Lesson # 4 | Mark 2:1-22 | MANKIND'S TRUE NEED

I.  Greetings: 

II.  Introduction:

            Note:  If you remember last week, Jesus had been remarkably successful in a healing ministry but after prayer knew it was time to preach elsewhere.

            At the beginning of chapter 2, Jesus is back in Capernaum and some people are going to approach Him.  When most people approach God to pray it is to ask Him for something.  We often think of God as Someone powerful that we can ask things of.  The Bible is not against such thinking.

            Q If you knew God would give you one thing, what would it be? 

               An = Push this question - it is important to get them to form such a thought in their minds.  Write down right now that one thing.  Get them to talk and to write that one thing down in the margin of their Bibles or something they have with them to write on.

 

III. Jesus is back in town:  Preaching With Interruption:  Mark 2:1-12

   A.  Preaching the Word. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:1-2.

            Q  Once again, why did Jesus leave Capernaum the first time?

               An = To teach the Word of God, to teach the Good News.

            Q When the crowds came, what did Jesus do for them?

               An = Speak the Word.  Notice how many times preaching/speaking the word is mentioned in Mark 1-2 alone:  1:14, 1:21, 1:38, 2:2, 2:13.  This is the key.  If the ministry we are involved with does not center on this then it is not Jesuanic or like Jesus.  Jesus did other things but this was the center.  If you come to this meeting and do not hunger for the Word then what Jesus really wants to do for you cannot be done.

   B.  Healing the Sick:  Starting a Storm. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:3-4

            Q Could that man have found Christ alone?

               An = Of course not, he could never have ever got near to the Lord on his own.  He needed the help of his friends.

            Q What does that mean?

               An = Life does seem to be designed so that we often do not find God with out the help of someone else.  It seems that God wants us to help and be helped by others:  to need and to be needed by others.  Many of your friends and relatives will not get near where Jesus Christ can be known and encountered until you bring them.  It will not be easy. 

            Q  Did these men have to get creative and get aggressive?  What did they do?

               An = They destroyed public property!!

            Q  Did Jesus have the need for a miracle thrust upon Him?  Did this interrupt the teaching?

               An = Yes it did.  If you have ever taught or spoken publicly you can relate to the disturbance this can cause.  The loss of train of thought in yourself and the audience.  The busting of the very roof above His head had to have disturbed Jesus. 

            Q  Did their action disturb His intended goal of teaching the Word?

               An = Yes, for people want miracles more than the Word of God. 

            Q  Is Jesus angry for having His teaching disturbed?

               An = Seemingly not, He calls the man "My son".  Maybe, because He knows we are physical beings and easily sidetracked with the body's needs.  He does not get angry.  (Notice that in the chapter above He got angry (or stern) when expecting the man to deal with the consequences of his healing responsibly, not for wanting to be healed.)   It seems Jesus' will to teach is again thwarted, but perhaps that is why He says the amazing thing that He does.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:5

            Q Why did Jesus say what He did?  He certainly must have anticipated the response?

               An = Jesus does deliberately stir the pot at times.  He could very well have said

something else.  He seemingly regularly did.  Now, however, He tells this man his sins are forgiven.

>>>> Have someone read Psalm 103:3

            Q  Does God's activity involves both healing and forgiveness?

               An = Jesus is intentionally pointing to a truth about His person for He and His Father are alike.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:6-7

            Q Did the scholars of the day (scribes) understand what He had done?

               An = Yes, they certainly understood that to forgive sins was only the prerogative of God and therefore Jesus had blasphemed. 

            Note:  Jesus seemingly began this controversy deliberately to start a storm.  It is He who stirs the pot. 

            Q  Do churches tend to like passive ministers?

               An = Those in church authority do not like those who stir the pot.  We may not have liked having Jesus around us.

   C.  Using or Riding the Storm.  Mark 2:8-12

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

              Note:   Jesus saw their inner thoughts.  He then confronts, or brings out into the open, the brewing anger in their minds with His rhetorical question at the end of 2:8.

            Q What does the question of verse 9 imply?

               An = It implies that the two things of healing and forgiving are naturally are to be together, as we saw in the Psalms.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:10-12

            Q What does verse 11 prove?

               An = It proves that Jesus can certainly do both:  heal the body and forgive souls.  As Jesus can only physically demonstrate the power to heal the body He does that in front of them.  In verse 10 Jesus clearly says the healing is to be seen as a proof that He can heal both.

            Q  Has Jesus made the interuption a teaching moment?  How?

            Q  Is what we want (look at what you wrote down), what He wants to give?           

 

IV. Jesus' Unconventional Selection of Leaders.  Mark 2:13-22

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:13

   A.  The Unusual Selection:  Mark 2:13-15

            Q  What is Jesus doing with these large crowds near the lake?

               An = He taught them.  It seems teaching is Jesus' most desired action from Mark's constant mention of it.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:14

            Q  This time who interrupts (or ends) Jesus' teaching?

               An = It is Jesus Himself by the calling out and therefore selection of a disciple.  He calls Levi, son of Alphaeus, a tax-collector, to "Follow Me".

            Q  Is the call to a religion, or to a task?

               An = Neither, it is to Jesus Himself.  He does not say follow my religion, but follow Me!

            Q What is a tax-collector, or the compliment to one today?

               An = In that society the taxes collected were for the Roman Government, an occupying military force that was resented by the Jews.  The money went to a foreign, occupying force.  The Romans used locals to collect taxes and the collectors were allowed to collect all they wanted and only had to hand over to the Romans a certain quota, the rest was kept by the collector.  It is easy to see such people were regarded as "low-lifes" and "traitors" among their own people.  A compliment to that today would be a "pimp" or "drug dealer".  Both acquire money at the expense and oppression of their fellow human beings.

            RQ What must it have done to Jesus' listeners when He called out to a hated tax collector and asked Levi to join his staff.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:15

            Q  What is Jesus doing by eating with this man and his friend?

               An = Jesus is accepting them, giving them legitimacy.

   B.  Jesus Deals with the Repercussions of His Activity.  Mark 2:16-27

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:16-17

            Q  Can you relate to verse 16?  Have you ever seen someone with a good reputation have it questioned because of whom they associated with?

            Note:  Remember to eat a meal with someone in the Bible means to have fellowship with them.

            Note:  Look again at Jesus' reply in verse 17.

>>>> Re-read Mark 2:17

            Q  What is Jesus teaching through His acceptance of Levi and his friends?

            Q  How many of you, if you are honest about how you really feel, are spiritually sick today?

            Q  What does Jesus have to say to you if you are a sinner?

            Note:  It also means that Jesus is not only very realistic about the human race but very willing to deal with us in our needy condition.  If we are to claim the Name of Jesus or claim to do His ministry, so should we!

 

III.  Jesus' Further Unconventional Religious Activity. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:18

   A.  Using A Common Religious Activity to Bring Up a Point:  Mark 2:18-20.

            Note: The issue here is fasting.  Fasting was done twice a week by the seriously religious Jews.  Since Jesus was a Rabbi, it was expected He would be as serious in His piety as those of His day.  If He was a good Rabbi, and the teacher was responsible for his student's practices, then Jesus should have had His disciples in a fasting routine as well.  Though Jesus does speak in other places about fasting, and does assume His disciples will later be involved with fasting, His disciples apparently were not fasting.

            The disciples of John the Baptist fasted, and they knew Jesus was associated with John, and so the question about why Jesus' disciples were not fasting seemed to be a reasonable question.              It is here that Jesus demonstrates His amazing ability as a teacher.  He seems to have deliberately not had His disciples fast so as to use their lack of action as an "object lesson".  Jesus may have set His audience up by His careful lack of a common action among "holy people".

            RQ  Is it wonderful to see the truest model for religious behavior was not intimidated by the religious expectations of religious people?

            Q  Was the holiest man on earth worried about His reputation?  What was He concerned about?

               An = He was concerned about what was important for them to learn.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:19-20

            Note:  His response to this situation is another example of how He taught.  He used metaphors from daily life.  He talked with word-pictures.  He took their question and put the question back to them in the form of a metaphor or picture-situation they could relate to.

            Note:  Notice, they had to answer a question using their minds.  He makes them think out the answer themselves.  Jesus forced them to use their minds.

            Q What would be an example of this today? 

               An = It is not possible to fast when "glory" is with you.  Just as it would not be possible to mourn if you were in love, and the one you loved came home after going to school out of state.  To fast at their home coming dinner would not be right.  Similarly, it would not be right to fast at a wedding feast, it would be a great insult to a host or parents of the bride and groom.  It was a natural and appropriate time of feasting and celebration.  Baring some catastrophe, to be down when the one you were in love with was around would be a similar insult.  You could tell them they were the "light of your life", but they would feel they were a pretty dim bulb.

            Q  What is Jesus teaching by not fasting? 

               An =  He is teaching us that where God's Presence was, His Glory was there also.  Jesus is right in saying one can not fast when He is present, because Glory is present.  However, remember Jesus is not against fasting, there is a time for it.  It just was not appropriate then.

   B.  Jesus goes on to explain the Nature of His Ministry or His Kingdom. 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 2:21-22.

            Note:  I am not a seamstress of any ability but it does make sense that if you sew an unshrunk patch of cloth to shrunk piece it will eventually tear.  Concerning the new wine in new skins.  New wine begins to ferment and putting it in old skins would destroy both the wine and skins. 

            Q What do these sayings mean? 

               An = Perhaps list the answers given.  In some senses 2:23-3:6 define what new wineskins are, but...we will look at this next week.

            Q What do these little metaphors mean in light of 2:13-17? 

            Q How does the calling of Levi, the tax-collector and the saying in verse 17 help us understand the saying about "new wine in new wine skins" 2:21-22?

            Q If there was to be a spiritual revival at your church and new revived souls and new people came, what would have to change about the structure of the church if that happened.  Jesus says old wine skins would not work, new ones would be needed. 

            Q Do we really want new wine?  Do we really want revival?

Lesson # 3 | MARK 1:32-45 | SUCCESS OR OBEDIENCE

I.  Greetings:  Mark chapter one presents the very beginning of Jesus' ministry and therefore of His "career".  Jesus is Almighty God but also a human being.  Therefore, there is a presentation of Him facing what many of us have to face when the "rubber-hits-the-road", facing the pressure of meeting expectations.

 

II. Does Success Bring Pressure?

            Q  How many of you want to be in a leadership position, let me see your hand?

            Q  Why do so many of us want such positions, if we are honest?

               An = Many times it is because along with the position comes prestige, there is honor with being in a high position.  There is prestige in being the starting pitcher for a World Series Game, but with the prestige comes something else, expectations.  There is prestige in being the head of a business but with the perks comes the pressure to produce.  There is an enormous pressure to succeed.

            Q Would you think ministers or youth directors have the same struggle or pressure to succeed?

            Q How many of you have been in charge of a ministry?  Was there pressure to succeed?

              

III.  Jesus Handles Success By Keeping His Eyes On The Goal.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:32-33

            Q  How many people were there?

               An = The whole city was at the door.

            Q  What did they want?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:34

            Q How successful was Jesus?

               An = Very successful.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:35

            Q What did He do in the height of success?

               An = He went off alone to pray.

            Q  Why pray when you are successful?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:36-37

            Q  Simon and company want to find Jesus for what reason?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:38-39

            Q  What has Jesus' prayer time seem to have led to?

               An = He is going to move.

            Note:  It is very easy to get side-tracked with initial success and not keep our eyes on what we are really supposed to be doing.  Perhaps there is a place in our lives when we have to move in order to accomplish our real goals.

            Q What are Jesus' reasons for moving from a successful ministry sight? 

               An = See Mark 1:38 (in order that...I may preach....). 

            Q  Was Jesus impressed with His own miracles?

               An = They are seemingly not the focus of His ministry.  He knew the real purpose of His being in that location was to preach.  Then Jesus went out and did what He planned (1:39). 

            Q  Is it easy to get our eyes off our real goal after we have immediate success?

            Q  Do we, as humans have trouble leaving something when we are successful?

               An = Examples:   Some in high school hate leaving and mentally they never do for many years after they are 18, or are in college who are finally comfortable with academic expectations and they do not want to graduate and move on, they keep changing their majors.             

            Q  Do we stay in some jobs for the same reason?  Why?

               An = Sometimes because it is secure, but it was not really what we know we are to do, but we are successful in it. 

            Note:   Remember the goal!!  High school or college is not the goal but a means to the goal.  The temporary success of a job or a dating relationship is not the end, look to the end.  Is that what you want to end of up with?  Have the courage to move on.  The goal is obedience and not immediate success.

 

IV.  Obedience not praise:

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:40

            Q  What does this man want?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:41-42

            Q  Is Jesus short on power?

               An =  He speaks and the deadly disease is gone.  Molecules rearrange themselves at His will.  This is unbridled power.

            Q What is Jesus' motive for healing?

               An = compassion. (1:41)   To touch a leper was a scary, socially risky thing to do.

            Q  Is Jesus willing to touch the unclean? 

            Q  Who is it in our office at work, at the shop, or family that is like this leper in our lives?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:43-44

            Q  What is Jesus doing here?  Why the command to be silent?

            Q  Why the second command to go show himself to the priest?  What is Jesus after?

            Note:  In verse 41 Jesus is full of compassion, but in verse 43 the words translated "sternly warned" or "strong warning" have behind them in the Greek the word "anger".

            Q Why is Jesus so stern?

            Q Why has Jesus moved from compassion to angry, stern commands?

               An = 1.  He wanted the man readmitted to society - not praise for Himself.                                                              2.  This man's publicizing his healing would have hampered the ministry to others.  What was seemingly an exuberant act of gratitude hurt others and Jesus Himself.  The excessive press hurt Jesus' access to others. 

            Q  Did Jesus deliberately seek publicity?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:45

            Q  Did the man obey?

            Q  Did the man gain anything from the healing?

            Q  Was Jesus more interested in physical or spiritual healing?

                 An = It would be cruel indeed if all we did as Christians was to heal or help people with physical problems and not help them with their real problem.  Jesus never loses sight of the real objective. 

            Q  By not obeying did the man miss the real healing?

            Q  Can you see how a ministry can get side-tracked? 

               An = It can let the "good" get in the way of the "best".  Compassion ministries are a natural outflow of Christians being in a situation, but we must keep our eyes on the goal.

            Q Does Jesus want to guide our acts of mercy? 

            Q If we are in the leper's position today, what does He want us to obey, or what act of discipline for His sake does He want after we have experienced His touch? 

            It is sometimes a lot easier to talk about Jesus than obey Him.

Lesson # 2 | Mark 1:14-31 | THE NATURE OF THE CALL AND THE CALLER

I. Greetings:

            Note:  If someone came to one of our youth groups and said:  "What is your group all about?"  What would we say to them? 

            Q What is our message to our neighbors around the church here?

               An = Certainly we would say we are a "Church", specifically a "christian church".  We are a group that is centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. 

            Q So how should we say it?  How could we tell our relatives and neighbors the nature of the "Christian Religion".

               An = Lets see how Jesus Christ defined the "Christian religion"

 

II.  What is Jesus all about?  What is His Message?

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:14-15

            Q  What are the two parts to Jesus' message?

               An = The two key issues to this summary of Jesus' preaching are:  1)  something is here and 2) here is what you should do about it. 

            Lets look at the first of these items.  Jesus says the time is ripe, the time is ready, and the "Kingdom of God" is at hand.  Something is here, seemingly accessible, and Jesus calls it the "Kingdom of God".

   A.  The Kingdom Of God

            Q What is the kingdom of God?

               An = Let them give their various answers and then simply state:  "The kingdom of God is where God is king.  It is where God has rulership."

            Q So what is Jesus saying has come near?

               An = The place where God is in control, the opportunity for God's control to be manifested is near.

   B. Repent and Believe

            Q What are we to do according to 1:15?  What is our role?  

               An = repent and believe in the Gospel.

            Q What do these two words mean? 

               An = We have heard these words so much there is the risk they can become meaningless.  So lets try a new approach and see if Mark himself explains what these words mean!  Lets allow Mark to begin to tell us what "repent and believe" and the "kingdom of God" mean.

 

III.  The Called:  first installment on what it means to repent and believe.  Mark 1:16-20

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:16-20.

            Q Did Jesus call the elite to be His disciples? 

               An = No, He called blue-collar workers.  When God came to earth and picked men to carry the most important message the world was to ever hear, He picked blue-collar working class individuals.  He picked men who knew how to work hard with their hands.  Never despise those who work with their hands, God did not!!   >>>>  I Samuel 16:1-13, 17:34-35.

            Q How did they respond?  How did the disciples "repent and believe"?  What did they do that we can do so that the "kingdom of God" can come near us?

               An = They were called, and their call involved leaving things in order to follow Jesus.  It involved a cost.  The disciples had to leave behind their occupation and security.  To be involved with the true Jesus will entail us leaving things behind like our occupation.  

                 Note:  Jesus might ask us to leave behind specific things if we really want to follow Him.  What those specific things might be, I have found to be different for each person.

                        Q  Does the call come to follow an organization (church) or a belief system, or a Person?

               An = If you have been called to anything but Jesus Himself it is not an adequate call.

            Q   Does the call include a calling to a task?  What is it?

               An = That task was not a great career but a task in behalf of others, for others.  We are to fish for men.  We are to seek souls.  We are not to build organizations, or our reputation, but "fish for men".

            Note: = If we are not dominated by the need to reach lost souls then something is wrong.  Maybe this will help us define our first term, the term of "repentance".

            Note:  We said we wanted to see how Mark defined repentance.  First note that the word in Hebrew, literally means "to turn".

            Q What does John, James, etc. turn from?

               An = They left fishing and a parent.

            Q What is bad about fishing? 

               An = Nothing.  Jesus in Mark 2 calls Levi from a job that was sinful, but not all that He calls us from is wrong.  Sometimes "the good can be the enemy of the best".  To obey Him = to follow = to leave = for the sake of the kingdom.  It does matter what, but at times certain things must be left behind for the sake of our involvement in the kingdom.  Even if those things are good parents and good jobs.  Some times good things need to be left behind.

            Where Jesus reigns, where the Kingdom of God is people, hard-working people, are called.  If the Kingdom of God is near then people will be called to Him.  Their task will be reaching souls, and the call will cost them their security and comfort zones.

 

IV.  The One That Calls Us To Follow:  Powerful and Compassionate.  Mark 1:21-31

            Note:  Remember a call also implies a "caller".  It is important to know who it is that calls.  There are perhaps two words that could summarize what Mark tells us about the Invitor:  power and compassion.  

   A.  Compassionate Power Over Demons.  Mark 1:21-28.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:21-28.

            Q How hard did Jesus have to struggle to cast out the demon?

               An = Little or no struggle.  Jesus spoke, the demons tried to make a last hurrah, but had to obey and left the poor person. 

            Q  Is there a parallel to Jesus' authority?  Is there power like His?

            Q  Do the demons understand His power?  Do they try to contest it?

               An =  Jesus stops them a with a word.  He performs no ritual, spell or magical action.  He merely speaks.  He does not struggle, the demon is no match for His power.

            Q  Does Jesus accept the witness of the Devil?

   B.  Compassionate Power Over Illness.  Mark 1:29-31.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:29-31.

            Q How does Jesus heal this time?  Does He use words?

               An =  Notice Jesus heals her not with a word but by simply taking her by the hand.  There is no ritual or technique to Jesus' healing.  There is almost a casualness about the means. 

            Q What does Peter's mother do after she is healed?

               An = Notice that when Jesus touches us we are given the dignity of giving back.  This tells us something about Peter's mother. 

            Note:  A great Scottish motto:  "Saved to Serve".  Perhaps, the key thing for some of us today is to realize that if we have received, we need to give.  Perhaps, our own spiritual health is tied to what we can do now that we are saved.

            Q  What do both stories have in common?

               An = In both stories the power of Jesus is beneficial for the human beings involved.  In the first, there is a man, overcome by the devil and in the other a woman, overcome by illness.  Jesus restores them to their "normalness".  He gives them back "health" which is defined in different ways according to different needs.

            Q  Does He charge money or seek to gain for Himself?

            Q  Can these two healings be a clue as to whether someone is truly like Jesus and should be followed as His representative? 

            Q  What are the clues that someone is truly like Jesus from just these two stories?

 

V.  Conclusion a Look at the Aspect of Legitimization: 

   A.  Legitimization of the Caller.  Jesus is worthy to be followed as God Himself is worthy to be followed.  First, Jesus has power.  He is a powerful leader.  Second, His power is compassionate.  It heals and delivers those who are oppressed and those who are sick.  

   B.  Legitimization of the Called.  There can be no true following of Jesus without cost, without leaving something behind.  He calls us to Himself and to a task.  We want to be like Simon's mother.

Lesson # 1 | MARK 1:1-13 | WILDERNESS AND THE SPIRIT = THE BEGINNING OF THE GOOD NEWS

I.  Greetings:

II. Beginnings: 

   A.  Introduction:

            Note:  The book of Mark is considered by some to be the first of the Gospels written.  Church tradition tells us the book of Mark is Mark's account of Peter's preaching as Mark heard it given, no doubt many times, in Rome.  So, in a sense, Mark is possibly the Apostle Peter's account of the life and teachings of Jesus.

            Note:  One more thought before we begin.  If you struggle with grammar, and are not an excellent writer, then you should bond with Mark.  The greek in Mark is poor and his grammar is seemingly full of mistakes.  Luke's greek is beautiful, but no so with Mark.

   B. The Beginning:

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:1.

            Q  This is the beginning of what?

               An = the gospel of Jesus Christ

            Q  What does "gospel" mean?

               An = "good news".  Many of us are in the beginning of our faith and some of us would like to begin a new and more challenging life with our Lord.  So maybe this can be the beginning of good news in our lives.

   C. Mark the Man:

            Note:  There are 2 sets of 4 short references to him.  Lets read:  Acts 12:12; 12:25, 13:13; and 15:37-40 (assign one text to each of four people in the room).

>>>> Have the four different people read:

            Q  What is Mark's failure responsible for?

               An = It splits a godly evangelistic team.  However, Barnabas takes pity, the same Barnabas that took a risk on the shunned Paul in Paul's early days.  Paul = confronts the wrong,  Barnabas = accepts the wrong person.  Perhaps both are serving the Spirit.  It seems to work.  Pick four people to read:  Col. 4:10; Philemon 24; II Tim. 4:11; I Peter 5:13 (assign one text to each of four people in the room).

>>>> Have the four different people read:

            Q  Is there hope for us if we have failed early in our christian life?

               An = Mark was raised into the christian movement from his earliest days.  It was like he was a "church kid" and "church kids" are often those who do not have the guts to really live the christian life.  If you have been raised in the church, and feel you have failed, then perhaps the very fact that God allowed this failure, this quitter to write one of the Gospels is a word of encouragement for you.

   D.  How Does One Begin Speaking of God Coming to Earth?

            Note: A gospel is an account of almighty God coming to earth.  It is the story of God becoming man. 

            RQ  How would you begin such an account?  How would start learning of Jesus Christ?

            Q How did God begin the preaching of the good news of Jesus to you?  How did you first hear it, really hear it?

               An = See if some will share what they experienced.  Notice what story the Holy Spirit chooses to use to tell the opening of the story of the Son of God.

 

III.  John the Preacher of Repentance: 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:2-4.

            Q  How does our story open?

               An = The story opens with a man named John preaching a singular message:  notice several times the issue of repentance: 

            Q What is the essence of John's message?

               An = Repentance. If we wish God to come among us - He demands that we prepare with repentance.

            Q How many lives of christians, who really lived for Christ, begin their walk with God with repentance?

               An = Get them to give some of their experiences and then mention that perhaps some of them will really begin to encounter the living Christ when they begin to truly repent.  Until they do they are not really ready, no matter what religious background they have, to receive the Son of God.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:5-6.

            Q  What does this tell us about John? 

               An = Note where the messenger comes from, he comes from the wilderness. The wilderness = desert and the desert = purity.

            Q Where did Moses acquire the Law? 

               An = Moses received the Law from Mt. Sinai, from the desert.  To live in the desert is to live a hard life.  It is physically, very uncomfortable.  Moses did not hear the Word of the Lord in the comfortable (but distracting) circumstances of downtown Babylon or Cairo.

            Q Who did John remind the people of?

               An = Elijah.  He too came from the desert or wilderness.  It is not the tents of ease or the great seminaries that produce true and pure messengers.  They come from the desert.  If you want to be a servant of God and be able to bear the message of Christ to a lost and dying world, then you must spend some time in the desert.  You spend time in discomfort.

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:7-8.

            Q Who was John promoting? 

               An = John was promoting Jesus.  Our goal too is to point to Jesus, not to ourselves.  Our goal is not to have a good career, gain respect, or to be someone substantial in the religious community.  Our goal is to point to Jesus, for if we are wise like John, we realize we are not worthy to untie the thong of His sandals.  John was not into phony humility but was truly humble for he saw his work and place, in the context of Jesus.  He saw his role as promoting the Lord of glory.  A great preacher always points beyond himself.  A great Christian always points beyond themselves, they point to Jesus.

            Q  John the "baptist" promised the coming one would baptize not with water but with what?

               An = The Holy Spirit.

 

IV.  Jesus' beginnings: 

>>>> Have someone read Mark 1:8-13.

   A.  The beginning work of the Spirit.

            Q Who descended upon Jesus? 

               An = the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:10).

            Q Who drove Jesus into the wilderness? 

               An = the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:12).  The same Spirit does both.  He baptizes and drives us into the wilderness.

            Q Who does Jesus want to baptize us with? 

               An = the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8).

            Note:    If we allow the Holy Spirit of Jesus to deal with our lives, and we obey Him, He will baptize, but He will also drive us into the desert.

            Q  Does the desert symbolize good easy times?

               An = No, it is the place of temptation, struggle, and hardship.  However, such experiences are not meant for our ruin but for our good.

            Q Can you share where a struggle, or hardship have blessed you or someone you know?

               An = It is only those who have struggled in the bleak aspects of life that can really be able to know the Lord.  A sign that you are called, or a sign that you understand who the Lord is, seems to be that you have been through desert experiences. 

            If God has not blessed you with a constant companion of the opposite sex, or the easy, enjoyable job, or the success you would like or deserve, or the health that you desire, that may be a sign that He would like to teach you and He teaches, instructs, prepares, and tests His best ones in the desert, in the wilderness.

            Q  Can you think of other good beginnings in the Bible that started in the desert?

               An = Remember Moses?  He had some great disappointments and spent 40 years in the wilderness before becoming the greatest of all God's prophets. 

            Remember Israel in the book of Numbers?  Jesus' experience is similar to the great themes of the Pentateuch.  After God saved them with great power at the Red (Reed) Sea then God took them into a wilderness experience.  Remember David in the books of Samuel?  He was anointed king at an early age (possibly 15), but he spent another 15 years being hunted by Saul (often in the wilderness) before he became king.  To have a wilderness experience is necessary training to be able to live in the "promised land". 

            Remember Elijah, John, Jesus and yes...Mark.  For you it could be now or the desert experience could be coming, but it means good.

            Note:  One simple observation:  wilderness experiences always end if we are faithful. 

            Note:  If we learn discipline in our desert (hardships or failures) then we can turn out like Mark. 

Introduction To The Mark Study

I.  Greetings:

            This study is designed for an in depth group study of the book of Mark.  It is designed for a directive but interactive approach where people are encouraged to talk, give their opinions, but most of all to think.  It can be adapted to preach from, but the original intent was to study the Word of God in a manner that helped people see for themselves with some guidance the "Beauty of the Lord".

            1.  The audience or group is to read the text, not the leader (except in rare occasions).  This helps the group get involved.

            2.  The study leader is encouraged to follow most readings with questions.  The more the audience speaks, thinks, interacts with the text, the better. 

            3.  The answers provided after most of the questions are only suggestions.  If the group comes up with the answers then the leader need not speak at all.  In most lessons there are questions with no answers provided for the leader.  Such answers are deemed not necessary, and the leader is dependent on the teaching coming from the group.  If the group does not answer, then it is not answered.

            4.  You will notice that the Greetings sections are usually left blank, this is because all groups have their seperate identity and will want to open in a manner appropriate to the group.           

 

II.  Sources:

            This study leans heavily on three commentaries:

            1. William Lane, The Gospel According to John,  (Eerdmans:  Grand Rapids), 1975

             

            2.  William Barclay, The Gospel of Mark,  (Westminster Press:  Philadelphia), 1956

             

            3.  St. Chrysostom, Homilies On The Gospel of Saint Matthew,  Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. X, (Eerdmans:  Grand Rapids), 1975.

               This particular volume is on the Gospel of Matthew but as much of Mark is in Matthew I merely cross-referenced each particular passage.

            In addition, there are a lot of times when the study is dependent on my own "structural analysis" or outlining of the particular passage.  The outlines guided a great deal of my organization and understanding of many of the passages.

           

III. Intent:

            It is my hope that this study proves helpful in organizing or aiding your own study with those the Lord has put in your care.  I have purposely left out illustrations given in my own talks because I feel that leaves room for you to personalize the studies.  Most of all I would recommend that you spend time in prayer that His blessing attends your study of His Word.