  Mark 4:33-34.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 4:33-34.

            Q What was Jesus trying to communicate?  Did Jesus want to be understood?

               An = We saw this in the last passage.  Jesus seems to be deliberately keeping some of the key truths out of plain language.  Why?

            Q Why tell the disciples when He does not tell others?

            Q What is the connection between 4:34 and 4:21-22?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 4:21-22 and 4:34 again.

            Q Why were only the disciples given the explanations of the parables, and why are they told that light comes only so that it can be given away?

               An =  The light comes to be manifested - let us be taught that we can teach.

 

V.  Application: 

            Q Why are we often afraid to share our faith even with our own relatives, our own children or our own grand children?

               An = Our reasons may be many. 

            1) Some do not believe they can articulate what they really believe, and thus are intimidated and afraid we will say the wrong thing. 

            2)  Some believe they just